Problems with system - static/whine

[sunny7]

Let me start off by letting you guys know that I've read all 19 pages of the "Why you should ALWAYS bypass your BOSE amp" thread and am hoping that I can get some answers here.


I just recently had a full system installed consisting of:

HU: Pioneer AVIC-X710BT
Speakers: Phoenix Gold 6.5" RSD components
Speaker amp: Phoenix Gold R5.0:4 (4 channel amp bridged to 2 channels - about 150 watts RMS to each side in the front)
Subs: 2 12" Alpine Type Rs
Sub amp: eD nine.1

Now, before the actual install, I had read that thread about bypassing the BOSE amp but my installer was convinced that we'd be able to use the BOSE amp to power my rear speakers and not have any issues. So the install gets done, and by the time I actually get to listen to the system, it's late.

I drive home, as I'm pulling into my neighborhood, I hit a pothole and all of a sudden I start getting insanely loud alternator whine coming through my speakers as well as a lot of static. I turned the car off and checked the grounds (both are close to each other but do not share the exact same location), after shaking the ground for the speaker amp, the noise stopped.

It's been about 1.5 weeks now since the install and what I'm noticing is a static noise (not overly loud but still noticeable) coming from my passenger side tweeter. The noise never goes away. Also, as I'm driving around, it almost sounds like that tweeter is moving around as there's a rattling noise coming from the same tweeter (this is without music on so the tweeter is not blown hopefully). Another annoying fact is that as I'm driving, when I reach about 3500-4000 RPM, I start hearing whining coming from my speakers as well.

The head unit was installed using the METRA 1725 harness. My power wire was run on passenger side of the car to a distro block along with speaker wires for my passenger side tweeters (crossovers are mounted in the trunk), RCAs/remote/speaker wire for driver side tweeters are on the drivers side. Does the speaker wire on the passenger side - so close to the power wire sound like a reason for this interference/static? As mentioned, grounds are close to each other but not the exact same bolt.

I finally have some time to bring the car back to the installer tomorrow so I'm hoping to get as much troubleshooting done as possible during this trip. So far, I'm going to have him:

1. Unplug the rear RCAs that are coming from the BOSE amp - I'm reading that this is all I need to do as this is the only connection I have to the BOSE amp right now? I won't need to worry about the wiring under the seat as I have an aftermarket amp running my front stage correct?

2. Ground RCAs on my Pioneer deck - I'm not sure if my head unit is affected by the RCA problem but I've read that wrapping some speaker wire around the RCA and grounding it to the HU can help.

3. Recheck grounds to both amps - Should both grounds be at the same spot? Or I risk having a "ground loop?"

Sorry for the long post, I appreciate any help. Thanks!

[Locotony]

If shaking the ground caused the noise to go away you need to work on the ground point as it sounds like it is not tight or a good place to ground the amp. I doubt you need to ground the RCA's as the RCA (picofuse) issue in pioneer units is usually only on the units with 4 volt and higher RCA output voltages as the 2 volt out units don't use the inline picofuse on the ground side of the RCA's.

[sunny7]

Originally Posted by Locotony

If shaking the ground caused the noise to go away you need to work on the ground point as it sounds like it is not tight or a good place to ground the amp. I doubt you need to ground the RCA's as the RCA (picofuse) issue in pioneer units is usually only on the units with 4 volt and higher RCA output voltages as the 2 volt out units don't use the inline picofuse on the ground side of the RCA's.

Thanks for the reply, I was hoping you would chime in!

Today we did a lot of different troubleshooting steps:

1. Fixed grounds to both amps (both grounds are nice and secure now)

2. Unplugged BOSE amp (no power to this now, not plugged into anything)

3. Redid HU ground

4. Moved speaker wire for passenger side tweeter to the driver side of the car

5. Electrical tape on RCAs behind HU to ensure they aren't touching metal


Annnnd after all of this: Alternator whine/static is still there.

At this point, my installer decided to try something different and swapped crossovers, so he hooked up the driver side tweeter to the crossover for the passenger side of the car and the noise transferred over. What I mean is, the alt whine/static seems to happen with only the 1 crossover, and only to the tweeter that is hooked up (6.5" speaker has no noise coming through).

Looks like I may need to get a new component set

[joe_rsx-s]

i have the same exact problem please let me know if you have a solution

[mallen600]

One of your door speakers is probably grounding out on the metal part of the door. I chased this problem for 2 weeks and that is what my deal was.

[nate230]

i'm having the same problem. My front speakers keep whining. When I pull out the rca's for the front speakers it stops, but other than that I can't make it go away. I'm ready just sell it and go back to stock because I'm so fed up.

[joe_rsx-s]

ill check my door speaker see if thats the problem but its only coming from passenger side the driver side is fine

[bbgobie]

Weird, i have the same whine in my passenger side tweeter only.

[streetracerjoey]

grounding issue

[ShortyRSXtypeS]

Originally Posted by mallen600

One of your door speakers is probably grounding out on the metal part of the door. I chased this problem for 2 weeks and that is what my deal was.

so what you mean is its better to install a dynamat in between the speaker and car door frame?

[khmaii]

sorry to jack the thread but can this problem occur from have 2 grounds(sub amp + front stage speaker amp.) at the same spot? or also maybe 2 power wires coming from same spot? the whine comes from all speakers =(

[Locotony]

Originally Posted by khmaii

sorry to jack the thread but can this problem occur from have 2 grounds(sub amp + front stage speaker amp.) at the same spot? or also maybe 2 power wires coming from same spot? the whine comes from all speakers =(

It should not come from that as you normally want as few ground points as possible to minimize the possibility of ground loops. First thing you should do is disconnect the RCA's from the amps and see if you have the noise w/o them connected as that will tell you if the noise is going from the amps or from the RCA's and HU. 9/10 time the noise problems start at the HU and once it is fixed there all is good.

[Huffbanger]

If you do have multiple ground points, you want to make sure they are all at the same potential. Place a volt/ohm/multimeter between all grounding points. Ideally you want to have 0 ohms between all grounding points, including the negative post of your battery.

[joe_rsx-s]

checked door passenger door speaker and noise still there what could it be??? help please

[Locotony]

where are your lines run, some people have run into radiated noise issues from the wires or xover being to close to the cars ECU

[joe_rsx-s]

my passenger crossover box is in my passenger door and my driverside one is under the seat i moved the crossover from the top of the glove box the noise just started iono what it could be it was fine for a couple weeks then all of a sudden the noise started on the passenger side

[joe_rsx-s]

what could be wrong?

[tonegzup]

did you ever figure this out? im having the same issue. im thinking what the other guy said about the RCA cables. i gotta check those tomorrow because i dont think i noticed the noise before the RCAs were hooked up

[tonegzup]

ok i figured it out, i guess it wasnt the RCA cables. i changed the frequency of the amp and the sound immediatly went away and im getting the same bass levels out my system.