MisterT

Now that I have almost everything done, I am getting a "crackling" noise in the front speakers at high volumes. I am not talking about distortion high volumes, but high volumes just before distortions. The components have their own crossover and it is crossovered by the Coustic XM-1e. If I change the x-over points, it doesn't stop the crackling noise. What could this be from? The only other thing is a little bit of alternator whine I get. I ran RCAs on opposite end as the power wires and they area and they are clear of ground wires. I am not too concerned about that, because I think I know how to fix that. <RCAs going to amp are rerouted too. I just have excess RCA cables to the crossover which needs to be pulled up under the carpet away from ground and power wires going to the amps>.


Mister T

hihoslva

Sounds like you may be experiencing "cone breakup" - which basically IS distortion related to the speakers, as opposed to the amps.

Are you certain you're not overpowering your components?

If you have the gains on the amp set correctly, and everything else seems fine, I would start by trying to bypass the crossover. By taking a component out of the signal chain, you can either pinpoint it or eliminate it as a source of problems.

But the crackling noise generally IS a sign of overpowering. Might be adviseable to turn the amp gains down a bit, or take it easy on the volume .

Another source, however, could be the deck itself. At what volume level does the crackling begin? If backing the gains on the amp down does not eliminate the noise, then the amp may be RECEIVING the crackling signal from the deck at a certain volume level. If you hear the noise no matter what the amp gains are set to, and at the same level on the deck, then the deck is the issue.

Another thing to check (does it ever end?): Is it possible that the tinsel leads on the speaker are slapping the cone under high excursion (volume)? To check, remove the speaker and look at the back where the tinsel leads are - then pump up the music. You'll see the leads hitting the cone if that's the problem.

My money is on overpowering the speakers, however - the crackling noise is a pretty typical of an overpowered speaker.

~HH

MisterT

I'll check in to it. Right now the gain is maybe turned 1/4th of the way because the Audio Control Overdrive's output is putting out 2-2.5 Volts RMS, so both amps are turned way low. The same amp was used in a previous set up and none of this happened.

I am wondering if it is because I have the 5 1/4" in the kick panels. The kick panels were made for 4" components and I widened the holes with a rotar saw and used brackets to decrease the mounting depth. They fit, but with little to no more room to spare. Could that be the problem?

Before, in the Eclipse, the midrange was in the door and the tweeters in the dash where the 3 1/2's were located.

Thanks!

Mister T

MisterT

it is coming from the Audio Control Overdrive. If I turn it to 0 db, it won't crackle, but anything above it will, but only with the sub amp gain turned up from the crossover. I know it sounds confusing, but when if I turn down the sub amp, I can turn up the satellite amp to the point shy of distortion. Then I turn up the gain on my sub amp and the Overdrive's 2.5 Volt output starts flashing, and crackling come in to play. I think I bought a defective model from this guy years ago. I never used it in my Eclipse, which is why I never heard of the crackling before. I am either going to bypass it and uninstall it, but before doing so, I am going to email the company. It is supposed to have up to 7.5 volts output rms if your amp can handle it. My Soundstream amps recommend the range of .5 to 2.5 volts input. I may have to go to Radio Shack and get some male to male adaptors in order to bypass the Overdrive and run them directly to the crossover. My head unit has 4 volt outs, so I wouldn't be too terribly disappointed.

MisterT

hihoslva

Sooo....with 4 volts output from the head unit, what is the point of using the Audio Control?

All it does is boost the voltage, correct?

You should have no need to boost a 4 volt signal, especially when the amps recommend 2.5 volts. Unless you are using the Audio Control to REDUCE the 4 volts to 2.5, I can understand why it's giving you problems.

Doesn't sound like a defective unit necessarily - it sounds like you are over-juicing you amps' inputs, and giving them too much signal.

~HH

MisterT

Right now I have it set to 0 db so it's output light doesn't even light up period. Tomorrow I am going to try the connectors to bypass the Overdrive and see if that helps. Also, I read in the manual about it possibly causing some noise in the system, which is what I will find out in the bypass. Some amps can handle up to 9 volts input, but not the SoundStreams. I was told that some of the signal is lost going from the head unit to the amp and that is where the Overdrive comes in to play. I didn't pay much for it at all since I bought it used (not sure but new may be something like $99). I'll keep you posted on what I find out. Hopefully that is all that is wrong. That wouldn't be that big of loss then.

Mister T

hihoslva

Sure....if your head unit is in the car, and your amps are in the next town.....

An 8 ft RCA run in a car is not enough cable to noticeably degrade the signal. I mean - it's 8 frigging feet !

Ditch that thing - off it on eBay. For sure someone will buy it. You certainly don't need it, especially with 4 volts coming off the deck.

You might want to consider re-running your RCAs, though, after seeing if the splice works. The female-to-female splicers *could* introduce noise. But if it all works and sounds good, no reason to put all the work into running new cables.

Don't believe the hype....

~HH

MisterT

i didn't know the female butt connectors can produce noise (and I am not talking about that kind of noise). I wrapped electrical tape around it so that it wouldn't come in to contact with any metal. If I do ditch the Overdrive, then I would be able to utilize the extra RCA's and have a straight shot to the crossover. Maybe i can knock two birds with one stone--The snap, crackle, pop and the altenator whine.

Mister T Boy R D in tha house

demoninvictus

haha, alternator whine, let me tell ya, i had my 4 channel jbl hooked up to one set of rca's (one right channel plug and one left channel plug) when i had my pioneer head unit, basically, using 2 channels and splitting them to four with Y connectors. you probably are getting a real good idea, but the more connectors/break down points in your audio signal, the greater the chance there is your audio feed could suffer. i had my rear speakers hooked up to the amp and you'd get noticeable alternator whine and crackling and fading problems during pauses in the music or volumes under about 1/2 to 2/3s of the total volume, past that it was so distorted and so loud that you couldn't tell there was an audio feed problem. skip the audio control overdrive like he said. also, what brand rca cables are you using? i used to run rockfords and opted for some base line monster cables and seemed to work fine. just wondering what everybody is using in the ways of rca's out there.
peace