$25 Headunit whines, can anything be done?

**dimva** · 07-07-2005, 12:21 AM

Well I grounded the back of the headunit to the car and nothing changed.

The way the ground is set up, I have the negative wires of each speaker as well as the ground from the stereo connected to the black wire from the wire harness. They are all connected in the same place, so I don't know how there could be a difference in potential. It is likely just this stupid configuration that is causing problems with electrical components in my car. It is also very hard to ground something directly to the chassis since almost everything is made out of plastic.

I think I'm going to throw this out and buy this instead.

**Bugbyte** · 07-07-2005, 12:45 AM

If your power wires run near your speakers wires, they could induce noise.

**dimva** · 07-07-2005, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

If your power wires run near your speakers wires, they could induce noise.

Yes, they do, but they also do in the stock headunit which is noiseless, and there's really nothing I can do since all wires are basically clumped together in the same place, especially where they enter the headunit.

**pancit175** · 07-07-2005, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

If your power wires run near your speakers wires, they could induce noise.

Thats usually only true when you have an amp that has inputs that line up with large gauge power wires and the amp picks up that irradiated noise and then amplifies it. In the case of a hu stock or aftermarket, the lines going to the speakers are not going to be amplified again.

**kevinlekiller** · 07-07-2005, 10:09 PM

What do you expect from a 25$ head unit that looks nice. They have to cut on quality somewhere.

**Bugbyte** · 07-07-2005, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by pancit175

Thats usually only true when you have an amp that has inputs that line up with large gauge power wires and the amp picks up that irradiated noise and then amplifies it. In the case of a hu stock or aftermarket, the lines going to the speakers are not going to be amplified again.

Good point. I had this issue, which is why I posted it, but on second thought, it was my RCA's into the HU aux in, which is similar to what you are describing.

Never mind.

**falconey** · 07-08-2005, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by dimva

The way the ground is set up, I have the negative wires of each speaker as well as the ground from the stereo connected to the black wire from the wire harness. They are all connected in the same place, so I don't know how there could be a difference in potential.
I think I'm going to throw this out and buy this instead.

Sorry to say, but this is your problem right here.

**antimatter** · 07-08-2005, 07:22 PM

no matter what you buy if you hook it up like falcony quoted it wont work.
I suggest you start looking into online tutorials on how to wire a stereo system

**dimva** · 07-09-2005, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by antimatter

no matter what you buy if you hook it up like falcony quoted it wont work.
I suggest you start looking into online tutorials on how to wire a stereo system

OK, but the diagram says this is how you do it. Or perhaps I'm wrong?

Check out the diagram, it shows both (-) speaker wires and the ground from the stereo connected to ground in the same place. Diagram is attached because my server seems to be down at the moment.

If I'm misinterpreting it, please tell me how I should do it. Read my original post, I've already searched for information.

**Bugbyte** · 07-09-2005, 01:51 AM

Just to clarify - you have the negative speaker wires connected to the black ground wire coming out of the radio, right?

THEN, the black ground wire is grounded to the car chassis, right?