My speakers whine!

[talltigeguy]

I installed a WS 420 and that introduced a very annoying whine to my system. It is only apparent when the key is in the 'on' position. When the key is in the Aux position, all is good.

The noise can best be described as a very high pitched whistle. Almost like a dog whistle. It is almost as high as is audible. Some older people might not hear it because it is very high. It happens with both Ipod and HU. It happens if I unplug the RCA jack from the head unit at the 420 as well.

Tim at WS said that that sort of noise usually comes from interference with the cables. I don't want to drop $60 on good cables to find out it did not fix the problem. Do most of you agree?

The 420 is grounded straight to the engine, I first had it to the battery and it did not make any difference to change it out. I have the power going right to the battery. The remote turn on wire goes from the HU to the Amp and then to the 420. Could that be it?

The original amp was a JL e6450 and was running everything, 4 interior speakers, a sub and 4 tower speakers. all gains were at their max. The sub was performing pretty poorly. I swapped it out for and Arc Audio 900.6 and it really woke the system up, especially the sub. Sweet amp, BTW.

I had this problem before and after I swapped out the amp.

[mtnsmith]

Check the other grounds within the rest of the sound system. My hu ground was bad and caused whining through my speakers.

[talltigeguy]

Good thought. My thinking is that it has something to do with the 420 since it was not there until I installed it. That is going to be tough to find. It goes into batch of wires that are then bundled together and covered.

[mtnsmith]

yeah, I hate tracking down electric issues on the boat. Maybe try another rca cable and check the fuse holders, if there are some. Had one of those go out once too, when I would squeeze it it was fine, then would go to crap when I let it go. Good luck, let us know what it is when you find it for future reference.

[chpthril]

When you say "when the key is in the 'on' position" you mean key on, engine off, right? If so, the only thing I can think og that's powered up with key on and not in ACC, is the ECM.

It happens with both Ipod and HU. It happens if I unplug the RCA jack from the head unit at the 420 as well.

Sounds like it's being introduced into the RCA's running back to the amp. Here is what I would check first. Run a new but temporary PWR and GND for the ws420 to the amps PWR and GND. Dont snake them through the boat or anything, just lay them across the boat from the 420 to the amp. See what that does!

If noise is still there, do the same with a KNOWN GOOD set of RCA's. Lay them across the boat from the 420 to the amp and see. Other then that, make sure that gains on the 420 aren't cranked up too much.


Good move on the amp swap, that JL was trickling about 35W's to each speaker and about 150W's to the sub

[xpjim1]

I remember once it said make sure the mic volume is turned down on the WS420. Most likely not the case as acc is good and on is bad. Thats all I have to offer as I did not sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night

[Domsz06]

Same problem on mine being introduced by my blower. Might check that out......

[dogbert]

Is your H/U powered and grounded to the same circuit as your amps and the 420? If not, that's likely the culprit. If your radio turns off when you start the boat, there's a good possibility you're getting noise to filter through the ignition power wire.

When I had this issue, I fixed it with a ground loop isolator coming from the H/U to my amps (or in your case the 420). I know Phil and Mike don't agree with this solution, but it worked for me.

[chpthril]

Is your H/U powered and grounded to the same circuit as your amps and the 420? If not, that's likely the culprit. If your radio turns off when you start the boat, there's a good possibility you're getting noise to filter through the ignition power wire.

When I had this issue, I fixed it with a ground loop isolator coming from the H/U to my amps (or in your case the 420). I know Phil and Mike don't agree with this solution, but it worked for me.

If I read hi OP correctly, it happens with RCA from the H/U out and running off the Ipod

As far as the GLI, IMO, it's easier/better to fix the cause, not the effect. Not arguing that they dont work.

[dogbert]

If I read hi OP correctly, it happens with RCA from the H/U out and running off the Ipod

I thought he said it didn't matter whether it was the iPod or just the H/U, and only when the key was in the on position (which means power for the H/U is coming from the engine and not the battery).

I know what you're saying about fixing the source and not the symptom, but sometimes that's not possible.

[talltigeguy]

When you say "when the key is in the 'on' position" you mean key on, engine off, right? If so, the only thing I can think og that's powered up with key on and not in ACC, is the ECM.


Sounds like it's being introduced into the RCA's running back to the amp. Here is what I would check first. Run a new but temporary PWR and GND for the ws420 to the amps PWR and GND. Dont snake them through the boat or anything, just lay them across the boat from the 420 to the amp. See what that does!

If noise is still there, do the same with a KNOWN GOOD set of RCA's. Lay them across the boat from the 420 to the amp and see. Other then that, make sure that gains on the 420 aren't cranked up too much.


Good move on the amp swap, that JL was trickling about 35W's to each speaker and about 150W's to the sub

Swapped RCA's and just laid them across the floor and it helped, but did not make the noise disappear. My bro in law cannot hear it, FWIW.

The sub now is getting 550 watts. It is only meant for 250 watts, but with the gains way down, hopefully I won't blow the sub. It really pounds nicely for a 10 inch sub. It was my biggest beef with the previous amp, was the sub was pretty close to non-existent.

[talltigeguy]

I thought he said it didn't matter whether it was the iPod or just the H/U, and only when the key was in the on position (which means power for the H/U is coming from the engine and not the battery).

I know what you're saying about fixing the source and not the symptom, but sometimes that's not possible.

The key is in the on position, but the engine is not running. I am still stuck in the garage until it warms up some more.

[talltigeguy]

Now I have just ran the wires across the floor and straight from the EQ to the battery without any relief from the very high pitched noise....I've got a friend with a brand new 420 in the box at his house, I will probably swap mine for his and see if that makes a difference.

[akdoc]

I had this issue when I installed my system as well. Before extra amps = no whine, after I added 2 more amps = whine? I did all the things suggested, switched out RCA's checked power and ground to all amps. The dealer then suggested to check the HU ground, that was the culprit. For some reason multiple amps will cause that ground to not do its job...don't really know why. I then grounded my HU to the dist. block and the noise was gone!

Good Luck!

[mtnsmith]

That's exactly what fixed mine, new ground for the headunit. Good that there is another ws420 close by to try.