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Joined: Dec 2007
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No, that's not what Mac said. Here is what he said:
"If you use the Grounded Surge strip and plug everything else into it along with the computer through the two prong adaptor, there will still be a path to AC Ground for the computer, it will just be going through the other stuff that's hooked up, one path instead of two.
This is legal in the US electrical code, that's why the adaptors are still UL listed, among other things."
The USB cable has nothing to do with this. Without rereading this whole thread, I believe you brought that up merely as one possibility for solving this. It's now been shown it's not necessary to worry about the USB cable, the other stuff plugged into the power strip is covering the AC ground.
Bob
Sorry Bob, but in THIS case the USB cable has EVERYTHING to do with it. It is the USB cable that is connecting to the next device (Presonus AudioBox (PAB)) AND PROVIDING THE SECOND GROUND PATH that needs to be eliminated. IMHO a USB cable ground wire has insufficient current carrying capacity to truly provide protection.
2. Signal goes from back panel USB port—which MAY be USB 3, I don't know how to tell—to PreSonus AudioBox (PAB) USB. Signal also comes from Behringer 16 x 2 mixer to PAB preamps. Signal comes out of the PAB to (a) Behry 4-ch. headphone amp, and (b) JBL PSW-D110 sub ins, and out of Xover to (c) Behry TRUTH B2031A active two-way monitors.
Back panel USB port mentioned above is from the PC.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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I'll freely admit I don't fully understand all of this but the bottom line was Rzyard used a two prong adapter and the noise stopped. I did the same thing and the noise stopped. My interface is a Sonic Cell with a USB connection. I have several other devices plugged into that power strip like my mixer, my 32" HD TV and a couple of other things that use a regular heavy three prong AC cable. As long as that remains the case Mac says that is fine, I'm protected so I don't see where the USB cable comes into this either with my setup or Rzyards's. There's still plenty of ground protection coming through the fully grounded 110v AC from the other devices.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Hmm, just read this in preview and I see I'm coming across as a bit testy and frustrated - I apologise if this offends anyone, but I stand by what I'm saying.
<snip>
There's still plenty of ground protection coming through the fully grounded 110v AC from the other devices.
With the greatest of respect Bob, that's BULL**** Here's why: Let me see if I can make this very simple: The ground path for the PC (when using a 2 prong adapter) is provided via the groud connection FROM the PC to the next device in the audio chain. Now, in this particular case, the ONLY connection to the next device (which is the PAB) is the USB connection. This means that the ONLY ground connection is ALSO through the USB cable. Forget ALL the other devices plugged into the power strip for the moment because the ONLY connection for the PC's ground is via the USB cable to the PAB and only then to the next devices that finally have a ground connection (the PAB and the mixer connected to it are double insulated - they have NO ground connection to the power strip anyway). Therefore the ground connection can ONLY be coming from: (a) Behry 4-ch. headphone amp, (b) JBL PSW-D110 sub ins, and out of Xover to, or (c) Behry TRUTH B2031A active two-way monitors. Provided THEY are all in the same power strip and not double insulated. BUT, remember, the ground FROM the PC is via that USB cable and IMHO it CANNOT carry sufficient current. Bluntly, if anyone reading this cannot follow the circuit paths I'm describing without a drawing, then you have too little understanding of electrical paths to have an opinion. Now, a caveat: IF, and ONLY IF, the ground connection from the PC was via actual AUDIO cables with reasonable current capacity grounds I would totally and absolutely agree with Mac, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE!
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Decided a quick and dirty schematic wouldn't hurt:  A = Active N = Neutral E = Earth or Ground The USB cable has 4 wires: Data + Data - +5V 0V, which is connected to the motherboard ground plane which is connected to the PSU 0V which is connected to the EARTH via the case and the PSU. I know the PAB and the Behringer mixer do not have an earth, I suspect the headphone amp (labelled HP) does not have an earth. These are OK as they are double insulated. I know the PC does not have an earth when the 3 to 2 prong adaptor is used. This is the potential problem. I don't know which of the other devices have earths, at least one of them must or there wouldn't be an earth loop problem in the first place. Those that do not are probably double insulated and therefore OK. (assuming they do not also have 3 to 2 prong adaptors. If you follow the schematic you can easily see the ONLY earth connection for the PC is the USB cable if the 3 to 2 prong adaptor is used. This is unsafe. The USB cable will NOT have sufficient current carrying capacity in the event of a power to case type failure in the PC. IMHO the best place to break the earth loop is in the USB connectivity, although the audio cable from the PAB to the Sub would also be a good spot PROVIDED NO OTHER OUTPUT DEVICES THAT HAVE GROUNDS GET CONNECTED.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Ryszard,
As an experiment, get a long heavy duty extension cord and use it to plug your monitors into a wall receptacle that is completely isolated from the rest of any circuits from the circuit breaker box to your other equipment. A "dedicated" circuit. Know what breaker controls that circuit and make sure everything else in the circuit is off: Ceiling lights, table lamps, phones, anything etc. If it works then at least you'll know where to start.
If you have part of your monitor system plugged into one circuit and the others to a different circuit that cold be an issue as well. Worth a shot. Helped me a few times.
Dan
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