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Ground Wire

The tonearm cable is plugged into RCA input of the phono stage. The tonearm ground wire is connected to the ground post of the same phono stage. The first RCA L/R outputs of the phono stage are connected to a pair of mono blocks. There is no hum I could hear coming from the speakers connected to them. The second L/R outputs of phono stage are connected to the line input of the integrated amplifier that drives a second pair of speakers. That's where the hum is quite audible. That integrated amplifier also has the ground post. I wonder if I could get rid of the hum by connecting the phonostage's ground post with the ground post of the integrated amplifier. What kind of wire should be used to connect two ground posts of two different preamplifiers? The units are at least 8 feet apart. 
esputnix

Showing 4 responses by fiesta75

fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
You've definitely created a ground loop. Everything should be to one outlet on the same line. Avoid different power lines at all cost. Ground problems are TRICKY. You might want to look into a ground block. 
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
For ground loops you should ONLY use a high grade power block. This is the last resort. You are absolutely correct about XLR's. You should always put all components into one outlet. Even some outlet boxes can have 2 sources.
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
Good suggestion to use XLR's, but how is that going to help the OP? It doesn't appear that he has XLR's...
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
Are you using a ground block or power conditioner? By outlet, he means the same wall outlet and if possible the same plug in that wall outlet. I know I'm not @speakermaster, but trying to help. This does apply to ALL components. It does not matter if it's 3 prong or 2 prong plug. All 2 prong plugs nowadays should have one lug larger than the other, so it can only be plugged in one way.
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