Ground Loop isolator?

[Evilash1996]

I just bought a ground loop isolator from radio shack. Its a piece of s**t and the R audio channel keeps bugging out so I am going to return it. But is it useful for a Turntable system to have one? Or is it useless unless absolutely needed? I didn't hear any difference on my system from having it on or off. I don't hear any humming on the speakers so I am assuming I don't need one but are there any other advantages to having this? Or should I just save my money?

[Alec124c41]

If it does not solve a problem, save your money.

Cheers,
Alec

[Evilash1996]

If it does not solve a problem, save your money.

Cheers,
Alec

Turns out it was giving me more problems anyway. The right channel wasn't working half the time, it amplified the popping and crackling of the records(I dont know how though), connections were weak, and I didn't hear any improvement of anything anyway. Thanks for the feedback.

[JoeE SP9]

Ground loop isolators are usually for hum problems caused when connecting cable TV audio to a stereo system. Hum problems with a TT are almost always because the ground wire on the TT is either not there or improperly connected.

[cats squirrel]

hum can be present, but may not be heard, but it can still modulate the music signal, which degrades the final sound. Cracks and pops can be from poor earthing/grounding or non-existant earthing.

[Coffee Phil]

If I remember correctly there are no specs for the Radio Shack part. I would use one on the phono leads only as a last resort. I would try to break up the ground loop some other way. I had a TV audio ground loop issue and I had to use one. Since there were no specs on the Radio Shack part I bought a much less expensive mystery spec unit on line. It did the job.

If I really had to use one on a turntable I would get an external phono stage and put the isolator after the phono stage.

Phil

I just bought a ground loop isolator from radio shack. Its a piece of s**t and the R audio channel keeps bugging out so I am going to return it. But is it useful for a Turntable system to have one? Or is it useless unless absolutely needed? I didn't hear any difference on my system from having it on or off. I don't hear any humming on the speakers so I am assuming I don't need one but are there any other advantages to having this? Or should I just save my money?

[lini]

Mario: This one: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062214? Then you need to be aware that this thingy is meant for line-level connections - for phono use it'll rather screw things up. I.e., you could use such a thing for example between an external phono stage and any of the line-level inputs of an integrated amp (e.g. CD, Tuner, Tape...). But even then you should only use a 1:1 audio transformer like that, if you actually have a hum problem to solve - whereas in case it's not needed, it'll only degrade sound quality.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

[jake]

On a semi-related note, Radio Shack stock is at an all-time low and was voted "dog" of the week on some cable biz show. Guess the process of cheapening parts quality has to hit the wall sometime.

[PeterW.]

I just bought a ground loop isolator from radio shack. Its a piece of s**t and the R audio channel keeps bugging out so I am going to return it. But is it useful for a Turntable system to have one? Or is it useless unless absolutely needed? I didn't hear any difference on my system from having it on or off. I don't hear any humming on the speakers so I am assuming I don't need one but are there any other advantages to having this? Or should I just save my money?

NONONONONONO....

Already noted that this unit is for line-level ground isolation and not appropriate for MV-level audio-signal.

Back in the day, when AR made perhaps the best (inexpensive) TT available, they suggested that with any TT into _their_ electronics, the TT ground wire should be connected to the left RCA ground (outer conductor). And made a cogent argument in their literature that such should obtain for very nearly all applications. Note to you AR owners out there, their factory cables were supplied that way.

That _should_ solve your problems altogether.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA