unwanted noise

[sitta]

hi, imkindda new to the audio but i just upgraded my audio system with focal front speakers, and soundstream amp, the speakers is giving a small hissing noise when the car is on, this also happens when for example a quite break when changing music tracks. Is this what's called engine noise? i really dont want to have this noise :(

[aka_NSX]

hi, imkindda new to the audio but i just upgraded my audio system with focal front speakers, and soundstream amp, the speakers is giving a small hissing noise when the car is on, this also happens when for example a quite break when changing music tracks. Is this what's called engine noise? i really dont want to have this noise :(

yes thats engine noise if only happened when the car is running

[sitta]

How do i get rid of it? this didnt happen when the audio setup was finished. I used a good high/low signal converter which the installer told me got rid of the engine noise and it did, for a couple of days...

[EuroDude]

Are you using the stock Honda deck as the audio source?

I get a slight hissing noise in my euro as well, after upgrading the speakers.
Perhaps a line filter will help.

[b18c_crx]

this happen to me but i reslly dont know how to ype it out lol... its when the 2 wires that run from ya amp to ur head unit are to close, i think the 2 wires are RCA's and the power or the ground wire,if u run the RCA up one side of ya car and the other wires on the other side of the car it will get rid of it. if that is the same case as mine.

[gbang007]

yeh i just got focals put in a couple of weeks ago and it happens to me too. it doesn't happen when you turn the headdeck off though. its a constant noise though, doesn't change on acceleration or anything. would it still happen if the rca/speaker cables etc was far away from the power cable? coz none of my other cables come closer than about 30cm from the power cable.

[EuroDude]

Yes mine is constant as well, it goes away when I turn the volume down to 0 (Mute) on the Honda Deck. The hiss volume is exactly the same volume if I set the Honda Deck volume to 1 (Min) all the way to 40 (Max).


The amp power cable is on the other side of the audio cables, so there is no interference there.


I think its the audio processor in the stock Honda decks.
Apparently the 03-05 Euro stereo is worse than the 06-07 Euro stereo.

[sitta]

in my civic type r, even the engine is off i still have the noise (key on position on). When the key is in position on, the deck is off, i still have the noise. Tried pulling the RCA cable off and the noise is gone, so its not my amp but im suspecting that its the deck itself. ill try to see if the power cable is close to the rca, a store installed it for me

[EuroDude]

So I guess its just a case of
Built-in Honda Decks = bad Signal-to-Noise ratio

[beeza]

I had this problem for ages.Drove me mad.
A few you can try,like I did.
Changed my RCA's and intertwined them (platted them-like hair).If you have to run your power cable down the same side,intertwine that too with the RCA's.
Check ALL the connections.
Put in an isolator box (about $30 and runs off the RCA plugs on the amp).This helps to filter out the noise,may be the same thing as EuroDude said 'a line filter'

The thing is I done all of these and the problem kept coming back.AARRGGGHHHH!!!
Then one day I pulled the deck out,giggled the wires around,put it back and it went.That was 6 months ago and it hasn't come back thank god.

[Jon_51]

could it be the headunits earth being a bit dodgey?
not the rca's / speaker cabling / amps earth

[beeza]

Possibly,it could be anything.Just gotta check everything.

[dAzLr]

man ive herd the same problem a thousand times, this 'engine' noise u hear is from the potential difference between the power cable for the amp and the rca going from the head unit to the amp, the power cable interfears with the rca thus creating the engine noise, run the rca cables on the opposite of the car an problem solved :D

[cutchorama]

Try to isolate where the hiss is from. Does it change with engine RPM, when the RCAs from the amp are disconnected does it still hiss? when your lights or aircon on does it hiss? If you have a capacitor is it old and feeding too much/ too little power? Is your RCAs running too close to a negative? Are your amps sheilded? are your RCAs sheilded? Is there a small "pop" sound when you hit the brakes/accel?

I might be wrong but I don't think running your ground with your RCAs will make any difference to your sound, but your power cable wit your RCAs most likely will.

[EuroDude]

man ive herd the same problem a thousand times, this 'engine' noise u hear is from the potential difference between the power cable for the amp and the rca going from the head unit to the amp, t

No, this is a different problem. The hissing noise is audible even when the engine is Off.

I'm convinced its the Honda Stereo creating the hiss. The original speakers do a good job of masking the noise. As soon as you install some decent aftermarket speakers, the hiss is very noticeable.

ps. my setup is as follows (I dont use RCA's):

Honda Deck -> OEM speaker wire -> Amp (high inputs, not RCA) -> decent speaker wire -> Decent 6x9's
(amp power cable is on the other side of the car)

[danny_mart]

Well the first thing you should do is update any cheap gear you have purchased such as rca and amp kit.....And use products such as stinger...this is most likely to solve your problem...
Other wise there is Audio Noise Suppressor's which can stop engine noise but are pretty use less if you are ask me... good if your not willing to spend 250 bucks on an amp kit....
Also check out this website as it may not be engine noise...

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/car/noise_suppressors_installation_guide.html?page=2

hope this all helps

[Jon_51]

but theres this problem with the euro's even when you're not running amps right?
I still reckon either the headunit is creating the noise (cheap head unit), or it's the headunits power and earths creating it.
this holds some weight considering that beeza claims to have jiggled some cables behind the h/u and the noise went away.

[cutchorama]

If you have a decent line out converter, equaliser or sound processor and it is still hissing you might be picking up interference from you crossovers. Is it only hiss through your tweeters or is it coming from you 6" as well? Even if it is coming from your tweeters only, might just be a high frequency hiss that is too high for your mids

[xntrik]

hi, imkindda new to the audio but i just upgraded my audio system with focal front speakers, and soundstream amp, the speakers is giving a small hissing noise when the car is on, this also happens when for example a quite break when changing music tracks. Is this what's called engine noise? i really dont want to have this noise :(

I have this problem as well, its apparently the wiring of your amps isnt connected properly or whatnot.

[Lex_EG93]

dude if you got it installed at a shop u might as well go bak and tell then the problen a that ur not happy with it. i mean like if ur gonna pay someone to get it installed then what ur paying for the hissing noise too. . . ? i would expect it to be perfect concidering a proffesional is doing it.

but thats just my opinion

[civic88]

your system is not grounded properly its called a ground loop, all u need is a rca noise filter that shud do the trick. its about $15bux

[EuroDude]

Well I have two Amps and both hiss exactly the same, so I'm convinced its the Honda Head Unit causing the hiss.

Hissing can be caused by a number of things.
1) Bad Ground / cabling
2) Gain set too high on Amp
3) Cheap Head Unit
4) Electrostatic Interference

My theory:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1372553&postcount=32

[civic88]

Well I have two Amps and both hiss exactly the same, so I'm convinced its the Honda Head Unit causing the hiss.

Hissing can be caused by a number of things.
1) Bad Ground / cabling
2) Gain set too high on Amp
3) Cheap Head Unit
4) Electrostatic Interference

My theory:
http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1372553&postcount=32

other factors also include alternators, ignition coils and spark plug leads in automotive car radio and stereo installations. Technicians wud say that a noise filter wud reduce the quality of the audio but i cant even tell the difference

[VTec1987]

your system is not grounded properly its called a ground loop, all u need is a rca noise filter that shud do the trick. its about $15bux

I wouldnt recommended using a noise filter as it will reduce your output sound by 30%, you don't want to solve the problem by spending more money.

Try grounding your amp again, crappy RCA can also create the noise.

I run my power cable, rca and remote together and it does not produce any unwanted sounds.

[sitta]

bought stinger GLI and it actually sounds better, the reduce in volume is not very noticable but it is there. Still abit of noise but now i think is the output from the headunit itself or maybe from the cd as well.

[Riviera]

check your gains on the amp/amps if u suspect cables, buy insulated ones
and test it out for yourself for piece of mind?

my mate also had that problem, hissing noise thats usually the sound of power running through to them even without music playing

i have my surround sound at home here switched on at the back of the unit and can still hear a hissing noise with my computer off.
once i turn it off at the back and well of course its gone, but
the point is its still getting power so try turning the gain of the amp down??


testing

* Gains down to suitable listening level
* Check amp for ohm support match the specs to the speakers (cant have speakers running at 2ohm when they need 4)
* RCA is not running side by side with power cables, and/or a constant feed in the car say fuel pump? (i usually run RCA's through the center console)
* SOUND QUALITY make sure you have the best quality CD's or Burned CD's what ever you use 128kbps, 192kbps, 320kbps


im an amature/novice or call it the same but thats my theory on how it could work

[kingyy]

i had the same problem with my car but i ran through cars wiring harness and i found out that i was getting this noise from a connection on the front speakers..... also i have been told that the quality of wire can also effect this... stock wiring is not the best wire out on the market and would suggest going to strathfield car radio or an electrical joint and buying ur self some hi qualty stuff

[ticklenow1]

I have the same problem on my 04 Euro. I listened to the advice of my local Alpine dealer and bought one of the new Alpine "D" class amps, PDX4.100. He stated that the new digital amps help eliminate unwanted electrical noise (Crap!). My Euro has the noise even with the engine off as well. It does not alter with the volume. Before I hooked up the amp (with the alpine speakers all in place) it did not make the noise. I used a Rockford Fosgate CP1 converter and all top quality cables. My power cables are on the oppposite side of the car to the speaker cables. I am thinking of trying one of the pivot Raizin sound devices. Has anyone had any experience with them and more importantly, do they work?
My system is as follows
Head unit: Stock
Front speakers: Alpine Type X (The new SPX 17REF)(will post later on these)
Rear spekers: Alpine Type R
Amp: Alpine PDX4.100
Converter: Rockford Fosgate CP1
Cables: 4 guage power and earth, good quality RCA's and speaker cable
I have found an earth under the front of the centre console and about 4 or 5 earths go to this (I am assuming that the headunits is one of these) spot. I am going to run a cable from my Amps earth to this spot to totally eliminate any chance of a ground loop, but from what I read on this forum I might be pushing the proverbial up a hill!!
Any help would be hugely appreciated

[xntrik]

hi, imkindda new to the audio but i just upgraded my audio system with focal front speakers, and soundstream amp, the speakers is giving a small hissing noise when the car is on, this also happens when for example a quite break when changing music tracks. Is this what's called engine noise? i really dont want to have this noise :(

your system is wired wrong :thumbdwn:

whoever did your sound system, did a really bodgy job.

[cutchorama]

I have found an earth under the front of the centre console...

Don't use factory ground points, Honda has usually designed them to deal directly with the devices needed and it might not help. Your ground from your amps has to be VERY short (under 3 foot)

Min998 uses all alpine gear including an alpine LOC and claims he has no unwanted noise at all, so maybe you should give that a try?

[teh_mechanic]

the engine noise you describe is caused by a less than perfect install,its a very annoying thing but you need to understand how volatile a cars environment is for a stereo system.It can be caused by interference being picked up in rcas through power cables but it is usually caused by what is called a ground loop, which occurs from having different components (headunit,amps etc) grounded at seperate points.go over all your grounds,scrape the paint back to get a better connection and make sure they are tight,if noise is still there go look in forums like http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au and follow their diy's on getting rid of engine whine,its a pretty frustrating process