Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Sound Science › Getting rid of ground loops: What is the best option?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Getting rid of ground loops: What is the best option?

post #1 of 38
11/2/12 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 

I'm currently using a three to two prong adapter on my amp, but apparently this is extremely dangerous.

 

Anyone know of any other solutions?

 

I've heard of ground loop isolators, but do they degrade the sound quality? It seems like they could mess with the sound a bit.

 

Are there better options?

Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 38
11/2/12 at 7:46pm

Well, I wouldn't say it's EXTREMELY dangerous, but it does defeat the AC safety ground which isn't recommended.

 

What's your signal chain?

 

se

Reply
post #3 of 38
11/2/12 at 7:59pm
Thread Starter 

PC > Asgard > Headphones.

 

Plugged into the same power strip(some Belkin rotating one).

Reply
post #4 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:00pm
Ive heard of plugs you put in the power point to absorb residual electricity. They may help. Apparently they're cheap.

But im no expert. Listen to steve.
Reply
post #5 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:07pm

Something like the Jensen CI-2RR would break your ground loop. They're not exactly cheap, but they're very high quality.

 

http://jensentransformers.com/ci2rr.html

 

Edit: Just checked, Markertek has them for $149.95, which is $30 less than what Jensen's selling them for direct.

 

se


Edited by Steve Eddy - 11/2/12 at 8:09pm
Reply
post #6 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Eddy View Post

Something like the Jensen CI-2RR would break your ground loop. They're not exactly cheap, but they're very high quality.

 

http://jensentransformers.com/ci2rr.html

 

Edit: Just checked, Markertek has them for $149.95, which is $30 less than what Jensen's selling them for direct.

 

se

He was already advised on a isolator in another thread. I think he's looking for some kind of other alternative. Such as lifting the ground,

super shielded cables or something otherwise out of the box...

Reply
post #7 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

He was already advised on a isolator in another thread. I think he's looking for some kind of other alternative. Such as lifting the ground,

super shielded cables or something otherwise out of the box...

I was?

 

I was curious here if using one degrades sound quality. I've only heard of them just recently, and was looking into them.

 

Thanks Steve, I might give that a shot. $150 doesn't seem bad, definitely better than buying a transformer or something. 

 

Although I'm wondering, is it really just the device that has the 3 to 2 prong adapter that's at risk(other than me being at risk of being electrocuted)? Because I'm not sure if it would be worth it for me to spend $150 to protect a $250 amp that's under warranty. But if it helps protect the other $1500 of stuff in the strip it would be worth it.

Reply
post #8 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy4 View Post

I was?

 

I was curious here if using one degrades sound quality. I've only heard of them just recently, and was looking into them.

 

Thanks Steve, I might give that a shot. $150 doesn't seem bad, definitely better than buying a transformer or something. 

 

Although I'm wondering, is it really just the device that has the 3 to 2 prong adapter that's at risk(other than me being at risk of being electrocuted)? Because I'm not sure if it would be worth it for me to spend $150 to protect a $250 amp that's under warranty. But if it helps protect the other $1500 of stuff in the strip it would be worth it.

Got you and the OP boyyo mixed up, apologies. 

 

The other thing you may want to double check is that it's a ground loop and not hum from interconnects.

 

My Lyr drove me crazy for a while and it turns out after switching out the RCA's the noise went away. 


Edited by paradoxper - 11/2/12 at 8:24pm
Reply
post #9 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

Got you and the OP boyyo mixed up, apologies. 

 

The other thing you may want to double check is it's a ground loop and not hum from interconnects.

Yeah I figured, not a problem.

 

It's a ground loop though, the 3 to 2 prong fixes it. I'm just concerned about the safety of it.

Reply
post #10 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy4 View Post

Yeah I figured, not a problem.

 

It's a ground loop though, the 3 to 2 prong fixes it. I'm just concerned about the safety of it.

You're pretty much putting your gear at risk if something power related were to happen. 

 

I'd definitely defer to Steve on if/how it's possible to make a cheater plug safer.

Reply
post #11 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

You're pretty much putting your gear at risk if something power related were to happen. 

 

I'd definitely defer to Steve on if/how it's possible to make a cheater plug safer.

Yeah but all my gear in the strip, or just the gear with the cheater plug?

 

Because that's definitely covered by warranty, they recommended using one. So it wouldn't be worth it to spend $150 on it unless it's a fire hazard or can damage other stuff in the strip.

Reply
post #12 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy4 View Post

Yeah but all my gear in the strip, or just the gear with the cheater plug?

 

Because that's definitely covered by warranty, they recommended using one. So it wouldn't be worth it to spend $150 on it unless it's a fire hazard or can damage other stuff in the strip.

That's weird. Cheater plugs violate codes, so I'm wondering how or why they'd standy by the warranty. Steve, you got any insight?

 

The risk is nominal, but still, it's a risk. An isolation transformer would solve the problem and ease your mind of any accidents.

Reply
post #13 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

That's weird. Cheater plugs violate codes, so I'm wondering how or why they'd standy by the warranty. Steve, you got any insight?

 

The risk is nominal, but still, it's a risk. An isolation transformer would solve the problem and ease your mind of any accidents.

Schiit recommends using a cheater plug, so that would be pretty messed up if it voided the warranty.

 

I am guessing it puts more than just the amp in danger worst case scenario though...

Reply
post #14 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chewy4 View Post

Schiit recommends using a cheater plug, so that would be pretty messed up if it voided the warranty.

 

I am guessing it puts more than just the amp in danger worst case scenario though...

They do?

 

I've never heard of anyone electrocuting themselves from a cheater plug, but I suppose, yea, there's a risk (worst case scenario).

Reply
post #15 of 38
11/2/12 at 8:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

They do?

 

I've never heard of anyone electrocuting themselves from a cheater plug, but I suppose, yea, there's a risk (worst case scenario).

Yep, in the case of ground loops that's what they tell people to use. Both in the Asgard manual and they've recommended me use one via email.

 

There have been cases of people getting electrocuted by them but I'm more concerned about my gear. I can just turn the amp off whenever I'm messing with the plugs.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Sound Science

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Sound Science › Getting rid of ground loops: What is the best option?