Alright, so, what promised to be a most glorious day for teh n00b audiophile started normally enough...basically let's start with the equipment list rundown.

TWEETS: Rainbow Profi Cal 26
MIDRANGE: Peerless Domes (temporary)
MIDBASS: Dynaudio MW170

TWEET/MIDRANGE AMP: Arc Audio 4150XXK
MIDBASS AMP: Arc Audio 2500XXK

DIGITAL CROSSOVER/EQUALIZIER: AltoMobile Drive 30

I was also redoing ALL of my wire with Stinger Expert. SO, let's get to some pics!!!





...just a shot of the TEMPORARY TRUNK SETUP

 

So, the question is, how does it sound?

LIKE TOTAL S'HIT!!!!!!

One would think, that with such high-end equipment, it should sound good, right? WRONG.

The problem all lies within that blasted AltoMobile Drive 30. The noise is unbearable to the point where I don't even bother driving with the music on 3/4 of the time I am driving anymore. The second you turn everything on, you get a hiss similar to a pin hole pissing out of a high-pressure steam line. THEN it gets fun. Step on the gas. Watch the tach rev, and listen...to the alternator whistle like a sailor fresh off the docks from a year-long term at sea. Turn the volume up to drown out the alternator, increase the noise in the system. It's a lose/lose situation anyway you work it.

SO, thus begins what will likley be a very long, drawn-out, expensive problem to fix. As of this point in time, I am talking to someone from AltoMobile in Turkey whom seems to have found a fix to the problem...but his English sucks, and the fix is pretty convoluted. But I am going to try and get it to work this way. Worst case scenario I let the Drive 30 go for hella cheap, and run an Alpine 701, and I have no idea where in hell I am going to put the interface for it.

ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

 

The mighty Don couldn't fix this....uh oh

Also, the way the 0 gauge is running....why is it wrapped around the amp?

 

probably so he didnt cut the 0 guage wire and have to re run everything all over again when he finishes his system.

 

This has nothing to do with Don's capabilities...the problem lies in the crappy-a'ss circutry of the Alto. The 1/0 is positioned where it is because it was the only way to get everything to fit on the board.

 

That too.

10 carrots

 

Reminds me of my Audiocontrol 4XS....I hate **** like that. You should get the pxa701.

 

Damn dude after all that work! I hope you get it straightened out with that 1/2 as'sed turkenglish guy.

 

i almost bought one on ebay, then thought about if it had problems. Id seen that in one other post, but hadnt talked to don again about getting one...let us know bro

 

Sorry to hear of the problems. Nothing worse than darn noises. At least your worst case scenario, the 701 combo...aint that bad

Oh, the "interface" or c701 controller only hadsto be easily accssable if you use a non alpine head unit...(in which case you'd need it for volume control). If you use an alpine AI net head unit you only need the 701 for tuning, so you can easily hide it in the glove or center console....Of course if you use the DVA 9860 or one of the fancy alpine in dash monitor/dvd's they can control the processor without the c701 (thought I hear the 9860 isn't as user friendly of a controller as the monitors or c701. also, word on the street is that alpine is debuting a double din in dash dvd with navigation that also will control the h701 at CES....

Just in case you have to go with your "worst case scenario"

 

Does it still make noise with the inputs directly connected to the arc amps?

 

If you decide to go with the 701 combo I think you'll really like it. It gives you a HUGE amount of control over your system.

 

I hate complications. I feel your pain Dan.

 

man i know that feeling. you got kickass equipment but noises just shoots you back down. that tech guy can't refer you to someone that can speaker better english?

and damn those amps are big. didn't know they're that beefy.

 

I can't wait to put my 4150xxk in Maybe if you don't get this figured out by then we can shoot the bs when I get back home and hook my amp up :-D

 

those amps makes my 1500-xxk look puny

 

Lol it's okay, at least you still have a good amount of power and great SQ.

 

We were probably looking at the same auction...lol

NO. The problem is 100% the Alto.

Thanks, Marc. This whole overhual has had complications every darn step of the way, I'm used to them by now, but man is it frustrating!

Lonnie was the main tech at Alto...but from what I have read he left the company. The guy from Turkey claims to have solved the problem, I'll be able to check my work e-mail tommorow to see if he sent the pics I requested. Yeah, spatial orientation was a biotch on the wood and it will only get more fun when I add another 2500XXK to power the AlumaPro RXs I will be running.

I'd be more than happy to help!

ALRIGHT, SO, the gameplan is to talk to Barin (Alto, Turkey) about how he fixed this problem. It seems as though there are three problems here:

(1) Crappy soldering on the RCA leads inside the chassis. No problem, I can fix that. First step will be to examine the PCB and soldering points.

(2) External grounding is needed for the RCA outs. I have no idea WTF this means, so if anyone can shed light on the matter, please do.

(3) Reposition the Alto hella close to the HU. I REALLY don't want to have to do this after I just dropped some serious bank on the Expert RCAs.

More news as things develop...and thanks for the support fellas...I'm runnin' on empty these days.

 

Thats stupid, the RCA should not require grounding. The outer sheild of the rca is what it is and it's supposed to get a wire wraped around it then grounded. I don't see how that would fix the problem, re-solder the inside first man. That might help the most. I'm surprised that a product that gets good reviews has this sort of problem. I thought it got good reviews anyway.

 

Yeah, that's what I am going to do. Funny thing is that he too is using Stinger Expert RCAs...to an active setup running friggin' Brax amps!!! I am going to wait and see his pics before I even go that far. Bottom line is, I am not going to give up on this easily.

 

Good man. I'm sure it'll work out in the end anyways. That guy must have some dough to spend on his system jeebus. Thats awesome. Pretty ironic too.

 

good luck with that. fustrating trying to solve something when the helper can't speak english that fluently...(bringing me horrible flashbacks of the chemisty TA's at my school )

 

Grab a thin wire and pinch it inbetween the RCA, and the socket as you slide the RCA cable on, gound that wire. Ive done it before on kenwood amps, and the whine went away..

 

I tried everything I could...diff rcas, diff alto unit placements, different power/grounds...
My advice? Run and dont look back.

If you at least had bought it from Don you could've had them deal with it.

 

Did you guys try grounding the RCAs independantly?

 

EQ/Crossover units in general are AWFUL about inducing noise. It's a shame, but it's the truth. Obviously not true of all of them, but they are a frequent point of noise. I'm sorry to hear of your woes.

Just FYI ... as a non-EQ'd way of doing things, I just bought a simple PG 2 channel x-over to split at ~1500hz and then using the internal x-overs on the amps, I split those two signals into 4. It's a very cheap, active solution. I think I paid $25 for the 2 way xover.

Not always necessary to have the absolute cream of the crop for everything. However, that being said, you have some nice equipment there, I wish I could hear it when it's done. I'm looking forward to installing mine once I get done with my sound deadening (you remember the work involved there, right???)

 

ALRIGHT, Baris Bozkurt from Turkey claims that he has fully solved the noise issue with the Alto. He claims that the noise issue is directly related to the most ****-poor QC he has ever seen in the electronics industry, and that the grounding points for the RCA outs are worthless. However, with some time, a soldering iron, and some flux, this issue is capable of being resolved rather easily.

He is posting pictures tommorow...and I will be tackling this problem head-on, soldering iron in hand, as soon as I possibly can.

Oh, and for those wondering, yes...I'm nervous as hell about this.

 

good luck bro!

 

Thanks, man...I will be certain to post a HOW-TO once it's all done.

 

Sounds like it should be an easy fix, hopefully it's fixed by next week, then we can install a 4150xxk

 

Good Luck!!!! I hope it works for 'my' sake...

 

I am hoping this will also address the issues of the 16.

 

Alright...here goes nothing...

 

F'ucking still there!!!

What a waste of an hour!!!!!

Alright, I am going to try and relocate this closer to the HU.

If that fails, it goes to someone else who has the time to mess with this thing.

 

People should not have to (or be advised to by the company rep) open up equiptment and operate on it to make it work like it should.

What a freaking shame.

Also, there may be a decent processing option for you after CES this year from Fosgate that is affordable, but I believe also needs a NICE newer palm pilot to tune/adjust with...sounds cool though...to tune w/ a palm pilot (cordless, in front of car) as well as maybe something by eclipse as Manny has said either on here on in private conversation.

Good luck.

 

That sucks man, doesn't seem right. Was it purchased from the manufacturer?

 

No, some jit-bag on fleabay.

I've fawking had it with the Alto.

I'm seriously going to smash the thing or blow it up with a quarter-stick.

The I'm going to get an Alpine 701.

 

Hence the reason Im still running a stock HU.

 

Jeez Dan, you are really having a difficult time over there. I hope you figure it out soon!

 

Thanks, man...I really have the worst luck of any human being I have ever spoken to.