Hi guys,
I recently picked up a pair of Shure A15AS XLR attenuators (set to -15db) to run between my tube pre and solid state power amp.
The amp is a loaner from a good friend that I may purchase but it’s much more ~typical audiophile~ than anything I’ve ever considered before.
My speakers (JBL 4722N) are incredibly sensitive and with the higher power of the amp I’ve been using (Classe CA2100), both buffer and tube mode on my Schiit Freya+ were producing a mild hiss that did not get louder with volume increase but was still audible from the listening position.
I presume this is because of gain stacking / 104db sensitivity speakers since the noise was non-existent with my tried-and-true Dynaco ST-70.
Upon adding the attenuation, the noise was eliminated entirely but it also seemed to shift the tonal balance (from tubes operating more linearly instead of less volume knob being used maybe?)
Is anything about this gain/attenuation scenario sub-optimal?
Are there any obvious oversights I’m missing when implementing this amp in my signal chain?
Current Signal Chain:
Room: 12x14x8’
Treatment: (2-4) 12x48x3” broadband panels on side and rear walls, floor-to-ceiling 24” wide super-chunk style bass traps.
Speakers: JBL 4722N Two-Way ScreenArray® Cinema Loudspeakers
Equalizer: Schiit Lokius
Subwoofer: MartinLogan Depth I
Amplifiers: Classe CA2100
Pre-Amp: Schiit Freya+
Pre-Amp Tubes: NOS Sylvania 6SN7GT on output stage, Tung Sol 6SN7GTB on input stage
DAC: Schiit Gungir Multibit
Phono Pre-Amplifier: Schiit Skoll (Phasemation T550 when running MC cartridges)
Turntable (Motor): Denon DP3000 housed in high mass plinth
Turntable (tonearm): Dynavector DV-505
Turntable (cartridge): Audio-Technica AT-VM740xML VMx Phono Cartridge
I recently picked up a pair of Shure A15AS XLR attenuators (set to -15db) to run between my tube pre and solid state power amp.
The amp is a loaner from a good friend that I may purchase but it’s much more ~typical audiophile~ than anything I’ve ever considered before.
My speakers (JBL 4722N) are incredibly sensitive and with the higher power of the amp I’ve been using (Classe CA2100), both buffer and tube mode on my Schiit Freya+ were producing a mild hiss that did not get louder with volume increase but was still audible from the listening position.
I presume this is because of gain stacking / 104db sensitivity speakers since the noise was non-existent with my tried-and-true Dynaco ST-70.
Upon adding the attenuation, the noise was eliminated entirely but it also seemed to shift the tonal balance (from tubes operating more linearly instead of less volume knob being used maybe?)
Is anything about this gain/attenuation scenario sub-optimal?
Are there any obvious oversights I’m missing when implementing this amp in my signal chain?
Current Signal Chain:
Room: 12x14x8’
Treatment: (2-4) 12x48x3” broadband panels on side and rear walls, floor-to-ceiling 24” wide super-chunk style bass traps.
Speakers: JBL 4722N Two-Way ScreenArray® Cinema Loudspeakers
Equalizer: Schiit Lokius
Subwoofer: MartinLogan Depth I
Amplifiers: Classe CA2100
Pre-Amp: Schiit Freya+
Pre-Amp Tubes: NOS Sylvania 6SN7GT on output stage, Tung Sol 6SN7GTB on input stage
DAC: Schiit Gungir Multibit
Phono Pre-Amplifier: Schiit Skoll (Phasemation T550 when running MC cartridges)
Turntable (Motor): Denon DP3000 housed in high mass plinth
Turntable (tonearm): Dynavector DV-505
Turntable (cartridge): Audio-Technica AT-VM740xML VMx Phono Cartridge