[iFi audio]

Groundhog
Stay Grounded. Bring your system back to Earth.



Hum! Buzz! Hiss!

EMC legislation requires certain ways of designing AC power systems and this is not good news for audio systems! It leads to irritating audio gremlins that wreak havoc with your listening enjoyment. This interference is often caused by a missing Ground/Earth connection.

Banish audio gremlins!

At iFi, we know how annoying the gremlins can be so we created the Groundhog. Its sole objective is to put the Ground/Earth back into your system and banish those unwanted audio pests.



All you need to do is use a standard IEC power cable to connect the Groundhog to your audio system. The Groundhog then adds back the missing Ground/Earth connection to dissipate noise. It adds proper ground protection to shield out EMI and RFI noise which in turn eliminates hiss and hum, creating a darker background
sound and higher resolution.

Our Groundhog is one multi-talented animal to provide a variety of connections to suit all audio systems.

• RCA base cable – for any audio system with an unused RCA socket.
• USB converter – for a computer audio system. Just connect to a spare USB port.
• Spade converter – for power supplies with a DC barrel connector.
• 3.5mm Y-converter – for portable devices with an unused 3.5mm connection.

The retail price of the Groundhog is US$49 (ex-tax) or €59/£49 (incl VAT).

Full product info: http://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-groundhog/

 

[Makiah S]

I'm curious, do you guys have a little loaner sample floating around yet? At $50, I'd imagine if it did improve the quality of my System, I'd snatch it up and others as well

 

[iFi audio]

I'm curious, do you guys have a little loaner sample floating around yet? At $50, I'd imagine if it did improve the quality of my System, I'd snatch it up and others as well

There will be probably some tour regarding this product, but it's too early to tell.

 

[Topspin70]

Always innovating to make sound better. Hats off to you guys at @iFi audio

I'm currently using a HDPlex 100W to power the iCAN SE. It's a multi-rail LPS but somehow, as long as the iCAN SE is connected, connected anything else such as the iTube to the LPS will result in hum. Groundhog may finally be the answer. I'm trying my best to understand the manual but don't think I worked it out. Is it something I could connect to the LPS to eliminate the hum? I was advised previously to switch from a 3-pin to 2-pin power cable, but that's a safety compromise I'm not ready for.

 

[audi0nick128]

Just found out about this little device.
What would be the best way to use it with Mojo?
Would the 3.5mm Y converter be sufficient?

Should this only be plugged in an unused headphone jack or could I use it for Mojo coax input?

Cheers

 

[Danielbea122]

How would this connect to the ifi ican se?

 

[iFi audio]

How would this connect to the ifi ican se?

Please use either the one of free inputs, be it RCA or 3.5mm, or use the clip that's over the barrel of the DC connector. Any of these will work.

 

[iFi audio]

Just found out about this little device.
What would be the best way to use it with Mojo?
Would the 3.5mm Y converter be sufficient?

Should this only be plugged in an unused headphone jack or could I use it for Mojo coax input?

Cheers

You can use it on any spare, unused connection. It just needs to make the connection between ground & earth.

 

[iFi audio]

Always innovating to make sound better. Hats off to you guys at @iFi audio

I'm currently using a HDPlex 100W to power the iCAN SE. It's a multi-rail LPS but somehow, as long as the iCAN SE is connected, connected anything else such as the iTube to the LPS will result in hum. Groundhog may finally be the answer. I'm trying my best to understand the manual but don't think I worked it out. Is it something I could connect to the LPS to eliminate the hum? I was advised previously to switch from a 3-pin to 2-pin power cable, but that's a safety compromise I'm not ready for.

The problem there is two-fold.

First, if you use a multi-output power supply where each output is not galvanically isolated from the others, you introduce ground/earth loops.

Your experience past adding a second device on a separate rail causes hum, which leads to a shared ground (ground/earth loop) problem. Our Groundhog can't help with this.

Secondly, you comment regarding a 3-pin cable usage means that it's already grounded. So adding another ground via groundhog will not help to resolve existing ground loops.



We suggest you to peruse our trouble-shooting guide to identify the source of the ground (loops) and then consider what the best solution is. Please take a look here:

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/data/Why does my audio system hum_.pdf

One of the reasons why all iFi products use double isolated power supplies WITHOUT safety earth (naturally safe) is to eliminate the possibility of ground/earth loops.

However in a chain where NO device has an earth, this can again cause noise issues. Our Groundhog addresses only "No Earth/Missing Earth" situations.

 

[Danielbea122]

Please use either the one of free inputs, be it RCA or 3.5mm, or use the clip that's over the barrel of the DC connector. Any of these will work.

Doesn't work. I still hear cb radio interference so the ican se is basically unusable wish I could return it. Poor shielding.

 

[Topspin70]

The problem there is two-fold.

First, if you use a multi-output power supply where each output is not galvanically isolated from the others, you introduce ground/earth loops.

Your experience past adding a second device on a separate rail causes hum, which leads to a shared ground (ground/earth loop) problem. Our Groundhog can't help with this.

Secondly, you comment regarding a 3-pin cable usage means that it's already grounded. So adding another ground via groundhog will not help to resolve existing ground loops.



We suggest you to peruse our trouble-shooting guide to identify the source of the ground (loops) and then consider what the best solution is. Please take a look here:

https://ifi-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/data/Why does my audio system hum_.pdf

One of the reasons why all iFi products use double isolated power supplies WITHOUT safety earth (naturally safe) is to eliminate the possibility of ground/earth loops.

However in a chain where NO device has an earth, this can again cause noise issues. Our Groundhog addresses only "No Earth/Missing Earth" situations.

I see what you mean. Thanks for explaining the issue. Guess I got to work around it.

You guys have plans to produce a multi-output power source? Would be a great way to neaten up my row of iPowers powering my micros. ; )

 

[iFi audio]

Doesn't work. I still hear cb radio interference so the ican se is basically unusable wish I could return it. Poor shielding.

Such problems are best addressed on our Support Ticket System platform, to be found here: http://support.ifi-audio.com

There you have guaranteed response times and any issues will be passed to our relavant staff. We do check the forums and help when we can, yet at times things get lost in here.

Additionally, any returns/replacements not directly connected to your retailer etc. need to be authorized via a support ticket, so to have one opened will speed things up for sure.

In any case, one of our tech's came across your post and comments.

With RFI often the cause is cables act as antennae. In this case any shielding of the device has no effect, as the cables and their signals naturally must pass through the shield provided by the metal enclosure.

If CB-Radio at appx. 27MHz/11m wavelength is the cause, it is most likely being picked up by cables, especially unshielded cables (e.g. headphone cables).

A common solution is to place a clip on ferrite with a suitable frequency range (for CB radio 10-50MHz) on the offending cables. Some times several turns of cable through the ferrite may be needed.

More on the issues and background are to be found for example here:

https://www.acma.gov.au/Citizen/TV-...dio-interference-in-stereo-or-audio-equipment

Examples of ferrites that may be used are here:

https://www.parts-express.com/cat/cord-noise-suppressors/1458

 

[Danielbea122]

Such problems are best addressed on our Support Ticket System platform, to be found here: http://support.ifi-audio.com

There you have guaranteed response times and any issues will be passed to our relavant staff. We do check the forums and help when we can, yet at times things get lost in here.

Additionally, any returns/replacements not directly connected to your retailer etc. need to be authorized via a support ticket, so to have one opened will speed things up for sure.

In any case, one of our tech's came across your post and comments.

With RFI often the cause is cables act as antennae. In this case any shielding of the device has no effect, as the cables and their signals naturally must pass through the shield provided by the metal enclosure.

If CB-Radio at appx. 27MHz/11m wavelength is the cause, it is most likely being picked up by cables, especially unshielded cables (e.g. headphone cables).

A common solution is to place a clip on ferrite with a suitable frequency range (for CB radio 10-50MHz) on the offending cables. Some times several turns of cable through the ferrite may be needed.

More on the issues and background are to be found for example here:

https://www.acma.gov.au/Citizen/TV-...dio-interference-in-stereo-or-audio-equipment

Examples of ferrites that may be used are here:

https://www.parts-express.com/cat/cord-noise-suppressors/1458

I use the same exact cables with my schiit magni, little dot and emotiva basx with no issues. As far as ferrite goes I have spent about $100 on those with multiple mixtures for different frequency range.

As far as customer support i have opened 2 service tickets and it takes 3 days to get a response for each message which really sucks for troubleshooting.

Maybe my unit is defective, it happens but the customer support never offered an exchange they just told me aboht the groundhog and ferrite clips(i also bought ferrite rings). Nothing helps.

 

[iFi audio]

I use the same exact cables with my schiit magni, little dot and emotiva basx with no issues. As far as ferrite goes I have spent about $100 on those with multiple mixtures for different frequency range.

As far as customer support i have opened 2 service tickets and it takes 3 days to get a response for each message which really sucks for troubleshooting.

Maybe my unit is defective, it happens but the customer support never offered an exchange they just told me aboht the groundhog and ferrite clips(i also bought ferrite rings). Nothing helps.

We have spoken to our Support Ticket System team on your behalf. Your system/situation seems to be quite peculiar, hence they needed to ask our R&D team and that's why there is a lag. If our support crew come across a situation before then, we usually have the answer. Yet sometimes we do not and that's the story with your case.

 

[thyname]

Hi,

How do I use the Geoundhog to eliminate the hum when connecting the Lumin T1 Streamer / DAC directly to my Rotel RB-1590 Amp?

http://www.luminmusic.com/lumin-t1.html

http://www.rotel.com/product/rb-1590

Main Lumin unit and its external linear power supply both have earth ground terminals, but Rotel RB-1590 does not (just spare RCA ports I am not using.

See pics on Lumin back panel.

Thanks!