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Why use ground wire from preamp to amp???

I am buying new cables from amplifier surgery guys in downers grove, IL.  

The cables are nice looking, shielded, silver solder, cardas connectors silver plated, all silver solder used, silver tinned strands,Yatta  Yatta  Yatta, ok whatever,  


Their reference rca's come with the third ground wire? They said hook it to the preamp ground?

 This is not for phono connection, why would anyone hook a ground wire to preamp when not using the turntable?  I have never heard of this before, would this be dangerous, if some current or noise is sent down the ground wire directly into the cables at the input of the amp??  

Why even have them?? What is the purpose, or have I been out of the game too long?

shouldnt I just order regular reference rca's without that silly third ground wire which serves no purpose unless hooked up to a turntable???

HELP ME UNDERSTAND, PLEASE



128x128arcticdeth
jea48
4,492 posts
 

jazzonthehudson said:

The interconnect RCA are mostly only grounded on the source side as the manufacturers know there may be a ground differential so they use use this workaround for, again from the ground differential point of view, possible deficient systems.


What you speak of is the shield of a shielded interconnect cable.

My post refers to the signal ground return wire of an interconnect.

Now in the case of a coax cable the shield and the signal ground return wire are one in the same and the shield must be connected to the connectors at both ends.

 

jea48
4,492 posts
 

infection said:
My Tannoy DC10T's have a ground/earth input...




http://www.tannoymarketing.com/WebServices/dh.ashx?t=qv&v=9309

"Tannoy’s unique fifth

speaker terminal electrically grounds the driver

chassis, reducing potential sound degradation form

radio frequency interference. Eliminating potential

RF ‘noise’ enhances midrange clarity and allows

Definition to deliver an even more expressive

musical presentation."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Are you using that? Where did you connect it to?

jazzonthehudson's avatar
jazzonthehudson
277 posts
 
/jea48: you're absolutely right. I must have a brain fart then, I meant the shield for an interconnect.

Anyway, star grounding is recommended to avoid hum.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Since most components have grounded ac power cords and most interconnects have grounds, every component has two earth ground and thus ground loops. The third wire would add additional ground loops. All of this is to satisfy Underwriters Labs on the off chance that you have a loose power wire within the component and are grounded when you touch the component. All of this ruins your sound. 

There are three alternatives. One is buying only plastic bodied component with the exception of your preamp. Two is using cheaters on all but the preamp power cord. In Canada cheater are illegal. You could also cut off the ground on the power cords other than that for the preamp. Third is having very low impedance grounds to one point that has a low impedance to earth or buy the Tripoint Troy Signature with filters on each binding post and a excellent ground. This is great but very expensive.
jazzonthehudson's avatar
jazzonthehudson
277 posts
 
Norm, what about the Audience adeptResponse power conditioners with ground bars doing a similar job that the Tripoint Troy Signature do?

Cheater plugs have the inherent danger if something in the unlikely event mishaps in the device to the metal housing, the user touching the surface will act like a grounding wire which may be a shocking experience if he/she lives to tell.
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