Rme ground loop

[Arthurelletson]

I posted this in the "so much gear" section and did not get much response so am reporting it here if that's ok

I have been trying to sell a small mixing desk for some time now and not had any luck, but now I have had an offer of an exchange for a rme fireface 400, the thing is the seller says it has a ground loop in it that he can't fix.
I have had a bit of a search about these ground loops and as far as I can tell they are generally user error rather than an electrical issue.
Does anybody have any experience fixing ground loops with these units?

Thanks

I have since discovered that it is only on the output and when the unit was replaced it was fixed so I believe it is an internal grounding issue

[Matt Syson]

Hi
Even if there were a 'ground loop' inside the RME box it would have to be in an extremely strong magnetic field to be significant.

Far more likely is that the original owner had a poor grounding system and he has now got new converters that are either better balanced or he has managed to rewire it successfully this time so it doesn't hum.
Assuming the RME box has not been 'messed with' and is working to it's normal standard you should be fine but bear in mind you will have to wire it properly.
There is an awful lot of gear 'out there' and despite the grand statements of 'balanced' and other expressions they are not all 'plug and play' and you do have to apply some brainpower to produce a hum free system.
Matt S

[Arthurelletson]

Thanks for the very helpful advice, it does sound like user error, I was just a bit hesitant