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Synergistic Research Active Shielding Element Series - HUM

68.184.93.207
Posted on August 6, 2020 at 20:56:45
phinson
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Joined: October 7, 2009
 I've used Synergistic Research's Element series cables throughout my system with good success. However I have a new phono preamp and its not playing nice with SR's Element Series cables which have the active shielding feature which requires a small wall wart. I'm getting a bad ground loop when I use this cable. There is no ground pin on the wall wart to by pass and I've tried doing the normal things like unplugging other components etc. Is using an interconnect with an active "shield" a bad idea when dealing with very low voltage phono signals? Could there be something wrong with the cable or with the wall wart?

- Paul

 

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RE: Synergistic Research Active Shielding Element Series - HUM, posted on August 6, 2020 at 23:09:58
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 I doubt there is anything wrong with the cable, or the wall wart. SR tests everything before product gets shipped.

Do you have another outlet in the room with which you can plug in the wall wart? Hopefully it's on another branch circuit. I'm thinking that the wall wart is introducing some high-frequency noise on the circuit you're plugging into.

 

RE: Synergistic Research Active Shielding Element Series - HUM, posted on August 7, 2020 at 09:20:00
Mike B.
Audiophile

Posts: 26354
Location: OR
Joined: September 27, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 1, 1999
 How close is the new phono stage to the cables with active grounding? Have you tried a non active grounding cable on the phono preamp?


 

Does the cable have the option to simply ground the shield and not drive it?, posted on August 7, 2020 at 11:25:07
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 That would eliminate the active drive as the point of hum ingress.

 

try the iFi Groundhog, posted on August 7, 2020 at 16:13:33
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 6064
Joined: April 6, 2000



iFi Groundhog kit includes a lead with a spade-like hook that grounds the DC barrel (of the power supply for Synergistic).

Personally, I would just DIY a similar wire and wrap the bare wire end to the DC barrel and run it to ground pin of wall outlet. Cheap.

 

RE: Synergistic Research Active Shielding Element Series - HUM, posted on August 7, 2020 at 17:34:52
phinson
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Joined: October 7, 2009
 Thanks for all the suggestions. I've tried them all truly. I can't MAKE the system hum with these cables unless the active shield is energized. I tried reversing the polarity running a long extension to an outlet on another branch circuit etc etc. I called SR late this afternoon and I can't say enough good things about their response. They said they would check with their engineers and call me back and in about 30 minutes I got a return call. In this series of cables (element series - copper tungsten etc) -- a low voltage DC current is used to energize the shield and these cables WILL HUM if used to drive a low level phono signal such as that from a VPI table equipped with a Dynavector 17d3 (.3 mv output) to a phono preamp. That's the official word. They were very prompt and very courteous. And as I mentioned, the hum is noticeable only at high volumes but it IS noticeable. Thank you everyone. Looks like I need a different cable.
- Paul

 

RE: Synergistic Research Active Shielding Element Series - HUM, posted on August 8, 2020 at 11:54:35
alan m. kafton
Manufacturer

Posts: 5285
Joined: April 7, 2000
 Good follow-up on all counts. Good that you (and SR) have isolated the problem, and the solution.

 

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