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Topic: Amplifier Problem (Read 848 times) |
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Paulus
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Big and Ugly....DON'T MESS!!!
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Amplifier Problem
« on: May 5th, 2006, 7:22am » |
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I have installed an aftermarket Amp, but I can't get it to work properly.
It is wired correctly and the light comes on to say that it is powering up.
It is a 4 channel amp, but I have any wired in 2 channels at the moment. My question is, do all 4 channels need to be connected and installed for the amp to work?
Can anyone help?
Paul.
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Kjetil S
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2001 BMW 520iat
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #1 on: May 5th, 2006, 10:48am » |
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No, that shouldn't be necessary.
Try connecting a portable player to it and see if it will work then. (Probably obvious, but remember to start off with the lowest volume setting and increase carefully  )
Btw, have you tried adjusting the input gain on the amp? That may be set to a very low setting.
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Paulus
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #2 on: May 5th, 2006, 11:16am » |
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I have got all settings at about half way. I will try a different input and speakers over the weekend.
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Paulus
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #4 on: May 7th, 2006, 5:01pm » |
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Here's an update.
I have connected all speakers and I have a problem.
When I switch it on, all I get is a popping sound that is deflecting the speaker cones to their full extent. The popping sound has a "train track" type of rythm.
I have tried a connecting up a different input, and I have tried a completely differnt set of speakers - same result every time. I do get a small amount of sound out that is supposed to be there, but the rest is the popping.
The popping sound isn't loud, it's as if the speaker cones are in slow motion going from one extremity of their range, to the other.
Why is it doing this?
Paul.
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Kjetil S
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2001 BMW 520iat
Posts: 1419
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #5 on: May 7th, 2006, 8:05pm » |
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on May 7th, 2006, 5:01pm, Paulus wrote:
Always trust a fellow Scorpio owner to come up with good questions
Sounds VERY weird.
What voltage is the amplifier getting from the battery (measured on the amplifier input)? Should be 13+V
Shorted speaker terminals?
Blown amplifier?
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Paulus
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #6 on: May 7th, 2006, 9:04pm » |
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Dunno what it is getting. I haven't checked. I will check it out.
It sounds to me like a dodgy amp. 
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Matt
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Manual'd and a 4.0 in the making
Posts: 2816
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #7 on: May 7th, 2006, 9:09pm » |
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hi all
how have you run the cables
cables from the head unit (cd player) and from the amp to the speakers should not be run along side power cables (including the power cables to the amp) although the small REM wire doesnt matter
it sounds like you have an interferance problem, the poping may be electrical pick up from the cars electrical system
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FDS2000 Scans - Birmingham
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cossie_al
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Ex 24v
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #8 on: May 7th, 2006, 10:17pm » |
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this is probably obvious but do both +ve and -ve of all speakers run back to the amp? i.e. the negative of your speakers should not be earthed to the vehicle chasis
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Paulus
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Big and Ugly....DON'T MESS!!!
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #9 on: May 8th, 2006, 12:52pm » |
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I have worked with electronics in the past and I have never heard interferance like this, so I don't think that is the problem.
All power feeds go along the LHS of the car from the front, all signal leads run along the RHS of the car.
I wish that you could see what I am experiencing. It sounds like a Scooby Doo sound effect. Regardless of what settings the amp or the head unit is on, I get the same result as soon as I power up the head unit. the volume/gain has no effect on the output.
Does that make things any clearer?
Paul.
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Matt
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Manual'd and a 4.0 in the making
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #10 on: May 8th, 2006, 7:52pm » |
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do you have the problem with the engine off or on or both?
ive heard of some cars (mainly fiats for some reason ) where the stereo pick up frequencies from the engine and a suppressor type unit has to be fitted
i think halfords sell a unit to stop it, cant remember what it's called tho 
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JohnJ
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98 2.3 Ultima
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #11 on: May 8th, 2006, 8:35pm » |
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Make sure you have low inputs for the amp as the standard ford stereo only has high outputs and even if the volume is low can cause the amp to protect its self and not work, try a portable CD player on it and if that works try a reducer or low input matcher, I think halfords have them.
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Paulus
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #12 on: May 9th, 2006, 10:22am » |
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I have tried the audio output from a portable DVD player - same result.
I have tried both high and low level inputs to the amp (I have got a Sony stereo) - same result.
I have tried it with the engine running and stopped - same result.
HELP!!!
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Paulus
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Big and Ugly....DON'T MESS!!!
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #14 on: May 9th, 2006, 7:07pm » |
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Nope. Don't know anyone with one to try (I have very few friends ) It's brand new, so I haven't actually had it working 
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Matt
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #15 on: May 9th, 2006, 8:16pm » |
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where about are you paulus? i have a sony amp in my old car still (it's only a 2 channel but should proove if your amp is a duffer)
im in bham
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Paulus
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Big and Ugly....DON'T MESS!!!
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #16 on: May 10th, 2006, 7:37am » |
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I am working in Guildford during the week, but I live between Stafford and Telford, about 10 miles north of Wolves. I doubt that I will be able to do anything this weekend as I am helping out with a small music festival in the village where I live. The following weekend I have nothing planned.
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JohnJ
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98 2.3 Ultima
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #17 on: May 10th, 2006, 6:47pm » |
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Sounds lile you have done most of what can be done to proove if an amp is working or not, if its new send it back and get another.
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sector-9
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No scorpio anymore
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Re: Amplifier Problem
« Reply #18 on: May 10th, 2006, 8:22pm » |
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There's only so many components in the system and you've ruled out the inputs and outputs by substitution. All that remains are the two things which have stayed constant during the tests; namely the power supply to the amp (is it getting enough current to operate?) and the amp itself.
Personally I would take the amp out of the car and try powering it directly from the battery (with an inline fuse of course) using good thick wires. A length of old 13A mains cable will suffice for this purpose. If, using known working speakers and a line-level input such as aux. out on a tape deck, and with thick cables supplying the power, it can only be the amp itself.
However before you take it back, check that it isn't set into 'bridging' mode or similar. Presumably you have the instructions that came with it so double-check just to see if there's any configuring that needs to be done on initial install.
In all probability though, it likely is broken...
Darren
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