What Is Noise Floor?

In audio, silence is never truly silent. Every system has a noise floor, the level of background noise present even when no music or movie is playing. Understanding the noise floor helps explain why some systems sound cleaner, more detailed, and more dynamic than others.

What Is the Noise Floor?

The noise floor is the sum of all unwanted sounds and electronic noise in a system. It is usually measured in decibels (dB). The lower the noise floor, the “quieter” the background, which allows more detail in the recording to come through.

Noise can come from:

• Electronics (amplifiers, DACs, AVRs)
• Cables and grounding issues
• The room itself (HVAC, outside noise)
     

How to Lower the Noise Floor

•  Use quality electronics with strong signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) specifications
• Ensure proper grounding to avoid hum and ground loops
• Keep cables short and tidy to minimize interference
• Treat the room to reduce outside and environmental noise

The Takeaway

The noise floor is the “silent” foundation of your system. A lower noise floor means more usable dynamic range, cleaner detail, and a more immersive experience. High-performance gear like Arendal speakers reveals what is in the recording, so the quieter your system’s noise floor, the more you will hear.