Affordable AC noise filtering

akoinuma -- Tue, 03/07/2006 - 11:19

I've been researching options for filtering noise that travel through my power circuit. I can hear the motor of my washing machine through my speakers! :shock: I know that plugging audio equipment into its own isolated circuit is ideal, but that's not an option now. So, I need a plug-in hardware to deal with the noice.

I know that part it is caused by ground loop. Upon someone's suggestion, I plugged in my power amp using a 3-prong to 2-prong converter, and the hum was reduced 80-90%, though not completely gone. The above waching machine motor noise was traveling through the ground line, apparently.

So, with all that said, I'm picked out some products -- if any of you have any experience with these devices, please let me know. Thanks!

http://www.ebtechaudio.com/new.html - Ebtech Hum X
This looks like just the ticket for isolating my power amp and removing the noise traveling through ground. A bit costly.

http://www.amusicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AQUIETFIL - AudioPrism QuietLine
This looks intereting but since the plug is 2-prong, I'm guessing that it doesn't deal with noise traveling through the ground line. But this combined with above may eliminate all noise?

http://www.tripplite.com/products/product.cfm?productID=111 Triprite Isobar
This is a surge suppressor/noise filter. I know most cheap ones (even those that claim to have a filter) are ineffective, but these look like perhaps a higher grade one that may work.

Any other solutions? I'm hoping for <$100 total. At the very least, if I can isolate the power amp's ground line noise, I'll be happy. Thanks!

Ari Koinuma
AVguide.com

Chris Martens -- Tue, 03/07/2006 - 19:28

Ari,

The solution I'm going to propose costs more than the $100 budget you specified, but I think it has a very high probability of getting the job done.

The product: Chang Lightspeed's new Encounter noise-sink/audiophile grade power strip.

This is one of the few noise filters I've heard that makes an immediate and obvious improvement (not just a "difference," but an unequivocal improvement) in sound quality.

Chris Martens
Audio Editor, The Perfect Vision
Senior Writer, The Absolute Sound

Chris Martens
Editor, Avguide.com/Playback/The Perfect Vision 

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