Is cheater plug safe with grounded monster power?

Greetings!

I have read this thread with interest, and I am no closer to solving my ground loop issue.

Now, I don't want to appear overly stupid, but I thought electronics was an exact science based on math and physics. By reading this thread, I get the opposite impression.

So what IS the best way to eliminate a ground loop? Cookbook advice is always welcome. Telling me to isolate a component, for example, does not tell me how to carry out that procedure. Remember I don't have multiple degrees in electrical engineering plus an electrician's license.

The system in question has the following components:

Proceed AMP 5 (five channel amplifier)
Proceed AVP (five channel preamp)
Sony DVD player
Muse Model 18 powered subwoofer
Martin Logan Ascent loudspeakers

When the Muse Model 18 was connected between the amp and preamp using RCA ICs, a ground loop condition occurred. I tried cheater plugs on the power cords of the AMP 5 and the Muse Model 18. The hum was reduced, but not eliminated.

When I removed the Proceed AVP and the Sony DVD player and used a Klyne System 7 preamp plus a Musical Fidelity CD player while still using the Muse Model 18, there was no hum at all.

I would like to be able to use the Proceed gear, the Sony DVD player, and the Muse Model 18 to watch movies.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Regards,

Tbg,

Thanks for responding to my post too.

I believe the culprit is the Muse Model 18, but it seems to work fine when the Klyne preamp and Musical Fidelity CD player are used instead of the Sony DVD player and the Proceed AVP.

”1. Disconnect everything except the amp to speaker wires. Put shorting plugs into your main amp and turn it on. If you have no hum, the culprit is not the amp.”

The main amp (Proceed AMP 5) does not hum, and it worked fine until the Muse Model 18 was plugged into the system.

”2. Connect the preamp to the amp after removing the shorting plugs. Turn the preamp on and then the amp. If you have no hum, neither are culprits.”

The Proceed AVP preamp also worked fine until the Muse Model 18 was plugged into the system.

”3. Plug in one front-end device. If you have no hum, with it active, it is not the culprit.”

The front-end device (Sony DVD player) also worked fine before the Muse was inserted. This leads me to believe that the Muse may be on another circuit from the other equipment and is, therefore, creating a situation in which there are multiple grounds.

”4. When you add something that causes hum, it is the culprit. It is possible that it is that unit's interconnects, so try others. Also it may be the only grounded front-end device. Try a cheater plug. If the hum does not go away, try reversing the cheater. If none of this works, you have a problem with that device.”

Using another set of interconnects is not an option. I am using two 12-foot pairs of Transparent Audio MusicLink Plus ICs that cost me $1,200. I can try reversing the cheater plug that I am using on the Muse to see if that suggestion works. Prior to installing the Muse Model 18 in my system, I had sent it back to the factory to be completely checked out. It was given a “clean bill of health.”

”You might also find that grounding the unit to the amp may cause the hum to go away. Also a resister on the ground may solve the problem.”

How do I ground a component to the main amp and how do I place a resister on the ground?

Thanks

Rex,

Thank you very much for responding to my post. I appreciate it!

Let me try to answer your questions the best I can.

“1. List the components that have a three-prong grounded power cord, including the substitutes.”

All components have a three-prong plug on their power cords except the Sony DVD player. So the Proceed AMP 5 amp, Proceed AVP preamp, Klyne System 7 preamp (substitute preamp), Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player (substitute CD player), and Muse Model 18 subwoofer all have a three-prong power cord. The Sony DVD player has only a two-prong power cord. I will check to make sure, however.

”2. Are you using dedicated circuit(s)?”

No. In the future I will, but not now.

”3. Are you using a power conditioner? If so, which model?”

No power conditioner per se; however, the Proceed AVP preamp, Klyne System 7 preamp (substitute preamp), and Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player (substitute CD player) are all plugged into a Monster Cable HTS 2000 power strip/line filer. The AMP 5 is plugged directly into a wall outlet.

”4. Are all devices plugged into one circuit, or into more than one circuit?”

I will have to check the breaker box when I return home tonight. But it’s my guess that all AC outlets could be on the same line. I am not sure about this.

”5. Are you using aftermarket power cords? If so, which models, and on what gear? If you are not, please tell me what the wire gauges of each of the three-wire cords are. It will be embossed on the cord jacket.”

I will have to check the gauge of all the power cords when I return home. I am using stock power cords on all components except the Klyne preamp, which uses a Monster Cable Powerline 300. In the near future, I will be replacing all the other stock power cords with Element Cable’s ElementCord, which uses 10 AWG wires.

Rex,

Here is the missing information that you had requested in an earlier post:

All components are on the same 15-amp circuit.

The gauge of all power cords is as follows:

1. Proceed AMP 5 = 14 AWG
2. Proceed AVP = 18 AWG
3. Monster Cable HTS = 14 AWG
4. Sony DVP-S7700 = 18 AWG (two prongs)
5. Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D = 16 AWG
6. Muse Model 18 Subwoofer = 14 AWG
7. Acoustic Research Power Strip (grounded) = 14 AWG

The Muse Model 18 and the Martin Logan Ascent loudspeakers are plugged into the AR power strip, which does offer some AC line filtering.

Thanks in advance for your help.