weird amp noises!?!

[anti_flag_army]

So i have a 340 watt amp powering my rear speakers, just recently the amp stopped working so i figured out it was a loose connection with a wire nut. After fixing the problem i tested it and it worked fine.

Well then i start the car and there is this weird static...ish noise. It only comes on when the car is started, and get this, when the engine revs the static gets higher pitched, like it goes with the engine when i drive.

So what could be the problem? so i need a new amp??

Thanks in advance for the help!

[homeslicej2]

Umm...Why are you using wire nuts? That's a no go. Sounds like you have alternator whine/ground loop noise from bad connections. Check all of your wire connections, grounds, etc. and make sure that your RCA connections are hooked up correctly. You may have accidentally switched them around when you were checking your amp out.

[anti_flag_army]

whats wrong with wire nuts? what should i be using to connect wires? im running 2 on the same wire, is that a problem?should i just run a new length of wire for that one?

[homeslicej2]

Wire nuts are not designed for high fidelity sound systems so you can get noise that way too. You're running 2 wires nuts on the same wire? Is that what you are saying? If you're referring to the speaker wire or power wire or any wire actually, then yeah, run a new complete length of wire if possible. When making wire connections in a sound system, unless it's a distribution block or something like that (designed for splicing car audio wires), then you should use some kind of car audio wire connectors, whether it's a crimp butt connector, or crimp rings for power and ground connections, screw on types etc. Generally though, you want to minimize the amount of connectors, etc. that you use, so as not to raise the chances of noise introduction, too much resistance along the wire hurting power transfer, etc. Does this all make sense?

[anti_flag_army]

i get it, the reason i was using wire nuts was that i ran a length of wire that i assumed would be long enough to make it to my amp, and was like 3 inched too short, so i addded a wire nut. there is another one on that wire as well, behind the stereo its self, cant remember why though.

[homeslicej2]

Behind the stereo? How big is this wire nutted wire? Is it the power wire or the remote lead wire from the back of the stereo that "tells" the amp when to turn on/off?

[anti_flag_army]

the power wire. it goes like this

battery-----wire-----wirenut--------wire------wirenut----amp

[Looneybomber]

the power wire. it goes like this

battery-----wire-----wirenut--------wire------wirenut----amp

Yeah, there is your problem. You can still get that noise even with one solid power and ground wire, so don't get too mad.

[homeslicej2]

Yeah, there is your problem. You can still get that noise even with one solid power and ground wire, so don't get too mad.

Replace it with a new, complete piece of quality power wire that is the correct gauge. Also, make sure your ground wire is the same size as the power wire and that it is securely attached to the vehicle chassis, preferably on bare metal. You can paint over it once the connection is made to keep it from rusting. Should go a long way towards helping your problem.

[anti_flag_army]

the ground wire is no problem, i will run a new wire and see if that fixes it.

[PoorManQ45]

You have a ground problem.

Either the engine isn't properly grounded, or th eamp isn't properly grounded

[anti_flag_army]

just in case any one cared, it turned out to be my actual stereo, it was a POS that came with my car.It was one of those motorized DUAL stereos.

Replaced it with a Pioneer Premier head unit and all my problems went away!

[PoorManQ45]

Even then, it was a ground problem

That's the only thing, besides source material that will ever cause a humming.

The same thing occurs in home equipment

[anti_flag_army]

a ground problem in the stereo its self?

[PoorManQ45]

yep