New RCA's

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Engine whine isn't caused by the RCAs. Changing RCAs won't fix it. If that's why you're changing, you're wasting your time and money.

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

oh well i need rcas anyways cuz I only have 2 pairs and I need 3 to run active this week... but what can I do to stop it then?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Fix your grounds, specifically the ground for the HU.

 

[XHiFiX 10+ year member]

"Better" RCAs can mask existing noise, but they won't eliminate it from your system. Like helotaxi said, redo or improve your grounds! If you haven't done the Big 3, that would be a good start. Your electrical system will have less resistance and better conductivity throughout the chain. If you're grounding your HU to the factory's wiring harness, ground it instead to the chassis or directly to the Batt negative. It's good to run your HU's positive lead to the Battery + as well, 12ga hookup wire with inline 10-15A fuse will do. If you have a Pioneer HU, read the sticky already posted in this forum - http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198477

Make sure your amps, crossovers, and other devices are solidly grounded to clean, bare metal of your car's chassis.

By the way, you don't have to spend a fortune on new RCAs. I use these from Monoprice and they've always worked great for me. They're shielded RG-59/U coax type cable with gold plated, split-tip connectors. They're good quality, only thing cheap is the price. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10218&cs_id=1021803&p_id=2864&seq=1&format=2#description

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

Every one of thhose things except a dedicated power line from the battery to the h/u has been done, and I still get a whine

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Then I would start leaning toward bad/damaged equipment.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Every one of thhose things except a dedicated power line from the battery to the h/u has been done, and I still get a whine

what HU do you have?

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

Pioneer Avic D3... It's going to be switched out for the 9887 tomorrow though.

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

See picture in Sticky for Pioneer Ground Loop

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198477

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

back of an avic looks nothing like that....

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Its got RCA connects at the "brains" does it not?

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

the rca's are attached to a harness that runs to the back of the head unit... not really possible to ground, but it doesn't matter that bish is coming out tomorrow afternoon!

 

[knukonceptz 10+ year member]

Never had a problem with Alpine, I am sure you'll like it. And regarding the RCA thing, the Stinger cable you got an is a unshielded twisted pair. Our krystal kable is similar, we just add shields over top (that are not grounded, like the HPM 3) Anyway for a 6 channel cable, the stinger is a good price. I think their HPM 3 is like $100 for a 6 channel!!!

 

[xxBURT0Nxx 10+ year member]

yeah.. i just bought it cuz the price seemed decent . If they don't work I'll try something else but I guess we shall find out