I thinking along the lines of adding a filter between the computer power supply and motherboard 12v, within the PC case... Is that a crazy idea?
Corsair has the lowest ripple in the business. They put capacitors inside the cables going to the motherboard and GPU, which makes the PSU low ripple but also impossible to attach to their sockets. I think more caapcitance is the keyword here.
I am afraid a filter will not alleviate the currents flowing through the ground traces of the MB which cause the noise of a typical PC ground loop.
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CPU AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6Ghz 6 Core 12 Thread AM4 Retail Box - With Wraith
Stealth Cooler
Motherboard ASUS PRIME A320M-K AM4 mATX Desktop Motherboard
Memory GeIL 8GB Single DDR4 Pristine C19
2666MHz
2.00
OS Drive WD Green 120GB 3D NAND 2.5" SSD
Storage Drive WD Blue WD40EZRZ 3.5" 4TB 64MB 5400RPM Desktop HDD
Graphics Card ZOTAC GeForce GT1030 2GB GDDR5
Optical Drive Pioneer BDR-212DBK 16x Blu-Ray Writer OEM
Sound Card eVGA Nu Audio PCIe Sound Card
Case Jonsbo G3 Silver HTPC Case w/LCD Front Panel
Power Supply eVGA GD Series 600W 80PLUS Gold Power Supply
Wireless ASUS PCE-AC68 802.11ac Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCIe Adapter
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-Bit
This is what I have, I chose the power supply based off some reviews how good it apparantly was.
Would a replacement power supply be the answer?
Stealth Cooler
Motherboard ASUS PRIME A320M-K AM4 mATX Desktop Motherboard
Memory GeIL 8GB Single DDR4 Pristine C19
2666MHz
2.00
OS Drive WD Green 120GB 3D NAND 2.5" SSD
Storage Drive WD Blue WD40EZRZ 3.5" 4TB 64MB 5400RPM Desktop HDD
Graphics Card ZOTAC GeForce GT1030 2GB GDDR5
Optical Drive Pioneer BDR-212DBK 16x Blu-Ray Writer OEM
Sound Card eVGA Nu Audio PCIe Sound Card
Case Jonsbo G3 Silver HTPC Case w/LCD Front Panel
Power Supply eVGA GD Series 600W 80PLUS Gold Power Supply
Wireless ASUS PCE-AC68 802.11ac Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCIe Adapter
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-Bit
This is what I have, I chose the power supply based off some reviews how good it apparantly was.
Would a replacement power supply be the answer?
I have a good luck with Asus ROG 750W PSU and Corsair RM1000X PSU. I am selling the Asus ROG, in Norway ..
Jamesemucc: IMO your problem is not the PC PSU, but the grounded preamp + amp (isolation class I) with single-ended inputs/outputs.
Maybe a simple audio-level isolation transformer behind the soundcard would not make any audible difference and would most likely cure your problem. Or a resistor in the ground line of your PC -> preamp interconnect could help to some extent.
Maybe a simple audio-level isolation transformer behind the soundcard would not make any audible difference and would most likely cure your problem. Or a resistor in the ground line of your PC -> preamp interconnect could help to some extent.
I have borrowed and tried a set of interconnect RCA cables with the extra ground wire in the centre, grounding from the PC case at the metal sound card mount to the pre amplifier chassis screw for the phono and no difference/improvement. Had a PC builder look at the PC and check the power supply voltages, which he said were very good (not on an ocsilloscope only a multimeter) I have tried different power points, everything together (on a single filtered supply board), everything separated (cords all over the house, since the GPO's are 3 different circuits in the house and have the earth detection switches on each of them, (I built the house and the electrical was my design) and the only cure was the big UPS (Which I have nicknamed number 42, because it's been the answer to the 'problem' so far)
I'll definitely try the audio isolator as a local store has a $40.00 option and if it works, I can look into a better quality unit.
Thankyou all for the persevering with me.
I'll definitely try the audio isolator as a local store has a $40.00 option and if it works, I can look into a better quality unit.
Thankyou all for the persevering with me.
What happens, if you temporarily (!) disconnect the ground wire between your PC and the mains socket?
I have not tried that, I guess I can cut a pin off an old cord and try it, but I wouldn't want to leave it that way in case something ever went wrong.
I'll give it a go and report back.
I'll give it a go and report back.
Absolutely, in no way using it like this, just a short test which will show what happens if the ground loop is cut.
Well, let's not call it a "solution" 🙂 Class I devices are designed to be protected by the earth wire, disconnecting it for regular operation is unacceptable, sorry to say that.
I tried different combinations , but everything made some hf noise to appear at speaker ouputs . Even with input RCA isolated from case . Isolated earth wire gived lowest noise ,and thats bad .
The ground terminal of input/output RCAs are usually connected to ground inside the device. If not (and you still got your music), the signal return path went through the grounding wires of the amp and the source. In both cases the tiny noise voltage generated by the huge currents flowing through the PC ground traces became part of the signal at your amp input.
That's why I suggested a loop breaker circuit earlier.Earthing (Grounding) Your Hi-Fi - Tricks and Techniques Better in the amp as the PC may not like it.
Yes. Much easier. Save your sanity and get better sound.
The definitive cure that will restore your happiness:
1. Remove the sound card and return it or sell it
2.Use TOSLINK out of the PC into a stand alone DAC. TOSLINK will give total electrical isolation but with high jitter
3. The DAC needs high TOSLINK PLL jitter rejection. Thats rare.
4. If you like vinyl your likely to enjoy a Denafrips Ares DAC and can expect much better sound then you have now
5. A cheaper DAC brand with good engineering is a Topping.
Sometimes, disabling hardware acceleration for audio, graphics and mouse acceleration (lowering mouse sampling rate ?) helped in some PC (internal) noise issues. I have not played with these settings in a while (not a Windows user anymore) but, I guess, Google search finds instructions if needed.
I'm not a fan of disabling the earth, so have organised to borrow a pretty much brand new Gustard X16 model (I think) DAC, with a view to buying it. From a discussion with the owner I can use USB or optical. The sound card will be on Ebay if this works out. The DAC is a 'spare' from a friend of a friend who apparently has a lot of time/money and it's surplus to his requirements. Is it a good enough entry level piece of gear if I can get it for $400 au. For a Chinese product it seems to review OK from what I have read...