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Ground Cheater plug or....

Maybe this isn't a good idea, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I have what I believe to be a persistent ground loop hum from my amplifier. It's quiet, inaudible if music playing or unless you're standing next to the speaker, but knowing it's there is annoying.

I've heard suggestions to use a cheater plug to defeat the ground, but it seems counterintuitive to stick a 35cent plastic plug between expensive cables and power supplies. My question is, couldn't you accomplish the same thing by disconnecting the ground wire in the outlet, and still exact the benefits of better cables?

I'm sure the fire marshall would disapprove, but I'd like to hear what the hi-fi nuts have to say.

Cheers!
grimace
lifeengineer
55 posts
 
Why not try a PS audio humbuster ?
Post removed 
puerto
372 posts
 
I use cheaters on my mono blocks to solve the same issues - nothing else worked!
broimp
10 posts
 
I had the same problem. Cause was the fact that one of my amps uses a grounded plug, the other not and they live on the same circuit, unfortunately. You may want to look to see if you have a similar situation. Two and 3 prong devices on the same circuit can cause this problem. Start disconnecting and reconnecting stuff and you will probably find out what is doing it. Chances are nothing is broken. I wound up using a cheater. No fires so far (10 years)
broimp
10 posts
 
Yes all devices you have are grounded, some are chassis grounds (2 prong devices) and some externally(3 prong). The problem is that these grounds are just different enough to create a small current flow when they are on the same circuit and that is what you hear as 60 Hz hum. Rewiring all to be 3 prong will most likely fix, but that is pretty extreme. Not saying this is your issue, just that it was mine.
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