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Another cheater plug thread

OK. So on a couple of other threads, opinions of cheater plugs to tame system hum range from "If it works use it" to "you're going to die in a fiery inferno." In my case, I used a cheater plug between my power supply and my pre-amp to finally get rid of a year-old hum problem. the power supply is a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet with only two outlets that supplies only my amp and pre-amp. Because the PS is still grounded - I think - all I did was break the ground circuit between the two components. So the question is, do I still have any grounding on my pre-amp here, just on the basis of being plugged into a grounded power supply? I wouldn't think so, but I'm not an engineer. Also, what is the benefit of being grounded vs. ungrounded in this situation?

Ready, set, fight!
grimace

Showing 2 responses by minorl

minorl
1,021 posts
 
I strongly agree with Atmasphere and some others. Fix the problem, don't cover it up and cross your fingers hoping for the best. Find the cause of the ground loop (it is fairly simple but tedious to do this), and either fix or replace the faulty piece of equipment. Do not use a cheater plug. This is lazy and seriously stupid. All the more reason to audition equipment in your home/system before you purchase it. If a ground loop occurs during auditioning, then find the culprit and remove it or fix it.

Also, anyone that recommends to lift the ground, use a cheater plug, not use seat belts and other dangerous things, are not your friends and are not looking out for your best interest.

enjoy
minorl
1,021 posts
 
Newbee; I agree with Atmasphere on this. If you unplug and disconnect every piece of equipment and then plug in the Amp to the speakers and turn it on and no noise. then plug in the pre-amp to the amp and no noise. Then plug in the CD player and there is noise. First thing I would suspect is a faulty ground scheme in the CD player. But before I replace it I would try other interconnect cables. the ones you are using from the CD player to the pre-amp may not be shielded properly or the shield may be tied to the signal ground. If you still have noise, then just for fun, plug in a different CD player or DVD player to the same input on the pre-amp. Noise? No? then your CD player has issues. Yes? Then it may actually be the pre-amp's internal ground scheme. But, I believe that it will be the CD player or the interconnect cables. If you try all that, then try this. Plug all you low level devices, Pre-amp, CD players, TT, etc. into the same conditioner device. Then plug your amp into the wall outlet. typically with all the low level devices connected together and the amp plugged into its own wall outlet (hopefully a dedicated line to the circuit breaker panel), not only will your noise floor drop significantly, but ground loops disappear.

Try it.

enjoy
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