The noise floor was just an example; I'm not arguing the 1Z is not extraordinarily quiet, or that it is not completely dead silent--it very well could be. I have no idea, and it doesn't really have any bearing on my point, which is that SQ changes are a subjective thing, not quantitatively defined. There could be many aspects of engaging HG mode that a person may feel detracts from their listening experience, or the perceived SQ they are hearing from the device while paired with whatever they are using with it. Case in point, I personally don't like using HG; it seems to my ears that it presents the sound more forcefully, and not as relaxed as without it, which I much prefer. Ergo, the quality of the sound that is hitting my ears, subjectively, suffers for me when I engage the HG mode. Make sense?