Is it a myth? (RCA one side, Power other side)

[clickclickw00t 10+ year member]

I've heard lots of different opinions, but I want one from someone who REALLY knows what they're talking about:

IS IT A MYTH that running power and RCAs down the same side of the car will necessarily produce unwanted noise? I have KnuKnoceptz 0ga coming, and Krystal twisted pair RCAs. Can I run everything down one side? Is it not recommended, or just a complete NO-NO?

Thanks!

Click to read more...

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Some people say it helps some people don't. I had mine running on the same side and switched. There was a slight noticeable difference but I could only tell if the car was off (there was a slight hiss in the speakers). I think there is something bigger at play that determines how much it impacts your system, but I would just run them on opposite sides to play it safe.

 

[clickclickw00t 10+ year member]

Some people say it helps some people don't. I had mine running on the same side and switched. There was a slight noticeable difference but I could only tell if the car was off (there was a slight hiss in the speakers). I think there is something bigger at play that determines how much it impacts your system, but I would just run them on opposite sides to play it safe.

Thats what I assumed. I'm running on opposite sides now, so I'll just keep it that way.

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

It is always best to keep them away from each other if possible. *But* if you have good quality, shielded RCA's then you *should* be fine either way.

IF you can separate them, then do so.

 

[West]

Its called electrical interference. It is very real, but may not affect you very much.

Keep power cord away from rcs...

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

Also watch running the RCA's under the dash an keep them from 12v wires in the harness, blower motor, etc..any sources for 12v electrical interferences that may contaminate the low voltage signal. Some have grounded the shielding of their rca's to the HU chassis on one end and amp body on the other to create a balanced signal. Ideally, you would have a source with balanced outputs and a amp with balanced inputs....but this is not a perfect world and most do not research those types of aspects when choosing equipment.

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

Balanced Line Drivers

 

[RoYALbLUE08 10+ year member]

My RCAs are right on top if my 0 gauge and 4 gauge and have no noise in my speakers

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

A solid ground is the best way to avoid noise

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

How about Alpine Ai-Net cables?

My planned setup uses that instead of RCA's from the HU to the trunk.

Are those bothered by under dash electrical noise?

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

I've heard lots of different opinions, but I want one from someone who REALLY knows what they're talking about:

And who would that be? Folks here speak from experience. Some say it matters, some say it doesn't. Who's right? My power wire is tie wrapped to the RCA's. No noise. Maybe I'm just lucky.

BTW using twisted pairs in an RCA cable is a bigger myth than separating them from power wires.

 

[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

You can pick up just as much noise from the amp being grounded to the car as well

 

[quackhead 10+ year member]

How To - Car Stereo - In Pursuit of a Noise-Free System: The Ten Commandments of Noise Prevention

/thread.

 

[clickclickw00t 10+ year member]

How To - Car Stereo - In Pursuit of a Noise-Free System: The Ten Commandments of Noise Prevention
/thread.

That was informational. Thanks!

 

[Boomsday 10+ year member]

How To - Car Stereo - In Pursuit of a Noise-Free System: The Ten Commandments of Noise Prevention
/thread.

From 1989??? Stuff changes..I have ran my 3 runs of 0ga right next to rca with 0 noise for years..

Make sure everything has a nice solid ground and your fine