Often abbreviated as SNR or S/N, this specification can seem cryptic to the average consumer.
It’s most often expressed as a measurement ofdecibels (dB).
That’s the idea behind the signal-to-noise ratio.
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However, not all manufacturers make this value readily known.
Just like the refrigerator in the previously described scenario, this noise floor is always there.
What About Volume?
Unfortunately, adjusting the volume up and down affects both the noise floor and the signal.
The music may get louder, but so will the underlying noise.
You would have to boost only the signal strength of the source to achieve the desired effect.
Some devices feature hardware or software elements that are designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
Unfortunately, all components, even cables, add some level of noise to an audio signal.
The best components are designed to keep the noise floor as low as possible to maximize the ratio.
Analog devices, such as amplifiers and turntables generally have a lower signal-to-noise ratio than digital devices.
Other Considerations
It is definitely worth avoiding products with very poor signal-to-noise ratios.
Frequency response andharmonic distortion, for example, should also be taken into consideration.
