Ground Loop Hum

Cyndale
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Cyndale »

Fran wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:12 pm Can you try moving your cables (interconnects) around a bit and see if the intensity of hum changes? Also try disconnecting the components one by one in your system to see if one is contributing hum? I've seen SPDIF connections doing this for example.
I disconnected all interconnects and changed them round, no difference.

I did notice hum increase or decrease if I wiggled either of the power amp cables.
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Fran
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Fran »

You definitely want the amps safety grounded - connected to mains earth in other words. Especially with valve amps in particular.

Its worth putting in half an hour to reposition the amps, cables etc to see if some re-routing could kill the hum for you. I take it these are commercial valve amps, or are they DIY ones?
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Ivor
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Ivor »

Fran wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:44 pm
Its worth putting in half an hour to reposition the amps, cables etc to see if some re-routing could kill the hum for you.
This clicks with me. I had a horrible hum and it was because my phono stage was too near the valve power amp. Not near in any obvious sense but still too near. Moved bits about... problem solved.
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Cyndale
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Cyndale »

Fran wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:44 pm You definitely want the amps safety grounded - connected to mains earth in other words. Especially with valve amps in particular.

Its worth putting in half an hour to reposition the amps, cables etc to see if some re-routing could kill the hum for you. I take it these are commercial valve amps, or are they DIY ones?
Croft valve amps, have had them for centuries, ha!
nige2000
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by nige2000 »

aghh.... doesn't everybody love ground
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Derek
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Derek »

Somewhere to keep your feet.
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Cyndale
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Cyndale »

Hhhmmm! So that's the best anybody can do!
nige2000
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by nige2000 »

if you cant resolve it externally,
its probably time to look inside to see what way it was earth grounded and if it can be improved apon
if its crudely connected chassis earth to signal ground an alternative is likely to easily solve it
Last edited by nige2000 on Sat Feb 17, 2018 12:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
sd card player, modded soekris dac, class a lifepo4 amp or gb class a/b amp, diy open baffle speakers based on project audio mundorf trio 10's
Cyndale
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Cyndale »

Just wondering... I have the amps on a 3-tier Target stand. Power amp on top, preamp in middle, power amp at bottom.

Could the metal stand be having an influence?
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Fran
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Re: Ground Loop Hum

Post by Fran »

Is the preamp active or passive?


Are you confident opening up the bottom of the amp where there are lethal DC voltages - not like AC these are much more dangerous?
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