Changing amps. Looking for lower noise floor

[pneffkell 10+ year member]

Ok guys need some feedback. I have 2 JL e Class amps but I am getting a lot of hiss. I tried a AC Overdrive but it seems to only get worse.

Thinking about replacing these with either

ARC KS series

or Sundown amps

My concern is that I have seen reviews saying that the Arcs don't have the lowest noise floor of all time and I am not familiar with the Sundowns.

Please help with feedback ASAP.

Click to read more...

 

[CRXBMPN 5,000+ posts]

is it the amps or something else? has it been a problem all along or just came up recently?

 

[pneffkell 10+ year member]

Well I have an Eclipse AVN headunit which is suppose to produce 5v of preamp output but I can't get it to register even close to a 5v signal at my AC DQX. I added the overdrive to try and bump up the signal but its doesn't seem to have an effect. I can tune the noise floor down pretty low but it still provides a slight hiss and the amp gains are way way down.

 

[cj407]

your gains arent causing the hiss...either ground issue, rcas, or head unit (or amps) outputs/inputs are causing this. those are your 4 things to look at before changing amps.

 

[pneffkell 10+ year member]

I see. I am using stinger RCA. I am not getting the whine you usually get with a ground loop but I have not grounded the battery to the chassis yet either. How would I go about checking the head unit?

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

problem could also be your headunit.

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

it shouldn't be really serious unless you turn up your volume all the way and you still hear the hissing over the music.

 

[pneffkell 10+ year member]

No I don't hear it over the music but I do hear it when no music is playing and when I turn the volume all the way down. This suggests to me that its not the HU because volume down would remove the hiss.

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

well then you're okay. it's nothing serious, if you still decide with an amp. arc ks series won't let you down.

 

[pneffkell 10+ year member]

I am using the sort of low end pro series stinger RCAs. I am thinking maybe upgrading to the Experts might do the trick?

 

[dafobbishon3 10+ year member]

oh yeah. for sure. RCA's change that. you'll need really good RCA's and make sure it doesn't come in contact with any other wires.

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

If the OP thinks he is going to purchase Sundown and eliminate his hiss, he is going to be disappointed when he installs those Sundowns! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[sundownz Pro Seller]

If the OP thinks he is going to purchase Sundown and eliminate his hiss, he is going to be disappointed when he installs those Sundowns! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Not necessarily. That is very install dependent. I have no hiss with cables strewn everywhere in my Jeep. I think it comes down to how a certain amp integrates with the system as a whole... HU, cables, grounding, etc.

 

[pneffkell 10+ year member]

I just ordered a Sh$$ pot load of the high end stinger RCA Cables. I am going to try that and see if it helps. I am thinking now that this will probably solve my problem. Might still upgrade the JLs later but I want to get them working good and then decide if they will fit my needs.