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Pangea AC14XL removeable ground plug

I bought this Pangea AC14XL to replace a Cardas for two reasons.  The primary is the removable ground plug.  The ground humming noise from my Passlabs X150 is very annoying.  I tried different products and none of them work perfectly, the only effective way Passlabs support advised me was cheater plug which works but not really happy using one with Cardas power cable and Passlabs amp.  So the removeable ground plug solves the humming issue without using cheater plug.  The second reason is the deathgrip.  Cardas power cable is stiff so it gets loose over time (mine gets loose on amp end)  I like this cable being securely connected.  The cable is new so not ready to judge sound yet.  The initial impression is neutral.

Does anybody use power cable with removeable ground plug, and what is your opinion on this old but persist topic; and Passlabs owners do you get ground humming noise?  I have used X3, X250 and X150, all has ground humming sound.  If so, how did you solve it?  Thanks
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Showing 2 responses by alexlhsu

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alexlhsu OP
5 posts
 
Thank you all for the feedback.  EBtech works for my other amp (a custom made integrated tube) but not perfect with this Passlabs X150 (still have a very low audiable noice).  The other equipments are Passlabs X2.5 preamp and an Audio Technica turntable with build in phono amp, speakers are B&W 805, interconnects are Kimber Kable Silver Steak RCA and KCAG XLR, speaker cable is Kimber Kable 8TC; amp power cords were Cardas now replaced by Pangea (kept the ground pin to preamp) and Audio Prism power foundation.  Yeah, there is really no difference removing the ground pin or using a cheater plug, it’s an ego thing:-).  I used to use Proceed processor and Passlabs X250+X3 for B&W 802, 805 and HTM1, same hum, and started using cheater plugs for many years (followed Passlabs supoport advice, didn’t check all the equipments).

My tube amp is only connected to an Audioengine B1 Bluetooth adapter and B&W CM1 for bed time listening from iPad; Cardas power cord, no hum with EBtech.

There are only two other powered equipments so it would be easy to check if any one or both of them contributing to the hum.

Appreciate all your inputs and help.

Regards

PS:  has anybody connected powered subwoofer to your 2 channel system?  I have a B&W PV1D active subwoofer sitting there doing nothing.  I sold all the multi-channel gears a few years ago, returned to near field 2 channel but kept this brand new subwoofer thinking maybe I will miss the low end base from the 802 I sold and use it to augment the 805.  I recently started to listening more classic rock and was wondering how it would sound if I added that subwoofer.
alexlhsu's avatar
alexlhsu OP
5 posts
 
Tried the following methods this weekend

1. Disconnect the turntable and preamp individually and both
2. Disconnect all other electric items in the room (a light and a small frig), also disconnect all electric items from the room next door and the bathroom nearby (only a night stand light, alarm clock and a LED night light).  I also replaced the ceiling fixture lightbulb with LED.
3. Tried EBtech on preamp and turntable

well, none did any difference, I guess I will continue to live with no ground pin.  I like this Pangea AC14XL cable, the grip is tight, the cable is bendable and I don’t hear sound quality loss from the Cardas it replaced and a lot cheaper than Cardas.  Don’t mean to imply this cable is equal or better than Cardas, just I can’t hear difference in my system with the type of music I tested so far.

thank you all for your suggestion and feedback.

regards
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