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Old 10-15-2014, 11:23 PM   #1
redrobinwagon
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Default Speaker buzz from ONE speaker - no amp.

Hey guys, I have a 2005 impreza RS. I've had a pioneer x6500BT for a little over a year now. I recently changed out the front speakers for 6.5 inch polk audio speakers. I have no amp or subs.

The problem I am having is that the passenger side speaker is always buzzing when the engine is running. I can't hear the buzzing when music is playing, but if the volume is low or I'm using the BT to make a phone call, I'll hear the buzzing and it drives me nuts.

Keep in mind: the speaker only buzzes when the engine is running.

Troubleshooting I've done:
I put the stock head unit back in... same thing.
I put the stock speaker back on that side, it still sounded like it was buzzing but the buzzing was so quiet cause the speakers are so ****ty that I guess I could never hear it from the driver seat?

Any ideas? Thanks.
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Old 10-16-2014, 08:31 AM   #2
sebhockey
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Sounds like the speaker wire is running next to a power wire somewhere. Advise is check your wire run to areas it is near a power wire and try to minimize it as much as possible.
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Old 10-16-2014, 05:35 PM   #3
redrobinwagon
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Originally Posted by sebhockey View Post
Sounds like the speaker wire is running next to a power wire somewhere. Advise is check your wire run to areas it is near a power wire and try to minimize it as much as possible.
You mean like around the speaker itself or elsewhere?
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Old 10-16-2014, 08:15 PM   #4
sebhockey
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All along the speaker wire run from the head unit to the speaker. Any power wires running along near by need to be separated from the speaker wire as much as possible or noise can be induced.
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Old 10-16-2014, 10:50 PM   #5
redrobinwagon
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Originally Posted by sebhockey View Post
All along the speaker wire run from the head unit to the speaker. Any power wires running along near by need to be separated from the speaker wire as much as possible or noise can be induced.
Ah okay, I'll check that tomorrow morning. THANKS! Is there a common thing that it may be near that I should look out for? Do you think adding a ground to anything will help? Like head unit?
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Old 10-16-2014, 11:17 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sebhockey View Post
All along the speaker wire run from the head unit to the speaker. Any power wires running along near by need to be separated from the speaker wire as much as possible or noise can be induced.
Speaker wires don't pick up noise. It is possible for preamp level signals to pick up noise, but even that is uncommon. I am assuming that is not the case since there was no mention of an amp. Most likely something is wrong with the speaker or the head unit. Switch the speakers and see if the buzz switches. If it does it's the speaker. If the buzz remains with the other speaker it's something in the head unit. You can also just take it out the buzzing speaker and hook it up to a home stereo to see if it buzzes.
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Old 10-16-2014, 11:45 PM   #7
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Speaker wires don't pick up noise. It is possible for preamp level signals to pick up noise, but even that is uncommon. I am assuming that is not the case since there was no mention of an amp. Most likely something is wrong with the speaker or the head unit. Switch the speakers and see if the buzz switches. If it does it's the speaker. If the buzz remains with the other speaker it's something in the head unit. You can also just take it out the buzzing speaker and hook it up to a home stereo to see if it buzzes.
Of course speaker wire will pick up noise, that's why they make shielded speaker wire. But, what do I know, I've only seen this problem a few hundred times.
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Old 10-16-2014, 11:51 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by redrobinwagon View Post
Ah okay, I'll check that tomorrow morning. THANKS! Is there a common thing that it may be near that I should look out for? Do you think adding a ground to anything will help? Like head unit?
Your head unit should already have a ground attached to it on your year impreza it was a quick disconnect on the side of the bracket, if not definitely reconnect. Not having the casing grounded results in a floating ground for it and often causes weird EMI problems that can be a pain to trace otherwise.
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Old 10-17-2014, 06:59 AM   #9
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Of course speaker wire will pick up noise, that's why they make shielded speaker wire. But, what do I know, I've only seen this problem a few hundred times.
link to said product please
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Old 10-17-2014, 06:59 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by sebhockey View Post
Of course speaker wire will pick up noise, that's why they make shielded speaker wire. But, what do I know, I've only seen this problem a few hundred times.
You must work with lots of high voltage applications. I have never heard of a speaker wire picking up noise in a 12 volt 4 ohm environment. For a house or in the ground running by primary AC service lines it's possible. But I've never heard if it in a car. At least not with a properly terminated wire.

I just re-read the original post and didn't realized he already swapped head units and speakers. If the stock unit is making the noise as well it's possible the speaker wire has somehow been damaged. I would try running a new speaker wire to the speaker temporarily and see if that kills it. Maybe the stock wire was somehow damaged. Unlikely, but possible. It's also possible that the noise is in all speakers and he only hears the passenger door because it's on axis.

Last edited by rexster; 10-17-2014 at 07:44 AM.
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Old 10-17-2014, 08:28 AM   #11
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link to said product please
Quick google search and http://www.cablestogo.com/product/29...I_saAldl8P8HAQ
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Old 10-17-2014, 08:37 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by rexster View Post
You must work with lots of high voltage applications. I have never heard of a speaker wire picking up noise in a 12 volt 4 ohm environment. For a house or in the ground running by primary AC service lines it's possible. But I've never heard if it in a car. At least not with a properly terminated wire.

I just re-read the original post and didn't realized he already swapped head units and speakers. If the stock unit is making the noise as well it's possible the speaker wire has somehow been damaged. I would try running a new speaker wire to the speaker temporarily and see if that kills it. Maybe the stock wire was somehow damaged. Unlikely, but possible. It's also possible that the noise is in all speakers and he only hears the passenger door because it's on axis.
You would be surprised, the last few times were in a 12 VDC environment caused by multiple loops around power and improper grounding in the surrounding panel. Would get humming even when just on battery.
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Old 10-17-2014, 01:22 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by sebhockey View Post
I can honestly say I have never heard of this type of wire being used in a 12v application, nor have I seen it in any of my car audio experiences as a judge. Im not saying you are wrong, just that it is never used. The wire you linked would need to be grounded at both ends to be most beneficial. This wire is (as already mentioned) most beneficial to high voltage situations (not seen in most vehicles).

ground loop isolation is just a bandaid to the bullet wound. Find the root problem, and fix it.



OP, to aid in troubleshooting, try running new temporary speaker wire directly from the source to the speakers and see if the problem still exists. You dont need to run it behind all the panels and what not, we are just trying to help narrow down the issue. If you still hear the noise, we will investigate further.
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Old 10-17-2014, 03:22 PM   #14
redrobinwagon
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Alright I'll do it asap and then get back. Thanks guys.
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Old 10-17-2014, 06:40 PM   #15
rexster
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Originally Posted by bobditts View Post
I can honestly say I have never heard of this type of wire being used in a 12v application, nor have I seen it in any of my car audio experiences as a judge. Im not saying you are wrong, just that it is never used.
That is in wall speaker wire that is used for nearly all home and commercial applications where you have much longer runs, usually higher resistance, and 120 or 220 voltage lines. I have used it in cars, and have worked in shops that use it as the default wiring for car installs. But not because it's insulated, because it's easier and neater to run one wire instead of two, and it has good protection against being punctured. I ran some 16/4 in my wrx from my amp to the head unit for the rear channels in case I ever want to hook up rear speakers. If speaker wires picked up noise, every production car built in the last 40+ years would be buzzing, because they all run the speaker wires along the same looms of wire that carry voltage throughout the car.
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Old 10-17-2014, 06:42 PM   #16
sebhockey
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobditts View Post
I can honestly say I have never heard of this type of wire being used in a 12v application, nor have I seen it in any of my car audio experiences as a judge. Im not saying you are wrong, just that it is never used. The wire you linked would need to be grounded at both ends to be most beneficial. This wire is (as already mentioned) most beneficial to high voltage situations (not seen in most vehicles).

ground loop isolation is just a bandaid to the bullet wound. Find the root problem, and fix it.



OP, to aid in troubleshooting, try running new temporary speaker wire directly from the source to the speakers and see if the problem still exists. You dont need to run it behind all the panels and what not, we are just trying to help narrow down the issue. If you still hear the noise, we will investigate further.

Yeah, I'm not suggesting he use it either as it is not needed in a car. It was just a statement that EMI intrusion does happen in 12VDC environments and this stuff exists after someone said it doesn't happen. I have only ever used it in high EMI (not voltage) or security environments where source and receiver isolation is important.



OP, have you confirmed that your head unit is in fact grounded? Most of what we all are suggesting pretty much goes out the window if your head unit isn't grounded. There should be a separate quick disconnect ground that connects to the mount since the dash frame is plastic. I think it was on the passenger side near the back if that helps.
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