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Speaker hiss

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Ash View Drop Down
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    Posted: 23 Jul 2020 at 11:15pm
May seem like a silly question but why, compared to headphones, do speakers hiss? Low impedance? 

What if I said that I wanted to try listening to a pair of speaker drivers super-nearfield, almost "earfield". Any hiss from the Proprius coming through will be undesirable. Is there a way to manipulate the load, by increasing impedance or lowering sensitivity, to push the hiss into inaudibility without altering the frequency response or damping factor?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 9:39pm
It is an inappropriate use, and unfortunately, no, nothing can be done to prevent or lessen hiss at "earfield" proximity.

The signal to noise ratio is suitable for its intended use. Sorry.

This is why headphone outputs from power amplifiers are via an attenuation network, which attenuates the signal and noise together.


Edited by Graham Slee - 24 Jul 2020 at 9:41pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 11:20pm
Adding to Graham's points. Ash, the signal to noise ratio is fine but that close you would need to turn the signal level right down before listening to music and the noise you hear would be cut drastically at the same time. You'll know the signal level drops off as you move away from the speaker cone just as the noise does so it is very loud next to the speaker.

Turning the volume control down on the Proprius amp would save your ears from very loud music at close range in that hypothetical (and inappropriate) listening position and simultaneously address the noise you can hear that close to the speaker cone.

I have the volume controls on my Proprius amps at about 12 o'clock (roughly -20dB FS) and the Majestic volume between 10 and 11 o'clock and it's loud enough for me in my living room at 2.5 metres! Yes, there is a subtle hiss I can hear if no music is playing but only if the central heating is off and the street outside is silent.


Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jul 2020 at 8:57am
I might be able to get away with it if I have the speakers a little further away from the head and have the Proprius dials at 8-9 o'clock then use the Majestic dial to get the volume. Any hiss will only be audible when there is no music playing or possibly during very quiet passages.

No problem as my headphone loads of choice have no hiss at all if I keep the Proprius dials under 3 o'clock.
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