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Major JBL stereo upgrade but keeping stock HU

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by UNCLBONZ, Oct 18, 2020.

  1. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Relay and disconnect on the driver's side with gen 2. So pretty sure power run on drivers too.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    Battery is always the BEST ground as long as all your other audio components are also grounded to that battery
     
  3. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    Are you using good quality RCA cables from the head unit. It does make a big difference
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I seem to remember decades about there would be a large capacitor (on the positive) to
    suppress the noise. Is that still done?
     
  5. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    The only capacitor I am aware of is for voltage spikes when adding large Amps for a subwoofer. More for dimming headlights then noise I think
     
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Back in alternator days, I remember there being one to keep the voltage steady.
    But also to supress the alternator whine.... It was last century, I could be wrong...
     
  7. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Other than the processor and changer being connected to the amplifier ground terminal they are grounded to the battery. Just not directly. The Ai-net cable carries the line signal to the processor for the tuner and deck CD player. No rca's used. CD changer uses the optical digital signal to the processor.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    Sounds like it should be a clean setup so I confused as to why you would be getting background noise.
     
  9. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    No, I think we are talking about the same thing. They are measured in Farads as in 5 Farad or 10 Farid Capacitors. It's just a voltage storage device that supplies the amps with the extra power when needed. Never heard that it helps with the wine
     
  10. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    *** UPDATE *** Just a heads up that the Technician that did the professional tune on this system, Nick Apicella, has moved to a new larger location only a block away from his previous shop in Stony Point , New York. The name of the new company is Vanguard Automotive Design ( formally Apicella sound) and they are offering even more services in their new location. They can be reached at 845-553-9500 or on the web at vanguardautomotivedesign.com
     
  11. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    Dave , Are all of your components using the same ground point ? It's best if you can have them all connected to one point. Most times noise in the system is caused by a bad ground loop. Maybe try one connection for all. It's an easy thing to try
     
  12. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    It's a possibility. Processor and changer hooked up where the ground goes to the amp. From that to the negative post on the battery. This whine I hear is very low. Only heard driving very slow with no music. Charging and discharging. It's really not a issue unless I hook up the controller to the processor. But that cable on the wrong side. Maybe I just need to get that cable on the right side of the car. Extra cables even not used could be giving a antenna effect.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  13. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    Dave, That's a good point about the unused cables creating the antenna effect. Maybe try completely removing them and see if it makes any difference. The last thing we want in the systems after all the work to upgrade them is any background noise. SOOOOO annoying. That's one of the main reasons that I went with the Helix DSP and Amps. ZERO noise interference.
     
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  14. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    Dave, Any luck isolating the background noise
     
  15. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    All I've done was try running a ipod directly into the amp and I had no noise. So I'm not sure if it's getting through the Ai-net cable or just the processor being close to the battery on the left side. A knowledgeable friend told me unused cables won't be a issue as long as there not being used. I was going to try moving the processor away and listen for a difference.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  16. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    I moved the processor all the way to the back. No change. I'll try changing the factory ground on the deck then a filter cap on the power line to the processor.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  17. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    What a pain . Hopefully you get it isolated. If nothing you try works I would try running a nice size ground wire from the battery to the head unit. Also try grounding all components to the same known good ground like the negative battery terminal.
     
  18. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    I'm going to try a ground to the battery too. See what happens.
    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  19. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Well changing the ground didn't fix it. Maybe lowered it but I don't know. That was to the battery. I'll try another AI-net cable run on top the interior when I can get one to see what happens. Otherwise I was thinking of adding some power filters to the deck and processor in power.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  20. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    OK Dave ...Good Luck and keep us posted. I'm sure you're not the only one with this problem.
     
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