There cannot be ground loops in the MS3 with the stock HU

[kvndoom]

Guess I'll necro this thread instead of starting a new one. I have 2 amps, and they behave differently in the car, with the same wiring setup.

The Clarion I guess can handle the balanced input since I get very little noise when it is running. I have the ground at a stud under the passenger seat.

The TMA amp makes horrible noise when I have the engine running, but only if I have the output from the head unit plugged in. On its own it makes no noise. Reading this thread now helps me understand why. I guess the TMA cannot handle balanced signals. But this is the amp I really want to use, because there are some things I don't like about the Clarion.

So my question is, what's a decent GLI to buy? I've heard mixed reviews on the Radio Shack one, and I know the Jensen is supposed to be good, but 200 bucks is a bit steep for me. I'd like to hear from people who have actually used certain ones and what they thought of it. I'm not averse to spending 40 or 50 bucks on one. I really don't want my sound quality to take a huge hit.

 

[Kain]

PAC makes a basic GLI that is reviewed well.

 

[Trambounet]

Guess I'll necro this thread instead of starting a new one. I have 2 amps, and they behave differently in the car, with the same wiring setup.

The Clarion I guess can handle the balanced input since I get very little noise when it is running. I have the ground at a stud under the passenger seat.

The TMA amp makes horrible noise when I have the engine running, but only if I have the output from the head unit plugged in. On its own it makes no noise. Reading this thread now helps me understand why. I guess the TMA cannot handle balanced signals. But this is the amp I really want to use, because there are some things I don't like about the Clarion.

So my question is, what's a decent GLI to buy? I've heard mixed reviews on the Radio Shack one, and I know the Jensen is supposed to be good, but 200 bucks is a bit steep for me. I'd like to hear from people who have actually used certain ones and what they thought of it. I'm not averse to spending 40 or 50 bucks on one. I really don't want my sound quality to take a huge hit.

I have tried an Alpine PDX5 and an Infinity amp (can't remember which one, but it weighed a ton), and they both had the whine.

I tried the PAC GLI and it sounded terrible. The Radioshack one sounded better, but I had to keep it away from metal surfaces.

I gave up since and put the Bose crap back in. First and last time I buy a car with a Bose system.

 

[kvndoom]

If the GLI's I ordered don't help, I may just fork out again and this time go with the JL G-series or Slash:

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps_pages.php?page_id=87

Funny how they specifically mention bose systems. Made me chuckle. Guess sometimes it's cheaper just to spend more up front.

 

[Design]

In reference to Bose, there are a few owners who have been using this adapter with very good results (no noise):
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_20154_PAC+ADD-GM24A.html

Plugs into the factory harness just before the factory amp. If replacing the factory amp, the other side of the plug will be cut to allow connection between the aftermarket amp and harness (F/R speaker wire inputs).

 

[kvndoom]

Heh, that's actually what I have now. The Clarion amp does have built-in GLI; I re-read the manual today and found that under the features list. I'm gonna try external GLI with the other amp once I get the ones I ordered and see how that sounds. If that still fails, then the Clarion will have to be "good enough" until I can afford to fork out for a JL amp.

 

[meicalnissyen]

RFI perhaps?

yeah, when I fought this in the rolla, which was a carpet out, battery in the trunk, active crossover, triamped deal. I fought whine for awhile

It came down to keeping the power run as clean as I could (at one time I had the remote hopscotching around to all the amps and whatnot).
Mostly, just physically keeping the RCA away from power. and do spend a nickle on the rca, the twisted pairs make for a poorer antenna

 

[meicalnissyen]

In reference to Bose, there are a few owners who have been using this adapter with very good results (no noise):
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_20154_PAC+ADD-GM24A.html

Plugs into the factory harness just before the factory amp. If replacing the factory amp, the other side of the plug will be cut to allow connection between the aftermarket amp and harness (F/R speaker wire inputs).

AARRRGGHH

That would have made the solder job to add RCA ALOT easier

not to mention being able to sell the stock amp to someone

nice find, really nice

you do realize with this part you chop off the male end, follow the pinout posted around here, and solder 2 pair of RCA and two pair of speaker wire and 1 blue wire

all this goes to your new amp (right where the old one was)

then the connector plugs into the factoy plug

stock speaker wires stock HU less than 1 foot of RCA cable { no whine }

 

[Trambounet]

Heh, that's actually what I have now. The Clarion amp does have built-in GLI; I re-read the manual today and found that under the features list. I'm gonna try external GLI with the other amp once I get the ones I ordered and see how that sounds. If that still fails, then the Clarion will have to be "good enough" until I can afford to fork out for a JL amp.

Do JL amps have built in GLI's too?

 

[kvndoom]

Do JL amps have built in GLI's too?

If you see my above link, it appears that the G-series and higher have Differential-Balanced Inputs which are supposed to counter this very problem by isolating the input ground from chassis/vehicle ground. The J320.4 looks to be the exact same as the TMA I have, which is noisy as hell currently, so I would not recommend that series.

 

[Design]

AARRRGGHH

That would have made the solder job to add RCA ALOT easier

not to mention being able to sell the stock amp to someone

nice find, really nice

you do realize with this part you chop off the male end, follow the pinout posted around here, and solder 2 pair of RCA and two pair of speaker wire and 1 blue wire

all this goes to your new amp (right where the old one was)

then the connector plugs into the factoy plug

stock speaker wires stock HU less than 1 foot of RCA cable { no whine }

Yeah I found this adapter recently on another forum. I was planning to go the route you took, but was lucky enough to come across some alternative installations. Either way, I am still not quite sure why there would be excessive noise in the system.