Separate Ground Wire
Separate Ground Wire indicates whether a phono cable includes a dedicated lead for the turntable’s signal-ground connection.
This lead is separate from the audio conductors and their connector contacts. It can connect designated grounding points on the turntable or tonearm and phono stage. It is not a protective-earth conductor for the mains supply and must not be treated as one.
Separate Ground Wire — Phono Cable
Follow the turntable and phono-stage instructions to identify the grounding terminals. The required arrangement depends on how the equipment’s signal returns and chassis connections are designed. Adding or removing a signal-ground link can change hum, but the presence of a lead does not guarantee a silent system.
Check that the lead reaches its terminals without pulling on the connectors. Do not connect it to an arbitrary screw or alter mains protective earth to address noise. A separate grounding wire describes the cable arrangement; it does not establish balanced signal wiring, shielding effectiveness or compatibility with every turntable.