FWIW, with this multi device configuration, are all units plugged into one serving power outlet, via the mounted 8 socket power strip in the picture ?
I can see a power strip in the first picture, but it looks like it has what looks like a few outlets remained unused considering all the audio equipment setup in the garage system`s picture.
To help avoid noisy/hum causing ground loops, it is best to try power all the equipment through 1 single outlet if possible, via a quality rated power distribution strip, or box that way all the ground pins of any of their power cords at at or nearly at the same ground conductivity point, thus reducing or preventing noisy circulatory ground currents between the interconnected audio equipment.
I learned about this problem setting up and running non-humming powerful multi amp/bi-amplified PA systems in local nightclubs for rock bands in the seventies.
And later in my own home`s distributed to 5 room stereos, all fed A/V signals from my living room`s master A/V signals source rack.
Talk about ground loop created noise issues caused by the different power/signal grounds paths lengths between the various rooms power grounds to each other, and to the electrical panel`s ultimate single point reference ground connection !
Good luck to the OP with tracking down the lowest hum/noise/safest selected ground lift adaptor power cord method ! (hint: try to lift the C220`s power cord`s ground first to see any positive hum reduction)
Hey there, Bill. Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed information. It sounds as though you’ve spent some saddle time in this rodeo yourself.
Your eagle-eye apparently spotted the secondary plugstrip at the taller rack—impressive catch! That plugstrip (I’ll call it PS-2) is daisy-chained from the primary plugstrip (PS-1), which itself is located at the bottom of the short rack that holds the two MC60s. So, the two plugstrips are connected to the same circuit and the same wall receptacle, but PS-2 is downstream from PS-1. Presently there is no power conditioner at the head end of this system.
Summary of Loads, per plugstrip:
PS-1
(1) MC2300
(2) MC60s
(1) Subfeed to PS-2
PS-2
(1) C220
(1) streamer
(1) DAC
(1) or (2) electronic crossover(s), depending upon which is in use.
(1) Marantz CD6007 CD player.
The plugstrips are both properly grounded, with third prongs (u-grounds) intact. The circuit itself is also properly grounded. The power cord to the MC2300 is not factory issue, but it is a 14-3 cable with the u-ground intact. The cord to the C220 is factory issue, 3-wire, grounded. Everything else has a polarized (fat blade & narrow blade) 2-prong cord EXCEPT the MC60s which have archaic 2-wire, non-polarized plug ends. However, there is no buzz or hum coming through those two amps (which power the “top end”).
It was also suggested to me by Mr “SaturationPt” that I try isolating the ground on the MC2300 to see if the noise changes/goes away. Two things are keeping me from making progress in this quest:
1) My son is staying with me while he remodels his home and he has commandeered my garage, turning it into both his 40 hr/week office and a 24-7 kennel for his two big dogs and one surly cat. I now need to book time in my own garage, the space into which my wife already banished both me and my “wall of sound wannabe system” (as she calls it)! I’m thinking of adopting Rodney Dangerfield as AK name now.
2) This is perhaps the real reason I’m not out in the garage right now. I’m also trying out some new gear for the primary system in the house. And since I can now play martyr, due to how I’ve been treated in regard the garage and the system that now lives out there, I have lots of latitude to mix and match, do sound countless checks, move interfering furniture around—you know, stuff like that. It’s good fun and I’m loving it!!
But all this will come to end soon enough. Hopefully I’ll achieve whatever it is that I hope to achieve by buying/trying new equipment for the primary system before I’m back begging for studio time in my own damn garage again. Anyway, I’ll get back troubleshooting the possible ground loop problem in due course.
Thanks again for your ideas. And, hey, thanks for listening.
Best to you and I’ll be back in touch.
Michael
