How to get the lowest amount of interference in your audio system.
This goes for all analog as well as digital and analog and is based on asymmetry in power supplies be them SMPS (switch mode) or linear (transformer)
Remove all interlinks so you have ONLY separate equipment.
Note that equipment that is double isolated differs from those that have safety ground.
Also note that safety ground is NOT a the same as RFI ground !
In general all safety grounds are extremely lousy RFI grounds.
You will need a voltage finder.
I use a sort-of screwdriver tester designed to show Live an Neutral.
Not the kind with a neonlight in it but this one can show voltages in a few coarse steps.
Another option is to use a multimeter.
It should have AC voltage AND AC current measurement capabilities.
Connect a mains fed audio component to mains (3 pin to 3 pin socket) and hold the tester against the RCA or other connector (the screen or common).
OR multimeter:
1 testlead to a safety ground or something you KNOW is REALLY grounded.
Other testlead of the meter to the RCA shield or other connector.
Set the meter to ACV(oltage) first and choose the highest range.
Set the meter lower when needed.
Note the voltage.
Now set the meter to AC A(mpere = current.
Same testleads on the same pins/conditions
Choose a setting of several 100mA (10A settings won’t show anything).
Go to lower settings to read a proper value.
Note that current.
Now, and this is NOT possible in certain countries, plug the mains connector in the mains outlet but phase reversed (rotated 180 degrees).
Redo the measurements and compare the results.
Mark the lowest voltage/current setting on the mains socket and mains plug so you can always find the lowest current.
Quick and dirty method only your finger and sometimes a metal surface needed.
Plug in the single audio component and make sure it is on something isolated (plastic or something)
Now rub your finger over a metal cover or put a metal plate on top of the audiocomponent and connect that to the shield of the RCA connector with some wire.
If you ‘feel’ your fingertip (where you touch the metal) to ‘bounce/vibrate’ a bit you will know there is current leakage.
When you feel nothing the leakage is very small.
Again reverse the polarity on the mains plug (rotate the plug 180 degrees) and test again.
Note the position of the plug opposite a mark on the mains socket for the lowest ‘ripple/hum/bounce/vibration’ in the finger tips.
Note that equipment with figure- 8 mains connections also need to be marked as these can easily be set in the wrong position.
When all equipment is tested and set for lowest leakage current connect them with clean interconnects (clean the RCA’s too if dirty/oxidised) and this will be the best situation.
Those with weird sounds or plagued with ticks from external equipment e.t.c. or faint hum or whizzing noises may find their equipment to be totally silent.
If still plagued with unwanted signals then one can resort to ferrites (do little if nothing mostly), mains filters (may also worsen things !) or separation transformers.