New Stereo Install

[matt_g]

Hi guys,

Last week I got a stereo installed in my FG ute.

- Alpine F300 amp

- 12" Slimline kicker sub

- 6" JL Audio speakers in front

Im running these off the stock ICC Headunit, and have a hissing sound coming from front left speaker. Installer assures me everything is grounded correctly and maybe an issue with factory head unit. The amp is just "amplifying" the hiss which might have always been there. He has another FG install in a few weeks and will let me know how he goes, but has anyone else come across this or heard about it?

Thanks

[isaac_86]

there is a little box they would have used to create "pre outs" from the speaker wires , when I got my stereo in me fg it was making the same humming noise, its something to do with electrical interferance. get them to locate it away from existing wiring and it should sort it out

[smicky]

matt,

there is a lot of possible issues for such background 'white noise'...

it can be from cross talk - this is where electrical signals are interfering with other signals..

ie - power cable running along side a speaker cable, or interconnect..

(that's as basic as I can explain cross talk)... same as 4 people talking to each other 2 + 2 but talking across diaginaley..

gounding issues is another cause of this...

inernal amp problems, such as faulty components - like a cap, or resistor dead, or a dry joint on the board where a filter is located...

the speaker may just simply be faulty (but typically they either perform or they are stuffed)...

if your speakers are splits, the xover may be faulty - back xovers typically either work or dont....

feedback from other external components in the car...

amp may be drawing or wanting more power then its being fed...

the possible list goes on and on..

this doesnt really shed much light on the problem... But what it does offer... is GET YOUR INSTALLER TO CHECK "EVERYTHING"... jsut to say its grounded fine and there shouldnt be an issue, should a bit like a cop out, or the guy has no farking idea!

But it could be coming from the ICC - I do know I get buzzing issues from the RSpec when using the ipod connection... obviously the louder the system it turned up the louder it becomes...

tells me the problem is issolated to somewhere between the source device (iphone in the case) and the speakers... Put my foot down on the pedel and a know its NOT from the cars external wiring (if that makes sense)..

So check when it does it and what makes the noise worse, or better... (other then turning the volume up or down)...

[matt_g]

ok sweet thanks- ill bring all these issues up with him.

The sound doesnt seem to get any louder or softer when I turn up and down volumn, or when I accelerate. When I have everything turned down and the car turned off the hissing is still there. I notice it when I change a track on a CD as well when its turned down. Almost like the you can hear it moving to the next track on the CD and she hiss crackles a bit. Once ive got it cranked obviously I dont get the sound (well most prolly cant hear it)- but I dont want to have to have it turned up all the time not too hear it.

[Rancidpunx]

I see your in Brisbane, where did you get it installed?

As Smicky said, some installers have no idea. I had my first car stereo was installed by JB on the northside (same guy does most the stores) half way home the left speaker dropped out. I rang the store and they said the fella wont be back for a week, so I decided to pull everything out and locate the problem myself.

The install was shocking. All the cables were cable tied together, inputs, speakers and power. The earth was a nice drilled hole in the floor pan with a screw, rust just waiting to happen from that, plus the other 2 holes he drilled wrong by the looks of the mess. Luckily the speaker was fine and the positive input had falled off.

Just because people claim to be installers does not mean they are any good. To blame your ICC is a cop out.

[smicky]

Mate, if its there all the time, when the car is on, and car if off...

Sound is always there, and doesnt bet any louder or softer... I would get a spare amp and plug it in... test it out...

It could still be a power line running to close to a signal (interconnect) line also..

However if its no louder, or softer from the throtle then one would take a guess and say its not 'likley' a power level issue...

you could always get another place to check it out if he cant find it, but it may cost you...

let us know how u go...

[silva33]

Good Morning All,

Where is everyone earthing their amps? I have just done a sub amp install in my FG Ute and the amp stays on the the subs cut in and out, I am going to try a different amp just to make sure that isnt the problem but it would be good to see where everyone has earthed their amps. At the moment mine is earthed the one of the bolts in the passenger seat.

I am running two 6.5inch JL Audio tube subs which wouldnt draw to much power and I am also using 4 gauge wire.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers

Dave

[Shcbri]

I have this white noise issue with my 09 FG G6ET.Mine is stock standard.

Have sat in about a dozen new cars with premo sound and all had varying degrees of the same issue except for an new GT which had almost no white noise....

White noise with about an audio level of 12 or 13 even with the volume at 0.White Noise there with motor on or off and with all types of input..radio,AUX,IPOD or CD.

White noise doesn't disappear into the bacground of the sound / music until you have a volume level of about 12 -14 on the dial.

Posted an entry in May 09 on this site....nobody really interested so did not update with my experience with Ford tech supp Mgr and Fair Trading...only course left is to go to arbitration but that involves getting an expert opinion etc etc....

Been thru Ford even to Fair Trading. Ford's response is they will not even consider swapping out the Sumitomo head unit to see if I get any improvement.... and consider the "premium sound" to be performing as designed....go figure..absolutely sh%@thou$e attitude to this issue.

Ford say that they are getting no complaints.......most people just seem put up with it or have not listened...or do not have as bad a problem as mine...so they are not putting any time into it....except that after fair trading got involved they did tell me that they can fix it at zero volume...so can I by turn the whole audio off....

I would not mind if I could get an after market solution but it appears that even if I wanted a better head unit and keep all the existing steering controls etc there is nothing on the market to suit.

Good luck....

Edited 18/01/10 04:32 AM by Shcbri

[Rancidpunx]

Good Morning All,

Where is everyone earthing their amps? I have just done a sub amp install in my FG Ute and the amp stays on the the subs cut in and out, I am going to try a different amp just to make sure that isnt the problem but it would be good to see where everyone has earthed their amps. At the moment mine is earthed the one of the bolts in the passenger seat.

I am running two 6.5inch JL Audio tube subs which wouldnt draw to much power and I am also using 4 gauge wire.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers

Dave

If the amp is on then it will be earthed properly. Mine is earthed under the passenger seat, kinda where the jack is located. There is a piece of chassis with a hole already in it. I sanded it back to expose the metal, bolted it all up and sprayed some paint over the top.

[silva33]

Thanks buddy,

Ill give the different earth a try, however I don't see how mine is wrong as the seat bolt is through to the body of the car and I stripped back heaps of wire and wedged it inbetween the seat bolt and a large washer which is nice and tight, I also tried with a propper connection I dont believe was as good as what is currently installed.

Ill try near the jack though and see how I go, thanks again