I’ve been looking into building my first real audiophile system and was considering a tube or hybrid amp, such as the Prima Luna Evo, Vincent audio SV-237Mk2, or Billie Amp Mk2. I haven’t decided anything for sure but one thing that came up with one of the reviewers for the Billie Amp is that if your speaker sensitivity is too high, like 96 dB+, you can hear I guess a tube noise or hiss. Is this true of any tube or hybrid amp, regardless of price-point? Will you hear it even with a good solid state amp? I was just curious as I don’t know much about noise floor or how to keep it as long as possible. Thanks!
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it’s not the tube amp, it’s the high efficiency speaker. With these speakers noise will be higher just like everything else. There’s nothing inherently noisier about a tube amplifier.
I see. I mostly ask because I was thinking about pairing whatever amp I go with with the Heresy IVs, which have crazy high efficiency. It’s odd they often say the Heresy pair best with a tube amp, despite that. I guess it just is what it is.
Like in my other comment, my Cornwall IVs are mostly silent, except for probably the Jolida’s volume at around the 60% mark and anything up and down from it the sound is gone, and the Decware SE84C-S is the noisiest by far but still doesn’t effect when music plays. Decent tube amps will not have much noise if any, and usually if it is, it shows the quality. Don’t go for a cheap one too, like under 500. They don’t really use the tubes to their full potential either, sometimes just as a layer on top or for decoration. Something like the Willsenton R8 would be the best bang for the buck and would last years.
Also as a note: it may be the tubes being microphonic. So any vibrations getting into the tubes may show, and if you tap them while connected, and they make a sound, it’s microphonic. Some may be able to handle that, some won’t. You’re right where the higher the sensitivty, the more likely to hear noise, but at the same time, the ones you listed are less likely to have noise because the have more watts. Remember, for example, the Cornwall IVs are 102db sensitive. Some say it is inflated, but still. The Decware only has 5 watts per channel, the Primaluna has 40 watts. The first watt is what you’d only likely use, but the Primaluna probably doesn’t run them as hot as a flea-size watt amp. I’m not an expert, but it only makes sense because even if you only need 1 or 2 watts, out of 5 is a lot more of it than 40. In Solid State, it can be the opposite because it may hold lots of power, but not quality power but I’ve never experienced that. I may get ahold of Magnepan 1.7i’s and will have to get a higher powered amp and experiment with that on the Cornwalls
What is your typical source?
I have an older version of this amp from BAT (I have the VK-300xSE). This is 2 generations newer. I dont hear any noise, very quiet, this is a review of the newest version. My speakers aren’t near as efficient as yours however.
https://www.hifinews.com/content/bat-vk-3500-integrated-amplifier-lab-report
My main amp is a luxman 509x and it is dead quiet, measures very well.
Tldr:it’s about “dirty power”, and amp design and not so much about sensitivity.
It’s not that much about sensitivity of the speakers, but rather for tubes amps they are very prone to hiss/him, and I had Cayin ha6a, which was very very noisy, and even with different cable for the stock one(100€), there was 50% less hum. I ordered puritan psm1512, and with that I hope to hear nothing but the music. And my local dealer has primaluna, and it’s 0 noise
Tube amps love sensitive speakers! That’s why you can have low wattage and still attain higher dB output.
Noise can be introduced by a number of factors and yes may vary by integrated amp. More than likely though, the noise is introduced by the turntable or phono stage.