Soundstage vs background noise?


I've been using tube amps for 10 years now. I just recently picked up solid state gear that admittedly is much quieter in background noise.

So now I notice the soundstage is better defined. I wonder if this is related the the virtual lack of noise that, through my prior tubed gear (CJ and Rogue), was common to both channels?
zavato

Showing 1 response by davehrab

The lower noise floor of the new SS amp is now helping to reveal new low level details that were previously masked or blocked by the higher noise floor of your previous Tube gear

The newly revealed details that were there all the time but inaudible due to the masking of the higher noise floor now appear in the presentation as additional Spatial Queues

These additional Spatial Queues help fill in the blanks that were missing with the higher noise floor and the new presentation can have more detail and expanded sound stage because there is more Queues that are audible

Post the tubes that were being used in your old equipment and someone here who knows tubes will comment on if they were low noise or not

If they were not there is a chance a switch to low noise tubes may make the noise floor on the tube amp competitive with the SS amp and bring with it the Tube sound many enjoy
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