Noise on Carputer - Going out off mind.

**Noctris** · 07-20-2004, 07:26 AM

Ok, since this topic is related to power AND audio, or none of the above, i'll post it here, if a kind moderator says it's wrong, just move it please :-)

Anyway.. my problem

I installed my carputer in my car and everything works great except for ..tada, indeed.. noise in my audio. now first I thought it was the famous alternator or engine sound but I noticed that I have the issue, with a different hum though, aswell, when my engine is not running.. Could this be a groundloop problem ? the strange thing is, sometimes, it goes away, simply gone .. i tryed to pay attention but cannot find the reason why it goes away( not special happening at the time) and then it comes back for no obvious reason again...

If anyone has bright ideas.. let me know cause it is driving me crazy.. what is the use of 100GB of lossless ripped WMA's for good sound quality if some buzz is constantly sounding right ;-)

thanks in advance

**grahamrb** · 07-20-2004, 07:48 AM

where abouts have you mounted the system? what did you ground it to?

**Motoko** · 07-20-2004, 08:00 AM

get a ground loop isolator, solved my problem , will solve yours too

**brooksware2000** · 07-20-2004, 08:11 AM

Make sure you have a good clean grounding point to the chassis of the car if possible. Also make sure that the guage of your wire is suitable for the power that you are pushing. Check to make sure that your audio line are not lying across your power lines and that the audio line are quality cable and not that cheap stuff you but from Wal Mart. Check for loose connections and make sure that your PC is tied down and not bouncing around. If all else fails, try a ground loop isolator as posted above.

**euro320i** · 07-20-2004, 08:59 AM

Ground Loop Isolatators truncate your sound... Better to check your grounds like brooksware says...

**falconey** · 07-20-2004, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by euro320i

Ground Loop Isolatators truncate your sound... Better to check your grounds like brooksware says...

Well put. I try and spread the knowledge, but these isolaters get great pub around here.

**euro320i** · 07-20-2004, 11:21 AM

It's really too bad. Falconey, sounds like you've been through them the hard way. When I had the ground problem, I threw money at it which I did not have, and bought the lousy Ground "Bloop" Isolaters. The sound was really thin, it is a cheap and dirty fix, like painting your hot engine indicator black. Your basic problem still exists.. but we know we have true "HI- Fidelity".

**cadence117** · 07-20-2004, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by grahamrb

where abouts have you mounted the system? what did you ground it to?

how do you ground your system in the first place?

**pip** · 07-20-2004, 11:35 AM

How is your PC audio out connected to your car audio system?

You will always have noise with modulators and anything other than a good aux-in -> head unit or direct pc -> amp connection.

If you have a good conection from PC sound to car audio then there are 2 other possiblities:

1) You are using on-board audio and you have electrical interference between m/b components.

2) You have a poor ground or a ground loop.

Both can be fixed by using a USB sound card like the SB Audigy NX.

**euro320i** · 07-20-2004, 11:36 AM

Don't connect the ground to the battery terminals. Always on to the chassis. The Plus can go to the batteries if you want. I use on-board Audio and have no hum.