Preamp Noise with High-Efficiency Speakers

Amen Atma!

Newbee nailed it. Nice post Newbee.

Charles I am on the same Voodoo vibe as you. Enjoy the spell you're under! I am...

My active voodoo sounds more like music. My voodoo ways confirm my active sounds more like the instruments sound live. Oh well, live music cast a spell on me causing me to enjoy great active, tube preamps!

Tried passives and George's LS on three different occasions! Purchasing the unit on two of those occasions..... Installed in passive friendly systems it was very good, but missing the cues that equate to the sound of live instruments and voice. Nice for sure, but the overall tone, natural weight and scale of music was simply absent. No voodoo at all, just reality to my ears.

Others will have a different experience and I say great! You're not a victim of voodoo, but just a different opinion and preference. Enjoy

Germanboxers, glad to see you get the meaning of my username! Cycle on!

An isolation transformer can indeed fix or sort out the noise issue mentioned by the poster. I have used them with good results.

Yes, the LS passive attenuator is easily one of the best buys in audio history. It does sound very nice and if I had a very low budget it would be high on my list. Both Charles and I are talking about best in class active tube preamps that cost many times more.

I, like Charles, simply wish George would stop saying we like Voodoo etc..That simple.

I also thank George for his unselfish DIY giving. I am a very active DIY guy and kind folks like George make it possible for me to play.

George, no need to be shattered. The source you use or anyone uses is not perfect so fidelity to the source is not the goal. The end result of the music out of the speaker is.

An isolation transformer can and has in my experience removed ground related noise that no other method would. Sometimes this happens with certain gear - that is this unwanted noise. I had a noise issue that I could not get rid of until I used an isolation transformer.

An isolation transformer from Jensen it different from what he has tried.

I agree. He should have to use it. I liked the sound of a past system and the
only way I could keep,same components was to use a Jensen ISO tranny.

It rid the system of a buzz I could not tame in any other manner. Not ideal
as you say, but it worked and did not change my sound. In my case the
issue was between the amp and preamp. It was a buzz.

Just an idea.

The OP can call Jensen as they are very helpful and they can help
determine if this would be a strong potential fix. I bet they would be open to
letting him try and return it if it does not,cure the problem.

Almag here is the one who turned me onto the idea as well as another
Agoner who had the same issue and the Jensen worked wonderfully.

I assume here a nice tube preamp would deliver better sounding music and
this step is thus worth it.