I was surfing last night and saw a company which sells a XLR to XLR with pin #1 lifted to avoid the famous pin #1 problem I will post there site address soon.
http://www.audiogear.com/AudioAdaptors.html
http://www.audiogear.com/AudioAdaptors.html
impedance mismatched ?
Yee Ha, an opportunity to use the new reference thread: Video & Audio: Power, Ground, EMI, Noise in Cables. Can someone explain if 3 circuits are all grounded at the same point as the entire house is ground at how is a ground loop possible? Mejames, what you have is the classic "pin 1" problem in pro-audio balanced systems. Perhaps I can sum it up by suggesting for *your* system, you use RCA and thereby create an unbalanced system. Trade your nice XLRs. Since you currently have a problem with a balanced line, your distance is 1m and you don't have an extreme environment (EMI, theater, stadium etc.) then there is not much to gain by running a balanced system and a lot to lose. Often, a high end balanced input uses an active (op-amp) circuit to provide a matching virtual impedance for the cable while providing high common mode rejection (CMR) (unlike tubes typically) and all grounds conform to a star ground or better. I don't think you can achieve this without modifying/soldering your current system (either cables, equipment or both). Try a shielded coaxial cable with foil (for EMI) and braid (for hum) read about them at Coaxial Cables and Applications (Belden) The most important reference is for you is: 7. Equipment Wiring - Internal to Electronic EquipmentWhy is this so?: 3.3.3. Grounding the ShieldFor your tube equipment with its high input impedance and sensitivity note: 5.4. Separation and RoutingFor further reading see: 2.1. The Isolated Star Ground" and the background explanations ofFollowed by: 2.3. Ground LoopsAnd then before you hire the electrical contractor read: 8. Case Study - Getting the Installation RightIgnore most concentrate in particular on: 8. Case Study - Getting the Installation RightWhen done (whew!) skim the various posts where Subaruguru and others talk about power wiring. Pick cable to match your budget, but at least consider some form of braided 3 or 4 conductor cable or conduit. One last note, due to power problems I have, I am using GFIs and I'm currently installing a 220VAC feed into a 2000VA Sola constant voltage transformer to create a 110VAC circuit and a virtual isolated ground. This goes to two Isobar12 with dual EMI/RFI Filtering (40 & 80dB) between equipment outlets. One to supply my MLs, DVD etc. and the other for power amps etc. I think I have found filtering each piece of equipment relieves many noise problems and reduces the need for more exotic power cables, but I do need to test more before getting on a soap box (LOL). One should use at least braided shield power cords to reduce their effects on other equipment. Ok that is enough *noise* by me! |
ok player returned for service they didn't find a hum problem with the balanced outputs player returned today still has the hum problem with balanced outputs. Plug player into outlet on entirely different circuit which is original to the house 1985 construction the hum didn't change its the same. If its a AC ground loop how do you prove it is? Have a magic cable ground break devise for the cable TV already installed. Can someone explain if 3 circuits are all grounded at the same point as the entire house is ground at how is a ground loop possible? |
Looks more & more like a system ground loop. OTOH the 100->137kOhm connection looks good on paper. Excuse my stating the obvious but, why not stay with rca OR try plugging the cdp into another outlet, with & without floating the ground -- just to check. In a similar situation (but with barely perceptible hum), I plugged the cdp's into a different outlet and REDUCED the noise (but you've probably been there & done that...) Note that I use a pre & short rca IC for the cdp... Cheers |
The XLR introduces one more ground plane, so now you have the grounds from two or more outlets (the amps) and the grounds in the XLR cables creating a grid with loops. The RCA's ground the signal to chassis only while the XLR's bond to equipment, so the RCA's break the grid (even though they're more prone to picking up common mode noise, their main advantage is not creating a ground plane). XLR's reject common mode noise and can create ground loops, especially if the equipment they're connected to are on dedicated circuits. |