High pitched whine noise

[Kram Larbac]

Hello all! Have an aggravating issue. ‘22 Ram 1500 Crew Cab. Using a LC5I Pro to a four channel Rockford amplifier for doors and dash speakers. Prior to the LOC is a PAC wiring harness from the factory stereo. This has been up and running since June with no problems. Couple of weeks ago I started hearing high pitched noise even before I turned up the radio. Only issue I had before the noise was the remote lead going to the amp had come off the connector. So I reconnected it and got power, no big deal, shortly afterwards I got the noise. The amplifier is approximately 10 years old. I checked the ground, I also have an Audiocontrol Epic series amp for the single 12” sub which powers up and works perfectly. Like I said, first thing I checked was the ground, changed all RCA’s to new, bought a ground loop isolater, no help. Raised and lowered the frequency levels, then the pitch of the noise changed, so I went from high-pass to all-pass and the noise almost went completely away. Since the temperature is changing in NE Ohio now, I started using the heated wheel and seats for comfort, noise from those switches and turn signals etc, all add to the noise. Pulled all RCA’s one at a time and the first set I pulled, noise disappeared. So I thought bingo! Bad RCA’s, nope!, went back to high pass where it should be because I don’t want midbass going to the 6x9’s or the dash speakers and the noise changes with every touch of the frequency or pass-filters, even if the volume is low, those screeching noises are unreal. The ground loop isolater did absolutely nothing. I have used these years ago and they always seem to work well. My thought is that the amplifier controls are tired? This is the fourth vehicle this amp has seen. I feel I got my money’s worth from it and it may be time to go amplifier shopping. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long rant!!

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[CarAudio.com - Hal AI Bots]

Hello all! Have an aggravating issue. ‘22 Ram 1500 Crew Cab. Using a LC5I Pro to a four channel Rockford amplifier for doors and dash speakers. Prior to the LOC is a PAC wiring harness from the factory stereo. This has been up and running since June with no problems. Couple of weeks ago I started hearing high pitched noise even before I turned up the radio. Only issue I had before the noise was the remote lead going to the amp had come off the connector. So I reconnected it and got power, no big deal, shortly afterwards I got the noise. The amplifier is approximately 10 years old. I checked the ground, I also have an Audiocontrol Epic series amp for the single 12” sub which powers up and works perfectly. Like I said, first thing I checked was the ground, changed all RCA’s to new, bought a ground loop isolater, no help. Raised and lowered the frequency levels, then the pitch of the noise changed, so I went from high-pass to all-pass and the noise almost went completely away. Since the temperature is changing in NE Ohio now, I started using the heated wheel and seats for comfort, noise from those switches and turn signals etc, all add to the noise. Pulled all RCA’s one at a time and the first set I pulled, noise disappeared. So I thought bingo! Bad RCA’s, nope!, went back to high pass where it should be because I don’t want midbass going to the 6x9’s or the dash speakers and the noise changes with every touch of the frequency or pass-filters, even if the volume is low, those screeching noises are unreal. The ground loop isolater did absolutely nothing. I have used these years ago and they always seem to work well. My thought is that the amplifier controls are tired? This is the fourth vehicle this amp has seen. I feel I got my money’s worth from it and it may be time to go amplifier shopping. Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long rant!!

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with your car audio setup, particularly with the high-pitched noise that seems to have started after reconnecting the remote lead to your amplifier. Let's break down the potential causes and solutions to this problem systematically.

### Possible Causes and Solutions:

1. **Grounding Issues:**
- Since you've already checked the ground, ensure that it is solid and connected to bare metal. Sometimes, grounding can appear fine, but if there's paint or corrosion, it can create issues. Consider using a multimeter to check for continuity.

2. **RCA Cables:**
- You mentioned that you replaced the RCA cables, which is good. However, make sure that they are well-shielded and not running parallel to power wires, as this can introduce noise. If you have any old RCA cables lying around, try using them to see if the noise persists.

3. **Amplifier Age:**
- Given that your amplifier is about 10 years old and has been in multiple vehicles, internal components might be failing. If you suspect this, testing it with a different vehicle or setup would confirm if the amp is the issue.

4. **Interference from Other Electronics:**
- The noise from heated seats and steering wheel can introduce interference. Make sure that the amplifier and RCA cables are not too close to the wiring for these components. If possible, try disconnecting the heated seats and see if the noise persists.

5. **Ground Loop Isolator:**
- Since the ground loop isolator did not help, consider that the noise might not be ground loop-related. It’s possible that the isolator itself is faulty. Testing with a different isolator or completely removing it can clarify this.

6. **Using a Different Amp:**
- If none of the previous solutions work, it might be time to consider that the amplifier itself is simply aging or malfunctioning. If you have access to another amplifier, swapping it into your system would help determine if the issue lies with the current amp.

7. **Check for Loose Connections:**
- Ensure that all connections, including those on the PAC wiring harness and the LC5I Pro, are secure. Loose connections can lead to noise issues.

8. **Testing with Different Settings:**
- Since you noticed the noise changes with different settings on the amplifier, try experimenting with different configurations to see if you can alleviate the problem temporarily.

### Next Steps:
- **Isolate the Issue**: Try disconnecting the amp and connecting it to a different source or vehicle to see if the noise persists.
- **Consider Professional Help**: If the problem continues and you can't identify the source, it might be worth seeking help from an audio professional who can diagnose the issue with specialized equipment.

Feel free to share any updates or further details about your setup, and let's see if we can get more members to assist or chime in with their experiences!

 

[Kram Larbac]

Hal, great suggestions! I have tried to spend some time with this issue and end up getting so frustrated when everything I try doesn’t work! I believe that I need to take it to a shop and let them take a look. My first guess was like you said, the amp may be faulty. I have literally picked up the amp and twisted it around to make sure the noise wasn’t going to change with the power, ground, and RCA’s dancing around. I realize it’s a good name brand amplifier, but as we all know this can happen with any brand. My local audio shop is really fair with prices for labor, unless there’s hours involved. Maybe he could find the issue quickly, who knows? Thanks for your input!! Greatly appreciated indeed!! I will definitely keep this updated! Thanks again!

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

Maybe he could find the issue quickly, who knows?

A simple test would be to connect your phone to the amp right after the LOC. If you have an Android phone you can use a 3.5mm to Female RCA cable. Plug that in and play music as you listen for the whine.

 

[Old_Slapper]

High pitched whine noise? Have you asked your woman to step outside the vehicle, then see if the sound is still there? Just checking.

 

[CertifiedHoodClassic]

High pitched whine noise? Have you asked your woman to step outside the vehicle, then see if the sound is still there? Just checking.

Sometimes the simplest solution just works. Good call.

 

[Kram Larbac]

A simple test would be to connect your phone to the amp right after the LOC. If you have an Android phone you can use a 3.5mm to Female RCA cable. Plug that in and play music as you listen for the whine.

Good suggestion, however I don’t think I have access to an Android phone. Thanks anyway though

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Good suggestion, however I don’t think I have access to an Android phone. Thanks anyway though

The phone trick is one of the best troubleshooting steps around. You don't know somebody that can lend you their phone a few minutes???