Ground Loop Hum


Hello, I am looking for help eliminating the hum I get in my subwoofer. I have a Rel B1 and am using the high level inputs. The Amp I am connecting it to is a BAT VK-600. Based on the documetation this should be treated as dual mono blocks so I have the two hot wire connected and the ground going to my pre-amp ground. I have tried different grounds including the one on the power conditioner. I have tried all the normal tricks of moving where the cable runs, unpluging all other componets, etc.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
mabrooks51

Showing 1 response by casouza

Subwoofers often generate ground/hum loops.
To fix it, only one component in your system should be grounded through the AC cable. The remaining ones should float through 3 prong to 2 AC adapters, otherwise there will be a ground loop.
For safety reasons, I suggest that you ground the BAT amplifier through the AC cable, it is your component that draws the most current.

Also, disconnect the ground wire between subwoofer and preamp, it forms a ground loop, because the ICs carry signal ground from one component to the next.

Also: if your amp is a bridged design, the speaker (-) lead is floating and should be left floating. DO NOT ground the subwoofer high level (-) input.
I hope this helps