Grounding

Specifically i am using a Denon 395 with a Ground terminal on the rear panel. I am not referring to a power cord.

What i may do is get a 10 Gal dirt filled pot and sink the wire right into it on a tent stake or something.
11-05-14: Roscoe50

The Denon 395 has a two wire power cord and plug. The power wiring inside the unit is doubled insulated and thus the unit does not require an earth ground. An earth ground could actually introduce noise into your audio system.

The earth does not possess some magical mystical power that sucks nasties from our audio systems. That is a myth.

It appears that the only thing i did was ground my porch railing into the Denon.
11-07-14: Roscoe50

Actually you may have provided a great path for lightning to fry your audio equipment.

If the apartment building is constructed of poured concrete a lot of steel rebar was used in the construction. If the railing is set in the concrete the railing is indeed earth grounded. That does not mean there is not a difference of potential, voltage, between the railing and the equipment ground of the power feeding your apartment.

Had any of your other equipment used a three wire power cord and plug plugged into a receptacle with an equipment ground there is a good chance you would have experienced a ground loop hum.

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=119872