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Quote:
So where do ground loop problems arise from exactly? If I have multiple audio components that are all using 3 pin IEC connectors, then they're all sharing a common ground back at the switch box, correct?
Just to clarify a few things.
First, a rod stuck in the dirt (i.e. earth ground) has absolutely no relevance whatsoever to an audio system with respect go "ground." The rod stuck in the dirt is only there for lightning protection.
Second, the third pin on the AC power cord also has absolutely no relevance whatsoever to an audio system with respect to "ground" other than being the leading cause of ground loop problems.
The third pin is there purely for safety purposes. It's tied to neutral back at the service panel and provides a return path for fault currents in the event that a failure should cause AC hot to contact the equipment chassis. This prevents you from being the return path and getting electrocuted. Sadly, it's not terribly difficult to design equipment chassis to meet Class II specs (i.e. "double insulated") in which case the third pin is not required. However these things get slapped onto everything, even equipment which does meet Class II specs. For some reason, people have come to believe that equipment with a 3 pin IEC 320 receptacle on the back is a sign of "quality." But as I said previously, outside of safety purposes, all it does is create ground loop problems.
The only "ground" that is relevant is the equipment's own internal ground.
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So where do ground loop problems arise from exactly? If I have multiple audio components that are all using 3 pin IEC connectors, then they're all sharing a common ground back at the switch box, correct?