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As many inmates know I've been suffering from a stubborn and intermittent problem with my rig, and a few weeks ago an electrician came out to the house and explained that, because the place is so old, the third pin in all of my outlets isn't actually connected to anything.
This afternoon a trusted friend who is also an electrician is coming to the house to rig a dedicated line with the modern, three-pin configuration running all the way back to the pole.
Here's my question: Suppose the problem I've been having is a ground loop. (There seems to be a fair amount of 60Hz hum, and there seems to be more when things are acting-up.) If there's a ground loop, will having a functional third pin in the outlet sockets fix it -- or do I have to start buying aftermarket gadgets like the Channel Islands XDC-2 or the Jensen CI-2RR?
Also, *could* a ground loop cause this buzz-like over-modulation in the upper midrange? This is an intermittent problem that generalizes across speakers and rooms and sources, so I think I've narrowed it down to either the power being "ungrounded," or the amp/preamp combination needing some kind of service.
One other question: When I'm all done slaying this problem (soon, I hope) I'm going to replace my slightly too-bright IC's, but I'm also a detail weirdo, so I don't want to err to far in the "forgiving" direction and feel like the new sound is dull and lifeless. I seem to have settled on the DH Labs BL-1 (I'm pretty-well broke at this point), but would welcome any reactions. And I know, I know, this is the wrong forum for that last question, but I figure the amp/preamp crowd ought to have some pretty well-vetted opinions about IC's.
Cheers, as always,
Dave.
Follow Ups:
Interesting question about grounds, etc. I just recently had a dedicated 20 amp grounded outlet installed and with all components plugged into it, it sounded worse than when they were all plugged into a two conductor non grounded outlet. The house wiring was so bad that there was not a ground on it before this new line was installed, along with a new panel and 3 other service lines including A/C.
I've been told on the general forum here that it takes awhile for the new romex, connections, etc. to break in. I've put the stuff back and am only powering the power amp with the new dedicated line. The preamp/cdp are plugged into a power strip with the TV that goes to the old 2 conductor line. I THINK it sounds better now, but not sure. Will have to listen carefully for a week or so and then try something else. Filters? Ground lifts? Everything back on the dedicated line?
...but based on my own situation, yes, it's great to be able to plug the notorious RF polluters into the old outlets, and keep the dedicated line pristine.
...But yes, too: the dedicated line made everything worse except for the stray voltage discharge leaking into my hand every time I touched the front aprons of my amp or preamp. Mercifully, that much is fixed now.
Seriously: I could start a believe-it-or-not museum with all the ridiculous (and sometimes inexplicable) problems I've had. I thought they were all attributable to ungrounded outlets causing fault energy to fry internal components, but I just bought a Marantz DVD player and it quit working properly on the second day out of the box.
I'm skating perilously close to giving up on the whole thing and getting an Aiwa bookshelf system and downmixing the 5.1 input.
Who is on a mission? I guess I am. From time to time, though, I've done what you suggest. Just drop back to some modest equipment and forget about the equipment for awhile.
With a recession/depression looming, now might be a good time for that.
On the one hand, we'll be able to pick up some pre-owned stuff for uber cheap -- but, on the other hand, anything that doesn't work out for us will cost us even more than usual on re-sale.
If you have an earth grounded outlet + if you attach a power bar/filter that preserves this earth ground in all the sockets + if you hook up all your gear to that power bar/filter using cables that preserve that earth ground + if each piece of equipment preserves that earth ground, then if you do have a ground loop, it will be easier to fix it by lifting the right ground. But assuming all the if statements are satisfied, you shouldn't have a ground loop problem.
I think the answer is no to your second question. That doesn't sound like a ground loop hum.
If you have used equipment, check inside to make sure that no one has done surgery on any of the grounds. Also check that all the grounding tabs on your rca connectors are tight, grounded and functioning. Check everything for continuity inside and out through the IC connections...and so on.
Many ground loops are inductance hums or faulty equipment problems.
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose
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