Finally I've got my system started

Just did all my Pre wiring yesterday.
Going to install;
Hertz Audio HDP4 amp under the drivers seat that will have two channels running Hertz High Energy 6.5 components up front and the rear channels will be bridged to run a 10 inch sub. This amp is mint, it will run 150 RMS to each front speaker set and 500watts RMS @ 4ohm to my sub and its super small!!

for now I have a Kaption Audio 10 inch but have plans to run 2 Hertz 10's instead when the budget allows. The box i have designed will have a downward firing sub and will sit behind the drivers seat. this will double as a false floor for my dog to ride on.

I also picked up a LC7i with sub control so i can keep my factory headunit

I will post pictures when i have made some progress, probably won't be able to start the box untill next weekend, and the audio control unit is still in the mail

 

Looks like a nice set-up, look forward to the install pics.

 

well my wife had an accident on her bike last weekend and it was a week inhospital so this has delayed my install.

I got a couple hours work in on the weekend and completed my OEM heatedmirror install, cut 1inch Speaker adapters to accommodate the 6.5's and installed the components in the doors.

I have the Amp all wired up and an old sub box strapped to the back seats untili am able to do up the box to sit between the rear seats

I will post some pictures of the doors once I get all the Dynamat laid out

So far it sounds like SHIT!!! those factory decks are brutal, I have myfingers crossed that the LC7i will improve the sound dramatically otherwise imay have to go the route of an audison bit ten or something, I just really don't wnat to loose the factory look of the dash

 

Made a little progress yesterday








my dog helping out!


next up is to start on my sub box so i can get that ghetto setup off my back seat!!

 

got a little more work done on my stereo. a huge improvement in sound quality with the audio control processor.

I also mounted my sub output control in the forward console pocket

 

the one problem i have found is that I have very noticable speaker hiss. the hiss is not engine or alternator whine. it is on when the system is on but does not change when the volume is changed. you can only hear it when the volume is off or very low. the only way i can make it go away is if the gains on the audio control and amplifier are turned all the way down. any suggestions? maybe finiding a better ground for the factory HU? please help!

 

My guess would be a better ground all the way around (amp, head unit, etc). The lines could be picking up noise but these kinds of problems are usually only solved by trying numerous things until it disappears.

 

well the LC7i and amp both have a very good ground with gold plated terminals soldered to 4 gauge wire (for the amp, 18 gauge for the processor) I'll reground the deck and see if that changes anything

 

You still get the hiss when the gains on the amp are down but the audio control gains are up?

 

yes, if i turn the audio controls up more than say 15- 20%

 

Bummer. If you really want to get rid of it, my suggestion would be to find the most ideal volume level on your radio, leave it at that permanently, and control your system volume solely with the knob available for your audio control piece. Obviously not the most ideal solution, but adding other devices to isolate that hiss will most likely compromise your sound quality.

 

I'm going to try and reground my H/U to where my Amp and procesor are grounded and see if that makes a diffrence... i don't like the idea of loosing my factory volume control

 

First, Great choice of gear.

Second, That is one of the Best handles I've ever seen. Reffering to Raoul Duke.

How do you like the amp? I've looked at them briefly and I am considering throwing one in the lady's car.

 

thanks ThreeMan Fear and Loathing is one of my favorite moveis!

the amp is great LOADS of power in a tiny package!! you could have one under each seat for 2000watts of power and unless you push the seat all the way forward you can't see then amp

 

I am curious now. Gains on the amp can be turned down and the hiss is still present when the radio is turned up?

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-WxKE9D3r33Z/learn/learningcenter/car/amplifiers_noise.html

I just glanced through the article but maybe worth a shot. What are the spec's on the amp itself? Could it possibly be inducing the noise? Any easy way to take it out of the system and then test for the noise?

 

well that chart helped me determine that the noise is definatley coming from my head unit.

the hiss remains no matter the volume on the headunit (unless of course there is music play and you can't hear it) but if the head unit is on but you press pause on the ipod and turn the volume up, the volume of the hiss does not change

I have turned the amp gains rite down and turned up the output on the audio control but as soon as i get up to about 30% output the hiss is audible (only when there is no music, between tracks or what ever)

 

I have the same exact problem, installed my alpine dsp + amp and now i get a humming noise that is present all the time. Less noticeable when i turn up the volume, but louder if i turn up the gain(set at 1/2 way now). Hopefully you can solve it, my next step is to try to relocate my stereo ground or install a rca filter to see if that will eliminate it.

 

Sounds like a common theme of there being a stock radio causing the hissing. I know that you all probably know this, but you get more expandability and sound quality from an after market deck and can still retain the factory appeal with many of them.

 

So i have a sneaking suspicion that the hum could be from the little cooling fan on the passenger side of the deck. I am going to try and give a new ground and will let you know if it changes anything.

 

I think that the components you have added are possibly pulling to much current and causing the head unit to produce the noise DUE to a lack of a supportive ground. I think you are on the right path.

I am no audio guru though, just a man with a several years of tinkering in his britches. HA! Tinkering in my britches.