Component Speaker Install Trouble

[IsaiahC]

I've got my component speakers in yesterday and started install last night. Long story short, I've been getting my butt kicked by wiring and fitment. So I've finished one side and I've run into a couple problems:
1. There is a whining electrical sound that comes through the component speaker on the passenger side (the only side installed). It doesn't matter if the car is running or what the volume is. My ground is one of the tow hooks in the back (paint sanded off).
2. The component side is much quieter than the Coaxial side (driver side).
3. The tweeter aim is bad. I had to bend the stock tweeter mount bracket to get enough clearance for the new on. In another words, I had to bend it in towards the inside of the vehicle more.
So basically, I'm wondering what's going on. I had to disconnect wires several times while dealing with fitment so I don't think it's that. Could it be that the other side needs to be connected in order for it to get louder? Cause I was under the impression amplified components were much louder than non-amped coaxes. Is the high pitch electrical buzz simply because the other side isn't hooked up? I'm lost. My next step is going to be to hook up the speaker at the amp just to see if the noise goes away and if they get louder. I really don't want to go through hours of install on the other side if I received faulty speakers/crossovers. Anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jgue467]

Umm with all due respect, have you done this before? You need to get All things wired in Before you test. All grounded to same point? Give more details and/or pics. :cowboy:

 

[KaliKid]

My ground is one of the tow hooks in the back (paint sanded off).

Are you talking about the back of the truck? You should have your ground as close to the connection as possible. Also are you running hooking up these without going through an aftermarket amp? What are you hooking them up to, the stock radio or an aftermarket head unit? The cause of that noise is coming through the wire wherever you are making the connection...

 

[lext4r]

Kinda sounds like ground loop noise.

 

[IsaiahC]

Umm with all due respect, have you done this before? You need to get All things wired in Before you test. All grounded to same point? Give more details and/or pics. :cowboy:

I have had the amp/sub working for about a month now. I wired all that myself. It is a first for components but I did do all the coaxial speakers about a year ago. I've also done a fair amount of reading in preparation. I'm about the wire up the second speaker at the amp to see if it works/gets rid of any of the problems. As far as I know, the only two things that need grounds are the amp and head unit. I have no idea where the head unit ground is because I didn't install it but it seems like they would surely need a different ground seeing as the distance is quite long between them

Are you talking about the back of the truck? You should have your ground as close to the connection as possible. Also are you running hooking up these without going through an aftermarket amp? What are you hooking them up to, the stock radio or an aftermarket head unit? The cause of that noise is coming through the wire wherever you are making the connection...

My amp/sub is right behind the back seat. I have the amp screwed into the back of my sub. So the ground wire is like 18 inches long, max. It's an aftermarket amp and head unit. Previous owner installed the head unit and I installed the amp/sub about a month ago.

Kinda sounds like ground loop noise.

I read about this, although I'm not sure how I would get rid of it if this is the problem.

 

[IsaiahC]

Kinda sounds like ground loop noise.

I read up more on this and if I still have noise after the second speaker I'm going to pick up this isolator:
Metra Ground Loop Isolator TCGLI - Best Buy

 

[2ndgenmafia]

thank you

 

[IsaiahC]

I set up the second set of speakers at the amp and they both hummed. Then I went and got that RCA Ground loop isolator and that didn't effect the noise at all. At this point, I'm at a loss. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[lext4r]

I would make sure all wiring connections with the new stuff is solid then check all the audio ground connections. The sub may have hummed the entire time but you didn't notice because of the frequency of normal outputs of subs.

 

[Tyota89]

Dont get a ground loop isolator until you try fixing thw issue first. Disconnect the rca from the amp is there still noise? If so check you speaker wirings make sure they arent run along any power wires. Sounds like this is your issue since it doesnt matterif the car is running.

 

[IsaiahC]

Dont get a ground loop isolator until you try fixing thw issue first. Disconnect the rca from the amp is there still noise? If so check you speaker wirings make sure they arent run along any power wires. Sounds like this is your issue since it doesnt matterif the car is running.

Thanks for the input! I tried swapping rcas with my sub since I have them running on different sides and nothing. However, I noticed that when I have my speakers plugged without my sub, the speakers make almost no noise at all. In fact, it's hard to hear the noise unless you're listening for it. This leads me to think it's something with my power/ground wires.

I would make sure all wiring connections with the new stuff is solid then check all the audio ground connections. The sub may have hummed the entire time but you didn't notice because of the frequency of normal outputs of subs.

Thank you for your input! I'm thinking this may be the case. I'm going to check the ground/power connections because the speakers hummed less when I disconnected the sub. This makes me think there is poor connection somewhere along the line.

 

[Tyota89]

So there is no noise with the subwoofer rca disconnected? The issue is in your subwoofer amp, subwoofer or its wiring. Plug in the subwoofer amp rca and disconnect the sub wires. If there is still noise. Try swapping the subwoofer amp ground with the speakers amp ground. Have the speaker disconected and see if the noise is gone.

 

[IsaiahC]

So there is no noise with the subwoofer rca disconnected? The issue is in your subwoofer amp, subwoofer or its wiring. Plug in the subwoofer amp rca and disconnect the sub wires. If there is still noise. Try swapping the subwoofer amp ground with the speakers amp ground. Have the speaker disconected and see if the noise is gone.

That's a good idea. For now, I just unplugged the rcas for the sub. No noise.

 

[Tyota89]

Is rca away from your amp power cables?

 

[IsaiahC]

The rca for the sub runs along the drivers side with the power cable. The rca for the speakers I put on the passenger side but it does come together with the power cable close to the amp. I don't think it's the rca's because I swapped them in the back of the head unit and nothing changed. I'm thinking it's my wiring to the sub. I called it quits for now but my current suspect is the connection to the sub. I didn't have connectors at the time so I jammed the wires in the clamp and tightened it down. I'm think if they are touching at all, then there would be serious interference
And just to clarify: it's all one 4 channel amp. Also, with the sub rcas disconnected, the component speakers work fine without much noise at all.

 

[Tyota89]

Just an installation tip never run rca with power cables this could introduce noise. Swapping it in the back of the headunit might not change anything because it is still connected and introducing noise. Disconnecting it and having the noise go away, I think the rca is the suspect.

 

[ShannanC]

I'm inclined to agree with Tyota89. Always run RCA's down one side of vehicle and power wires down the other side and not by the transmission unless you want to hear the noise change gears.

 

[cashmoney]

What headunit do you have?

 

[BrianSD_42]

For the amp that controls my componenT speakers I ran the RCA wiring from below the plastic by the 4WD shift lever under the seat and to the 4-channel amp under the front seat.

The power I ran along the drivers side door well to a 4-G power splitter under the drivers side back seat. That power then splits to the 2 amps.

I did run the single mono subwoofer RCA cable for my rear sub alongside the power wire but it hasnt been an issue for me at all. I assume this is because it is shielded or just because the frequency range of a sub is not affected by the power wire.

I also ran new speaker wire and a complete new power and group for the head unit. I personally believe this helps to prevent the kind of whine you are talking about. At a min I'd recommend running clean new power and ground 12g wiring to the head unit. Be sure to add a basic fuse within 12" of the battery.

For the rear amps I used the seatbelt blots as a ground. They are wide and strong. I sanded off the paint first.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Sounds like you have insufficient ground. Alternator whine is commonly caused by that. I used my seat bolts as ground and sanded them really well on the metal of the car, the washer of the bolt, and both sides of the seat frame where the bolt goes in. I have no issues. You can test the impedance with a multimeter, use ohms for resistance and see what you get. It should be as close to 0 as possible. My impedance is .001 ohms. I wouldn't ground to the cargo hooks in the back. My suggestion is the a bolt holding the seat backs in place.

Also turn the gain down, if it's high, you will get alternator whine no matter what you do.