/TU'K1"#,%)'"#V'59#,22('4*5'"+#Q"5/
Freedom from Hum, Noise, &
Distortion
General Guidelines to Audio Devices Integration
by Born2BeWired
reproduced with permission from the author and www.elab.ph
!"#$"%#&%'()#*+#,%)'"#-"./0#*12('3/0#4'04%'5#56*5#
."07#8*.(/99($#.6/+#%9/)#5/95/)#*((#&$#'5#9/(:;#<"%#
=%95#*(9"#3+'96/)#4"+950%45'+>#*#9/2*0*5/#20/*12('-
3/0#4'04%'5#56*5#5/95/)#2/0:/45;#?%5#.6/+#$"%#3+*(($#
4"1&'+/)#56/#5."@#+"56'+>#9//19#5"#."07#0'>65;#
<"%#6/*0#("%)#6%1#/A/+#.6/+#56/#A"(%1/#'9#9/5#*5#
1'+'1%1;#B%9'4#)"/9#+"5#9"%+)#0'>65;#<"%0#:*A"0'5/#
*05'95#9"%+)9#+"5'4/*&($#)'::/0/+5;#<"%#6/*0#40//2$#
9"%+)9#56*5#$"%#7+".#*0/#+"5#9%22"9/)#5"#&/#
56/0/;#
!"%+)9#*#5""#:*1'('*0#/C2/0'/+4/@#)"/9+D5#'5E#F"+D5#
8*55/0#$"%09/(:#'+5"#56'+7'+>#$"%#*0/#56/#"+($#"+/#
/C2/0'/+4'+>#56'9#7'+)#":#20"&(/1;#GA/+#*44"1-
2('96/)#FH<D/09#*0/#+"5#'11%+/#:0"1#56'9;#H+#:*45@#'5#
'9#*#A/0$#4"11"+#20"&(/1#/A/0$#,%)'"#FH<D/09#6*9#
5"#)/*(#.'56#:0"1#5'1/#5"#5'1/;#
Less experienced builder would probably set an
*44%9'+>#/$/#5"#56/#4"12"+/+59@#"0#/A/+#56/#4'04%'5#
'59/(:@#*9#56/#4*%9/#":#56/#20"&(/1;#,9#*#4"+9/-
I%/+4/@#6/#."%()#92/+)#4"%+5(/99#6"%09#50$'+>#5"#
3C#56/#20"&(/1#.'56"%5#>/55'+>#*+$.6/0/#+/*0#*#
2/01*+/+5#9"(%5'"+;#
H:#'5#'9#+"5#56/#4"12"+/+5@#"0#56/#4'04%'5@#.6*5#/(9/#
56/+#4"%()#4*%9/#*((#56/9/#50"%&(/9E#
2012 e-Gizmo Mechatronix Central Page 1 of 5 pages
A less than perfect ground.
J/#*0/#":5/+#5*%>65#'+#946""(#56/#9'12(/95#*2-
20"*46#":#*99%1'+>#*((#>0"%+)#2"'+59#*0/#*((#*5#
K/0"#A"(5#2"5/+5'*(;#L6'9#*99%125'"+@#'+#1"95#4*9/9@#
."%()#."07#./((#'+#2*2/0;#M"+9')/0#*+#*%)'"#9/5%2#
*9#96".+#'+#3>%0/#N*@#*+)#2*$#*55/+5'"+#5"#56/#
1*++/0#56/#>0"%+)9#*0/#4"++/45/);#GA/+#':#56/#
9/5%2#'9#26$9'4*(($#.'0/)#/C*45($#*9#'5#'9#)'*>0*1-
1*5'4*(($#96".+@#./#.'((#+"5#+"5'4/#*+$#2"5/+5'*(#
20"&(/1;#L6*5#'9#&/4*%9/#./#*0/#0/*)$#5"#*44/25#
56*5#*((#>0"%+)#2"'+59#*0/#*5#56/#9*1/#OP#2"5/+5'*(;#
L6/#20"&(/1#'9@#('7/#/A/0$56'+>#/(9/@#56'+>9#."07#*#
&'5#)'::/0/+5($#'+#0/*(#."0();#Q*5%0/#)/40//)#56*5#2/0-
:/45#>0"%+)#4'04%'5#9'12($#)"/9#+"5#/C'95;,#2/0:/45#
ground cannot exist because real world conduc-
5"09#4*++"5#6*A/#K/0"#0/9'95*+4/;#H+#:*45@#4"22/0@#
56/#1"95#4"11"+#4"+)%45"0#%9/)#'+#/(/450"+'49#
*99/1&($@#+/A/0#/C6'&'5#9%2/04"+)%45'A'5$#RO#"61S#
/A/+#':#$"%#4""(#'5#)".+#+/*0#5"#*&9"(%5/#K/0";#
J'56#56'9#:*45#'+#3+)@#(/5#%9#0/5%0+#5"#"%0#*%)'"#
9/5%2@#56'9#5'1/@#0/A/*('+>#56/#>0"%+)#.'0/#0/9'95-
*+4/#*9#56/$#*22/*0#*5#/*46#=%+45'"+#*9#96".+#'+#
3>%0/#N&;#,9#"619#(*.#."%()#6*A/#'5@#':#$"%#2*99#*#
4%00/+5#560"%>6#*#4"+)%45"0@#*#A"(5*>/#.'((#)/A/("2#
*40"99#'5;#L6'9#1*$#&/#*+#,M#"0#FM#"0#*#4"1&'+*-
5'"+#":#&"56@#)/2/+)'+>#"+#56/#*45'A'5$#"+#/*46#(/>#
":#56/#.'0'+>#9/5%2;#
Freedom from Hum & Noise
 V+ SPKR+

OUT IN OUT IN
GND

GND V+ GND V+ SPK GND POWER

SUPPLY

GND

Figure 1a. A typical audio setup showing ground wiring. We tend to view the ground wirings
in ideal sense, that is, they are all at the same 0V potential.

V+ SPKR+

OUT IN OUT IN
GND

GND V+ GND V+ SPK GND POWER

SUPPLY

+ + + +

- - - -

+ GND
+

-
-

Figure 1b. In real world, every bit of ground connections has a measurable ohmic resist-
ance associated to it. If we include this in the schematic, together with the equivalent volt-
age that develops across it, the potential bad effects becomes pretty obvious.

Q".@#'5#'9#"&A'"%9#./#1*$#6*A/#*#20"&(/1#'+#6*+);# Ground Loops

L6/9/#A"(5*>/9#1*$#&/#91*((@#&%5#'5#'9#*#A"(5*>/#)':-
:/0/+4/#+/A/056/(/99@#*+)#56/$#('7/#5"#*22/*0#'+#56/#
.0"+>#2(*4/9#'+#$"%0#4'04%'5;#H:#$"%#6*22/+#5"#."07#
"+#*#4'04%'5#.'56#:*'0($#(*0>/#+"'9/#'11%+'5$#560/96-
"()@#/;>;#)'>'5*(#(">'4#>*5/9#4'04%'59W#56'9#1*$#+"5#
20/9/+5#*#20"&(/1#*5#*((;#?%5#':#$"%#*0/#."07'+>#.'56#
('+/*0#*+)#9/+9'5'A/#4'04%'59#R*+#*%)'"#*12('3/0#:*((9#
'+5"#56'9#4*5/>"0$S@#56'+>9#4*+#>/5#0/*(($#'+5/0/95'+>;
Undesired potentials will invariably cause unwant-
/)#4%00/+5#8".#*9#./((;#L6/9/#%+)/9'0/)#4%00/+59#
*0/#4"((/45'A/($#4*((/)#U0"%+)#(""29@#*+)#56'9#'9#56/#
1*'+#46*0*45/0#4*%9'+>#*((#56"9/#6%1@#)'95"05'"+9@#
*+)#"56/0#+*95$#+"'9/9#4"1'+>#"%5#":#$"%0#*%)'"#
9/5%2;#
Just because you cannot get a perfect ground
4'04%'5#)"/9#+"5#1/*+#$"%#4*++"5#>/5#0')#":#56/9/#
&*)#/::/459;#,5#3095@#7//2'+>#56/#"61'4#)0"2#(".#
1*$#9//1#56/#(">'4*(#9"(%5'"+@##&%5@#9%020'9/@#'5#'9#

Freedom from Hum & Noise Page 2 of 5 pages 2012 e-Gizmo Mechatronix Central
+"5#*(.*$9#*#20*45'4*(#"25'"+;#,#&/55/0#9"(%5'"+#'9#5"#
7//2#56/#9'>+*(9#:0"1#&/'+>#4"+5*1'+*5/)#&$#56/9/#
%+)/9'0*&(/9;#H5#1*$#+"5#9"%+)#1%46@#&%5#56'9#'9#
"+/#":#56"9/#X/*9'/0#9*')#56*+#)"+/Y#56'+>$;#<"%#
6*A/#5"#/*0+#56/#97'((@#*+)#56*5#.'((#5*7/#9"1/#5'1/#
5"#)/A/("2;#L6/#>"")#+/.9#'9@#'5#'9#+"5#56*5#5/00'&($#
6*0);#L6/#&*)#+/.9#'9@#'5#'9#+"5#/*9$#/'56/0;#Z"5#":#
20*45'4/#*+)#*#("+>#2*5'/+4/#'9#0/I%'0/);
H+#56'9#)'94%99'"+@#./#.'((#:"01%(*5/#9"1/#9'12(/#
.'0'+>#*+)#4*&('+>#0%(/9#$"%#4*+#:"((".#.'56"%5#%9#
6*A'+>#5"#)/(A/#'+5"#("5#":#.6$9;#H+#"56/0#."0)9@#
./#.'((#&/#97'22'+>#)/5*'(9#T#$"%#1*$#+"5#6*A/#56/#
2*5'/+4/#:"0#56*5#*5#56'9#5'1/#*+$.*$;#J/#.'((#4"A/0#
&"*0)#(/A/(#.'0'+>#"+($;#,+)#1"0/#'12"05*+5@#$"%#
1%95#&/#*.*0/#":#56/#:*45#56*5#':#56/#4'04%'5#"+#56/#
-M?#'59/(:#'9#&*)($#(*')#"%5#'+#56/#3095#2(*4/@#/A/0$-
56'+>#./#*0/#*&"%5#5"#)'94%99#.'((#&/#":#('55(/#6/(2#
.6/+#*22('/)#5"#56/9/#&*)#&"*0)9;
Wiring Rules
[%(/#Q";#N#\#U0"%+)#96"%()#4"++/45#5"#"+/#2"'+5#
"+($;
L6'9#'9#20"&*&($#56/#1"95#'12"05*+5#0%(/;#,A"')#1%(-
5'2(/#>0"%+)#4"++/45'"+9;#,%)'"#)/A'4/9#)"+D5#('7/#
1*+$#>0"%+)#2*569;##]"0#/C*12(/@#':#$"%0#*12('-
3/0#'9#6"%9/)#'+#*#1/5*(^4"+)%45'A/#/+4("9%0/@#56/#
enclosure itself may already be connected to one
>0"%+)#2"'+5#R/;>;#0/45'3/0#4'04%'5#>0"%+)S;#H+#56'9#
4*9/@#*((".'+>#56/#'+2%5#4"++/45"09#R';/;#[M,#=*47S#
>0"%+)#5"#4"1/#'+5"#4"+5*45#.'56#56/#/+4("9%0/#.'((#
40/*5/#*#>0"%+)#(""2@#6/+4/#."%()#&/#*#A/0$#&*)#
')/*;#L6'9#'9#*#A/0$#4"11"+#FH<D/09#1'95*7/;
Photo Credit: Andre Marc
Belles Soloist 3 Preamp Review
www.avrev.com
!"#$%&'()'*+,&'+'-&&,'./'01&'%&+%'2"3&'.4'5.$%'+6-7"8&%'
(or AV receiver) and see how the RCA jacks are mount-
&3)'9.$',/.:'01+0'01&'+6-7"8&%';1+22"2'"2';.//&;0&3'0.'
system ground, but notice how the manufacturers build
their product to ensure the outer shell (ground contact)
does not come into contact with the chassis.
2012 e-Gizmo Mechatronix Central Page 3 of 5 pages
[%(/#Q";#_#\#!/2*0*5/#>0"%+)#2*569#&/5.//+#9/+-
9'5'A/#(".#2"./0#4'04%'59#*+)#6'>6#2"./0#4'04%'59;
L6/#2"./0#*12('3/0#9/45'"+#)0*.9#*#("5#":#2"./0@#
6/+4/@#4"%()#/*9'($#>/+/0*5/#*220/4'*&(/#>0"%+)#
4%00/+59;#`/+4/@#5"#1'+'1'K/#56/#2"./0#*12('3/0#
:0"1#*::/45'+>#56/#9/+9'5'A/#(".#2"./0#4'04%'59#R';/;#
20/*12('3/09@#20">0*1#9"%04/S@#*+#'9"(*5/)#2"./0#
9"%04/#'9#20/:/0*&(/;#
,+#'9"(*5/)#2"./0#9%22($#'9#*#4'04%'5#56*5#'9#+"5#
/(/450'4*(($#4"++/45/)#.'56#56/#2"./0#*12('3/0#2".-
/0#9%22($;#H5#4*+#&/#*+"56/0#0/45'3/0#4'04%'5#://)'+>#
on a separate winding on a transformer used in
4"11"+#R]'>#aS;#]'>%0/#b#96".9#6".#*+#'9"(*5/)#
2"./0#1%95#&/#4"++/45/)#5"#56/#(".#2"./0#4'04%'59;#
Q"5'4/#6".#56/#(".#2"./0#>0"%+)#'9#4"++/45/)#\#
"+($#*5#56/#)/A'4/#2"./0#9%22($#>0"%+)#5/01'+*(;#
,9#0%(/#Q";#N#0/I%'0/9@#+"56'+>#/(9/#96"%()#4"++/45#
'5#*5#*+$#"56/0#2"'+5#*("+>#56/#>0"%+)#4'04%'5;
POWER TRANSFORMER
+V1
RECTIFIER
CKT COM1
-V1
+V2
RECTIFIER
COM2
CKT
-V2
!"#$%&'<)'=';.66./'-.:&%'+6-7"8&%'-.:&%'2$--75'
;./8#$%+0"./)'>7&;0%";+7'"2.7+0"./'?&0:&&/'01&'0:.'
%&;0"8&%';"%;$"0'"2'+;1"&@&3':"01'01&'$2&'.4'2&-+%+0&'
secondary windings.
M"+9')/0#.6*5#.'((#6*22/+#':#$"%#4"++/45#56/#(".#
2"./0#R*44/99"0$S#9%22($#>0"%+)#)'0/45($#.'56#56/#
2"./0#*12('3/0#9%22($#>0"%+)#*9#)/2'45/)#&$#56/#
0/)#)*96/)#('+/#'+#]'>%0/#c;#L6/#5."#>0"%+)#2"'+59#
+".#40/*5/#*#>0"%+)#(""2@#*9#6'>6('>65/)#&$#56/#
0/)#2*56;#L6'9#'9#*#A/0$#4"11"+#1'95*7/;#L6'9#'9#
*(1"95#>%*0*+5//)#5"#1*7/#$"%0#*%)'"#9/5%2#6%1#
('7/#40*K$#*+)^"0#9"%+)#:%++$;#H:#:"0#*+$#0/*9"+@#56/#
direct supply ground to ground connection cannot
&/#0/1"A/)@#56/#2"./0#9%22($#>0"%+)#4"++/45'"+9#
":#56/#(".#2"./0#4'04%'5#1%95#&/#)'94"++/45/);#H#
1%95#0/'5/0*5/#56*5#.6'(/#56/#=%95#1/+5'"+/)#95/2#
Freedom from Hum & Noise
 LOW POWER PRE-AMP POWER POWER AMP
AUDIO PROGRAM AND/OR AMPLIFIER POWER SUPPLY
MATERIAL SOURCE TONE CONTROL

V+ SPKR+
OUT IN OUT IN

GND GND GND GND GND

V- SPK GND
GND V+ GND V+

ACCESSORY
POWER SUPPLY

!"#$%&'A)'=$3".'+6-7"8&%'2520&6'%&;.66&/3&3'#%.$/3':"%"/#'2&0$-)'*1"2'"77$20%+0"./'21.:2'01&'-%&4&%%&3'2&0-
$-B'./&'01+0'&6-7.52'"2.7+0&3'-.:&%'2$--75'4.%'01&'-.:&%'+6-7"8&%'+/3'7.:'-.:&%';"%;$"02)'C.0&'1.:'01&'2"#-
nal path grounds are connected from stage to stage only through the input and output ground pins assigned
for the purpose. Since both the preamp and audio source shares the same power supply circuit, adding a
ground wire as depicted by the dashed line connection will create a ground loop, hence must be avoided.

LOW POWER PRE-AMP POWER POWER AMP

AUDIO PROGRAM AND/OR AMPLIFIER POWER SUPPLY
MATERIAL SOURCE TONE CONTROL

V+ SPKR+
OUT IN OUT IN

GND GND GND GND GND

V- SPK GND
GND V+ GND V+

ACCESSORY
POWER SUPPLY

U[deQF#Me[[GQL#Zdd-

Figure 5. This schematic highlights the most troublesome yet most common mistake - a ground wire (red
dashed line) connecting the two power supply grounds directly. This creates a ground loop passing through
the power circuitry and low power circuit. Hum and distortion is inevitable.

Freedom from Hum & Noise -*>/#b#":#c#2*>/9 2012 e-Gizmo Mechatronix Central
1*$#/('1'+*5/#6%1@#'5#1*$#+"5#6/(2#1%46#'+#0/)%4-
'+>#"A/0*((#)'95"05'"+;
If a separate and isolated power supply is not prac-
5'4*(@#56/+#0%(/#Q";#a#&/4"1/9#/A/+#1"0/#'12"05*+5#
'+#$"%0#9/5%2;
[%(/#Q";#a#\#M"++/45#560"%>6#)/9'>+*5/)#'+2%5#*+)#
"%52%5#>0"%+)9#"+($;#
,9#1/+5'"+/)#'+#56/#(*5/0#2*05#":#[%(/#_@#56'9#&/-
4"1/9#/A/+#1"0/#'12"05*+5#':#56/#2"./0#9%22($#'9#
96*0/)#&$#56/#2"./0#*12('3/0#*+)#(".#2"./0#4'0-
4%'59@#';/;@#+"+T'9"(*5/)#2"./0#9%22($#9"%04/;#]'>%0/#
f#96".9#6".#56/#9%&9/45'"+9#1%95#&/#4"++/45/)#
5">/56/0;#Q"5'4/#56*5#56/#2"./0#9%22($#>0"%+)#":#
56/#(".#2"./0#9/45'"+9#*0/#(/:5#%+4"++/45/)g#FM#
>0"%+)#4"++/45'"+9#*0/#4*00'/)#9"(/($#560"%>6#56/#
'+2%5#*+)#"%52%5#>0"%+)#2"'+59;

H:#$"%#5*7/#*#4("9/0#(""7@#$"%#.'((#+"5'4/#56*5#*%)'"#
)/A'4/9#6*A/#'+2%5#*+)#"%52%5#>0"%+)#2"'+59@#'+#*)-
)'5'"+#5"#*#9/2*0*5/#2"./0#9%22($#>0"%+)#2"'+5;#d:#
4"%09/@#56/9/#>0"%+)#2"'+59#*0/#*((#/(/450'4*(($#4"+-
+/45/)#5">/56/0@#&%5#&$#+".@#$"%#*0/#*(0/*)$#*.*0/#
56*5#56/$#*0/#+"5#/(/450'4*(($#*5#56/#9*1/#2"'+59@#
6/+4/#96"%()#&/#50/*5/)#*9#9%46;#]'>%0/#b#*(0/*)$#
96".+#$"%#56/#4"00/45#.*$#":#4"++/45'+>#"+/#
"%52%5#5"#*+"56/0#95*>/D9#'+2%5;#L6/#"%52%5#>0"%+)#
":#56/#20/4/)'+>#95*>/#96"%()#4"++/45#)'0/45($#*+)#
"+($#5"#'+2%5#>0"%+)#":#56/#9%44//)'+>#95*>/;#H5#'9#
*#9'12(/#&%5#A/0$#'12"05*+5#0%(/;#M"++/45'+>#56/#
>0"%+)#*+$#"56/0#.*$#.'((#=%95#>'A/#$"%#%++/4/9-
9*0$#50"%&(/9;
Conclusion
,)1'55/)($@#56'9#96"05#)'94%99'"+#4"%()#+"5#2"9-
9'&($#4"A/0#/A/0$56'+>#./#+//)#5"#7+".W#'5#'9#=%95#
*#940*546#'+#56/#9%0:*4/@#9"#5"#92/*7;#J/#)')#+"5#
/A/+#)'94%99/)#96'/()'+>@#9*:/5$#>0"%+)@#*+)#
"56/0#/I%*(($#'12"05*+5#95%::9;#?%5#.6*5#./#4"A-
/0/)#9"#:*0#'9#20"&*&($#/+"%>6#5"#1*7/#$"%#&/55/0#
/I%'22/)#'+#50"%&(/96""5'+>#*+)#9"(A'+>#56/#1"95#
4"11"+#*++"$*+4/#'+#FH<#*%)'"#9/5%2@#6%1#*+)#
)'95"05'"+;
d+/#1"0/#'12"05*+5#56'+>#."056#1/+5'"+'+>#T#
U0"%+)#(""29#20"&(/1#%9%*(($#4*%9/9#("%)#N_O`K#
6%1;#fO`K#`%1#R*+)#+"'9/#2'47#%2S#*0/#20"&*&($#
)%/#5"#9"1/#)'::/0/+5#4*%9/)#R/;>;#!6'/()'+>S;#
Z/*0+#5"#)'::/0/+5'*5/#&/5.//+#56/#5.";##h

LOW POWER PRE-AMP POWER POWER AMP

AUDIO PROGRAM AND/OR AMPLIFIER POWER SUPPLY
MATERIAL SOURCE TONE CONTROL

V+ SPKR+
OUT IN OUT IN

GND GND GND GND GND

V- SPK GND
GND V+ GND V+

!"#$%&'D)'E4'01&'2&0$-'21+%&2'+';.66./'-.:&%'2$--75'?&0:&&/'01&'-.:&%'+6-7"8&%'+/3'01&'7.:'-.:&%'
circuitry, the best ground wiring for the low power circuits is no power ground at all! Low power DC supply
ground connection is shared with the input and output signal grounds.

2012 e-Gizmo Mechatronix Central Page 5 of 5 pages Freedom from Hum & Noise