Component Speaker Install Trouble

[IsaiahC]

What headunit do you have?

I'm not entirely sure. It was in the truck when I bought it last July. It's a kenwood excelon with blu-tooth and usb. It has the option to use the phone while driving so I figured it was good enough.

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.

I've heard that it doesn't make a huge difference if the rca is next to the power with a sub. I only did the speaker rca on the passenger side because I was running speaker wire. Anyways, I removed the tie down and just use the bolt hole (paint sanded off).

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.

If I can't figure out the noise, I might try putting washer on each side but I did sand the spot where the tie down was.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I've heard that it doesn't make a huge difference if the rca is next to the power with a sub

Agreed. It didn't make a difference for me with my sub.

It shouldn't be too hard to troubleshoot the cause.

Can you answer these quick Qs please.

1. Does the buzzing (bad) sound occur when the car engine is Off / On / or Both?

2. Does the bad sound pitch or volume increase / decrease with the RPMs of the engine?

3. Does it occur with no input sound input at all? (for example with the HU on aux and the aux-in 3.5mm RCA cord not plugged into your phone or ipod so everything is connected but no sine input into the amp through the RCAs)

4. Does it occur when you have it on a CD at medium volume?

5. Is the sound coming out of the sub or all the speakers or both?

6. What happens when you unplug the RCA input cables from the sub-amp and the 4-channel amp but leave both powered on? (sound? I think you answered this above)

 

[IsaiahC]

Agreed. It didn't make a difference for me with my sub.

It shouldn't be too hard to troubleshoot the cause.

Can you answer these quick Qs please.

1. Does the buzzing (bad) sound occur when the car engine is Off / On / or Both?

2. Does the bad sound pitch or volume increase / decrease with the RPMs of the engine?

3. Does it occur with no input sound input at all? (for example with the HU on aux and the aux-in 3.5mm RCA cord not plugged into your phone or ipod so everything is connected but no sine input into the amp through the RCAs)

4. Does it occur when you have it on a CD at medium volume?

5. Is the sound coming out of the sub or all the speakers or both?

6. What happens when you unplug the RCA input cables from the sub-amp and the 4-channel amp but leave both powered on? (sound? I think you answered this above)

1. Both
2. Nope. It's a constant noise.
3. On standby, it does not, but if I switch sources at all, it will make the sound, even at 0 volume.
4. My head unit doesn't have a cd player (weird, right?)
5. Just the two front speakers which are the two components. Not the sub
6. If I unplug the rcas, no sound. It's only with them both plugged into the 4 channel.

 

[I_bRAD]

I think the easiest and cheapest thing to try first is to separate the RCA and power cable.

 

[lext4r]

I think the easiest and cheapest thing to try first is to separate the RCA and power cable.

This. Keep power and RCAs as far apart as possible.

 

[BrianSD_42]

It could be a bad rca cable. Bad head unit. Also.

When you change from aux to USB to radio do you hear a pop or noise?

I assume we are talking about the 4channel RCA cable.

 

[Tyota89]

It could be a bad rca cable. Bad head unit. Also.

I assume we are talking about the 4channel RCA cable.

He said he was running 4ch amp for both sub and speakers. Subwoofer rca is ran with power cable speakers rca ran other side. Noise is gone when subwoofer rca is unplugged. It is either rca cable, amp rca input or subwoofer.
Sound being constant and not effected by rpm or engine makes me think it is the rca. If its easier remove the headunit plug in another set and run it all the way back to the amp away from power. Or test the rca cable/amp shield with a omh meter and see if it test bad.
I never had issues with good qaulity and properly shielded rca but I had a few people who came to me with cheap rca from radioshack or walmart that I moved to the other side and fixed the issue or reduced the noise greatly.
A poor ground of engine to chasis can cause this issue to or short in a componentm good luck. Start with the easiest thing.

 

[IsaiahC]

I appreciate everyone's input. I'm going to move my sub RCA away from the power cable and see if that has an effect.

He said he was running 4ch amp for both sub and speakers. Subwoofer rca is ran with power cable speakers rca ran other side. Noise is gone when subwoofer rca is unplugged. It is either rca cable, amp rca input or subwoofer.
Sound being constant and not effected by rpm or engine makes me think it is the rca. If its easier remove the headunit plug in another set and run it all the way back to the amp away from power. Or test the rca cable/amp shield with a omh meter and see if it test bad.
I never had issues with good qaulity and properly shielded rca but I had a few people who came to me with cheap rca from radioshack or walmart that I moved to the other side and fixed the issue or reduced the noise greatly.
A poor ground of engine to chasis can cause this issue to or short in a componentm good luck. Start with the easiest thing.

And here I thought all RCAs were the same. I got mine from Autozone for like $7. Time to swap it to the other side.

 

[IsaiahC]

Well, I feel silly :wacko: . I swapped sides and no more interference noise. I guess my justification for not doing it was that it was the speakers with interference and not the sub. Well, I haven't completely tuned in the amp/head unit but it already sounds better.
Thank you for the help everyone! :hippie:

 

[I_bRAD]

It sucks to tear it all apart again but I've found with stereo installations it always winds up happening. Whether you missed something or you're on to the next upgrade. Pretty soon you'll be able to pull the interior in your sleep! (of course you won't get any sleep because you'll be in the garage working on your stereo)

 

[Tyota89]

Awesome glad you got it fixed now to enjoy the sounds system. I understand the pain of chasing a whine be glad it wasnt a short in your car wiring harness :thumb:

 

[IsaiahC]

Holy thread revival!

I have recently run into more problems with my component speakers. They've functioned great for the last year or so, but a couple weeks ago the woofers cut out while I was driving. The tweeters work still, and all the wiring looks good, but there is no sound coming from the woofers. Any ideas what this might be? It seems odd to me that both tweeters work but neither woofer does. My money is on a wiring issue that worked itself loose but I'd like to hear what you guys think.

 

[unrealii]

Holy thread revival!

I have recently run into more problems with my component speakers. They've functioned great for the last year or so, but a couple weeks ago the woofers cut out while I was driving. The tweeters work still, and all the wiring looks good, but there is no sound coming from the woofers. Any ideas what this might be? It seems odd to me that both tweeters work but neither woofer does. My money is on a wiring issue that worked itself loose but I'd like to hear what you guys think.

Check the wiring. I have had previous installations have sound cutout after a few years because the crimp connectors connecting the wires to the amp let the wire slide out.

Edit: Check the amp. Did you accidentally bump it or tweak a setting and put it in high pass mode?

 

[IsaiahC]

Check the wiring. I have had previous installations have sound cutout after a few years because the crimp connectors connecting the wires to the amp let the wire slide out.

Edit: Check the amp. Did you accidentally bump it or tweak a setting and put it in high pass mode?

Well, I've been busy with final exams/group projects but that's all settled now. On my home from school, the front speaks turned back on. Not sure what's up with that. If it's a wiring problem, then I'm guessing it'd be on the speaker/crossover side of things since the tweeters still worked. I'm on spring break now so I'll have time to check all the wiring whenever the weather clears up