rca wire too long?

cheever · 11-04-2006, 04:41 PM

Here's what I got hooked up at the moment:
A 4channel amp powering the regular car speakers and a 2ch amp powering my subs. I have an RCA cable running from my center console to my 4ch (I split th signal just before the 4ch amp to feed my sub amp). My RCA cable is ~20 ft long and all I have pushing music is my IPOD via a 1/8" to RCA convertor. What Im running into is that after a while the front deck will totally go out, until I turn up the volume real fast, then everything kicks back in for a little while longer. This problem goes way once I plug up power with a cigarette lighter adapter. That's fine but apparently it's not grounded well enough because I can hear the noise that matches the engine rpm. I hooked up the ipod to the 4 ch amp directly with a really short RCA, everything sounded great. Is there any chance there is a signal booster for an RCA cable that isn't a full blown amp? It seems to me that the ipod does not push enough power through it's headphone jack to give me what I need.
Perhaps there is a better method than what I have...cheaply..

Once again I truly appreciate anyone who takes the time to help me out on this.

Shadow · 11-04-2006, 05:41 PM

What you're describing is a line driver. A good one's going to run about $65.

monkeyc · 11-04-2006, 06:03 PM

Yup, what Shadow said!

technostar · 11-04-2006, 06:52 PM

i got one of these CLARION EQS746 Equalizer. it has two inputs, aux and main, and you may select each one by pressing a button.

XC-C30 · 11-04-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by technostar

i got one of these CLARION EQS746 Equalizer. it has two inputs, aux and main, and you may select each one by pressing a button.

and what the hell does this have to do with the problem discribed by the topic starter?

2k1Toaster · 11-04-2006, 10:55 PM

i think you could use a preamp as well. You can build one like the picture for like $5 and it will be fine for the audio that the iPod spits out. If you need audiophile type music, then you need to spend some money like shadow said.

Just replace the "mic in" with "ipod in"

technostar · 11-05-2006, 02:32 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by IC-C30

and what the hell does this have to do with the problem discribed by the topic starter?

he's asking for a signal booster for rca. this preamp i was referring to may serve as well like a line driver. was i out of topic here?

XC-C30 · 11-05-2006, 03:03 AM

meh, why buy an EQ if you just need a line-convertor? if you wanna use an EQ, you'll have to spend money for a good one, and since he's just looking for a line-convertor, that seems a little over the top in my opinion.

Shadow · 11-05-2006, 05:21 PM

Hey all you rockheads, a preamp IS a line driver.

2k1Toaster · 11-05-2006, 05:30 PM

I never use word like that because I know what I want it to do, so I don't know what it is called. I call pre-amps/linedrivers: boosters. I know, makes no sense, but I know what I want.

cheever · 11-05-2006, 07:01 PM

well...turns out I forgot I have a line output converter with gains on it already in the car...so Ill probably splice a headphone jack into the converter and see how that goes. I really appreciate everybody's help. If that doesn't work Im going to try 2k1toaster's idea

Shadow · 11-05-2006, 10:16 PM

Quote:

line output converter

How will this help on an audio input?

cheever · 11-07-2006, 08:23 PM

With a line output converter I can split the headphone jack into the converter, which has identical outputs, which have gain control, so perhaps if I turn up the gain? worth a shot anyway, I already have it, and it only cost me 14 bucks