balanced cable from 1/8" to two mono 1/4"?

[fiveironfrenzy]

To start, I recently bought a pair of M-Audio BX8a monitor speakers and I love them so far, however, when nothing is playing a noticeable but not super loud hum comes over the speakers. I've read a few forum topics about ground loops and I've decided it could possibly be that, but also I was told at guitar center that a balanced cable could also possibly fix the problem. I'm running from a laptop 1/8" jack into the two mono 1/4" jacks on each speaker. Does a balanced cable exist to go between these two?

 

[TLS Guy]

To start, I recently bought a pair of M-Audio BX8a monitor speakers and I love them so far, however, when nothing is playing a noticeable but not super loud hum comes over the speakers. I've read a few forum topics about ground loops and I've decided it could possibly be that, but also I was told at guitar center that a balanced cable could also possibly fix the problem. I'm running from a laptop 1/8" jack into the two mono 1/4" jacks on each speaker. Does a balanced cable exist to go between these two?

No because the source is unbalanced. Does your laptop have a ground and do the speakers? If they both do that is likely the source of your loop, and a balanced cable would not solve it. A laptop is a lousy audio source by the way.

 

[fiveironfrenzy]

Yes, both are balanced. Also, I realize that a laptop is not the perfect audio source but I also don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on audio equipment. I'm lucky I could afford the speakers.

 

[TLS Guy]

Yes, both are balanced. Also, I realize that a laptop is not the perfect audio source but I also don't have hundreds of dollars to spend on audio equipment. I'm lucky I could afford the speakers.

Can't both be balanced, you can't balance an 1/8 phone jack. Never heard of a laptop with a balanced output.

Put a ground break on your laptop and I bet that will solve your ground loop, or make sure both speakers and laptop are plugged into the same outlet. You still may have to break all grounds except one though.

 

[fiveironfrenzy]

Can't both be balanced, you can't balance an 1/8 phone jack. Never heard of a laptop with a balanced output.

Put a ground break on your laptop and I bet that will solve your ground loop, or make sure both speakers and laptop are plugged into the same outlet. You still may have to break all grounds except one though.

I meant to say grounded on my last post not balanced, sorry. They are all plugged into the same outlet (surge protector). How would I go about putting a ground break on the laptop?

 

[TLS Guy]

I meant to say grounded on my last post not balanced, sorry. They are all plugged into the same outlet (surge protector). How would I go about putting a ground break on the laptop?

Put one of these on the laptop power plug.

The other issue is how your laptop connects to the Net. I assume it is a radio link. If you happen to be using an Ethernet cable, then the phone/cable system is likely the source of your ground loop.