[spidert622]

Here is my setup:
Custom made desktop -(via USB)- flow audio dac 1.3 - Schiit Mjolnir - balanced 4 pin xlr cable - lcd-2 rosewood

My problem:
HUGE background noise. Totally random buzzing with peaking highs sounding like an alien trying to communicate with me (perhaps it really is an alien?) I am powering the schiit mjolnir with the stock cable into some random crappy $6 dollar power strip (ewwwwww.... I know) At first I thought that this was the problem, but I plugged it into a different outlet (completely unused and nothing else plugged into it) and the random noise got WAY worse. Maybe 2–3x louder and more annoying. Do you recommend I go out and buy myself a nice power condition ($500-600) or should I spend less maybe ($200). Also is it possible that the problem is actually the amplifier itself?

Also when my system goes into playing a game (100% power usage on all 3 graphics cards) the noise gets ALOT louder (to the point where it is all I hear with muffled lyrics behind it) this is obnoxious and really makes games or anything gpu intensive (video editing,rendering) annoying and unusable.

I can listen to music and I don't really hear it very much (when my system isn't running on 100% power) But during quiet parts or music that in general just isn't very loud it is extremely distracting and makes my $2000 dollar audio setup feel very lacking and cheap.

I have narrowed down the problem to either being my power or my amplifier.

Please help
Thank you

 

[spidert622]

Bump...

 

[Radioking59]

Sounds like it could be a ground loop. Schiit says "Try a GFCI to isolate the ground."

http://schiit.com/faq/amp-problems

Here's a thread about it.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/634572/getting-rid-of-ground-loops-what-is-the-best-option

 

[spidert622]

Thank you for your help!
 
I tried my setup on a GFCI circuit, and the result was dead silent no background noise.
Absolute perfection!
 
Thank you all!