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Whirling Noise From Tweeters After Total Stereo Upgrade

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by aleok, Nov 13, 2009.

  1. Nov 13, 2009 at 3:19 AM
    #1
    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    After installing my Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD reciever, Boston Acoustics SC60 speakers all around with Kicker 350.4 amp, and JL W3V2 10" sub with Zapco Amp, I'm getting this whirling/whinding sound coming out of my tweeters. It only happens when the reciever is on, and when i'm pressing the gas, in Drive, neutral or park, sometimes when i'm coasting. It seems to change tones with the RMPs.

    I'm also getting a "knocking/thumping" noise from my speakers inbetween me changing the radio station or song.

    Anyone can help me out???
    Thanks
     
  2. Nov 13, 2009 at 3:26 AM
    #2
    EL TACOROJO

    EL TACOROJO SNAPPIN NECKS AND CASHIN CHECKS.

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    something aint grounded right
     
  3. Nov 13, 2009 at 3:51 AM
    #3
    jester156

    jester156 Well-Known Member

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    sounds like you are picking up some interference from your alternator. I have had this happen in the past.
    The cause is usually when you run your RCA (from HU) in the same path as the power from the battery to your amp. Try running them on separate sides of the cab, this solved my problems in the past.
    I always run the sub power on 1 side, and all my signal feeds on the other.
    the thump does sound like a ground issue or loose connection somewhere.
    good luck.
     
  4. Nov 13, 2009 at 4:16 AM
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    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    ^^ thanks for the replies, would the grounding problem be from my amp powering the speakers? or could it be any of the grounds, including the HU?
     
  5. Nov 13, 2009 at 4:52 AM
    #5
    jester156

    jester156 Well-Known Member

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    the pop is probably from the amp, since it sends to your subs and if your amp is properly grounded, it should filter out any issues from the HU. make sure you don't have any nicks in any lead wires also causing a short.
    also check your gains on the amps to make sure they are not set too high, sending more power to the speakers than needed. not quite sure what would cause the thumps when changing the station. sounds like a signal/power issue.
     
  6. Nov 13, 2009 at 8:07 AM
    #6
    EL TACOROJO

    EL TACOROJO SNAPPIN NECKS AND CASHIN CHECKS.

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    deff run the rca's away from the power cable
     
  7. Nov 13, 2009 at 12:50 PM
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    sooner07

    sooner07 1/2 man 1/2 amazing

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    This is not true. Physics does not stop working in a vehicle.
    It is a common misconception that noise from the alternator is picked up through the RCA cables. As long as there is some modicum of shielding and insulation, it is not going to happen. If you move the RCAs and the noise goes away, there was another issue at hand that was fixed during the process. The power wire is not the cause.

    Alternator whine is most typically caused by a weak ground. This can be the ground for the amps or it could be the ground for the HU itself. Make sure that where you are grounding your amps is clean, bear metal and that the copper is securely attached. As for the HU, I will typically not use the ground wire from the harness. I will ground to a spot on the fire wall or to a solid point of the chasis near by.

    That being said, I do typically run power and the patch cable on opposite sides of the vehicle because they are easier to conceal.
     
  8. Nov 13, 2009 at 12:54 PM
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    cole47

    cole47 Well-Known Member

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    made this mistake with my old car.....the buzzing gets louder when you hit the gas
     
  9. Nov 13, 2009 at 12:57 PM
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    Zombie Runner

    Zombie Runner Are these black helicopters for me?

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    Ground problem. I ran a "ground loop isolator" in my last truck and it filtered it out. check your grounds and that should fix it. if not, pick up one of those things, they are like 13 bucks, it hooks into the rca's.
     
  10. Nov 13, 2009 at 2:46 PM
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    sooner07

    sooner07 1/2 man 1/2 amazing

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    Ground loop isolators, much like multi farad capacitors, are a bandaide and don't address the problem.

    Check your grounds and make sure your RCA's are intact and not coming into contact with the sheet metal of the body.
     
  11. Nov 13, 2009 at 3:33 PM
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    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    ^so the RCA's cannot be resting on the sheet metal of the body as they run from the HU to the AMP? how do i prevent that?
     
  12. Nov 13, 2009 at 5:07 PM
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    sooner07

    sooner07 1/2 man 1/2 amazing

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    I'm referring to them being shorted out to the sheet metal. If the insulation is intact, then this is not an issue. But, if you have somehow pinched the cable or cut the insulation or the connector is somehow shorted to the body, that could be an issue.

    Simply running the RCA's along the sheet metal is not an issue.
     
  13. Nov 13, 2009 at 11:11 PM
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    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    ^ oh ok, thanks
     
  14. Jan 28, 2010 at 5:02 AM
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    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    Hey Guys, i re-ran my RCA's, grounded the HU to bare metal, Grounded the Amps to the chassis itself. Yet, still i'm getting alternator whine.

    any ideas??
     
  15. Jan 28, 2010 at 9:45 AM
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    Kevin20

    Kevin20 Active Member

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    Just from experience Pioneer HU's have bad grounds for the RCA's at the back of the HU. Try grounding your RCA out puts at the back of your HU and see if that eliminates it. That is the only way i could fix mine when I used to have a pioneer. After i found out that it seems to happen alot I changed back to Alpine.
     
  16. Jan 28, 2010 at 10:54 AM
    #16
    atsaubrey

    atsaubrey Dealer/Sales Rep for Sundown Audio.

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  17. Jan 28, 2010 at 4:49 PM
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    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    damn the HU is brand new. Sh1tty deals. so just wrap some wires around the RCA outputs and ground them? i'll try it. thanks
     
  18. Jan 31, 2010 at 1:52 AM
    #18
    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    ok i grounded the RCAs, but there was no difference. Any other ideas?
     
  19. Jan 31, 2010 at 9:12 AM
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    atsaubrey

    atsaubrey Dealer/Sales Rep for Sundown Audio.

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    hmmm. You have a ground loop of some sort it sounds like. Have you tried using muting plugs on the amp to see if it goes quiet then? Where you located, if your close I will try and help you out.
     
  20. Jan 31, 2010 at 3:38 PM
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    aleok

    aleok [OP] Active Member

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    ^ thanks for the offer, but i'm in Honolulu. Never heard of muting plugs, what do they do and where can i find some? should i try a ground loop isolator?
     

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