Grounding boxes - The real deal

[Marco]

Referring to the 2 previous posts from Marco and Pharos I would suggest people have a read of the above, it is lengthy but IMO deals with various aspects of Earth/ground and the issues of interference and noise floor, and from an engineer in the field so to speak.

Cheers, Adrian. I'll have read that later. Lunch beckons now - and I have some rather nice home-made tortellini al ragu to devour!

Marco.

[AJSki2fly]

Cheers, Adrian. I'll have read that later. Lunch beckons now - and I have some rather nice home-made tortellini al ragu to devour!

Marco.

Buon appetito

[Marco]

I've only got the TV and cable box using smps - I did try disconnecting them entirely when listening (they would normally be in 'standby' mode - made no difference I could discern.

Also sometimes listen with the tv on and the sound down, again can't hear any difference.

Okay so I can't say for certain from that one instance that the whole SMPS thing is a none issue but I suspect it is. Maybe if you have loads of the things plugged in all over the house it might be more noticeable.

That's fair enough, Martin, as it's your experience so far. Mine is different. If you'd been there when I swapped out the SMPS units for the router and hard-drives, and installed Dunc's linear PSU, in my streaming set up, you'd easily have heard the difference with that alone, trust me

Marco.

[Marco]

Buon appetito

Grazie molto!

Marco.

[Macca]

That's fair enough, Martin, as it's your experience so far. Mine is different. If you'd been there when I swapped out the SMPS units for the router and hard-drives, and installed Dunc's linear PSU, in my streaming set up, you'd easily have heard the difference, trust me

Marco.

They were actually part of the music-making system though. I'm talking about devices with SMPS that have nothing to do with the hi-fi but are still plugged in and drawing power whilst you are listening.

I've no hi-fi kit that uses SMPS so I can't test that.

[Marco]

They were actually part of the music-making system though. I'm talking about devices with SMPS that have nothing to do with the hi-fi but are still plugged in and drawing power whilst you are listening.

Yes, but regardless, it proves that replacing them in that area with something better, works!

In terms of your other point, often with these things you don't notice any difference in quick-fire A/B comparisons, but only after a period of time, one way or the other... After all, it's the reason why our systems often sound better in the early hours of the morning, when there is less of a drain on the mains, and a lot of the noisy crap has been switched off for the night.

*That* is essentially what you're achieving on a smaller scale when you unplug all unnecessary noisy devices at home. However, it's most likely you're not hearing any difference because you don't have much of that shit in use in the first place

Right, time for pasta!!

Marco.

[NRG]

I've only got the TV and cable box using smps - I did try disconnecting them entirely when listening (they would normally be in 'standby' mode - made no difference I could discern.

Also sometimes listen with the tv on and the sound down, again can't hear any difference.

Okay so I can't say for certain from that one instance that the whole SMPS thing is a none issue but I suspect it is. Maybe if you have loads of the things plugged in all over the house it might be more noticeable.

I’ve been contemplating a test day where I switch off all WiFi devices, the router, cordless phones etc and unplug as many smps wall warts as possible to see if there is any affect. Maybe when we get snowed in tomorrow would be a good time!

[NRG]

I’ve just counted 25 smps wall warts ‘in use’ throughout the house

[Stratmangler]

I’ve just counted 25 smps wall warts ‘in use’ throughout the house

With the central heating boiler, washing machine, microwave, fridge/freezer, TV, BDP etc the tally goes up even higher on the SMPS count.
That's how all pervasive the problem is.

[Marco]

I’ve been contemplating a test day where I switch off all WiFi devices, the router, cordless phones etc and unplug as many smps wall warts as possible to see if there is any affect. Maybe when we get snowed in tomorrow would be a good time!

Nice one, Neal. I'd love to read the outcome of that!

Get to it then, lad.

Marco.