Soundcard Outputs (Balanced / Unbalanced / & Ground Loop)

[pwedza]

When purchasing soundcards, have you guys paid attention to whether the ouputs are balanced or unbalanced?

I am asking this because after a recent change of my monitor setup, I have found myself with a case of speaker hum (from "ground loop") - due to the fact that my soundcard (Firewire 410) outputs are unbalanced and my powered monitors are balanced. [We learn as we go, huh.]

At this point, I am debating whether to purchase a new soundcard. (I have had the 410 for a while and I have some other problems w/ the unit. Namely jacks that don't connect well).

A ground loop isolator can solve my problem - but, with that purchase and the requisite cables.. and shipping on top of that would put me half way to a new sound card (with balanced outputs).

Anybody already dealt with this?

[BertKoor]

Connecting unbalanced to balanced is hardly ever a problem. And you don't even need to buy adapters or special cables. Just a simple mod to an existing balanced cable will do also:

[pwedza]

That didn't work. Still tinkering.

[deaf dunderkwac]

hey BertKoor, nice drawing!
perhaps there's some problems with your soundcard then, esp. since you followed the drawing.
You might also verify that your speakers and soundcard are powered by the same fused circuit as in, everybody is plugged into the same outlet, essentually.

[BertKoor]

Question: is this with a laptop?
If yes: does the hum go away when you run it from batteries instead of mains power?

Because that's the other place you can break the ground loop: at the mains power.

[pwedza]

FIXED!! COOL.

Got an Ebtech line level shifter to switch from the unbalanced Firewire 410 out to the balanced inputs of my speakers.

No more computer noise (ground loop).