Slight speaker buzz question

[raptorforme93]

I recently installed a set of 6.5" Hertz Energy components in a box under my rear bench. They are hooked up to my JL Audio e4300 amp which is linked to my 1000.1 sub amp. Both amps are run off of a 0 gauge pure copper stinger wire that runs to a d block into dual 4 gauge wires. Also, both amps are grounded to a strap hook in the cargo bay. The hertz speakers have a slight buzz in them and a very quit high pitched whine to them that is a common issue in old cars that dont have resistor wires and plugs. It was very noticable at first and then I cleaned up the ground wire some more with a wire brush and now it is less noticable but is still there. Do you guys have any idea what it could be? How can I go about testing it?

Btw- The speakers only buzz and whine when the truck is RUNNING. They do not make any noise at all when the ignition is on but the engine is off. Also, the amp is in good shape and appears to work perfectly, but I bought it used and these are the first speakers that I have had hooked up to it. Thank you guys!

---------- Post added at 06:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:01 PM ----------

Also I forgot to mention that the buzzing gets faster (but not louder) when you rev the engine and the pitch of the whining gets higher as you rev the engine.

 

[blueflamed03]

where do you have the power and RCA wires ran?

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

where do you have the power and RCA wires ran?

x2

are you using a real good quality RCA cable? and make sure the RCA and power/ground aren't close to each other or the RCA's can pick up interference from the power

 

[fyremanpat]

x3...also if cheap rca's are close to anything else electrical..i.e. fan motor...it can pick up the freq.

 

[raptorforme93]

That would make sense if they picked up interference becuase it only buzzes when the truck is running. They are JL Audio 4 channel RCA cables but they arent their high end cables. I dont know if I would call them cheap though. They shop I bought them from only had those cable though that were 4 channels and long enough. And the RCA cables run right along side the power cable. But the power and ground are only close to eachother where they connect to the amp so I dont think thats an issue. I think 96ProComp might have hit the nail on the head

---------- Post added at 03:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:36 PM ----------

But if it is from the RCA cables being too close to the power cable, wouldnt the speakers buzz regardless if the engine was running or not??

 

[fyremanpat]

the power and ground doesnt matter if theyre close. your signal goes through the rca's and will pick up electrical interference from any electrical output they are near..and no it wont pick up anything while the engine isnt running.... trust us thats whats causing the buzz

 

[raptorforme93]

So the fix would be to buy a really nice set of RCA cables? Or should I just run my current RCA cable on the opposite side of my power cable?

 

[96ProCompTahoe]

best thing would be to get the RCA's away from all other power sources, and get high grade shielded RCA's.

i have my RCA's ran down the driver side of the truck and 4ga. ran down the passenger side. no problems with mine. i have FUSION's shielded RCA's.

 

[ncdrtyhoe]

I had the same problem in my S15 Jimmy and had to use a ground loop isolator to get the noise out.

 

[raptorforme93]

I have both the power and RCA cables on the drivers side so I will move the RCAs to the passenger side. How much did those RCA's run you 97ProComp?

 

[quietfly]

your getting alternator whine. the first step is to separate your power and signal, if you still have it after that, then a ground loop isolator might help, as well as a capacitor. Also try re-grounding the headunit and any other sources you have. also make sure the ground from the battery to the engine block is nice and clean and not corroded. and finally a big three kit never hurts either.

 

[raptorforme93]

I was going to try and re run my RCA cables today and see if that doesnt fix the problem. Ill report back once I get them re run and let you guys know how it turned out! Thank you

 

[quietfly]

let us know

 

[raptorforme93]

They still buzz!! Its almost not noticable. But it is and it annoys the shit out of me! Haha

 

[GoTigers]

Did you ever get a fix for the whine? I am having the same issue. I've got the power running down the passenger's side with the RCA and input running down the driver's side but still have noise when the truck is running.

 

[raptorforme93]

It didnt get rid of the noise %100 but its definitely a lot better than it was. You can still hear a barely audible buzz when there is no music.

 

[Sobe Superman]

RCA cable input are always on the opposite side of amp to keep them apart from power and ground. The rule is keep them at leased 6'' away from the RCA's I ran my RCA's down the drivers side then used a straitened coat hanger to run them over the head liner and down to amp rack in cargo area. I also have a silencer that is inline with the RCA's to catch any possible interference. You may want to make sure the RCA's are not close to the fuse block panel or starter wires(under steering column).

 

[raptorforme93]

My power wire runs down the driver side and my RCA cables go down the passanger side. I think that my slight speaker buzz comes from the RCAs being close to all the starter and alarm wiring under the steering column like you said.