Want to put in new stereo confused on amp

[gtrplyr]

They put in the 5v resistor and hooked up the factory amp and sub. Sounds good. The only thing I hear that I don't like is certain cd's you can hear some static in the speakers, not sure if that is normal or not? My 97 explorer did the same thing when I put a head unit and speakers in it. Any thoughts on static? Very low and not that noticable, but when the music stops at the end of a song it's very much there. If you mute the headunit, it goes away.

 

[Flounder]

I had static due to a bad RCA connector on the Crutchfield harness. I ended up buying replacement solder RCA connectors from Radio Shack, cutting off the Crutchfield ones, and attaching the new ones. It solved my problem.

Another common source of static or whirring (i.e., from the engine or alternator) is a bad ground from the unit.

Without hearing it and tracing the install, it's pretty tough to pinpoint.

 

[gtrplyr]

I have spent the last day or so playing around with the headunit and adjusting the settings, I found that albums that have lots of drums and bass do not get any static or hissing, but rather softer albums or acoustic type stuff (ie, John Mayer, David Gray, etc) seems to get more static/hissing in the speakers. Part of it makes me think that it is the recording, and another part just part of going to aftermarket units. I was wondering if signal to noise ratio has anything to do with it, and wondering if there is anyway to fix it. I spoke with one guy who said it's just part of the game of up grading your stereo and that nothing can be done... but I would think there is a way to cancel out the noise.

Thanks.

 

[Flounder]

You might try a ground loop isolator. Where there's a bad ground, and unless you're an insane audophile (because it cancels out certain frequencies), you can use it to defeat interference.

See: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LQHkRT4ZA0l/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=127SNI1

BestBuy has them, as should any local audio shop. You install it by plugging in the male RCAs to your headunit, and the male RCAs from the harness (originally to your headunit) to the isolator's female RCAs.

Some have ground connections, some do not. If yours does, I suggest first seeing if the isolator removes the noise without grounding it. If not, "test" ground it by hooking it to a metal surface behind the dash. If that does it, then tap a ground wire (see the wire tap pose above).

Note that these more often reduce alternator and acceleration whine interference. So, it may or may not do the trick. If this does not do it, you should check your harness's RCA cables (which was the source of my interference), and if necessary, get new RCA plugs from Radio Shack. Cut off the old ones, solder new ones on, shrink tube them, and then plug them back in.

Car audio trouble-shooting often is a try, fail, try, fail, try, success process.

 

[gtrplyr]

Adam-

Since my factory amp only powers the factory sub, then would I be getting any hiss in my door speakers that are not connect to an amp from my RCA's? I thought the RCA cables in the back where for the sub and sub's amp, therefore would have no effect on my door speakers.(?) I am starting to think that maybe it's just the recordings, I went and had the headunit switched out and it still does it, even swapped the front door speakers. Still hiss. One guy said it's just the result of putting a aftermarket unit in, that boosts all the frequencies and you can hear the hiss from the recording studio... basically it's in the recording. Don't know if using one of these isolators will help with that.

 

[Flounder]

My mistake--I posted on the assumption it was the sub instead of reading more closely.

I searched Crutchfield's knowledge base, which is really helpful for issues like these. Essentially, it confirms what your installer told you.

See: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-74CK31JyBOs/tech/kb304.html

I can hear a hiss in the speakers after I installed my new car stereo system.

It is common, after replacing a factory receiver with a high quality aftermarket receiver, to notice a background hissing sound. The "hiss" is nothing more than the extended frequency response of the new stereo, and not a defect, or wiring problem.

The same holds true when a factory speaker is replaced with a high quality aftermarket speaker. The new speaker has a separate tweeter, which brings out the high frequencies. Any background hiss in the system will now be more noticeable, but should be relatively slight once the source music begins playing.

Of course, if the hiss is pronounced, and not just in the background, there could be a problem with the wiring, or the equipment itself. If the hiss is made louder when the engine is running, this is an indication of an improper ground in the system. Troubleshooting this problem would be the same procedure as for engine noise.

While it does mention the possibility of a bad ground, you are right--the ground loop isolator will not solve any hissing from the door speakers, as opposed to the sub.

 

[buckets81]

hey adam i just wanted to say thanks for all your info on this problem. i just put in my new radio today and was tryng to figure out how to hook up the factory sub. now i know and i joined the forum. and i also orderd the part from crutchfeild. thanks again.

 

[onemanarmy41]

hey guys ,hows everybody? god bless all, anyway the transistor installation works great, idid it cause of the popping noise plus i wanna to keep the system original other than the headunit, no more popping and sounds decent,thanks