Hum/Ground Loop Issue Resolved

[Cory Cooper]

Hi All,

Just wanted to give an update to my hum/ground loop issue I have been troubleshooting since I purchased my UMC-1/XPA-5 back in July.

I tried just about everything to correct the issues, as discussed in this thread: Possible Purchase. Nothing worked totally, but some steps did reduce the hum to lower levels, noticeable with no signal and a very quiet room.

I was reading some posts on other forums/Internet and came across information regarding running grounding wires attached to the chassis of components. I also thought I remembered that someone here had done some form of custom grounding wth their setup and there were a few pictures. It started me thinking that I had also heard of this before with pro sound reinforcement equipment. At the same time, I remembered that my Monster Power HTS 5100 has a grounding post on the rear of the unit. So, I shut everything down, unplugged everything, and made a couple of wires out of 14AWG, stranded, THHN cable and some insulated ring connectors on both ends. I connected them to screws on the sides of the chassis of the UMC-1 and XPA-5, then to the grounding post on the HTS 5100. I powered everything back up and...wait for it...the hum is gone!

I contacted Emotiva and Monster Cable to make sure this was a safe way to attack the problem and they confirmed it was. Vincent explained that what I have done is a form of star grounding.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my relief. Questions and comments are welcome.

C

[paradigmE]

Star grounding indeed - some ground loop/hum issues are more difficult than others to narrow down and looks like you found yourself in the same boat Ive run into. Glad to hear you are back to silence!~~

[ÈlTwo]

Nice job.

I had a recent hum issue, and it was LOUD. It seemed odd, until I realized that it started after Sandy, when my electrical conduit had been torn from the house, and then reconnected.

It finally struck me that I should check the ground to my cable outside, and, sure enough, it was very loose. Tightened it, and the hum magically disappeared.

Just goes to show that sometimes it's complicated, like Cory's situation, and sometimes it's simple.

[cawgijoe]

Yes....I did this with my setup awhile back and mentioned it here. Grounded my Pioneer Elite receiver to my Adcom ACE-515 surge protector exactly as described. Problem solved.

This was suggested by an EE friend of mine and worked perfectly.

[emovac]

I posted this for another member a couple of weeks ago. This solution worked for me. Good luck.

www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8179_Monster-Cable-MPC-ISM-201XLN.html

Previous post: I had a difficult to solve hum problem emitting from my center channel. Tried darn near everything. I tried the above product on the input between my pre pro and multi channel amp, center channel, and it solved it. The product worked for different amps, and different pre pros, since the condition remained when I removed this noise reducer when I replaced either/both components, or inserted a cable without the reducer.

Hum is a frustrating issue. Often solved through hit or miss, trial & error. Good luck.