Stay grounded


A few recent experiences have reemphasized the importance of good ground connections: I started by adding an Acoustic Revive RGC-24 to my InnuOs Zenith Mk3 streamer. Furthermore I added an Akiko Audio Black Box to the ground rail of my fuse box. And lastly I added a Chinese sourced grounding box to my Draytek router via USB connection. In each instance the effect was less than subtle: like snapping a camera objective into focus. I live in a single house with a very substantial grounding rod; nevertheless it seems that connection to ground via the fuse box is less than perfect. Thinking of adding grounding boxes to the speakers next.

antigrunge2

I'm familiar with grounding boxes and I'm a believer in their positive results. My observation of using the Acoustic Revive RGC-24 on a component is this; your streamer has an earth ground via the ground buss in the service panel. Now, it has an added ground from the RGC-24. There could be a difference in impedance between these two grounds. Grounding boxes typically plug into the AC receptacle which will result in a common ground with your other components. I don't understand how using 2 different grounds is beneficial. 

 

And now a question, how did you decide which component to add this ground to? 

Amp, dac and Etherregen are grounded to the common ground via the earth point of the power conditioner. As this didn‘t work for the server, I experimented with the AR device and liked the result.

I have two dedicated circuits in my listening room properly grounded to the rod buried next to my main breaker box. I had my doubts that these so called ‘virtual’ grounding box would make any difference. I decided to try the ‘virtual’ ground box to see if they would further improve my listening experience. The RGC-24K was easy choice for it’s unique approach, first RGC-24K was installed underneath my Accuphase Integrated (manufacturer recommends installation directly below the power transformer as the device also operates as a passive EMI/RFI filter).

Listening with RGC, the overall presentation had more subtlety as I could hear more detail and separation, everything was more "natural’’ and with enhanced definition. I also noticed, the overall sound is bit darker but deeper with the RGC-24K. I believe, the increased resolution and energy I heard was the direct result of drop in S/N ratio. Didn’t think it was possible given the components in my system and dedicated circuits but RGC-24K just manage to do that!

I am expecting Entreq boxes in next couple of weeks to try them on my router and Roon server, let’s see if they further increase my listening pleasure 😊

My experience was somewhat different. I had the Synergistic Research Active Ground Block SE in my system with all the necessary and recommended ground leads for a few months. When I took it out, I didn’t notice any difference so I sold it. Their PC12 SE on the other hand has been my go to conditioner for a while and I love it. 

@spenav 

I had a similar experience with Nordost QKORE. The QKORE effect was subtle at best which led me to believe that perhaps my system is somewhat immune to mechanical grounding....LOL!!  

Yep. Some well grounded people believe that these apparatus are effective only if there is a deficiency in the system that needs to be addressed. We are probably lucky 😀

Most of the audiophile grounding solutions available are grossly overpriced, IMHO.

It's not rocket science. Basically the same thing a good designer would do inside a component; star ground.

The most reasonably priced of these solutions and one based on solid, basic engineering principles is made by Puritan Audio Labs. Nice incremental approach if you want to start with a conditioner and then finish later with the ground options.

GroundMaster/RouteMaster Review

Any experiences with grounding boxes on negative terminals of speakers out there?

@antigrunge2 

I am anxiously waiting on a pair of Entreq Silver Minimus Infinity ground boxes. They should be here by end of March. I will be trying them on my speakers (my speakers has dedicated grounding posts), streamer and router.  

@lalitk,

pls give us your experience. I‘ll try out some Chinese boxes and give feedback

i got the Chinese boxes (Aliexpress:https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/0.html?orderId=8147827966369582&productId=4000164972611&edm_click_module=order_detail&tracelog=rowan&rowan_id1=outfordeliveryV2_1_en_US_2022-04-04&rowan_msg_id=9582814782796635$d9939e06f0f84affaf309b3e43c2b5a4&ck=in_edm_other) and attached them to the negative posts on my Duevel Bella Lunas. Significant opening out of the sound stage in both depth and width, much clearer deep bass and an all around clearer rendering of recordings

On a separate note I converted an old power cable into a grounding only connection and attached it to one of the negative binding posts on my Wavac EC300b amp with similar positive but altogether smaller effect.

Speaker grounding is highly recommended (be careful, though, your amp should be single ended, you otherwise risk shorting it)