Topic: Ground Loop Problem w/ Desktop+Sound Card & Receiver

[BC]

Hey all-

I have a really nasty ground loop problem when I hook up my desktop computer receiver to my receiver. I am using an M-audio audiophile 2496. When I take the analog RCA out to an analog RCA input on my receiver (Harman Kardon AVR20, low end pro-logic receiver), which then sends out a line level signal through unbalanced RCA cables to my powered speakers (Paradigm active 20's), I get a REALLY LOUD hum.

 I have isolated the problem to my computer monitor, if I unplug the power cable to the monitor the hum goes away. Likewise, if I hook up the sound card directly to my powered speakers everything is all good. But I would really like to be able to have the computer monitor on at the same time I am playing back, and I don't want to have to swap cables to listen from the computer.

I think if I could get an external DAC that would take an optical signal, I could spit out a SPDIF out from the 2496 card and pass it through a format converter to optical, which would maybe eliminate the ground loop. However,I don't think this is in my budget for the near future, which rules out this possibility.

I have also tried powering the monitor from different outlets with no luck, all the outlets I have tried give the same result.

Anyone have any suggestions on what I could try?

Thanks,
Ben

[kindms]

Are your RCA cables directional ? I had a similar issue when I finally noticed the signal path dirction arrows were going the wrong way. Also check all of the connections you have on your reciever to make sure you don't have a misconfig. so to speak

[Tim]

is there another plug? that may solve the problem... or one of those 2prong to 3prong adapters.

just trying to think of simple fixes from my sound days...