Gutwire Perfect Grounding Cable

This cable connects the ground of the circuit (via a phono plug neutral connection) to the ground pin of the Mains plug

Why? - Some circuit designs do not ground the neutral side of the circuit to the ground pin so there can be a noise buildup in that circuit

Grounding in this manner will ensure the neutral side of a connected circuit is grounded effectively - reducing the overall noise level

It provides a good solution to one aspect of the various noise related issues in a system

I have applied a similar DIY solution to components with  wal-wart power supplies or have a two pin plug (no ground) and it proved to be very effective

Now, all of my components have fully grounded circuits - so there is no need for this type of solution

When to use them?
- Check your component to determine if there is continuity between the neutral side of an input/output socket and the ground pin of the unit - if there is, there is no real need for one of these cables, but it will not be an issue if you still decide to use one

Gutwire make some very good power cables - this one goes one step further

Using this type of cable on every component will not create ground loop issues - if you have a hum while using this type of cable there is something wrong with a connected component - it is not the cable creating the issue

Regards

@slaw - re:

Wouldn't all of this be unnecessary if there was an industry standard on internal grounding of audio components?

YES! - wouldn't that be novel? - industry standards in audio? - no chance!

Most components (way back) were correctly grounded - then the Japanese came out with the isolated power supply approach (i.e. the two pin plugs) and now we have the Wal-Wart power supplies - both of which do not support grounded circuits.

There are even a few variants on grounded circuits - e.g.  NAIM, who believe the source should be the grounded component - which can cause serious hum if you use an un-grounded source - like a Japanese CD player - I know because I experienced it.

So it's left up to the customer to be aware of the various nuances of grounding and take the appropriate action.

It's a bit like making sure your pre-amp's output impedance is compatible   with your main amp's input impedance. If you mic brands this can be one reason a certain brand combination lacks "synergy"

If the industry can't come up with a standard for that one - what hope is there for a common grounding scheme?

"It is what it is" - I hate that expression and like you, would like the industry to resolve it - but it really is a non-starter.

They don't want a standards because then all components would work flawlessly across brands - and "a brand" would not really want that to happen.

Let's face it - how many people are loyal to a brand across all of their components? After all, It can be far less hassle!

The Gutwire cable is only a solution - IF the customer really understands the problem.

But the hype sounds good and if you have a hum in your system - you will probably be tempted to try it - and THAT is all they are after.

Synical? - you bet

Regards - Steve