To Float or not to Float...

linndec

... if you have a ground loop "buzzing" noise lift the earth on the pre amp as interconnects can more than likely handle that current going back to earth.

This is bad advice and potentially unsafe. Interconnects aren’t designed to handle this current, and lifting the AC ground could energize component chassis with lethal voltages.

It amazes me how often people here misunderstand ground loop problems. The issue isn’t having multiple paths to ground; the problem is having multiple ground paths at varying potentials.

This is one of the benefits of using dedicated AC lines - it simply makes it easier to have clean grounds. I have a biamplified system with lord knows about many ground paths! I don’t have any hum issues, though, because of these clean, direct grounds ... all at the same voltage potential.

If your equipment has a ground-lift switch then it should be safe to use if you desire. Whether the connected components have the earth ground prong or not doesn't matter as long as they're properly designed. Simple as that. 

Unless you plan on opening your gear while it's connected to power (or immediately after a disconnect) then you have nothing to worry about. 

 A strong surge can destroy your gear regardless, so get redundant surge protection on your lines. 

I corresponded with Kara Chaffee, the designer of my preamp and mono blocks, and she concurred with Jim's post of 9/16/2017. The "float" switch only lifts the audio circuit from the cassis ground and the AC mains equipment ground remains connected to the chassis through the 3 wire grounding type power cord. Kara feels the units sound best with the audio circuits floated and that's the way I've always run them with no noise or buzz (except for aforementioned power cord malfunction).