Is cheater plug safe with grounded monster power?


I recently plugged in a new amplifier into my monster power HTS-2600 and experienced a loud speaker hum. Applying a cheater plug to the amp outlet on the HTS-2600 completely eliminated the hum. My question--and excuse my ignorance--is whether it is safe to use a cheater plug to the amp outlet of a power station that is itself properly grounded? Although the temptation to continue using the cheater plug is high because of improvement in sonics, I am not comfortable because I think the amplifier without a ground to the power station would not be protected even if the power station is grounded. Am I correct in my logic? I thought a cheater plug was only safe when used with old 2-pronged outlets to allow use of 3-pronged plugs and attaching the cheater plug wire to the screw of the grounded outlet?
number1cuban

Rex,

Thank you very much for responding to my post. I appreciate it!

Let me try to answer your questions the best I can.

“1. List the components that have a three-prong grounded power cord, including the substitutes.”

All components have a three-prong plug on their power cords except the Sony DVD player. So the Proceed AMP 5 amp, Proceed AVP preamp, Klyne System 7 preamp (substitute preamp), Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player (substitute CD player), and Muse Model 18 subwoofer all have a three-prong power cord. The Sony DVD player has only a two-prong power cord. I will check to make sure, however.

”2. Are you using dedicated circuit(s)?”

No. In the future I will, but not now.

”3. Are you using a power conditioner? If so, which model?”

No power conditioner per se; however, the Proceed AVP preamp, Klyne System 7 preamp (substitute preamp), and Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D CD player (substitute CD player) are all plugged into a Monster Cable HTS 2000 power strip/line filer. The AMP 5 is plugged directly into a wall outlet.

”4. Are all devices plugged into one circuit, or into more than one circuit?”

I will have to check the breaker box when I return home tonight. But it’s my guess that all AC outlets could be on the same line. I am not sure about this.

”5. Are you using aftermarket power cords? If so, which models, and on what gear? If you are not, please tell me what the wire gauges of each of the three-wire cords are. It will be embossed on the cord jacket.”

I will have to check the gauge of all the power cords when I return home. I am using stock power cords on all components except the Klyne preamp, which uses a Monster Cable Powerline 300. In the near future, I will be replacing all the other stock power cords with Element Cable’s ElementCord, which uses 10 AWG wires.

Rex,

Here is the missing information that you had requested in an earlier post:

All components are on the same 15-amp circuit.

The gauge of all power cords is as follows:

1. Proceed AMP 5 = 14 AWG
2. Proceed AVP = 18 AWG
3. Monster Cable HTS = 14 AWG
4. Sony DVP-S7700 = 18 AWG (two prongs)
5. Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 3D = 16 AWG
6. Muse Model 18 Subwoofer = 14 AWG
7. Acoustic Research Power Strip (grounded) = 14 AWG

The Muse Model 18 and the Martin Logan Ascent loudspeakers are plugged into the AR power strip, which does offer some AC line filtering.

Thanks in advance for your help.