Peter,
The reason why I expressed things like this is that like Mani, I was unsure of my understanding from your first post. Each of us has his way to describe something and the more we are unsure of what is happening, the more vague the attempt to explain.
I tend to make a parallel to what I experienced here but I finally concluded that my ears were responsible for the say "excess" of granularity I hear through many voices. And I only perceive this with voices (not the rest, at least not in my perceptions).
I even cut all the power in my house except for 2 wall outlets to determine if something was still happening (and it was still there). The subs were completely disconnected and all that was left was my audio chain on one circuit and my server PC on another. No lights (it was during the day) ON, just the system.
Applying your suggestion to blow my ears, though not working first, seemed then to help a little. I say "seemed" at lot, because I can't pretend I nailed anything. I even thought at one point that the Intona could be affected because the signal passing through it was weak (since I apply the XXHE digital volume between -18 and -21DB). Putting back the digital volume at -3DB (since I use a preamp with an analog volume), it did not really prove what I was thinking. Even removing the Intona did not really change a thing. Sor far for my hypothesis...
So your post brought me back to my situation. When we lift the ground on a component (say with a "cheater"), how and where does the energy that should normally flow toward the return path go and if not, how does it behave ?
I suppose that, like Juan reports, something may drain itself when totally disconnected.
So your post, in my twisted way of understanding, "lifted a flag".
In my layman understanding, the third branch (PE or ground pin) adds to the complexity with the neutral. I may be completely wrong...
I would like so much to do meaasurements with a standard meter to see what are the different potentials but... I have a problem. How do I do this... I touch the computer casing for example, but where do I put the other wire to measure anything ? Do I do this between two different components ?
As you can see, my ignorance is showing and I feel... Ignorant.
That is why I thought about a "ground drain" and I was wondering if something like en Entreq box could be part of the solution...
Sorry for that long post (by the way)...
Alain
PS: Not necessarily an Entreq box, but a Phasure Ground box maybe ?