Jaf2290 - Plugging components into a common receptacle is a good way to minimize the chance of a ground loop, what you are trying to avoid is a difference in impedance to ground between two components. This is also why a heavy gauge ground conductors are sometimes helpful (keeps everything at near zero impedance to ground & so minimizes differential). For what it is worth, some manufacturers reccomend plugging all components into a common power strip as a starting point.
Phase in household wiring is typically thought of in terms of which side of the incoming 220v supply you are tied to (the center is usually grounded so you end up with two 110v sides or phases) , positive and negative are usually thought of as refering to polarity.
Viiu - good luck, ground loops can be a nuisance. One thing to remember is that a ground loop can't come from one component. To have a gound loop you have to be tied to ground at two different places (i.e. there has to be a loop for current to flow through), so you should be able to break the loop (and eliminate the noise) by breaking the connection at more than one place.
Phase in household wiring is typically thought of in terms of which side of the incoming 220v supply you are tied to (the center is usually grounded so you end up with two 110v sides or phases) , positive and negative are usually thought of as refering to polarity.
Viiu - good luck, ground loops can be a nuisance. One thing to remember is that a ground loop can't come from one component. To have a gound loop you have to be tied to ground at two different places (i.e. there has to be a loop for current to flow through), so you should be able to break the loop (and eliminate the noise) by breaking the connection at more than one place.