Parasound ground hum,help?!

[Ideagolfer]

I just picked up a Parasound 2100 pre and a 2125v2 amp. Love them!! The only connections hooked up is the phono,MP3 connect on front panel,and I run RCA's from the audio out on my tv to the preamp. And that is when I received a beautiful ground hum on all inputs. Unplug the connection from the tv and all is right with the world. I'm using Audioquest Evergreens RCAs. Anyone have any ideas to get rid of the hum? It's not loud,just audible between tracks or breaks of sound. Help!!! It's driving me bonkers...

 

[TLS Guy]

I just picked up a Parasound 2100 pre and a 2125v2 amp. Love them!! The only connections hooked up is the phono,MP3 connect on front panel,and I run RCA's from the audio out on my tv to the preamp. And that is when I received a beautiful ground hum on all inputs. Unplug the connection from the tv and all is right with the world. I'm using Audioquest Evergreens RCAs. Anyone have any ideas to get rid of the hum? It's not loud,just audible between tracks or breaks of sound. Help!!! It's driving me bonkers...

What are you using for TV service, cable or satellite? This ground loop is almost certainly coming from your TV installation due to improper installation. To help you I need full details of this installation and how it is grounded in the home.

Also what happens to the hum when you disconnect the TV from the TV service by removing the RGB cable in the back of the TV?

I think I pretty much have to redo all installations after every visit by a Direct TV installer.

 

[Ideagolfer]

Trying to reply but keep getting error messages... Grrr

 

[Ideagolfer]

Either this forum don't like the word television,splitter,or cable... Somehow my g-rated replies keep getting flagged as inappropriate and not allowing me to post my reply... Silly administrator... You're fired!

 

[TLS Guy]

Either this forum don't like the word television,splitter,or cable... Somehow my g-rated replies keep getting flagged as inappropriate and not allowing me to post my reply... Silly administrator... You're fired!

We have never had a report of that before. It has never happened to me. Must be something wrong with your computer or Email server.

 

[Don G.]

Quick question, does your TV have an optical out you could try? Most of the newer TV's have them and they are pretty much immune to any ground loop issues.

 

[TLS Guy]

Quick question, does your TV have an optical out you could try? Most of the newer TV's have them and they are pretty much immune to any ground loop issues.

His Parasound pre is analog only. So he would need a DAC for Toslink to RCA conversion. If we can get the details there may be a simpler way.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

What about plugging the TV into a $2 cheater plug from Walmart?

 

[TLS Guy]

What about plugging the TV into a $2 cheater plug from Walmart?

I doubt that will do the trick, as TV ground loops are usually caused by potential between the cable or satellite system ground and the AV system ground.

 

[Speedskater]

It's better to solve the problem rather than to use a cheater and create a dangerous situation.

 

[auronihilist99]

https://www.amazon.com/Isolation-Transformer-Ground-Loop-Isolator/dp/B00B2HFE2O/ref=sr_1_62?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1466626963&sr=1-62

 

[TLS Guy]

https://www.amazon.com/Isolation-Transformer-Ground-Loop-Isolator/dp/B00B2HFE2O/ref=sr_1_62?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1466626963&sr=1-62View attachment 18480

That may not work. It will not work with satellite systems as it will not pass the DC phantom power. It might not pass the digital signatures of a lot of cable systems either. Comcast Xfinity can only be split twice and with very high bandwidth splitters. That transformer will count as a split assuming it even has the bandwidth.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It's better to solve the problem rather than to use a cheater and create a dangerous situation.

I can see it being dangerous if someone plugged a big amp into the cheater plug.

But is it still dangerous to plug in a TV or satellite receiver into the cheater plug?

 

[slipperybidness]

I can see it being dangerous if someone plugged a big amp into the cheater plug.

But is it still dangerous to plug in a TV or satellite receiver into the cheater plug?

The idea is that current will flow through the ground connection to earth ground, rather than through your body to earth ground--electricity follows the path of least resistance.

So, yes, using a cheater plug for any scenario is defeating a safety feature, and is therefore never the recommended approach. Notice how those cheaters have that ring of metal on the outside? That is meant to be tied to earth ground for safety.

But, in general a TV or Satellite may not even have the 3rd prong on the cable so a cheater or no cheater may be a moot point.

 

[Cos]

That may not work. It will not work with satellite systems as it will not pass the DC phantom power. It might not pass the digital signatures of a lot of cable systems either. Comcast Xfinity can only be split twice and with very high bandwidth splitters. That transformer will count as a split assuming it even has the bandwidth.

I have had this problem pop up when I was at my previous address. I used both Comcast and Wide Open West and it solved the problem on both. Same type that was suggested earlier, just different company

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017I3K9M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I would try this and if it doesn't work, Amazon has a liberal return policy

 

[slipperybidness]

I have had this problem pop up when I was at my previous address. I used both Comcast and Wide Open West and it solved the problem on both. Same type that was suggested earlier, just different company

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017I3K9M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I would try this and if it doesn't work, Amazon has a liberal return policy

It would be worth a try, may or may not work depending on the setup.

When I had this problem with a poorly grounded coax from the cable company, I was able to solve the problem by using the in/out coax connections on my surge protector power strip.