Ground Rules: How to Mitigate Grounding Issues in Audio Equipment

Or why not all grounds are created equal. How to mitigate grounding issues in audio equipment, understanding resistance, inductance, and capacitance of ground wiring, and voltage differences between points. Also, how not add to the construction complexity.

audioXpress November 2023 offers an exclusive in-depth report on optical MEMS microphone technology from sensiBel, and understand how microphones can impact active noise cancellation performance. Learn how a new ADC Hybrid Gain Control IC enables smooth microphone preamp gain changes, and how to use DSP for hearing enhancement applications. Explore a Motion Feedback (MFB) approach enabling effective active desktop subwoofers, and recap on a century of Home Loudspeaker Development.

Earthquake Sound Corporation introduced the Hum Kleaner, an active converter that provides two channels of unbalanced-to-balanced and balanced-to-unbalanced level conversion in a resilient, compact, and portable unit. Balanced lines offer increased immunity to external electrical noise such as hum. Since a balanced system minimizes induced noise, it is the preferred method of audio connections, especially when long lengths of cables are used.

Jensen Transformers introduced the ISO-MAX GLX line isolator solution. A true problem solver, the GLX is a compact balanced line isolator designed to eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops in audio systems, that will not degrade the audio quality by limiting the bandwidth or introducing phase shift, harsh sound or unpleasant artifacts.

Inspired by a presentation by Bill Whitlock, President of Jensen Transformers - a three-hour tutorial seminar titled “Audio System Grounding and Shielding: An Overview” - during the Audio Engineering Society convention in New York in 2007, Gary Galo decided to investigate a little more into the subject and do some reviews of the mentioned equipment.