Whine problems
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=1959
Printed Date: September 18, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Topic: Whine problems
Posted By: Quick
Subject: Whine problems
Date Posted: July 15, 2002 at 9:37 AM
Here are my components (all used but in great shape): Clarion ARX6470 Deck Clarion Rdc634 6 Disc ChangerClarion Clarion Eqs750 Equalizer (1) Eclipse 3520 2/1 Amplifier for front spkrs (1) Eclipse 3525 2/1 Amplifier for rear spkrs (1) MBAcoustics 600w 2/1 Amplifier for (2) subs The deck is ran to the Eq and both Eclipse amps are run from eq. The sub amp is run direct from deck to amp. I have rca inline ground loop isolators on the jacks from the deckto eq input and a noise isolator on the power amp wire which is run from the battery. With the engine off i have no noise, with it on you cannot hear the stereo for the whine.HELP!! If you need other details let me know.
Replies:
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 15, 2002 at 9:51 AM
- Run all RCA cables on opposite side of the power wires and speaker wires.
- make sure that your alternator is in good working condition. If the alternator is not powering all the connections properly you will get a whine
- Make sure that you have a solid , clean ( paint free ) ground. Watch out that you do not ground on a panel or sheet metal. Try to ground it to the frame of the car/
- Make sure you are using at LEAST 4 gauge power wire and 4 gauge ground wire for your system
- Post your results
------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: Quick
Date Posted: July 15, 2002 at 9:54 AM
Thanks for the quick reply...Ill post results soon
Posted By: Quick
Date Posted: July 15, 2002 at 4:26 PM
ok Jeff check it out: I pulled everything out (EVERYTHING) and connected front and rear spkrs direct from head unit and used the MBAcoustic amp to the subs out of the head unit rca jacks....and i still have whine.very low but it is still there...now my question is this..My head unit is grounded to the metal casing it fits in in the dash...should this be grounded to the frame also and is it acceptable to run one heavy gauge ground from the frame and bring all the component grounds to this....Thanks again for your help.
Posted By: mobiletoys2002
Date Posted: July 15, 2002 at 8:45 PM
run the radio ground to the chasis metal and that may solve that problem. your question on multiple amp wiring, well the best way is get a ground block and run one 4 guage wire to ground keeping this short as possible. Now take an 8 guage from each of your amps and run it in to the block also as short as posible. also when grounding anything scrape the paint off the spot where you will be grounding make nice and shiny you can use a flat screwdriver and a piece of sanpaper to do this.
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 16, 2002 at 12:45 AM
What do you have the sub amp gains at ?? If the gains are maxed out, then turn it down to about 3/4 and listen for any hum. Check to make sure that your RCA input for the amp is not near a power source or the insulation is cracked.
-------------
Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: Quick
Date Posted: July 17, 2002 at 6:31 PM
i turned the ampgains down and now have no hum...but im gonig to start putting components back in until i find whats causing it..thx again
Posted By: Big Dog
Date Posted: July 18, 2002 at 2:17 PM
Hey Quick, You think you've got whine problems? I have two daughters! Man talk about whine!!!!!!  ------------- Prepare your future. It wasn't the lack of stones that killed the stone age.
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 12:13 AM
OUCH !! 3 women in one household !! OUCH !!  ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: SOUND PRESSURE
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 1:51 AM
I feel your pain Big Dog. Hey Jeff you think that maybe cheap RCA's might be a problem. I had a similar problem when trying to use cheap RCA's. ------------- Sound Pressure
You know you have the right amount of pressure when your eyes start to water! Now you've got Juice!
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 7:40 AM
The cheap RCA's may have partial cause to the problem, but he installed an inline group loop isolator for the RCA's so I don't think it's an RCA issue. Sounds more like a grounding issue and system level issue. Turn down the gains on the amplifer for the speakers and make sure that the system is grounded on the frame not the sheet metal and it should solve the problems. Cheap RCA's do cause problems though on some installation ( that's why I stick to the triple shielded stuff for customers... less returns ) ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: SOUND PRESSURE
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 3:27 PM
Very True Jeff, That cheap RCA stuff gave me a headache trying to find the problem, then again that was years ago. ------------- Sound Pressure
You know you have the right amount of pressure when your eyes start to water! Now you've got Juice!
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 5:22 PM
Had an interesting problem todau on a Jeep Cherokee install. I installed a CD player 4 speakers, 2 amps and a 15" sub and when everything was ready to go I put the fuse in and.............( BTW: this was used equipment that the customer brought to me to install ) and everything worked except the front driver side speaker ?? First I thought I sisn't hook up the back of the speaker correctly so I took off the door panels and looked and the solder was still good. Next I checked the back of the amplifier for any loose connections at the speaker terminal and nothing.... I was getting continuity between the (-) and the (+) of the speaker. So off to the head unit and the connections there were all good. I tried to swap the RCA's ( these were high quality ones too ) between each other and there it was !! The stupid RCA on the left side was not working. I checked for a signal on the left RCA and nothing there. There RCA's were flawless when I connected everything together and there was not break or cold solder in the head of the RCA's. So I went and replaced the RCA ( not cheap ones either ) and the problem went away and off goes another happy cusotmer booming away down the street  ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: Quick
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 8:21 PM
Thanks for all the tips guys...the prob was grounding, though the cheap rca cables have been replaced too so that was entirely possible...i ran new frame ground upgraded all ground cables and power wires and reran all hookups away from each other(power,spkr,etc) thx again
Posted By: mrStuckinCali
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 11:06 PM
I also just now started experiencing alternator whine with my Honda. The weird thing is that I've had my stereo for about 4 years now, and it just now starting making noises...and the noise is bad! Any suggestions on why it just now popped up?
Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: July 19, 2002 at 11:23 PM
Sometimes a weak alternator causes problems as the charging system is getting stressed. Look into getting the alternator checked out for output amperage. ------------- Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
|