Static / Hum from Speakers

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

I just finished dropping in 2 pair of Wetsounds XS-650, Syn4 and a WS-420. The only problem I'm currently having is there is a static buzz or humming coming from the speakers when there is no volume.

I read in the wetsounds manual that it is probably due to the higher power amp and not having a true ground. I'm running 4 awg power and ground from the battery to a distribution block where it splits to an 8 awg power ground to my sub amp and 4 awg to my Syn 4.

Any tips on how to eliminate the humming?

I've also got a loud pop coming from the speakers when I turn the boat on and off, but I think I have that figured out by adding a relay to the remote wire.

Brit Rider · Posted: Jul 13, 2010 10:52 am Post subject:

Try removing the ws420 from the circuit and see what happens.

The pop is likely linked. adding a relay is treating the symptoms not the cause so is not ideal.

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

So if I remove the 420 and the problem goes away, what's the solution to add it back in and avoid the problem?

Brit Rider · Posted: Jul 13, 2010 11:03 am Post subject:

If you remove it and the problem goes away then you know its likely down to the WS420. The reason I say this is because I've had the issue before.

Having a static hum in the stereo is generaly down to the picing up of interference. Did you ensure all power wires were kept away from RCA cables?

If you turn the gains on the amp down does the hum dissapear or just get quieter? How about if yuo adjust the gains on the WS420 by removing the litle dust caps?

You should find that with the WS420 set correctly that the Syn 4 not, or will barely need the gains setting above 0.

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

Excellent tips, I'll check this out and report back. The stereo is rocking w/ the new equipment and I'm eager to see how good it sounds once I clean up the remaining issue.

I didn't even know the 420 had gains of its own. I'll have to read through the manual again and see what I missed.

Thanks again for the heads up.

chevyman12 · Newbie Joined: 11 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

Same problem with my Pro 80s. Im glad I caught on to this thread. I dont know how i am suppose to seperate my rca cable from the power wire when my amp is on the opposite side as the battery and there is only one place to run them. And I dont have any idea what could be causing the popping. Im looking forward to seeing this thread progress

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

I've had a busy week, should be able to get out in the boat this evening to tryout some of these suggestions. I'll keep you posted.

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

Alright, so I removed the 420 from the equation and there was still some humming, much much softer but still faintly there. I could actually live with this amount of noise because you have to put your head right next to the speaker to hear it.

With the 420 removed I also no longer have the popping noise when I switch the boat off.

My 420 does not have any dust caps or gains that I can see.

Suggestions for my next steps?

Brit Rider · Posted: Jul 16, 2010 1:36 am Post subject:

"My 420 does not have any dust caps or gains that I can see. "

This seems like it could be an issue. if you can't see them theyn you've definitely not adjusted them Smile

Pull the 420, and on the top of the casing you will see 4 very flatt black plugs. quite tricky to get out to be honest but use a small screw driver and it'll reveal gains for th einput and output of the stereo.

Check that the RCA that feeds the WS420 is as far away from any power wires as possible (this can make an enourmous difference) and then turn tese gains up a bit. drop the gains on your amp and see what happens.

wetsounds1 · Criminal Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 60 City: austin

The WS-420 is also a line driver. It boosts the voltage of the signal on the line to the amplifiers. If you removed it and there is still humm. You have noise in the system and the line driver is amplifying that noise.

Also, the newer versions of the WS-420 do not have adjustments at the top. They are now a fixed 5 volt output which is where most systems wound up tuning the WS-420. This change makes it easier to set a system up and tune it for the DIY.

So first thing is to get rid of the humm. Most likely it is a combination. Bad grounds. RCA's run with power wires. Cheap RCA's.

Make sure all the grounds for the radio and the amps and the 420 are on the same battery. Use a large ga ground from the batt to the amps and a distribution block out to the amps and radio and 420.

After that, make sure you have good high quality RCA. Not the entry level kind but the middle to high end that are sheilded. Make sure this are run nice and neat and away from power source. Do not run them parallel with power.

The turn on pop means you need a turn on relay on the remote turn on for the WS-420. This will get rid of the pop.

So after doing that. Re install the 420. And then re tune the system. Follow my guide for tuning from our site on the WS-420 page or in the manual. This will give youa good base line to tune the system.

You should be good to go. Since there is no chassis to ground to like in a car. Boats are a lot harder to get noise free. So if you get to the point where nothing works. You may want to take it to a stereo shop and see if they can go over the boat and see what they can do

Tim
Wet Sounds

browneye253 · Outlaw Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 115 City: Tulsa

Tim,

Thank you for the clarification on the 420, I'd looked it over a couple of times and for the life of me couldn't find any dust covers. I'm going to go over the system again this week using your suggestions and see what I'm able to figure out.

I'll post back w/ how the troubleshooting goes.