noise from sub

[bry_guy]

I just installed an amp ans sub for the very first time. I did it according to this http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-electrical-wiring/133556-amplifier-install.html and for some reason when I change between the different sources (ie: FM, CD, AM, etc.) I get weird noises coming from the sub and also the same thing when I turn up the volume. I am new at this whole car audio stuff so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dsmlifestyle]

Is it a popping noise? Always make sure you have a good ground and never run a signal source with a power source; ground loops are very common issue with automobiles. What brands are you using? Are your amp grounds short?

 

[timm98gst]

if your amp has a gain knob, try turning it down a bit and see if that helps - does the sound change with an increase in rpm - if so, it's probably just some alternator whine - and like the guy above said, run your power wire on one side of the car and your rca cables on the other side to avoid noise

 

[bry_guy]

Is it a popping noise? Always make sure you have a good ground and never run a signal source with a power source; ground loops are very common issue with automobiles. What brands are you using? Are your amp grounds short?

It is a crackling/popping noise. I have the ground connected to a spot that is designated for grounding. I have the power running on the right side of the car and than the RCA/remote wires are running on the left side of the car than up the middle to my headunit. My sub is a Rockford Fosgate Punch Z and the amp is a Lightning Audio Bolt (something something I don't remember the rest). What do you mean by if the am grounds are short. If you are asking if the cable is short, it is a 4 gauge cable that is 3 feet long.

if your amp has a gain knob, try turning it down a bit and see if that helps - does the sound change with an increase in rpm - if so, it's probably just some alternator whine - and like the guy above said, run your power wire on one side of the car and your rca cables on the other side to avoid noise

I will have to double check, but I don't think it helped any when I turned the gain down. No, there is no sound change with an increase in RPM.


I do not think I mentioned it before, but I also hear the noise when I turn my car on and off (but not from the car turning on and off, it is from the radio turning on and off).

 

[dragon2144]

Is it an after market head unit and if it is what kind

 

[bry_guy]

Is it an after market head unit and if it is what kind

It is a JVC KD-HDR20

 

[awdcsm]

if your power wires and your rca (signal wires) are ran on the same side of your car or if there too close can cause interference noise. try running your rca's wires on driver side of the car and the power wire on the passenger or vice versa. THIS ALSO GOES FOR ANY OF YOUR FACTORY WIRES MAKE SURE YOUR RCA ARE NOT CLOSE TO FUEL PUMP POWER WIRE, ECT.

 

[timm98gst]

3 ft is a bit long for an amp ground - 18 inches or less is usually best - just to cover all the bases, do not ground it the same place other things are grounded and make sure it's making good metal to metal contact with the body
i assume your amp remote wire is connected correctly? to the remote/power antenna lead on the head unit? usually a blue or blue with white stripe wire
make sure the sub is not wired out of phase (positive and negative speaker wires reversed) - some head units also have a phase selection
if you're running one sub on a 2 channel amp, be sure that it's wired correctly in bridged mode

 

[bry_guy]

if your power wires and your rca (signal wires) are ran on the same side of your car or if there too close can cause interference noise. try running your rca's wires on driver side of the car and the power wire on the passenger or vice versa. THIS ALSO GOES FOR ANY OF YOUR FACTORY WIRES MAKE SURE YOUR RCA ARE NOT CLOSE TO FUEL PUMP POWER WIRE, ECT.

Right now, the power wire and RCA wires are on opposite sides, athough, there are some other wires that the RCA wires are ran by. I am not sure what the other wires are though.

 

[bry_guy]

3 ft is a bit long for an amp ground - 18 inches or less is usually best - just to cover all the bases, do not ground it the same place other things are grounded and make sure it's making good metal to metal contact with the body
i assume your amp remote wire is connected correctly? to the remote/power antenna lead on the head unit? usually a blue or blue with white stripe wire
make sure the sub is not wired out of phase (positive and negative speaker wires reversed) - some head units also have a phase selection
if you're running one sub on a 2 channel amp, be sure that it's wired correctly in bridged mode

The ground is for sure making good metal to metal contact with the body, but it is grounded with another wire at that spot. Yes, the remote wire is wired correctly. I connected it to the blue with white stripe wire that the headunit designated as the antenna or remote wire. Double checked and the sub is wired correctly and is bridged correctly.

 

[Carlz0r]

I would definitely try grounding it by itself with a shorter wire, even if it means you have to make a new spot to ground it to.

 

[dragon2144]

It not the ground or the wires running down the same side its the cheap JVC KD-HDR20 cheaper decks have this problem its the same on thing that happens on factory radio you can go to best buy and talk to them try a sound filter just tell them what is happening and they will tell you what to get.

 

[bry_guy]

It not the ground or the wires running down the same side its the cheap JVC KD-HDR20 cheaper decks have this problem its the same on thing that happens on factory radio you can go to best buy and talk to them try a sound filter just tell them what is happening and they will tell you what to get.

Alright, I will see about getting a sound filter and see if that helps.

 

[bry_guy]

I do not know if this will make any difference, but I also hear an extra noise from the sub when I turn my directional on.

 

[importracr317]

Shorten that ground strap. Should fix it. If the problem doesn't go away, it could be a problem with the head unit wiring.