Major Distortion Need Help!!

[BSUStang02]

Ok, so this has been an ongoing problem for me. I have a 2002 Mustang with the Mach460 audio system already installed. I changed out the head unit to a new JVC head unit with some custom wiring I bought at a car shop. That all works great now. My problem lies with my subwoofers. I have 2 12inch Audiobahn subs with a rockford punch line amp. Ever since I got these new subs and amp I have been getting major distortion coming through the subwoofers. So my first thing I did was by a 2fared cap. just to help out the dimming of my headlights and such...not really for the distortion. Then I decided to try an RCA filter my friend had lying around. This did cut out all of the distortion going back to the subs, but the problem is there is hardly and bass at all coming out of the subwoofers now. It seems that the RCA filter did more than I wanted and filtered out bass as well as the distortion going back to the amp through the subs. So I am at a loss at what to do to get rid of this major distortion without losing any of my bass. It's been really frustrating to get my car audio to work correctly, so if you could help that would be great. Any suggestions?

Click to read more...

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Describe the distortion. Only with engine running or all the time? Vary with RPM?

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

hows the amps set. etc. like LP/BP/HP? etc.

 

[BSUStang02]

When I turn the car on, there's a loud hissing sound going through my subwoofers. When I switch songs on a CD or change the radio station there is a short popping sound also. And the most annoying of all, when I turn the car off, there is several small thud sounds in a row and then a very large BOOM sound going through the subs.

I unplugged the RCAs going to my subs and the noise stopped. This is why I put the RCA filter on it, but that obviously cut out nearlly off of the bass going to the subs as well as the distortion.

Thanks for your help!

 

[BSUStang02]

and right now i have the amp set at LB

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Are you using a line output converter? Sounds like you have a problem with the connection between your HU and the amp.

 

[BSUStang02]

no i'm running a normal RCA connection to the RCA inputs in the back of the HU.

 

[NoLimit 10+ year member]

Ok, so this has been an ongoing problem for me. I have a 2002 Mustang with the Mach460 audio system already installed. I changed out the head unit to a new JVC head unit with some custom wiring I bought at a car shop. That all works great now. My problem lies with my subwoofers. I have 2 12inch Audiobahn subs with a rockford punch line amp. Ever since I got these new subs and amp I have been getting major distortion coming through the subwoofers. So my first thing I did was by a 2fared cap. just to help out the dimming of my headlights and such...not really for the distortion. Then I decided to try an RCA filter my friend had lying around. This did cut out all of the distortion going back to the subs, but the problem is there is hardly and bass at all coming out of the subwoofers now. It seems that the RCA filter did more than I wanted and filtered out bass as well as the distortion going back to the amp through the subs. So I am at a loss at what to do to get rid of this major distortion without losing any of my bass. It's been really frustrating to get my car audio to work correctly, so if you could help that would be great. Any suggestions?

looks like you know your problem, time to upgrade //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Slowd N Throwd 10+ year member]

was this "RCA filter" a little black plastic tube in the RCA wire?

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

where is your rca now? i say take it out and run the rca from the back of your deck straight to the amp(literally, dontworry about hiding them). this is what i do most of the time to see if it's bad rca or something else, i dont know. i usually have to twist the rcas around until the noises stop. turn the deck off when you do so.

 

[BSUStang02]

yeah it the filter was like that...had an input where you put the RCAs from the amp...then the big black box...then had two RCAs running out where you'd attach it to the HU. it also had a ground wire that you'd attach to a ground obviously.

like i said, it worked great, but it filtered out way too much bass as well as the sounds and it wasn't worth losing all the sound out of my subs.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like a transformer syle ground loop isolator. Since it is a coil of wire by definition, it will filter out the lows. All the more reason to fix the real problem rather than simply put a bandaid on it. Especially when the bandaid has inherently negative consequences. Find the wiring diagram of the stock HU. Figure out which is the ground wire and splice into it. Ground your splice to a solid piece of metal. That will be the best real fix for the problem.