Frustrated just does not even start to cover it...

[Bossman150]

Here we go again. This morning when I got in my car I had the HU on pause so I could talk to my boys. Once the car warmed up and the RPMs dropped (I have a loud exhaust system), I could once again hear noise coming from my speakers. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rage.gif.0ad8a6e5565b5fddce406566fdd05149.gif I turned down the gain even more and the noise got very faint, but still there. At this point the AB VFL 150.4 is not even putting out as much power as my cheap aZZ Soundstream was.

I am just at a loss as to what to do next. If I take it back to my shop it would be a waste, they would just blame the amp again. If I take it somewhere else to diagnose first of all no idea if I can trust them and second of all it might cost me a ton.

The only other option I can think of is to bite the bullet and buy a JL HD 6004 from my shop and have them swap it in. If there is still noise then they would not have the amp to blame since I would have bought a top of the line JL amp from them. Obvious issues with this are they sell the amp for $800, I might be able to get them to drop it to $750, if I can do it a day that the ******* manager is not there. I have to tell you that the thought of giving them another penny let alone that chunk of change makes me sick to my stomach. That would put me over 4g's spent on this system just with them. Not to mention I would be out the $$ I spent on the AB amp.

Question, going back to the pico fuse issue, if they grounded the RCA's to hide the issue would putting the more powerful amp in possibly increase the noise to make it noticable? There was no noise that I could hear with the SS amp installed.

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[Brian21699]

Don't go spend $800 on a new amp if its not what's causing the problem. Buy a different head unit. That's what I did. I'm a Pioneer fan, but my buddy had a brand new Kenwood he ordered he sold me for $30. No noise afterwards. If you need some of the features, I'm sure there are other hu options that have what you need.

 

[MrFoca]

Stupid question. But how are the RCA cables ran ? I was getting slight noise in my door speakers every now and then. Ended up running my bassknob cable a different way and have not had any issues now. It wasn't very close to the RCA but now it's fine.

 

[Bossman150]

Don't go spend $800 on a new amp if its not what's causing the problem. Buy a different head unit. That's what I did. I'm a Pioneer fan, but my buddy had a brand new Kenwood he ordered he sold me for $30. No noise afterwards. If you need some of the features, I'm sure there are other hu options that have what you need.

The problem is the HU is only a couple of months old, and they are the ones that installed it. The problem is finding a way to get them to admit that is the issue(if it is) and replacing it. That is my reasoning for thinking about getting the new amp from them, then if there was still noise you would think they would swap the HU. However I could also just end up getting screwed by them even if I do.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

The problem is the HU is only a couple of months old, and they are the ones that installed it. The problem is finding a way to get them to admit that is the issue(if it is) and replacing it. That is my reasoning for thinking about getting the new amp from them, then if there was still noise you would think they would swap the HU. However I could also just end up getting screwed by them even if I do.

Ground the RCAs before you spend anything.

 

[MrFoca]

You have access to another HU to see if that might solve the problem.

 

[Brian21699]

The problem is the HU is only a couple of months old, and they are the ones that installed it. The problem is finding a way to get them to admit that is the issue(if it is) and replacing it. That is my reasoning for thinking about getting the new amp from them, then if there was still noise you would think they would swap the HU. However I could also just end up getting screwed by them even if I do.

You won't be able to get them to do much if they're like most shops.

Ground the RCAs before you spend anything.

I think he already did.

 

[Bossman150]

You won't be able to get them to do much if they're like most shops.

I think he already did.

I don't know if they are grounded or not, I don't have a way of getting it out to check. I was thinking maybe they grounded them to hide the issue last time when they told me the first AB VFL 150.4 was bad. However the first 150.4 was also making an odd noise when it would turn off that the new one isn't.

Question, going back to the pico fuse issue, if they grounded the RCA's to hide the issue would putting the more powerful amp in possibly increase the noise to make it noticable? There was no noise that I could hear with the SS amp installed. Anybody know the answer to this?

 

[Savackz]

Here we go again. This morning when I got in my car I had the HU on pause so I could talk to my boys. Once the car warmed up and the RPMs dropped (I have a loud exhaust system), I could once again hear noise coming from my speakers. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rage.gif.0ad8a6e5565b5fddce406566fdd05149.gif I turned down the gain even more and the noise got very faint, but still there. At this point the AB VFL 150.4 is not even putting out as much power as my cheap aZZ Soundstream was.
I am just at a loss as to what to do next. If I take it back to my shop it would be a waste, they would just blame the amp again. If I take it somewhere else to diagnose first of all no idea if I can trust them and second of all it might cost me a ton.

The only other option I can think of is to bite the bullet and buy a JL HD 6004 from my shop and have them swap it in. If there is still noise then they would not have the amp to blame since I would have bought a top of the line JL amp from them. Obvious issues with this are they sell the amp for $800, I might be able to get them to drop it to $750, if I can do it a day that the ******* manager is not there. I have to tell you that the thought of giving them another penny let alone that chunk of change makes me sick to my stomach. That would put me over 4g's spent on this system just with them. Not to mention I would be out the $$ I spent on the AB amp.

Question, going back to the pico fuse issue, if they grounded the RCA's to hide the issue would putting the more powerful amp in possibly increase the noise to make it noticable? There was no noise that I could hear with the SS amp installed.

Yes he did ground them.

 

[Brian21699]

I don't know if they are grounded or not, I don't have a way of getting it out to check. I was thinking maybe they grounded them to hide the issue last time when they told me the first AB VFL 150.4 was bad. However the first 150.4 was also making an odd noise when it would turn off that the new one isn't.
Question, going back to the pico fuse issue, if they grounded the RCA's to hide the issue would putting the more powerful amp in possibly increase the noise to make it noticable? There was no noise that I could hear with the SS amp installed. Anybody know the answer to this?

The way its always worked with the Pioneers I've worked with, is you either have noise, or you don't. If you have noise, you ground them, and either it'll go away, or it won't do anything to it. My buddy is running noise filters. It's not recommended at all, but it's helped his system. You can pull the radio with 2 butterknives. Just take off the trim piece, and slide them to either side in the center. Pull it out. There are probably more detailed explanations on YouTube.check for loose copper wire around the RCA outs. If its there, you need a new hu. If it's not, put it there. Look online at how to do this.

 

[Bossman150]

The way its always worked with the Pioneers I've worked with, is you either have noise, or you don't. If you have noise, you ground them, and either it'll go away, or it won't do anything to it. My buddy is running noise filters. It's not recommended at all, but it's helped his system. You can pull the radio with 2 butterknives. Just take off the trim piece, and slide them to either side in the center. Pull it out. There are probably more detailed explanations on YouTube.check for loose copper wire around the RCA outs. If its there, you need a new hu. If it's not, put it there. Look online at how to do this.

Ok thanks, that helps. I have searched for instructions but the only thing I could find was that it should come out however the factory stereo did, and I don't know that worked either lol. I will see if I can get it out this evening.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

I haven't found a single documented case of the pico fuse problem with a NEX head unit. If those head units have the pico fuse I think we all would be aware of someone blowing it by now.

 

[SilverSquared 10+ year member]

Best thing I EVER did was ground my RCAs. I have a vid before and after of the wicked noise.

Just...wow.

And it only takes a couple minutes and about (for me) a foot of wire.

 

[Bossman150]

I haven't found a single documented case of the pico fuse problem with a NEX head unit. If those head units have the pico fuse I think we all would be aware of someone blowing it by now.

Hmm, good to know. What are the chances then that I got 2 AB VFL 150.4's that both had issues with noise? Gah.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Hmm, good to know. What are the chances then that I got 2 AB VFL 150.4's that both had issues with noise? Gah.

There are multiple ways your system can get noise. I haven't found many amplifiers that are noisy no matter what.