Why the Hell...

[tw]

Originally Posted by Elspode

One is. The other isn't. I think I've found a solution onlne...

If a ground loop exists, then you have currents flowing into and out of the computer that should not happen. Hum would be a symptom of a defect. A real isolator would only help to identify that defect. This isolator is unlikely to eliminate hum in unpowered headphones. That defect also may be a symptom of a serious human safety issue.

A simpler solution (solution only to identify the problem; not yet fix it) would be a three prong plug to two prong receptacle adaptor. Another solution (again we are not yet ready to fix anything) is to try both computers is another building.

To have that hum means a current is flowing into the computer on one path and out on another. AND that current must not be flowing where it can create a hum.

Also not provided are other connections to that computer. To identify a failure, first list everything connected to the machine. Not just other peripheral connections. Are headphones powered or unpowered? If powered, then that too is another connection.

If may be something trivial. But it could also be the canary in a coalmine. Better is to identify the problem first before fixing it. The isolator is typically used when ignoring symptoms of a much larger problem.