2. amps-preamps
  3. 1236409165

Strange ground loop...?

Hey,

I just hooked up a new amp and I'm having a strange noise issue. Only in my right channel, I get this high-pitched whine... maybe around 2khz. My left channel is dead silent.

The problem seems to be an interaction between my DAC and my amp. If the DAC is off, the amp is silent.

The amp is an 84' yamaha, so the cord has no ground. There is a ground screw, though, and I have connected that to my power conditioner, hoping this would solve it... nope.

I've tried plugging the amp straight into the same outlet that the power conditioner is plugged into (into which the DAC is plugged in). That actually did work... but I don't want to run my amp straight into the wall.

I suspect I just need to find a proper place to run that ground wire...

Any ideas?
djembeplay
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Try connecting a wire (any thin, cheap wire) from a chassis screw on your DAC to a chassis screw (or ground post) on your amp.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
3,575 posts
 
Djembeplay - I did not read your posts about cables carefully. If it's Blue Jeans cable and is grounded on both ends, like Bob says, then switching cable direction wouldn't make any difference.

It is difficult to find something in this price range (and I don't have a lot of experience). You might be able to find used AQ King Cobra (previously Python). It is very nice and neutral cable.
djembeplay OP
169 posts
 
Ya... I'll try the grounding thing and let you know how it goes.

Would this be the same as grounding my amp to my power conditioner? I tried that... and it altered the nature of the distortion, but did not remove it.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Would this be the same as grounding my amp to my power conditioner?
Djembeplay (Threads | Answers)
A variation on the theme.

I was advised to do this between a source component that was causing a hum and my preamp, and doing so eliminated the hum.
djembeplay OP
169 posts
 
Grounding issues are always 60Hz hums though, right?

This one is like 2-4KHz... and varies as I alter the volume levels of my pre-amp.
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