I have a STRANGE issue with an Xtant 404m. Today, I had to go in to work late so I decided to install my sub. I powered up the amp again (no problems there) and had it all wired up to the sub with nothing on the front channels. When I turned on the HU, things were still fine and the sub sounded great. Now here is where it gets weird- the AMP makes noise...almost a whine or hum that seems to come from the power supply end. When I went to adjust the gains, it got really bad, and the sub made a LOT of crackling noise. When the amp was flat on the floor, the sound was really bad. When I sat it up and mounted it to the back of the seat, it got a bit better, but never entirely went away. What really sucks is that I plan to mount it horizontally when I do the permanent install.

I have not run the front channels yet, but with the rears bridged to the sub it is pretty bad. Could only running the amp with 2 channels bridged (and no load on the other 2 channels) be the culprit?

Some background- 8 gauge pwr and gnd with a 30A fuse. I JUST ran my 4 gauge and have not attached it to the battery. The amp is recommended for a single 50A fuse. Could this be part of the problem?

Amp did this with the engine on or off.

Any thought on what might be the problem?

 

Pat, seems like you need to re-ground the amp. Also, where are your power and rca' wires ran? On the same side or opposite?

 

Opposite sides. Actually, the RCAs are just flung right down the center of the car.

I am upgrading all 12V+ and - to 4 gauge this weekend. I already ran it from the firewallto the batt. The only delay was going and getting my new batt terminal to accept the 4 gauge directly, as opposed to the 8 ga on a ring terminal.

 

man.. i like xtant and everything.., but ive heard about so many problems with their amps. good luck with it, sounds like its just an internal problem

try testing with a different sub to eliminate it as a problem?

 

Well, there is a good chance that this was all a product of the amp and car being 20* because by the time I got to work (hour drive), everything was all quiet on the western front. I have not checked it today, but it was silent by the afternoon, once everything was warmed up.

 

Cold temps shouldn't cause any distortion.

 

The distoirtion was likely from dirty contacts on the pots. There was ONLY distortion when actually adjusting the pots. The output was silent once they were set.

The whining noise was NOT through the speakers- it was the amp itself.

 

OH haha I didn't realize the amp was making noise. Cool!

 

Come on...read!
I SUPPOSE that you could have thought that it was just the sub that was making noise. Clarity>me.