I recently added a new amp and CDT Audio Cl-61a component speakers. Ever since the new components were installed, I've been getting a hissing sound from the speakers (or maybe the tweeters only) ALL the time.

I've assumed this is engine/alternator noise and have tried to isolate the problem with no luck. I have 2 amps - one for components and the other for my sub. My sub does not have additional noise. Both amps are grounded in the same location.

Here are the weird parts about this noise:

-When I disconnect the RCAs from the component amp, I STILL get the hissing sound through the tweeters.

-When the CD player is off, I still get the sound through the speakers (the amp is still on, though)

Of course, once I disconnect the speaker wires from the amp, the noise goes away (duh). I'm trying to figure out what could be causing this noise here. My thoughts are that either the amp is bad, or that somehow, somewhere the speaker wires running from the amp to the components are picking up some form of distortion (never heard of this with speaker wires before - only RCAs).

Anyone have any ideas on how to eliminate this? It's driving me crazy!

Thanks!

John

 

Is the gain on the amplifier going to the components turned up to high ?

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention that. Yeah, I tried adjusting the gain - I even turned it ALL the way down and the hissing sound never changed.

 

What kind of amp is it cause those are some top of the line speakers and they need a good amp not like a pyle or jensen or something like those has high noise ratios. Also you could get some noise reducers they sell them on ebay or you could get them from sounddomain if you want quality ones.

 

It's an awesome amp: Orion Cobalt CS150.2

 

What guage wire are you running to the amp for the speakers?

 

8 gauge...

 

The problem sounds like your speaker wire is catching ground from somewhere. Check the terminals of the speaker, and just double check that they are not touching metal. If you disconnect one speaker at a time, you can isolate which one is a problem. If you have a meter/test light, once the speaker wire is disconnected from the amp, you can test it to see if you have a grounded wire. It could also be a screw through the speaker wire.

 

But the sound is coming through both speakers...does that make a difference?

 

engine noise? maybe bad ground.....

 

I thought so too, but the sound is there when the engine is off, and just the electrical power is on.

And if it was a bad ground, I should be having problems with my other amp/sub too, since that amp is grounded in the same location, right?

 

First no offence but that amp couldn't suck much more...but did you run the rca's and power wire down opisite sides?

 

Hmm, I've had good success with other Orion cobalt amps in other cars. Yeah, power is run down the driver's side and RCAs down the passenger side.

 

Best bet then is to reground them, hopefully thats it, but the cobalts tend to be full of noises.

 

Try useing speaker wire instead of battery cable. There is no benefit to useing heavy wire for speakers. 12 gauge is overkill for most 1000 watt RMS amps and subs. Also you described the noise as a hiss. Therefore it is eliminated by the crossover in the sub amp.

 

I'm not sure I'm following you. Are you saying to use speaker wire for the "power cable" to the amp? How will that help get rid of the noise?

I'm using (I think 14 gauge) speaker wire from the amp to the components..

Also, are you saying that the sub amp isn't making noise because it's set on low-pass?

 

Nevermind anymore guys. I used my RF amp to power my components and there was no noise. I then hooked my Orion amp to my sub and with the low-pass filter on, there's no noise either.

They both sound pretty good, so I'll probably leave it like this for a while.

Thanks everyone!

John

 

"Originally Posted by imxelite
What guage wire are you running to the amp for the speakers?"

8 gauge...


That is what I was referring. I think you need to describe this hissing noise. You just masked the noise with the low pass filter but the problem is still there. Like a band aid on the aorta, it's not a solution.

 

I'm having a similar issue with my 2K Max with Bose. I have an Planet Audio Amp pushing a single 12 inch W3V2. I also just swapped the HU out with an older Clarion Pro Audio CD player. Now, even before I swapped the HU out I was getting a hiss or some sort of distortion through the tweeters mainly, and alittle through the speakers when I'm listeneing to the radio. When I pop in a CD it sounds great. I figured when I swapped the Bose HU out it would eliminate the problem , but it is still there sometimes. It seems to happen when the bass hits. I unplugged the tweeters for now cause there are driving me crazy. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

-Jon

 

Gotcha. The noise was just a hissing, kinda staticky noise which went on all the time. When the CD player was off and I was driving I could hear alternator whine as well (increased with acceleration). I'm starting to think the amp was the problem. Since using the other amp, eliminated the noises all together.