what is a ground loop?

Eldartford,
Thank you. I actually did search the archives, but the language used is sometimes difficult to sort through. Language that leads to other language- an abundance of all that, but still meaning is more difficult to come by. I appreciate your time.

To Kr4--Searching here probably would be more useful.

Tim, a ground loop is a situation in which electical components in one system get plugged into electrical outlets with grounds (neutrals/commons) unintentionally at different zero voltages. Hence the different chassis are at different 'zero' voltages (all of which SHOULD be zero but aren't). Current then flows thru the common legs of interconnect cables and induces 60- or 120-cycle hum into the signal. It happens quite often in systems with many pieces of equipment (such as mine, damn it!), and it's most-easily patched (but not solved) by floating (detaching) the offending equipment's third-wire ground. I said 'patched' above because while the system's most-obvious hum may be mostly gone, there's still low-level garbage deteriorating to some extant the sound quality.

The real solution is to have one's house or at least room rewired by someone who knows how to bring EVERY outlet in the room to the same 'ground'.
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It's one of those things the neighbor's dog leaves on your lawn...

JeffreyBeyr-
This is one of the reasons it is most preferable to have dedicated lines for a listening room? So you can deal with the problem at its source? This makes more sense to me. Thank you!
Loonytunz- my cats totally approve of your analogy!

Jeffreybehr - Don't fire your electrician yet. Even with great house wiring you can still get induced ground current inside your equipment and have ground loop problems. E.G., I think Jim Hagerman might have some info about a star ground configuration he used on his trumpet phono pre-amp to try and minimize the problem (WWW.Hagtec.com, or something like that). I think your comment about getting the house wiring right is on the money, but good equipment internal design (and/or a little luck)is also part of the issue.