Who's the local stereo advisor??

[9er]

So all I did was take my stereo out to get new carpet.
I put everything back exactly as it was.
I turn it on and the things freaks out. The subs kinda flutter and pop and nothing else but noise comes out.

I remember a friend had a problem like this and it was the head unit. But everything was perfect before I took it out.

 

[Nord]

I'm no guru, but start by checking your amps and see if the lights are in red (protection mode). If so, you might have some wires touching each other or connected wrong. Follow all of your wiring and see if you exposed something or hooked it back up wrong. Do you have amps??

 

[9er]

Yeah, just one RF400 amp. The litle led light is always red though.
I double checked everything, it's a pretty simple system. Damn.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

You lost ground somewhere, maybe at the head unit, maybe at the amp. Could also be a bad RCA cable between the amp and head unit, but I think it's ground.

 

[9er]

Thanks.
Sounds reasonable.
I'll try some new RCA's and double check my grounds.
Man, I really hope it's that easy.
I really fell behind w/ my quick carpet and motor project and Fathers Day weekend is just days away. Last thing I need is stereo problems.....

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Thanks.
Sounds reasonable.
I'll try some new RCA's and double check my grounds.
Man, I really hope it's that easy.
I really fell behind w/ my quick carpet and motor project and Fathers Day weekend is just days away. Last thing I need is stereo problems.....

Tell me more about your setup, amps, speakers, etc.

 

[9er]

K, here's what I have
Pioneer DEH-6700MP head unit
(1) Rockford Fosgate 400.4a amp
(2) Eslipse 10" subs
(4) Eclipse 6x9's
The amp is bridged and there's a squirrel fan that runs right above it. I've never had any failures or overheating issues.

I put it the basic system quite a while ago and it's been bullet proof.
Just about every year or every other I've gone through head units though. Only because I didn't like the remote or once they were in the boat, they were hard to see in the sun.

 

[thmper321]

Definitely sounds like an RCA or ground issue. Try a different set of RCA's first.

 

[9er]

So I tried new RCA's, ones I know work. Still nothing.
I checked grounds, re-ran wires, etc.
It's like the signal coming out of the head unit is F'd up.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

K, here's what I have
Pioneer DEH-6700MP head unit
(1) Rockford Fosgate 400.4a amp
(2) Eslipse 10" subs
(4) Eclipse 6x9's
The amp is bridged and there's a squirrel fan that runs right above it. I've never had any failures or overheating issues.

I put it the basic system quite a while ago and it's been bullet proof.
Just about every year or every other I've gone through head units though. Only because I didn't like the remote or once they were in the boat, they were hard to see in the sun.

Unplug the rca's from the sub amp and tell me what happens when you turn it on?

 

[snake321]

Reprogram the system if the juice was disconnected.

 

[was thatguy]

Are the 6x9's running off channel's 1&2? It sounds like input RCA's are not hooked up to amp correctly. Front outs from deck should be Left to Ch. 1, Right to Ch. 2. Sub outs to Ch. 3&4 at amp. then speaker outs 3&4 bridged mono to subs.
Check source selection in deck set-up. I believe that deck has I-Pod and XM options.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Are the 6x9's running off channel's 1&2? It sounds like input RCA's are not hooked up to amp correctly. Front outs from deck should be Left to Ch. 1, Right to Ch. 2. Sub outs to Ch. 3&4 at amp. then speaker outs 3&4 bridged mono to subs.
Check source selection in deck set-up. I believe that deck has I-Pod and XM options.

It wouldn't matter which RCAs were hooked up to what, worst case scenario you're sending full range material to the subs. They'll still play fine.

9er, do what I asked you and post back the results.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Now that I think about it, 9er, you may have a speaker wire shorted.

Try this, one at a time, remove 1 set of speaker wires WHERE THEY CONNECT TO THE AMP, turn it on and see if it goes away. If that doesn't work, replace them and do another set. Repeat until you find the problem. I think that's what it is with a Fosgate.

 

[was thatguy]

It wouldn't matter which RCAs were hooked up to what, worst case scenario you're sending full range material to the subs. They'll still play fine.

9er, do what I asked you and post back the results.

Sorry I blew up.

 

[9er]

Unplug the rca's from the sub amp and tell me what happens when you turn it on?

SBSP-No sound.
The headunit lights up and appears to be working.
The "on" led lights up on amp.
Everything runs through the amp.

snake- I don't know how to reprogram. I don't remember seeing anything in manual.

wasthatguy- I'll have to look. I'm positive I hooked it back up as it was and it has worked without a hitch since 05'.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Sorry I blew up.

No apology necessary, everybody is trying to help, but switching RCAs will not yield the problem he is experiencing. It will work and play music, it will just sound like ass if the amp doesn't have a xover for the sub or it's not turned on because you were using the head unit's sub outputs.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

SBSP-No sound.
The headunit lights up and appears to be working.
The "on" led lights up on amp.
Everything runs through the amp.

snake- I don't know how to reprogram. I don't remember seeing anything in manual.

wasthatguy- I'll have to look. I'm positive I hooked it back up as it was and it has worked without a hitch since 05'.

No sound including no popping? Or just flat NO SOUND?

 

[parker guy]

Sounds to me that you might have a speaker grounding out or a bad speaker wire, since you just changed them . Try disconnecting each speaker wire from the amp 1 at a time and see if it goes away.....

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Sounds to me that you might have a speaker grounding out or a bad speaker wire, since you just changed them . Try disconnecting each speaker wire from the amp 1 at a time and see if it goes away.....

Yeah, I think I read that somewhere.

 

[was thatguy]

No apology necessary, everybody is trying to help, but switching RCAs will not yield the problem he is experiencing. It will work and play music, it will just sound like ass if the amp doesn't have a xover for the sub or it's not turned on because you were using the head unit's sub outputs.

Yes, but that deck has 3 sets, I believe. If not, then rear and sub are switchable internally. Also, if it has Aux. in's, and the RCA's were accidentally hooked to them, then a voltage, no signal condition could exist. Not necessarily just a rear -front swap.

 

[9er]

Sheesh, You guys are on it, and I appreciate it. I'm just trying to keep up with the responses here.
I had to rent the shop next door for the boat project so let me run over and try the speaker thing.
Looks like I'm not working this week! Can't get a damn thing done!

 

[was thatguy]

It is frustrating not being there to help. I am sure any one of us could find it in minutes. Good Luck and if need be, just start over at the deck and I bet it will get fixed.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Yes, but that deck has 3 sets, I believe. If not, then rear and sub are switchable internally. Also, if it has Aux. in's, and the RCA's were accidentally hooked to them, then a voltage, no signal condition could exist. Not necessarily just a rear -front swap.

Pioneer shouldn't have an input set. I believe all input is done through the m link.

 

[9er]

No sound including no popping? Or just flat NO SOUND?

No sound, period. Since everything goes thru the amp, unplugging them cuts off the feed, right?

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

No sound, period. Since everything goes thru the amp, unplugging them cuts off the feed, right?

But the amp is turning on, correct? That's good, that means almost for sure either the deck is bad, the deck lost ground or the rca's are bad.

 

[9er]

Yeah, it's turning on. Well, I mean the light comes on and all the speakers "bump"............but in a bad way.

So, if it is the head-unit why would it happen now?
My buddy had the same deck, same problem but that was right out of the box. Not 3 years later..........

How can I "test" the RCA outputs on the headunit?

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Yeah, it's turning on. Well, I mean the light comes on and all the speakers "bump"............but in a bad way.

So, if it is the head-unit why would it happen now?
My buddy had the same deck, same problem but that was right out of the box. Not 3 years later..........

How can I "test" the RCA outputs on the headunit?

You really can't test them, not without some expensive equipment. Pioneer RCA outputs are among the easiest in the industry to blow. Usually caused by turn the head unit on and then plugging the cables in to the amp while everything is turned on. Or unplugging them and plugging them in while it's on.

I'm still not 100% sure it's not a shorted speaker wire. Do me a favor and do the drill with the speaker wires. Plug the RCA back into the amp and try disconnecting and reconnecting them one at time.

 

[9er]

It is frustrating not being there to help. I am sure any one of us could find it in minutes. Good Luck and if need be, just start over at the deck and I bet it will get fixed.

I'd hope if I picked up a new deck it's work itself out. I'm just tapped after all the other projects with this thing. And I'm not even done w/ those.
Also, I'm under the gun since we're leaving early Friday.

 

[9er]

You really can't test them, not without some expensive equipment. Pioneer RCA outputs are among the easiest in the industry to blow. Usually caused by turn the head unit on and then plugging the cables in to the amp while everything is turned on. Or unplugging them and plugging them in while it's on.

I'm still not 100% sure it's not a shorted speaker wire. Do me a favor and do the drill with the speaker wires. Plug the RCA back into the amp and try disconnecting and reconnecting them one at time.

K, I did the speaker wire thing and it doesn't affect anything.
I unplug one, turn the unit on, same thing. Buzz and pop, it sounds like a freaking helicopter. And so on..........

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

K, I did the speaker wire thing and it doesn't affect anything.
I unplug one, turn the unit on, same thing. Buzz and pop, it sounds like a freaking helicopter. And so on..........

So the buzzing and popping ONLY goes away when the RCAs are unplugged? And you're 100% sure the ground to the amp is good?

 

[9er]

So the buzzing and popping ONLY goes away when the RCAs are unplugged? And you're 100% sure the ground to the amp is good?

Yes, only when RCA's are unplugged does it go quiet.

And yes, I am 100% sure the amp ground is good.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Yes, only when RCA's are unplugged does it go quiet.

And yes, I am 100% sure the amp ground is good.

Bad head unit or bad cables OR BAD head unit ground.

 

[9er]

Bad head unit or bad cables OR BAD head unit ground.

Ok, so I'm sure you told me to do it already but I unplugged each RCA one at a time.
The fronts work (doesn't sound super clear), it's the sub output that has the problem.
Now what?

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Ok, so I'm sure you told me to do it already but I unplugged each RCA one at a time.
The fronts work (doesn't sound super clear), it's the sub output that has the problem.
Now what?

Buy a new head unit. Seriously, I don't know. I can't troubleshoot any further without a known good source hooked to that amp. I'm still not ready to say it's the head unit, but it's starting to look like it.

 

['78 gt boat]

SBSP-No sound.
The headunit lights up and appears to be working.
The "on" led lights up on amp.
Everything runs through the amp.

snake- I don't know how to reprogram. I don't remember seeing anything in manual.

wasthatguy- I'll have to look. I'm positive I hooked it back up as it was and it has worked without a hitch since 05'.

Try this..... To see if it is your headunit you can take your iPod and run the mini to RCA and barrell it to your RCA's if it works and you get good sound it's very possible the headunit is bad. Just my .02

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

Try this..... To see if it is your headunit you can take your iPod and run the mini to RCA and barrell it to your RCA's if it works and you get good sound it's very possible the headunit is bad. Just my .02

That's a good idea, using the IPOD as a source. Remember to turn the volume up, that earbud output is really low voltage.

 

[Tom Brown]

That's a good idea, using the IPOD as a source. Remember to turn the volume up, that earbud output is really low voltage.

You might have thought of that yourself, if you didn't have rocks in your head.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

You might have thought of that yourself, if you didn't have rocks in your head.

I've never actually plugged anything into the earbud jack on my IPOD, I kind of forgot it was there.

 

[Tom Brown]

I've never actually plugged anything into the earbud jack on my IPOD, I kind of forgot it was there.

I have no commentary on that issue. I'm just happy to have had the opportunity to use the "you have rocks in your head" line.

 

[was thatguy]

I have no commentary on that issue. I'm just happy to have had the opportunity to use the "you have rocks in your head" line.

Is that called "cross threading"?

 

[9er]

So are you saying plug my ipod straight into the amp with one of those 3.5mm to RCA splitters?

 

[Retired Member]

So are you saying plug my ipod straight into the amp with one of those 3.5mm to RCA splitters?

Yes, but I would make it so you can plug into the audio cables at the head unit. This will test to make sure the audio cables to the amps are good. If every sounds god, then chances are something is wrong with the deck. If one channel sounds bad then it probably an audio cable.

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

So are you saying plug my ipod straight into the amp with one of those 3.5mm to RCA splitters?

Go buy a 3.5 stereo male to RCA stereo male and a pair of RCA barrels. Then you can test both directly to the amp and the cables that you currently have installed.

 

[9er]

IT WORKS!!!!!!! With the ipod.

And all my original cables do too.

So, is has to be the headunit.

I have the extended Best Buy warranty on the unit but they say they have to send it in. WTF do I do this weekend?

 

[ShockwaveBobSquarePants]

IT WORKS!!!!!!! With the ipod.

And all my original cables do to.

So, is has to be the headunit.

I have the extended Best Buy warranty on the unit but they say they have to send it in. WTF do I do this weekend?

Go buy another cheap ass head unit and then eBay when yours comes back.

 

[9er]

Yeah, I know they send it out to try and fix it. If they can't they give you a comparable unit. So hopefully it'll go that route since it's easier to sell a new in box unit.

However, I'm not done w/ you guys yet.

The new unit I'm looking at says it has three pairs of outputs and my current only has two. So I'll need a little walk-thru.

Thanks everyone!!!

Also, I'm kinda locked in w/ Pioneer since I already have the ipod adapter. I know you said they blow RCA output easily. What causes that? Just wanna make sure it's not something or some hook-up sequence I'm doing out of order.

 

[was thatguy]

Yeah, I know they send it out to try and fix it. If they can't they give you a comparable unit. So hopefully it'll go that route since it's easier to sell a new in box unit.

However, I'm not done w/ you guys yet.

The new unit I'm looking at says it has three pairs of outputs and my current only has two. So I'll need a little walk-thru.

Thanks everyone!!!

Also, I'm kinda locked in w/ Pioneer since I already have the ipod adapter. I know you said they blow RCA output easily. What causes that? Just wanna make sure it's not something or some hook-up sequence I'm doing out of order.

Front, Rear, Sub (or non-fade)?

Thats easy, front RCA outputs from deck go to Channels 1&2 on amp. (1 is front left, 2 is front right)
Rear outputs from deck are not used. (If you have rear speakers, hook them up to the deck speaker outputs, green and purple. Green is rear left + and -, Purple is rear right, + and -) Sub RCA outputs from deck go to Channels 3 & 4 on Amp. Make sure 3 & 4 speaker outs on AMP are bridged.

 

[9er]

Front, Rear, Sub (or non-fade)?

Thats easy, front RCA outputs from deck go to Channels 1&2 on amp. (1 is front left, 2 is front right)
Rear outputs from deck are not used. (If you have rear speakers, hook them up to the deck speaker outputs, green and purple. Green is rear left + and -, Purple is rear right, + and -) Sub RCA outputs from deck go to Channels 3 & 4 on Amp. Make sure 3 & 4 speaker outs on AMP are bridged.

Not sure yet, let me get a PN from Best Buy. It's just a $189 unit but looks like it'll work. DEH-P5000UB

 

[was thatguy]

Not sure yet, let me get a PN from Best Buy. It's just a $189 unit but looks like it'll work. DEH-P5000UB

If it has 3 sets of outputs, thats what they are.