Ground loop problem in aftermarket stereo install, 94 S4

[Ti Kan]

John Lagnese writes:
> Ground loop isolators. Its just a capacitor. The only time I needed one was=
>  with
> a portable CD player. It had a pre-amp input on the radio. The isolator hoo=
> ked
> up in line. It had RCA jacks on both ends.

Actually, the ground loop isolator is a transformer, not capacitor.
They allow coupling of audio signal via induction without actually
connecting the grounds together.  These are typically used between
head unit line outputs and power amplifier inputs.  The only "common"
ground, then, is the power supply ground, eliminating the ground loop.

The ground loop isolator may audibly degrade the sound, though.  This
is highly dependent upon the quality of the transformer, and its
loading characteristic upon the line-out amplifier inside the head unit.

-Ti
01 S4 2.7 biturbo quattro
84 5000S 2.1 turbo
80 4000 2.0
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