Losing sound quality with non-grounded home elec. system?

Turbota
Turbota Posts: 255
I am in Florida now, but have a house in the Philippines too. I am concerned that my 2-channel audio system I am using in the Philippines may have degraded audio quality do to the fact that they don't ground anything over there. It's all 220 v, and all ungrounded. In fact, I had to cut that 3rd ground pin off my CDP and my integrated amp's power plug in order to get it to plug into the wall electical outlets.

There is no 3rd wire running anywhere in the house. It's just 2 wires, and you can attach them to an electrical outlet either way (reversing the 2 wires makes no difference)

This house was custom built only 3 years ago ... and there is no code requiring any ground

If I touch my amp while it's on, I can feel the electricity in the cabinet. You know ... that slight vibrating on your fingers when you touch a non-grounded electrical component. Maybe you remember feeling that vibration before on something electrical?

The audio system sounds good to me, but I wonder if in reality it is giving up sound quality do to all the stray current running even to the component's metal cabinets?

There is really no remedy for this .... the whole house electrical system is ungrounded.

What do you think?

Ron,
2-Channel Audio
Onkyo ... A-9050 . . .Integrated Amp. (Power Amp Section not Used)
Onkyo ... M-282 . ... Power Amps .(Pair)
Onkyo ... C-7030 . _.CD Player
Polk . . *. RTi A7 - ....Front Speakers
Polk . . *. RTi A3 - ....Rear Speakers
Post edited by Turbota on

Comments

  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited April 2012
    The best test is to stand in a bucket of water while touching the amp. Does it still sound okay? Sell the house, and move to a 2nd world country with electrical codes.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    Move

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • Turbota
    Turbota Posts: 255
    edited April 2012
    Move? .... well, that's why I spend most of my time here in the US

    Actually, I was really trying to get some feedback as to my question ... I guess "Move" is an answer too, but not exactly what I was looking for in this thread.
    2-Channel Audio
    Onkyo ... A-9050 . . .Integrated Amp. (Power Amp Section not Used)
    Onkyo ... M-282 . ... Power Amps .(Pair)
    Onkyo ... C-7030 . _.CD Player
    Polk . . *. RTi A7 - ....Front Speakers
    Polk . . *. RTi A3 - ....Rear Speakers
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    I don't think if you got a little "feel the electricity" when you touch your equipment, if good for sound. If you can find a way to redo the plugs so you get nothing feeling electrical.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • Turbota
    Turbota Posts: 255
    edited April 2012
    Maybe drive a long steel stake into the ground outside, and then attach a wire from the "ground" screw on the component's rear panel to the steel stake?

    Can't do anything about the whole-house electrical system.

    ListeningRoom1.jpg

    IMG_0066-1.jpg

    Speakers2.jpg
    2-Channel Audio
    Onkyo ... A-9050 . . .Integrated Amp. (Power Amp Section not Used)
    Onkyo ... M-282 . ... Power Amps .(Pair)
    Onkyo ... C-7030 . _.CD Player
    Polk . . *. RTi A7 - ....Front Speakers
    Polk . . *. RTi A3 - ....Rear Speakers
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    Just one plug / outlet is used for the equipment in question?

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • Turbota
    Turbota Posts: 255
    edited April 2012
    There is 1 plug for the amp and 1 plug for the CD player .. same outlet (that's the 2-channel audio system)


    Also 1 for the TV and Satellite box too, but I'm not worried about them (separate outlet).
    2-Channel Audio
    Onkyo ... A-9050 . . .Integrated Amp. (Power Amp Section not Used)
    Onkyo ... M-282 . ... Power Amps .(Pair)
    Onkyo ... C-7030 . _.CD Player
    Polk . . *. RTi A7 - ....Front Speakers
    Polk . . *. RTi A3 - ....Rear Speakers
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    I would either do this....

    Re-plug equipment so it's the other way in the outlet, can't be don't here in USA but sounds like it maybe there.

    If that didn't work, then I feel your electric is really messed up. In the states there's a Neutral, Hot, and Ground. Equipment is likes the neutral and grounds. In the electrical box the neutral and ground are tied together with the ground rod. So with a large isolating transformer 1000va+, I would ground one wire to ground and make this my ground and neutral, the other wire is hot.

    I don't feel it is safe to ground the equipment or the electrical if its not ground now. During so may get everything in your house hot 120vac or 220vac, read deathly.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • Turbota
    Turbota Posts: 255
    edited April 2012
    Thank's joe ... well, I can't re-design the Filipino electrical system. I am thinking at least I could ground the component's outer cases.

    The one thing though ... all the various circuits in the house do have circuit breakers, so that's comforting.



    I guess I can stop at our local Walmart here in the Philippines and get some wire to ground the amp and CD player:

    Wall-mart.jpg
    2-Channel Audio
    Onkyo ... A-9050 . . .Integrated Amp. (Power Amp Section not Used)
    Onkyo ... M-282 . ... Power Amps .(Pair)
    Onkyo ... C-7030 . _.CD Player
    Polk . . *. RTi A7 - ....Front Speakers
    Polk . . *. RTi A3 - ....Rear Speakers
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    Be careful, I caution you to ground the case without an isolating transformer. Perhaps its best to leave it like it is, and bring the transformer back with you later.



    Steve

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


  • Turbota
    Turbota Posts: 255
    edited April 2012
    I bought the Onkyo integrated amp over in the Philippines, so it's a 220v model. No transformer hooked up to it.
    2-Channel Audio
    Onkyo ... A-9050 . . .Integrated Amp. (Power Amp Section not Used)
    Onkyo ... M-282 . ... Power Amps .(Pair)
    Onkyo ... C-7030 . _.CD Player
    Polk . . *. RTi A7 - ....Front Speakers
    Polk . . *. RTi A3 - ....Rear Speakers
  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited April 2012
    An isolating transformer would allow you to bypass your non ground electric to ground your 2 channel outlet. It isolates the electric from outside to inside. Maybe a bit overkill but would work and you won't get any electric shock. Its like having your own electric power company.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR