HDMI and/or eARC ground loop Samsung 4K TV

[bubbasweet1]

I have a Dynaco Tube amp and preamp. Plugged into one outlet 1.

Across same room 10 feet over I have a Samsung TV with an eARC to RCA adapter plugged into the eARC HDMI input on the Samsung TV and one of those new Rogers/Shaw Wifi small cable boxes that connects to the Samsing HDMI also both Plugged Samsung and into outlet 2. RCA cables go form the eARC adapter to the Preamp for sound.

I tried plugging everything into outlet 1 and does not fix it. Hums

Audio works fine and No hum until I plug the HDMI cable from the Shaw box into the Samsung TV. Seems to be an HDMI ground loop even though both HDMI Boxes are plugged into the same HDMI ports on the same TV. No hum with the eARC box plugged in.

Hum starts when I plug HDMI from the cable box into the HDMI input on the TV. I have tried new Cable Box and new HDMI cables, same thing.

Is it possible ot lift the ground on the HDMI on the eARC box or the Cable Box? All this wouldn's matter if the DIP shits at Samsung didn't cheap out and put a 25 cent headphone out jack on these new 4K TVs. Only outs are Optic (cannot control volume with remote) or eARC which I can control Tube amp audio with remote via eARC adapter box so I need to go with option 2. Just not that familiar with HDMI ground loops. I saw a dongle that said it was an HDMI ground lift. Would that work?



THX

 

[swechsler]

Possible it's the cable bringing in the hum? Have you tried disconnecting that? Not that it'll help, since you obviously need it plugged in to use it, but that would be a source of a different ground. But I'd make sure that all the cable connections that you have access to are good and tight, and if you live in a house, make sure the grounding block is correctly wired in.

If that doesn't help, an optical HDMI cable* should isolate the grounds between the cable box and the amp. Just make sure that it's eARC compatible.

Regarding your Samsung's outputs, that's pretty common on modern TVs. I've got three non-entry-level sets made in the last couple of years, and none of them have analog outs other than a headphone jack.

* I note that one review for that cable says that they're still getting a ground loop, so you may need to widen your search for one with no metal between source and display.

 

[swechsler]

Hmm, I guess I didn't look that closely at your post. Does the fact that the cable box is a "wifi box" mean that there is no cable connection? If so, my first paragraph will be of no help to you.

 

[Swokie63]

Does the cable box have it's own volume control..?(some do)

If so, HDMI out of the box into audio breakout, HDMI out of breakout to tv(doesn't need to be ARC), rca out of breakout to your preamp..
Then control the volume with the cable remote.. see if the hum goes away..

This won't work for you if you also stream from smart tv apps..

 

[bubbasweet1]

Possible it's the cable bringing in the hum? Have you tried disconnecting that? Not that it'll help, since you obviously need it plugged in to use it, but that would be a source of a different ground. But I'd make sure that all the cable connections that you have access to are good and tight, and if you live in a house, make sure the grounding block is correctly wired in.

If that doesn't help, an optical HDMI cable* should isolate the grounds between the cable box and the amp. Just make sure that it's eARC compatible.

Regarding your Samsung's outputs, that's pretty common on modern TVs. I've got three non-entry-level sets made in the last couple of years, and none of them have analog outs other than a headphone jack.

* I note that one review for that cable says that they're still getting a ground loop, so you may need to widen your search for one with no metal between source and displ

Sorry I should have said it is a WIFi cable box. Yes eArc certified cable. thx for the reply.

 

[bubbasweet1]

Does the cable box have it's own volume control..?(some do)

If so, HDMI out of the box into audio breakout, HDMI out of breakout to tv(doesn't need to be ARC), rca out of breakout to your preamp..
Then control the volume with the cable remote.. see if the hum goes away..

This won't work for you if you also stream from smart tv apps..

yeah no volume. just a dumb wifi cable box, I really hust need to remove the HDMI Grounds but I am not sure they will work if I do that.. or the rca cable grounds on the earc adapter

 

[bubbasweet1]

The frustrating thing is both HDMI devices are same outlet/ground. But wven when all devices are on same outlet which I tried it still loops. It is the 2 HDMI outer metal which I assume it it's ground that causes it in same TV. maybe Samsung's HDMI inputs are at different ground potential? design flaw?

 

[Bill Ferris]

Maybe try a inexpensive coax ground isolator between the cable co`s. coax cable (assuming not fiber optic drop fed) and the cable box, as the outside entre cable grounding block may not be on the same grounding (power meter)as other components in this connection scheme.
Just a thought.

 

[bubbasweet1]

Maybe try a inexpensive coax ground isolator between the cable co`s. coax cable (assuming not fiber optic drop fed) and the cable box, as the outside entre cable grounding block may not be on the same grounding (power meter)as other components in this connection scheme.
Just a thought.

Thx but it is a wifi cable box. The issue seems to be the 2 HDMi cables are plugged into same Samsung tv and using same outlet. Is there an HDMI ground lifter I could try on one?

 

[Bill Ferris]

Thx but it is a wifi cable box. The issue seems to be the 2 HDMi cables are plugged into same Samsung tv and using same outlet. Is there an HDMI ground lifter I could try on one?

I`ve never heard of a HDMI ground lift adaptor, not saying they don`t exist, just never heard of one !

I`ve had a (5) room HDMI 1080P, AND (1) true 4K distributed video setup since 2009 using Cat 6 cable and their conversion devices, and have never had any ground loop/hum issues with it`s configuration, even though all these rooms have their outlets grounded, and no signal or power connection ground lift devices used in their configurations, both at the living room`s master signal source A/V rack that feeds all the rooms, nor needed or used in the endpoint rooms that receive the HDMI signals.

Sorry I can`t be of any help.

Good luck.

 

[bubbasweet1]

I`ve never heard of a HDMI ground lift adaptor, not saying they don`t exist, just never heard of one !

I`ve had a (5) room HDMI 1080P, AND (1) true 4K distributed video setup since 2009 using Cat 6 cable and their conversion devices, and have never had any ground loop/hum issues with it`s configuration, even though all these rooms have their outlets grounded, and no signal or power connection ground lift devices used in their configurations, both at the living room`s master signal source A/V rack that feeds all the rooms, nor needed or used in the endpoint rooms that receive the HDMI signals.

Sorry I can`t be of any help.

Good luck.

Yeaj I have not heard of one either just asking. Problem definitely happend when the outside of the cable box HDMI canle touches on where you plug it in.

 

[Swokie63]

Hello. My Samsung TV is connected to my Yamaha AVR RX-A3070 (HDMI 1 to AV2) from my set-top box and it works perfectly fine. But if I access Amazon Prime/Disney/Paramount/etc. on the TV, I'm not getting any audio output. What am I missing? Do I have to connect another HDMI cable between the TV and the AVR or is a separate audio cable needed? Or if there's an existing thread on this problem of mine, can you direct me to it? Thank You

Make sure the hdmi cable from the yamaha is connected to the hdmi/arc input on the tv, and turn simplink on in the tv menu..

ARC is audio return channel, so the hdmi input on the tv labeled arc is also an audio output back to the receiver..
Simplink is hdmi control which 'tells' the yamaha to switch it's input to receive the audio from the tv..

You'll also have to change audio out to hdmi/arc in the tv menu..
Yamaha's are usually set to hdmi control and arc by default, but you may check those settings in the yamaha menu as well..