Engine Noise due to ground loop or amp?

**matt11601** · 02-05-2006, 11:53 PM

Like many of you, I need to install an amplifier before I can install my carPC. I had Circuit City install a cheap amp I got off eBay today and the guy told me that there's a lot of engine noise and he told me that the amp sucks.

First off, I know the amp sucks but it's a means to an end. But he was right about the engine noise, there's a lot of it. When I am not revving the engine, there's a very loud hum. When I rev the engine, the engine noise gets louder and is on top of the hum that's already there. Needless to say, I can drown out the engine noise by turning up the volume when listening to music.

When he told me that there's a lot of engine noise, he blamed it on the fact that the amp sucks. I always thought engine noise had to do with poor grounding of the amplifier. He also suggested I buy a better amplifier (from Circuit City of course) so that these problems won't happen.

So now I come to you guys for help. Is he right? Is it because the amp sucks? I don't think this is the problem because members here have bought cheap Pyramid amps for $20 off eBay.

Here's what I think. I think he did not ground properly and so I'm getting very loud engine noise. But he is blaming the engine noise on the amplifier.

What do you guys think? If the amp is to blame, then I'll just have to dip into my carPC money and buy a quality amp. But if the problem is due to his poor installion then I want to fix it myself.

Thanks.

-Matt

**EsKALad** · 02-06-2006, 12:23 AM

dude it could be both. it could be the ground. but i had this happen to me before. i used 2 diff amps in same location using same wiring. one has engine whine one didnt. its about the quality of the amp ALONG with a proper ground. i would suspect the amp to be the culprit this time. you get what you pay for bro.

**RedGTiVR6** · 02-06-2006, 05:42 AM

what is the brand of the amplifier?

if it's a super cheap amp, chances are the guy is right

keep in mind that you get what you pay for in car audio, 10x most other areas

**matt11601** · 02-06-2006, 06:01 AM

I think the brand is cuspid or bicuspid. Something like that.

If it's the amp then I have no problem replacing it. I wanted to make sure it was before buying a new one.

**RedGTiVR6** · 02-06-2006, 08:45 AM

lol - those are teeth....not the brand of an amp!

hahahahaha

do you have a picture of it?

**ecswookie** · 02-06-2006, 11:55 AM

the above post makes me laugh mainly bc I know hes sitting as his computer cracking up out loud.

**DarquePervert** · 02-06-2006, 12:12 PM

I have visions of this guy with RCA's running into his mouth.

**matt11601** · 02-06-2006, 09:10 PM

Haha....that joke never occured to me. Yea it's "Cuspid" and is the same as this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Car-Audio-Am...QQcmdZViewItem

Yea, I'm shopping around for a quality amp as we speak.

I got another question for you guys. I got a little more driving in today and noticed that when I hit my right turn signal, I can hear the noise coming through the speakers. But the same sound does not come when I flip the left turn signal. Anyone know why this is happening? I'm not really looking for a way to fix it, but I'm tryin to learn why.

**vxcarpc** · 02-06-2006, 09:16 PM

just get a high pass filter ro filter out the noise. it goes on the power and helps to eliminate the noise.

I have Cadence amps and they ground without a problem

**RedGTiVR6** · 02-07-2006, 07:39 AM

holy ****!

Now I've got another brand to add to my list of really really really crappy amps! Thanks!

btw - sure, you can put the filter on there, but that's a lot like just putting a bandaid on a gash that needs stitches. Without the stitches you'll have one hell of a nasty scar....that no amount of anything will cover up...