Ground Loop Isolator

**Matthew230** · 10-28-2004, 09:05 AM

Hi,

Quick poll, I have some speaker noise, and it seems that it could be easily fixed by a ground loop isolator. Though some posts say that these cause loss of sound quality and are only a temporary solution.

So who has got one, do they cut out all the noise, and do they cause a noticeable decrease in sound quality of music ???

Cheers,

Matt

**Matthew230** · 10-28-2004, 09:56 AM

bump

**xelz** · 10-28-2004, 10:19 AM

i'd say no... i had one on for a while, and i had speaker noise on my left side. i took it off and the noise was gone... so in some instances it can even cause noise, and the sound quality did get better after taking it off.

**Prem** · 10-28-2004, 10:36 AM

I am using a ground loop isolator because of a ground loop caused between my carpc and the amp. I could not isolate the ground loop to fix it and the isolator was the next best option. I have not fixed the underlying problem it is just hidden...

The isolator works through isolating transformers and like any coil component they have a frequency response range. This frequency range is normally limited and so sound degradation occurs, you will loose top end (treble) and bottom (bass) end frequency response in your system.

They also do not remove all noise from your system. If there is another source of noise eg engine whine from the alternator etc this noise will remain.

Hope this helps......

Prem

**tbird2340** · 10-28-2004, 11:47 AM

I've used one for about a month or two. It eliminated my noise and I don't hear any sound quality loss.

**zPilott** · 10-28-2004, 01:45 PM

I have one for a temporary solution until I have time to rip everything out and re ground stuff. Without it I was getting a lot of noise from my computer (HDD activity, mouse activity, etc), and a little bit of alternator whine. with it I am getting NO noise from the computer, and a much reduced alternator whine.

I do notice a degradation in sound though. It is most noticeable with deep bass, which causes some static/fuzzy kind of noise. It is not ideal, but it is better than what I had before.

**IntellaWorks** · 10-28-2004, 02:31 PM

hey guys remember that each device has its own volume.

Head unit - volume
PC Master Volume
Wave Volume
Media player volume

I find that noise can be because on of these volumes is pumping out too much volume. As a programmer, I think its confusing for end users to have 5 or 6 different volumes. But its necessary in this case, I wrote code to actually adjust the volumes of each device that the computer controls eliminating "too high volumes" comming from the PC.

So just keep this in mind while trouble shooting the noise in your speakers problem.

**zPilott** · 10-28-2004, 03:11 PM

Yeah, I hear ya
the noise that I am getting is not quite the same as the popping kind of noise that I get with clipping when the levels are too high (and it doesn't go away with changing the levels)

the media player volume is usually tied to the pc master or the wav, and I also have a line out gain from my soundcard, to make stuff even more difficult.

someone was talking about software to do this, and I think it would be a good idea (I just do it manually by listening for clipping, and then viewing the oscilloscope in winamp and adjusting levels until there is no more clip)