Amp noise

[SlugButter]

I’m having a small issue of a quiet static noise and little crackles coming through my tweeters. It isn’t amplified as I turn up the volume but definitely audible with the volume down. Unplugging RCAs doesn’t change it. Engine off or on, same noise. Sub amp turned off, same noise. Is this just noise floor on a cheap 4 channel amplifier?

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[1aespinoza Premium Member]

Is this just noise floor on a cheap 4 channel amplifier?

Try another set of tweeters at the amp.

 

[SlugButter]

Try another set of tweeters at the amp.

Did that also. Bought new ones and replaced them.

 

[SlugButter]

Try another set of tweeters at the amp.

Wait. You’re saying try short speaker wires at the amp. Misunderstood. Will try that.

 

[SlugButter]

Hooked up some Dayton titanium tweeters with short speaker wire and same noise. Wish I had another amp to swap in there.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Check your ground, if you're grounded to the frame. See if you have corrosion at any power wire ends (like if you have ring terminals). Are you running shielded RCA's? You may be getting some noise in from somewhere.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Also, maybe check to see if your radio or anything related to the signal is maxed out, or if there's some setting where something like where the voltage from the radio could be maxed out. You can get just operational noise if one of your devices is turned up really high, close to full output. Maybe check that, not sure what exactly your issue is. You know how it goes, gotta start checking everything. Maybe make sure your speaker wires have no corrosion either. Make sure your crossover is stable and isn't vibrating, if you have a passive crossover.

 

[RobGMN Premium Member]

Remove the low level input and put in shorting plugs. If you still have noise, you’ve narrowed it down to the amp. If not, disconnect at the HU and reconnect at amp.
If noise, it’s being picked up by your cables. If none, time to isolate head unit.
Hook up some earbuds to the line-out.

 

[SlugButter]

Also, maybe check to see if your radio or anything related to the signal is maxed out, or if there's some setting where something like where the voltage from the radio could be maxed out. You can get just operational noise if one of your devices is turned up really high, close to full output. Maybe check that, not sure what exactly your issue is. You know how it goes, gotta start checking everything. Maybe make sure your speaker wires have no corrosion either. Make sure your crossover is stable and isn't vibrating, if you have a passive crossover.

I’m running active crossovers and it has noise even without the rcas plugged in at all. The only connected wire to the stereo at that point is speaker wire and the remote wire, and it runs into a DSP so I can turn all my stuff on in sequence. The sub amp turns on first, 1 second later the 4 channel comes on. 1 second after that will be my LED strip once I get my other box finished with the Lexan window. Even with 1 foot long speaker wire leads to a couple of tweeters, it also makes the noise. No input signal at all. I can’t find any weak point in my grounds, fuses or power connections. I can run full tilt and never go below 13.2 volts. I did switch the ground anyway to a different location but that did nothing. I’m kinda stumped without another amp to wire in here.

 

[SlugButter]

Remove the low level input and put in shorting plugs. If you still have noise, you’ve narrowed it down to the amp. If not, disconnect at the HU and reconnect at amp.
If noise, it’s being picked up by your cables. If none, time to isolate head unit.
Hook up some earbuds to the line-out.

My head unit does ****. I acknowledge that. I hate it and was hoping I had a good excuse to buy another but it doesn’t seem to be the problem. I was also hoping it was the RCAs, but i have noise with those not even plugged in at all. I’m starting to think this class D 4 channel amp is just a noisy piece of shit.

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

starting to think this class D 4 channel amp is just a noisy piece of shit.

After all that troubleshooting I too suspect the amp. Since it does it with the car off, you can rule out the alternator.

 

[SlugButter]

After all that troubleshooting I too suspect the amp. Since it does it with the car off, you can rule out the alternator.

I’m probably just going to get a different amp. Since I’m running active, I was thinking dual 2 channel amps instead of a single 4 chsnnel, my tweeters don’t need 140 watts. 15 watts makes them almost too loud to listen to.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

My head unit does ****. I acknowledge that. I hate it and was hoping I had a good excuse to buy another but it doesn’t seem to be the problem. I was also hoping it was the RCAs, but i have noise with those not even plugged in at all. I’m starting to think this class D 4 channel amp is just a noisy piece of shit.

I’m probably just going to get a different amp. Since I’m running active, I was thinking dual 2 channel amps instead of a single 4 chsnnel, my tweeters don’t need 140 watts. 15 watts makes them almost too loud to listen to.

Yeah, it sounds like it's the amp. I think it's your only next step, really, is to replace the amp.

 

[RobGMN Premium Member]

My head unit does ****. I acknowledge that. I hate it and was hoping I had a good excuse to buy another but it doesn’t seem to be the problem. I was also hoping it was the RCAs, but i have noise with those not even plugged in at all. I’m starting to think this class D 4 channel amp is just a noisy piece of shit.

Sounds like you completely isolated the amp and are still getting noise, which gives you your answer.
Coincidentally, I was playing with a cheap external DAC connected to my laptop when I read your post.
Same deal- high noise floor.

 

[SlugButter]

Sounds like you completely isolated the amp and are still getting noise, which gives you your answer.
Coincidentally, I was playing with a cheap external DAC connected to my laptop when I read your post.
Same deal- high noise floor.

Both of the Timpano amps I bought are cheap, and it shows. The 4 channel and the mono. I’m likely going to have to just buy more expensive amps.