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Grounding question for

ppdl3

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May 18, 2024
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Hey there. Still a relative newbie here and have a question about grounding In a relatively complex system. Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom.

So, my setup is running two phono preamps and two amplifiers and switching between them all. It's really quite fun.

Currently, I run RCA out of a '70s Sony Ps4300 TT into a Rolls ss412 RCA switcher. Out of there, I switch between a Pro-Ject Tube Box and Parks Audio Waxwing. The waxwing runs to my DAC and the Tube box to Schiit Freya preamp. The preamp then feeds a Marantz 2230 and everyone's favorite Chinese monoblocks. Switching between amps and speakers is then handled by the Neohippo.

The fun is being able enjoy different ends of the spectrum. Vintage and modern, while also limiting the wear and tear on the family heirloom, the 2230. I do want to stress this: everything sounds great! And I notice no sound degradation with the switching.

But I am wondering... What would be the most proper way of grounding everything? Do I need to just ground to the phono preamps? Or should I then also make a run from each phono preamp to the preamp? What about the amplifiers?

Open to any and all, even creative ideas. Relatively handy with a soldering iron.

Thanks!
 
Are you having a hum/buzz issue?
 
Are you having a hum/buzz issue?
Yes. Not terrible, but present. I "split" the ground wire coming from the TT to each of the preamp terminals, but nothing else.
 
Not that there seems to be much interest in this topic, but I solved the issue with quite a bit of trial and error and many permutations of connections. I daisy chained all grounds, from TT, to Preamps, and even the amplifiers, but the main kicker was grounding the RCA switcher. Just connected to a screw holding case together.
 
Not that there seems to be much interest in this topic, but I solved the issue with quite a bit of trial and error and many permutations of connections. I daisy chained all grounds, from TT, to Preamps, and even the amplifiers, but the main kicker was grounding the RCA switcher. Just connected to a screw holding case together.

I would suspect that internal to the Rolls there is poor continuity on the RCA's "ground" path. Similar but no where near as bad as barely inserting an RCA so just the center pin is connected. By tying the chassis of it to the components, you've provided an alternative electrical path for the currents on the shield.
 
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