Behringer Ultra-compact 2-channel Hum destroyer / HD400

 This unit is a fave of mine! I've used this box before and in a recent build I've used it again. It is a very simple passive ground loop eliminator. And it is cheap! 

A simple explanation on ground loops can be found here.

Ground loops are quite common. Using two amps together can give a very annoying hum that is basically what the ground loop does. Also using AC powered pedals give a similar problem, as you connect two grounds together with the signal cable.





The circuit
This passive pedal, housed in a metal enclosure, is in fact pretty basic and simpel. It can use a balanced or an unbalanced signal and isolate through a small transformer. I've traced the 'pedal'.


The sound
This unit is usuable for isolating signals from each other. The manual is focussed on audio applications like an amplifier with multiple inputs or outputs. The setup of this 'pedal' is for balanced signals.
Although this unit isn't designed for guitar or bass use it works wonders with amplifiers. Plugging your guitar straight in gives the output signal a bit of a treble roll-off but with a dedicated buffer in front I hear no issues. 
Not all pedals work well with an input through this unit (the Delayla for example, and some fuzz pedals I've encountered) but amps usually just work fine! 

By adding this unit to a stereo setup op amps gets rid of the known ground loops and make the sound super clean and hum free! And that is just great!

PM: As this unit has inside a dual isolation circuit, it can be tempting to isolate both channels when feeding two amps! I strongly advise against this! Isolating both channels will introduce hum and noise from the power supply, as this now has no real grounding going on (usually the PSU for pedals has a ground reference by connecting your cable to the amp (which should be grounded)). 

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