Powering splits.

[jaisvz]

Okay, i have a slight dilemma with my current stereo in my VZ.

My front splits, which are Soundstream Tarantula TRC.6n (rated at 200rms ea),

have been powered by a Pioneer GM-3200T amp (rated at 2x60rms @ 4Ω).


I decided my splits are starving for more power.

So i have upgraded to a Soundstream TRX2.640 (rated at 2x210rms @ 4Ω).



Right, so its all in and installed. And to my disappointment, i have barely noticed any
difference in my splits beside a massive alternator noise that came out of no where
and the splits are cutting in and out here and there at high volume.

There was no alternator noise with the old amp and the wiring (4ga) is same as before.

I do have the speaker cables and rca running down the same side, i know this is a no no,
but i never had a problem with it till now.

I would rather use my old amp with is almost a 1/4 of the power if i am really not going to benefit from using this massive donk of an amp.

Has anyone experience similar issues or have any suggestions for me?

[HCVP]

Did you mean power and speaker down same side? Speaker and RCA are meant to be run together, it's the power wires that can sometime's cause interference..

As far as any audible difference, are you running them on a HPF? i ask this because if your running them at full range, the difference between 60 watts RMS and 200, could do nothing but provide effeciency for the amplifier,as the low fq's with 60 rms behind them, could still be enough to reach the limit of the mid-woofers. It may also be a simple matter of incorrect tuning, after switching amps over.

I'd imagine the alternator noise, is being caused by the extra current draw, caused by having a larger amp.It may not be, but that would be my first guess.

[jaisvz]

Sorry, yes i did mean power and speaker.

If i unplug the right channel rca, the noise dissapears, weird.

Also, yes i did notice it performs a lot better if i hi pass it.

[HCVP]

so were you previously comparing them at full range?
What type of head unit are you using? I've heard some old Pioneer unit's can develop a bit of RCA noise after a while, but that's most likely not it. How long have you had the RCA leads for? Maybe try a different set? If your constanlty changing setups, unplugging thigs ect,it's easy to knock something loose, or damage a lead..

[jaisvz]

i was comparing them at full range

it is a pioneer deh 9650

do you think moving the rca's away from power cable will help?

[Joe Bellissimo]

If they perform the same full range then you have probably found the physical limitations of the speaker.

[jaisvz]

are you familiar with these splits?
i highly doubt they were anywhere near the physical limitations of the speaker.

[Joe Bellissimo]

If your running full range then it doesn't take nearly as much power to have them reaching their limit. Those splits are loud but they are not subs hence my concern that they would be reaching their limit.

That said, I did say probably so I could be wrong.

[HCVP]

If your running full range then it doesn't take nearly as much power to have them reaching their limit. Those splits are loud but they are not subs hence my concern that they would be reaching their limit.

That said, I did say probably so I could be wrong.

Exactly, 60 rms was probably enough to reach the limits of the mid woofer when running at full range, especially if they have a high effeciency rating.

The issue you decribed with the RCA, basically you only have a few options as far as trouble shooting goes. Start by running the RCA down the opposite side, if that dosen't work, swap the leads for a different set. If the problem still persist's, it's either a fualty input on the amp, or a dodgy pre-out on your head unit.

[jaisvz]

i have done a bit of research and aparently the pioneer h/u's are very susceptable to damge to the pre outs. i usually take care when installing, but i guess it is possible i could have shorted them some how.

i will try grounding the rca shield to the h/u when i get time, if this stops the noise i guess its faulty pre out.

I find it bizzare that the noise only comes on when the right channel is plugged into the amp.
But then the noise is from both channels.

[StoneX]

What you're talking about is not a "faulty preout". It's a blown fuse inside the head unit. The Pioneer head units have a fuse on the RCA ground to prevent damage. This fuse blows very easily if RCA's are swapped with the system running and can occasionally blow even with the system off. It's best to only unplug equipment if the battery is disconnected.

But if this was the fault you'd have noise on all RCA channels, not just the right. If you're only getting noise when the right RCA is plugged in, it could be a faulty RCA lead which is picking up noise like an antenna.

[jaisvz]

well i have noise on left and right on the rear rca only (not sub or front), but only when the right channel is plugged in.

[holdenboy]

Dosent sound like a head-unit problem to me.....try swapping over the RCA cables, using the left RCA, plug it into the right channel of the head-unit, is the noise still there?

[Uber_Flacky]

Does the whine rise and lower in time with the revs of the engine, i.e get higher pitch when the revs get higher, if it does then the HU has blown an earth, had the same thing happen to my old pioneer Head unit... apparently they are really bad for blowing earths, which is why i now have an alpine HU, which i am very happy with... there are 3 ways to remedy the problem,
1: take to a person to get it repaired which i have been told is pretty costly (don't quote me on this as i haven't actually gone and priced it, just been told)
2: Buy a New Head Unit or
3: The least favourite and worst option of them all, remove the amp and run the speakers off the head deck, removes the whine but hey, they sound like a drowning cat cause they are being starved for power...
lol, just my 2 cents..

[StoneX]

Uber... We already worked out i can't be the head unit. Read the previous posts.

Pretty costly to repair a blown earth track/fuse? Try $50 by Pioneer if it's outside warranty period.