I primarily use my Quad Cortex for practicing with just headphones. Since I don’t have it connected to an amp, studio monitors, or a computer via USB, the unit isn’t grounded through any external gear.
Because of this lack of grounding, I’m experiencing a lot of annoying background noise and hum/buzzing, which only quietens down when I touch the strings or metal parts of my guitar.
Does anyone know if it’s possible to purchase or use a grounded power supply for the Quad Cortex? Are there any official options from Neural DSP available nowadays, or are there reliable third-party power supplies (or alternative grounding fixes) that you would recommend to eliminate this noise?
Just for context, I live in Finland, so I’m looking for solutions that are readily available within the EU and compatible with standard EU/Schuko plugs.
This issue has been discussed extensively with quite a few interesting solutions offered up by forum members. Unfortunately there is no way to ground the QC (that I’m aware of) through a power supply because of the barrel connector used. I understand why NDSP made the supply ungrounded but not having another simple grounding option can be a headache for some users.
If you have some basic soldering skills, you could solder a length of wire to the ground terminal of a female XLR plug or male TRS plug, plug it into one of QCs outputs and connect the other end to a suitable ground. Just be sure of what you’re doing or you could cause some damage.
For other options, search the forum using terms like “ground”, “hum”, “buzz” or “OMG, I’M LOSING MY MIND BECAUSE THIS WALL WART ISN’T GROUNDED” .
@Golibri The QC’s power input is +12VDC and DC return only; it doesn’t accept a ground. This is intentional, as Neural designed the QC to be grounded to an external device like a mixing console or studio monitors, and eliminate the possibility of a ground loop.
The downside of this approach is the headphone noise. So many threads in this forum on this topic.
You can ground your QC by plugging in to another piece of grounded audio equipment via a TRS or XLR connection, even if you’re not trying to use it.
I dont think it is a grounding issue. If it were, then touching the strings would not make it quieter. The human body is basically an antenna and oir environment is filler with em noise. When you touch the strings, it quitens because the guitar IS grounded.
Youbare experiencing electric noise, probably devices or electric system in the environment.
Instead of touching the guitar, try touching something that is grounded like a computer. It should have the same result.