I have searched numerous forums and am wondering if anyone here knows what's going on.
I replaced a new head unit to my system and reset the gain on my Alpine mrv-t402 (2 channel amp). Now when I turn on my stereo when it is at low volume there is crackle from the left speaker channel - which disappears when the volume is turned up...but also does not return once I turn volume back down. It is only after the system "has cooled down" when I notice crackle again.
I have checked to make sure it's not the speakers (switching the L/R spkr outputs from the amps results in crackle in the right channel), and not the head unit (switching the RCA inputs to the amp - there is still crackle from the left channel). Turning the gain pot when music is playing does not affect the crackle so I don't think it is "dust" in the pot...but I do think it's got something to do with the amp's volume/output/sensitivity control.
Any advice besides "take it to a professional" would be greatly appreciated.
Steve, try this test. Disconnect the right channel and power both left and right with the left channel on the amp. See if the crackling goes away. You could just have a bad left channel. How old is this amp?
Thanks for the tip Isaac I'll try that and tell you what happens. Lucas I did actually install a "better" set of RCAs when I put in the new head unit. I suppose it may be worth swapping them again to see if there's a change...but as I said I tried swapping the rca channels around but that did not help so I don't think it's the rcas.
Did you run the RCA's next to any power wires? Can cause some noise in stereo sysems when RCA cables are run along the power wire for the amp. A good practice is to run power down one side of car and RCA's and remote down the other. Some would say to run remote wire with power wire but that wire doesnt carry enough current to make any noticable noise in your system. (but to play it safe run it down the power wire side of the car) The power wire side should be the side of the vehicle that the battery is on because you want the power wire to be as short as possible so you get the most amount of current possible to your amp.
Yes, but I have no idea the quality of parts used in install. I was simply giving other alternative solutions to this problem. Very good point mat dope. Goes right with my quote "Don't go the cheap route!"
