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ARTDTI Dual Transformer Isolator Hum Eliminator
M**G
TRANSFORMER SAVIOR
I work in a small studio that creates music content and broadcasts live video shows over the internet. Sometimes we simulcast to three different mediums (two audio-video encoders and one audio-only encoder). The output of our mixer also feeds several headphone amps in the studio. All-in-all it's a big recipe for ground-loop hum, the splits to the video encoders are the biggest culprits, suffice to say it's an engineering nightmare.Our hum and noise problem got very big when we added video to our broadcasts and it seemed like there was no way to get rid of it. We already have a 3-way splitter transformer on the output of our console and there was no way to add another one without degrading the sound. I tried a 1x4 distribution amp but it did not have the isolation to break the ground-loop hum so that was not an improvement, indeed, it was actually a step backwards in some ways.We had a big show coming up and I really wanted to fix the audio but I did not have time to build another transformer isolation box for the inputs to the video encoder so I turned to my friends at Amazon for a solution.To be honest, I did not think this box could possibly work. I normally pay more for one raw audio transformer than this completely assembled two-channel unit. I ordered one and got it in two days as promised. Our studio mixer had one set of unused RCA outputs for hooking up to a stereo recorder. I used these to feed a signal to this little ART box, then I used the RCA outputs from the ART to feed into our video encoder. PROBLEM FIXED.I was stunned at the tone quality the ART produced. We are doing music, it's a full range rock band, deep punchy kick drums, mondo bass guitar, screaming guitar leads, sweet cymbals and amazing harmony on the vocals. We record the show right out of the encoder so we have a reference file of what was broadcast. After the show I listened to the recording and it was very impressive, not only was the hum gone but the whole signal seemed cleaner and better in ways that it should not have been. I don't know whether the HUM had been causing high intermodulation distortion or what, but what I do know is our music that is going out on the internet is sounding like we want it to sound, big, full, rich and hum-free.The variety of input and output connectors on this box allows it to be connected in lots of different ways. We're in the process of moving to a larger studio and I will be adding a few more of these to solve other problems in our personal monitoring system that the performers listen through.I did some tests in my lab to determine the quality of the transformers inside this ART box. To be honest, it does change the frequency response slightly but not in a hugely adverse manner. Bass frequencies below 50 hz are a little more distorted on very loud signals, that is what I could measure in the lab. In the real world nobody is going to hear the slightly degraded sound and everybody is going to appreciate the removal of ground-loop hum.If your hum is caused by some other source this box is not going to get rid of it, it's not a hum canceling or hum removal sort of thing. It removes hum by breaking ground loops, plain and simple. It does that well as far as I can tell and at this price it is a real winner.
G**M
Good product
This product solved my ground hum issues. It does introduce a very slight degradation in audio quality as well as a slight loss in volume. I am very picky with my audio and have professional monitors and I can notice a slight loss of quality, but when you have ground problems.. this is the best solution I have found aside from fixing the actual wiring issues. I think that overall this is a good value product and works when you have no other choice. It will work best in applications where mastering and absolute sound quality are not needed. It works significantly better than the cheap rca ground hum eliminators
P**S
Arrived Broken
After comprehensive testing, I've confirmed that one of my DTI's 1/4" Outputs did not work at all. Out of the box, this thing was broken. Because I purchased this defective product, I refunded it and will instead be purchasing a Radial StageBug SB-6.
S**Y
You cannot fix all audio issues with any single "magic" isolation box!
I have a number of ART DTI boxes employed in a variety of situations and have found it to be effective for its' stated design. I see a LOT of people who treat this product as a solution to EVERY problem involving hum and buzz. This product is NOT a solution for every form of noise issue.If a system has an induced hum or buzz NOT related to a common ground problem between the two systems being isolated then the DTI will NOT solve that problem! You can try it at different points in the signal chain and MAY find a spot that kills your noise.However, if the buzz exists prior to the point in the signal chain where the DTI is connected it will probably not effect the noise because the problem already exists upstream in the signal chain. The same goes for a buzz or hum occurring due to an issue AFTER the point where you insert the DTI. Sometimes you must try the DTI at several points in the signal chain until you can interrupt the ground loop where the noise is generated. The DTI is not a noise cancellation system, it is a signal isolation system... a BIG difference.Also, a system adjacent to a large AC transformer field can have induced hum or buzz and an isolation transformer will not solve this. Moving the equipment out of the hum field of the AC transformer would be the only way to solve this issue. Also, an amplifier with bad filter capacitors that cause a hum in the signal can only be fixed by replacing the bad capacitors. You can also try a steep parametric filter to cut-off the frequencies involved to mask them if you cannot identify and solve the actual CAUSE of the noise.
E**C
Works well, for a very limited and specific hum
It will only reduce ground loop hum. All other hum causes and frequencies are unaffected by this device. If you are sure that you have only ground loop hum, this is perfect.
D**J
Works
It got rid of my noise ground loop. Its odd shape me it hard to hide in the back of my rack.
K**I
They eliminated the squealing noise during gaming
Plugged it in just now and fired up Cyberpunk 2077. Gaming always makes my monitors pick up an annoying squealing sound. Its now gone.Don't forget to buy a pair of cables to go between your interface and this DTI.My set up is:FOCUSRITE 2i2 4th Gen6" KALISXLR balanced cablesMonitor stands
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