Cable TV causing system ground problems!

I have also had this problem several times in the past. Power conditioners, filters, cords, and such will have absolutel no effect on this problem. For a cheap fix, you can go to RadioShack and get a "ground loop isolator". This is basically as set of cheap RCA's witht he isolator on them. It works 100%. If you want t spend the extra money you ca get a MAGIC. For details on the MAGIC, as well as info on eliminating these, you can go to Michael Elliot's website, altavistaaudio.com, and go to the hums and buzzes section. He has links to retailers of the high end tiems. After years of struggling with this problem via expensive audiophile/videaphile fixes, and even disco'ing the cable when listening to music, a friend brought over the $8 Radio Shac fix and it worked like a charm. Hope this helps.

It does, and you're right. I am not a big TV fan..and am a big music fan..so I have just kept the two seperate.

Whatjd, Are you saying that the cable from my external FM antenna to my tuner can cause some sort of problem? I haven't noticed any, even when my tuner is on while playing other sources. I also don't have any problem with cable TV of which I'm unaware. Appreciate your input.

I agree that the best solution is to keep CATV separate, but for a variety of real world reasons mine isn't. But I've had excellent results in effectively eliminating hum/buzz -- and other problems -- in my audio system using the ISOMAX VR-1FF isolation transformer from Jensen Transformers (www.jensentransformers.com). It's specifically designed to squelch CATV ground loop problems at the source and this piece is more effective than the Radio Shack piece by an order of magnitude. It costs $49, but is well worth it. CATV connections can cause all sorts of complex ground loop & even feedback problems. This item is a simple & effective fix.

Sfbaydude: I was speaking of cable TV/internet/FM..but not the 75 ohm coax lead from an external FM antenna. It is good that your cable TV input is not causing any concerns with your hi-fi system. Cable TV need not have ground concerns...but often does..and if it does, and your TV is connected in some way to your audio system..it will cause sound quality concerns. With anyone, the easiest way is to find out is just disconnect the cable (and all TV related items/cables) from you audio system..and listen. If your system sounds better with the cable/TV components disconnected..then there is likely a cable TV-ground concern.