Are you tired of hearing that annoying humming sound coming from your turntable? Grounding your turntable can help eliminate that unwanted noise and improve your overall sound quality.
But what if you can’t find the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver? Can you ground your turntable to anything else?
In this article, we’ll explore the options for grounding your turntable and provide step-by-step instructions to help you do it successfully.
So, grab your tools and let’s get started!
Can You Ground Turntable To Anything
The short answer is yes, you can ground your turntable to something other than the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver. However, it’s important to note that grounding your turntable to anything other than the designated grounding terminal can potentially cause more harm than good.
If you can’t locate the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver, don’t worry. You can still ground your turntable using the grounding cable and the actual body of the amplifier or receiver. Simply take each end of a length of electrical cable and strip it by about 6 to 8mm until you are left with just the cable within. Take one stripped end and attach it to the chassis of an amplifier or receiver, preferably to a screw. Then, take the other end and attach that to the chassis of the turntable, also to a screw.
However, it’s important to note that grounding your turntable to anything other than the designated grounding terminal can potentially cause ground loops and introduce unwanted noise into your audio system. It’s always best to locate and use the designated grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver if possible.
Understanding Turntable Grounding
To understand turntable grounding, it’s important to first understand what grounding is and why it’s necessary. Grounding is a safety measure that ensures any unwanted electricity flows back to your electrical panel, tripping the circuit-breaker and stopping the flow of electricity. This is important because all of your hi-fi boxes are electrically isolated from the metal exterior or chassis, and if electricity comes into contact with the chassis, it could potentially cause harm.
In the case of a turntable, grounding serves a slightly different purpose. It’s not a safety issue, but rather it’s there to avoid ground loops. If you have inter-connected equipment with more than one electrical path to the ground, a ground loop can ultimately cause extra noise. For a turntable that handles sensitive signals from a delicate cartridge, the issue is amplified. A turntable suffering from a ground loop will produce a hum through your speakers.
Most turntable designs come with a separate ground wire attached principally to the tonearm, which can be attached to the amplifier or phono amplifier’s ground screw. This helps reduce background hum tremendously. If your turntable comes with a ground wire, that’s a surefire sign it needs to be grounded. Technically, some turntables with built-in phono preamps don’t require grounding. If your turntable has a built-in phono preamp that you use instead of a separate one, there’s no grounding wire included, and you’ve never had sound issues – you may be fine.
Finding The Grounding Terminal On Your Amplifier Or Receiver
In order to properly ground your turntable, you’ll need to locate the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver. This can typically be found on the back of the unit and is usually marked with the word “grounded” or simply “ground.”
The grounding terminal can take one of two forms: it may be a metal post with a knurled shaft, or it may be a simple screw terminal. Once you’ve located the grounding terminal, you’ll need to loosen it in order to connect your turntable’s grounding wire.
If you’re having trouble finding the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver, consult the user manual or contact the manufacturer for assistance. It’s important to note that if you can’t locate the grounding terminal, you can still ground your turntable using the body of the amplifier or receiver as described above. However, this may not provide as effective a grounding solution and could potentially introduce unwanted noise into your audio system.
Options For Grounding Your Turntable To Other Devices
If you have multiple turntables and need to ground them, there are a few options available. For minimum hum, there should only be one ground path from each audio source to the input of the preamp. If possible, run a separate ground wire from each turntable back to the preamp. This will ensure that each turntable is properly grounded and will minimize any potential for ground loops.
If it is not easy to connect all the wires directly to the preamp, connect all the grounds to a ground bus such as a bar of metal. Copper is preferred unless you are rich enough to use silver. Connect the ground bus to the preamp with as short a piece of wire as possible. It is OK, and often better, to use separate grounds for the turntable, tonearm, and common side of each channel IF they are not connected together at the turntable or some place else.
Some turntables have a ground pin on the mains plug. This is done to protect you from electrical shock. However, disconnecting this wire and using a separate ground back to the preamp may reduce hum. It also reduces protection and may pose a safety hazard. A much better plan is to let the mains wire ground the turntable chassis and, if the tonearm and low side (shield) of the signal wires are isolated from the turntable chassis, to bring them back to the preamp separately.
It’s important to note that using anything other than the designated grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver can potentially cause more harm than good. While it may be tempting to take shortcuts or improvise with grounding methods, it’s always best to follow manufacturer recommendations and locate and use the designated grounding terminal whenever possible.
Step-by-Step Guide To Grounding Your Turntable To Another Device
Grounding your turntable to another device is a simple process that can be done in a few easy steps. Here’s a step-by-step guide to grounding your turntable to another device:
1. Locate the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver. It’s typically marked “ground” and is often a metal post with a screw terminal.
2. If you can’t locate the grounding terminal, take an insulated 18-22 gauge AWG wire and strip off both ends. Connect one end of the bare wire to the metal chassis of the turntable and the other stripped end to the amplifier’s metal body using gaffer tape.
3. If you want to make your own grounding wire, take a 5-foot length of 18-to-20-gauge stranded wire and strip about 6 to 8 mm of the insulation using needle-nose pliers from both ends. Get some copper spade connectors from your local electronics store and connect them to the ends of the wires. If you can’t find those connectors, just strip the end of the wires an inch or so.
4. Attach one end of the grounding wire to the grounding terminal on your amplifier or receiver, preferably to a screw. Attach the other end of the wire to the chassis of your turntable, also to a screw.
5. Make sure that all connections are tight and secure.
6. Turn on your audio system and check for any unwanted noise or ground loops. If you hear any unwanted noise, try repositioning the grounding wire or using a different grounding method.
By following these simple steps, you can easily ground your turntable to another device and enjoy high-quality audio without any unwanted noise or interference.
Troubleshooting Common Grounding Issues
If you’re experiencing issues with grounding your turntable, there are a few common problems that may be causing the issue. Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you identify and fix the problem:
1. Ground Loop: A ground loop can occur when there is a difference in ground potential between the turntable and amplifier. This can cause a 60-cycle alternating current to pass between the two components, resulting in an audible hum. To fix this issue, try connecting all of your audio equipment to the same power outlet or power strip.
2. Broken Tonearm Cables: If you hear a buzz or hum that lowers when you touch the tonearm, it could be due to broken tonearm cables. Check the cables for any damage or breaks, and replace them if necessary.
3. Short-Circuit in Phono Cable: If the buzz is unbearably loud, it could be due to a short-circuit in the phono cable from the turntable to the phono stage. Check the cable for any damage or breaks, and replace it if necessary.
4. Distance Between Amp and Turntable: If your amp and turntable are too far apart, it can cause grounding issues. Try moving them closer together to see if that fixes the problem.
5. Unbalanced Signal: If you’re running a low-level, unbalanced signal several meters under the floorboards, it can cause grounding issues. Try converting the signal to a balanced output using a transformer or DI box.
By troubleshooting these common issues, you should be able to identify and fix any grounding problems with your turntable. Remember to always use caution when working with electricity and unplug everything before making any changes or adjustments.
