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ATTN: Matt and speaker Guru's HELP

4K views 26 replies 5 participants last post by  LipschitzWrath 
#1 ·
I have the Stock Boston Acoustic stereo in my jeep with a Kicker CVR 12" sub and Kicker 750 Watt mono amp.

I also upgraded my dash speakers with 3.5" Infinity Kappa Series speakers with tweeters. (over stock steal at $40)

So now after 2 months with them i am noticing at low volume that they sounds very crackly and staticy. Vol 8 Bass 0 Treb 2 Mid 2 is how its setup today with my Ipod (ipods volume has no effect on stereo). If i crank it up it seems like it goes away with most music but that might juse be that i cant hear the distortion.

it happens with everything now, Rock, Rap, Country, Classical everything.

Are they blown? WTF happened? Should i put the stock ones back in?
 
#2 · (Edited)
In my experience, it's pretty rare to simultaneously blow multiple speakers. If you blow one, though, it's probably a safe assumption that you are pushing power levels that is capable of blowing more.

IMHO, it sounds like you are picking up noise somewhere. I had RF interference on my bluetooth through my head unit because I ran it down the same side of the Jeep as the satellite radio antenna.

However, to test if the speakers are blown, use the fade and balance functions on your deck to isolate the sound to each individual speaker. If one is worse than the others, it is probably blown. If they all sound the same, then maybe throw a stock speaker back into one speaker spot and repeat the fade/balance isolation process. If it's gone, you know it's the speakers. If it's still there, you're more than likely looking at some sort of interference.

You might also look into impedance differences between the stockers and the Kappa's. I know that a few years back Infinity changed the impedance of their aftermarket speakers from 4-ohm to 2-ohm. I also know that the stock amplifier splits the front channel between the front door speakers and the dash speakers. If your impedances aren't correct, you may be asking for static (though I can't say for sure that this is the case).
 
#3 ·
The issues is that this is a new issue, that started this week and only happens when i use my ipod and i only installed the interface this week. So could it be an interference with the Iopd? I dont seem to notice it if i use a CD or the radio now that i think of it. How would i stop interference? The i pod sits next to the 4L lever switch or in the cup holder but i could put it in the center console and see if that makes a difference.
 
#5 ·
Well then I am sure it's in your iPod interface. A lot of the poorer quality iPod interfaces are going to have noise no matter what you do. It sounds like you have to control the iPod from the iPod itself. That's too bad. Mine can be controlled from the head unit. Since I could control it from the head unit, there was no sense in mounting the iPod where I could reach it, so I routed my cable to the glove box and I just toss my iPod in there.

You might try an in-line noise eliminator, but it sounds like with your setup that you aren't running near any high-noise lines. You might have just gotten a poor-quality interface.
 
#9 ·
Is this "noise" happening while using other media sources (i.e CD, Radio, etc.)..?

If so, then obviously you can rule out a specific source as the problem.

I'm with whoever suggested that the Infinity is a lower impedance driver (2-ohm) compared to, what I would guess, is a 4-ohm load accpeted by the factory amplifier. You can put the factory speakers back in and if the problem is no longer an issue then you can be certian that there is no issue with the iPod cable, receiver, or the amplifier, but the aftermarket drivers themselves. Again, check the impedance of the Infinity's - as someone else said, they have shifted to lower impedance drivers.
 
#10 ·
I am going down to CT today so i will have a bit of time to test if it happens when using CD, Radio or Ipod. But i think, Think, its only happening when using the Ipod.

I will try re installing the stock speakers next week and see if that makes a difference. But i have had the speakers in for a while and only noticed this issue this week when i installed the interface cable so i think it might be interference there. We will see.
 
#11 ·
Tested it for a few mins today. The interference or distortion only happens when using the iPod.

The volume and EQ on the ipod itself make no effect on the sound in the jeep. Everything is installed correctly as well and all connections are tight. WTF.
 
#13 ·
i tried another I pod. and it was fine. 2 weeks ago it shit the bed though. all of a sudden on my drive home from CT the interface stopped working. I gave up.

I took it back and returned it in exchange for the module for the head unit to amp, and i will be getting a new ipod/ready, blue tooth equipped kenwood deck as soon as i get some more cash. Everything i need, all wiring, dash kit, deck, everything is set aside for me right now.

After two different interfaces not working right enough is enough.

I am trying to sell the stock unit but noone seems interested.
 
#15 ·
This is the head unit i am getting.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX993/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X993.html?tp=5684

I could go with a double din but then i have to buy the iPod and the Blue Tooth adapters where as the single din one comes with it all ready to go and he is giving me a discount on the single din, so i get it for $250 because its his last one and i have had so many issues with the interfaces.

Do i just have to deal with a dash kit. (i think its ugly how it has to fill in, so yes double din would look better but oh well. Maybe i can get one made from aluminum like i did on my XJ.

Do they make a dash kit for a single din head unit for double din or stock WK dash nav bezel? I like the looks of a nave bezel better.

When iwas at my old job we had an in house machine shop and i had a dash kit for my xj made from 6061 aluminum. maybe i can find a new shop to do this for my WK for a decent price.



---------- Post added at 08:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 PM ----------

I wish i had not sold my IDA- X200 with the jeep, i could use it now. LOL
 
#16 ·
Bought a Nav bezel off ebay today as well as the dash kit for it for a single din or double din head unit. The shop has the wiring needed to make the head unit "talk" to the factory amp, and they have my new single din headunit off the shelf waiting for me to get more $$.

Should be pretty cool once its all installed. I hate the non nav bezel i have now.
 
#19 ·
Metra is one of the two big brands that make a lot of the installation kits and adapter harnesses to ease the installation of aftermarket receivers. If I remember correctly, the other big brand is Scosche.

So, if you are stupid enough to pay out the @$$ and order car audio stuff from Crutchfield, the "free installation accessories" that they provide are usually from metra or scosche.
 
#20 ·
Oh,

Well The only thing i bought from Crutchfield is the Dash kit.

The wiring harness/ module is coming from the audio shop, he has it there (had to order it) but i have not seen it yet so i have no idea what brand it is.

The head unit is from the audio shop as well and i got over $50 off the price of that.

The Nav bezel is from Ebay.

The only other thing i need is the adapter to use my steering wheel controls and he has that at the audio shop for a few bucks.
 
#21 ·
Oh,

Well The only thing i bought from Crutchfield is the Dash kit.

The wiring harness/ module is coming from the audio shop, he has it there (had to order it) but i have not seen it yet so i have no idea what brand it is.

The head unit is from the audio shop as well and i got over $50 off the price of that.

The Nav bezel is from Ebay.

The only other thing i need is the adapter to use my steering wheel controls and he has that at the audio shop for a few bucks.
May I suggest PAC Audio for the steering wheel control interface. That's what I have in my Jeep now, as well as what I had in my old '98 Grand Cherokee. They work great and depending on your application, a lot of times you can get a completely plug-n-play set up from them. That's how the one in my new Jeep is.
 
#25 ·
Yeah that thing looks almost exactly like my old deck. Sounds like it has a lot of the same features, too. You're going to love it. The bluetooth worked great on my deck. It was the first deck I ever owned that my phones would automatically connect to without me having to manually connect it every time.
 
#27 ·
I had two phones at the time. My personal was a Verizon and my work phone was a Union Cellular (local take-off of AT&T). Both worked no problem. Contacts even transferred seamlessly (a first for a Verizon phone, at least for me). I believe a lot of it has to do with the fact that instead of Kenwood creating their own bluetooth technology, the bluetooth portion of the deck is made by Parrot.
 
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