In many audio systems electrical power conditions can limit the system’s ultimate resolution. Ground currents and noise present on your mains power system may result in a degradation of sound quality. To help alleviate these detrimental effects, MSB helps create a local shield ground by using the “Grounding Terminals” that come standard on MSB power bases and amplifiers. This guide will help you optimize your system’s sound quality potential.
***Never connect the ground wire to the negative speaker terminal***
Each MSB Power Base has a pair of ground terminals connected with a jumper. This jumper normally connects the internal electrical shield to the chassis ground of the product. The “AMP Ground” terminal is the internal shield ground, while the “Chassis Ground” terminal is the product case ground. While connecting the internal shield ground to the chassis ground is a good configuration for many systems some improvement in noise reduction may be achieved by providing a dedicated star ground connection from the most critical point (the amplifier). This can be done by disconnecting the jumper on the DACs analog power supply and adding a ground cable between the amplifiers ground and the “AMP Ground” terminal on the DAC.
Single PowerBase Grounding Setup
Follow this setup when you are connecting a single MSB Powerbase to an amplifier in your system
Powerbase Connection
Attach the ground wire to the “Amp ground” lug of the powerbase.
Lift the jumper between “Amp Ground” and “Chassis Ground” so it’s not connecting both lugs as shown in the diagram below.
Amplifier Connection
Attach the ground wire to the Ground Lug on the jack panel of your MSB amp.
If there is no ground lug, attach wire to a chassis screw.
***Never connect the ground wire to the negative speaker terminal***
Double Powerbase setup
Follow this setup when you are connecting two MSB powerbases to an amplifier in your system.
Powerbase connections
Attach the ground wire to the “Amp Ground” lug of both powerbases.
Lift the jumpers between “Amp Ground” and “Chassis Ground” as shown above.
Amplifier Connection
Attach the ground wire to the Ground Lug on the jack panel of the MSB amp.
If there is no ground lug, attach wire to a chassis screw.
***Never connect the ground wire to the negative speaker terminal***
Adding a Transport Powerbase
Follow the setup for the single or double powerbase diagrams above to achieve your initial powerbase connections. Then, when adding a transport powerbase, DO NOT attach the transport powerbase to the grounding line. Leave it out of the grounding setup for optimal isolation.
Adding an MSB Headphone Amp – Headphone Amplifier Only System
There are two ways to add a headphone amplifier to a systems ground chain. One is intended for use in conjunction with a power amplifier and loudspeakers, while the other is used when a headphone amplifier is the only amplifier in the system. Follow these steps if the headphone amplifier is the only amplifier in the system.
Powerbase Connections
In this configuration, the Headphone Amplifier is treated as the only amplifier in the system. Follow the setup for the single or double powerbase diagrams above to achieve your initial powerbase connections.
Headphone Amplifier Connections
In this configuration, The Headphone Amplifier is the end point in the grounding chain and is much like adding another powerbase, but in this case the headphone amplifier needs to have the grounding jumper closed.
Adding an MSB Headphone Amp – Headphone Amplifier with Loudspeakers System
There are two ways to add a headphone amplifier to a systems ground chain. One is intended for use in conjunction with a power amplifier and loudspeakers, while the other is used when a headphone amplifier is the only amplifier in the system. Follow these steps if the headphone amplifier is used in conjunction with a power amplifier and loudspeakers.
Premier Headphone Amplifier Setup
The Premier Headphone Amplifier does not get connected to the ground chain when there are power amplifiers in the system. For best performance, attach your powerbase ground wire to your power amplifier chassis and do not connect it to your Premier Headphone Amplifier. Follow the one or two powerbase setup diagram from above and ignore making a connection to your headphone amplifier.
***Never connect the ground wire to the negative speaker terminal***
Electrostatic and Dynamic Headphone Amplifier Setup (Reference and Select Series)
In this configuration, the Headphone Amplifier is like another powerbase in the grounding chain. Follow the setup for the single or double powerbase diagrams above to achieve your initial powerbase connections.
Treat the Headphone Amplifier as if it were another powerbase in this configuration and add the grounding cable AND disconnect the grounding jumper.
After connecting your headphone amplifier, continue attaching the grounding wire to the loudspeaker amplifier in your system. If there isn’t a ground lug on the loudspeaker amplifier, attach wire to the chassis.
***Never connect the ground wire to the negative speaker terminal***
