Gutwire Perfect Grounding Cable

Late to the game here, but I just built my own DIY version of this (neutral RCA to mains ground pin) and it does seem to lower my noise floor..

An interesting observation: I asked gutwire if I could connect their cable to an unused output jack. Their reply was, yes, no problem, connect it to any unused RCA jack. I tried connecting it to an output jack and was rewarded with a lovely, loud hum. When I connected it to an input jack, the hum disappeared and I was rewarded with a lower noise floor for vinyl listening.. Haven't tried digital yet. 

It's truly crazy how there are no universal standards among home audio equipment. It really is an area where experimentation and curiosity can lead to improvement, but where everything is so outrageously system dependent. Just another reminder, to me, that many of the disagreements on here are more than likely due to this extreme variability.

And that's why I love DIY. I had all the parts I needed laying  around, so this experiment cost me nothing..

Got It!

@slaw - re:

Wouldn't all of this be unnecessary if there was an industry standard on internal grounding of audio components?

YES! - wouldn't that be novel? - industry standards in audio? - no chance!

Most components (way back) were correctly grounded - then the Japanese came out with the isolated power supply approach (i.e. the two pin plugs) and now we have the Wal-Wart power supplies - both of which do not support grounded circuits.

There are even a few variants on grounded circuits - e.g.  NAIM, who believe the source should be the grounded component - which can cause serious hum if you use an un-grounded source - like a Japanese CD player - I know because I experienced it.

So it's left up to the customer to be aware of the various nuances of grounding and take the appropriate action.

It's a bit like making sure your pre-amp's output impedance is compatible   with your main amp's input impedance. If you mic brands this can be one reason a certain brand combination lacks "synergy"

If the industry can't come up with a standard for that one - what hope is there for a common grounding scheme?

"It is what it is" - I hate that expression and like you, would like the industry to resolve it - but it really is a non-starter.

They don't want a standards because then all components would work flawlessly across brands - and "a brand" would not really want that to happen.

Let's face it - how many people are loyal to a brand across all of their components? After all, It can be far less hassle!

The Gutwire cable is only a solution - IF the customer really understands the problem.

But the hype sounds good and if you have a hum in your system - you will probably be tempted to try it - and THAT is all they are after.

Synical? - you bet

Regards - Steve

@salectric 
Go back and read his article on the matter and then comment. His reviews used to be just that, reviews and there were a lot of freeloaders who used his reviews to sell their product and then there were those who after a review, would buy some unsolicited ad space in return because they knew of his circulation and audience. Fair is fair. 

And while you're at it, how do you feel about every other reviewer out there who "sells" ad space or gives great reviews to those who "buy" the largest ad space? Nothing is free in this world and no one is under any obligation. Your critique applies to all reviewers. 

All the best,
Nonoise

@nonoise 

A manufacturer who wants a product reviewed in 6Moons has to pay for the privilege.  That's "pay to play."

@salectric 
No, 6moons is NOT a pay to play business. Srajan went to great lengths to explain his decision to not carry any business that profited from his reviews. Some of them had several positive reviews and used them for sales purposes and they were some of the biggest players out there. They were parasitically riding on his back.

The smaller players were carrying all the water so he simply leveled the playing field. It's really no different, and a somewhat better business model, than what others are doing. In fact, the biggest complainers were some of the competition who ended up copying his model, or had the real pay for play service going on all the while and were quite embarrassed by it when it was brought up. 

All the best,
Nonoise

Wouldn't all of this be unnecessary if there was an industry standard on internal grounding of audio components?

This cable connects the ground of the circuit (via a phono plug neutral connection) to the ground pin of the Mains plug

Why? - Some circuit designs do not ground the neutral side of the circuit to the ground pin so there can be a noise buildup in that circuit

Grounding in this manner will ensure the neutral side of a connected circuit is grounded effectively - reducing the overall noise level

It provides a good solution to one aspect of the various noise related issues in a system

I have applied a similar DIY solution to components with  wal-wart power supplies or have a two pin plug (no ground) and it proved to be very effective

Now, all of my components have fully grounded circuits - so there is no need for this type of solution

When to use them?
- Check your component to determine if there is continuity between the neutral side of an input/output socket and the ground pin of the unit - if there is, there is no real need for one of these cables, but it will not be an issue if you still decide to use one

Gutwire make some very good power cables - this one goes one step further

Using this type of cable on every component will not create ground loop issues - if you have a hum while using this type of cable there is something wrong with a connected component - it is not the cable creating the issue

Regards

Good post ghosthouse. Actually trying things before judging is the foundation of "the greater fool theory". ;)

Dave

I didn't have a hum issue.  I have been reading reviews of grounding boxes (e.g., Entreq) for several years and wouldn't try them because of the cost.  Since the effects of the Gutwire cable described in the review sounded similar to the improvements reviewers have attributed to the Entreq boxes I gave it a try.

The cable can be attached to any unused input and can be ordered with rca, xlr, or spade connector (for components with a chasis ground connection).  There is no AC current involved - only the grounds on the input and AC connectors are wired.

r-11
Contribution of an audible and beneficial effect by way of shorter path to ground does seem unlikely. Appears to be something (easily?) tried out via DIY. I’m guessing only the ground pin of the AC plug is connected and that to the negative/ground lead of the RCA plug. Can’t imagine applying AC power to a component through an RCA jack and not doing some damage.  But then again, I'm no EE.

crazy

Looks like a good way ot create a ground loop and add noise

maybe they are adding "euphonic" noise (!!)

If the theory of operation of your device relies on the greater fool theory, then something is wrong.

@randy-11
Gutwire's explanation from the 6 Moons review (see link here)...

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/gutwire/1.html

"Q: How does your grounding cable work and why is it necessary?
A: Our ground cable provides the shortest path to ground from the circuit board. Why do you need extra grounding when the ground already exists between your equipment and the wall? If you open up the chassis of any equipment, you'll notice that the circuit board ground may not be directly connected to the ground of the IEC inlet. Our ground cable directly grounds circuit board to earth ground. It drains away any noise the circuit board may have."

Just passing along the info.  Don't take this as representing any sort of O-pinion pro or con.

Any review in 6Moons is suspect.  The publisher is very open about his "pay to play" business model.  Any company wanting a review has to pay for it.  So reviews in 6Moons are just another form of paid advertising.  I am not saying other webzines don't do this too but 6Moons is the only one I know of that admits this openly.

how is this supposed to work?

Sounds interesting. So all you do is plug one end into an unused preamp (or other electronic) RCA input & plug the other end into a wall socket?   

Did you have any hum in your system, or are you using this device solely to lower the noise floor?