10 replies to this topic

[mimi the mini]

Ive installed my own head unit from scratch, the only thing is, when playing at a very low volume it is clear-ish, but when turned the volume up say loud enough to hear when driving (noisy mini, so this isn't loud) it is completely distorted to the point where it is painful to listen to.. I thought this problem was the speakers straight away, so i tested 3 different sets of speakers, and different speaker wire. Checked all the connections and it still sounds the same. I've also switched the positive/negative around to see if it makes a difference.. it doesnt.
Could this be the Head unit itself? I bought it off ebay, so would need to know whether its on its way out or not..

My head unit is this kenwood one:
http://www.amazon.co...;pf_rd_i=468294

I've bought some new speakers, pioneer ones, nothing special but would be better than the other 3 sets i tried. So will have to wait til there delivered to properly see where the problem is, if these work and I have a feeling they wont, after testing the other 3 pairs... They can't all be blown.
I've heard that this can be caused by the speakers being over powered or under powered, but this isnt a really cheapo head unit, so i didn't think it would make any difference.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers

Edited by mimi the mini, 06 April 2009 - 10:15 PM.

[sixtyeight]

how/where are the speakers installed?

are they in enclosures? any air gaps/holes around the speakers or in the enclosure area?

when I put mine in they sounded a bit crap, but after sealing up all the air holes around them the bass response was much better... before then, they sounded floppy and distorted at high volume.

does the cone flap around like crazy when you turn them up?

I also put flash-tac on all the panels near to the speaker to stop them reverberating, this also improves sound quality.

Edited by sixtyeight, 06 April 2009 - 11:23 PM.

[IIEdgeII]

I'm having a similar problem with just one of my speakers, they're new Blaupunkt 5.25" speakers, when i tested before i fitted them it sounded fine, then once i fitted it started to sound pants at a volume you can hear clearly when driving, it doesn't seem to do it all the time though and it get worse and better. Has somehow the speaker got knackered between me testing and installing? they're fitted in my parcel shelf and its only the offside (driver side) one thats doing it.

sorry about the hijack, but it sounds like we have a similar problem

[mimi the mini]

Im not sure, i tried my brand new ones today and the sound is the same, its like unbearable to listen to it, it sounds as if the speakers are blown, but they arent. Tried 3 other pairs and all did the same.
I just dont understand it, might wire up another head unit and see if mine is faulty.

[WiredbyWilson]

how high are you turning the HU up as a lot of less expensive HU's have poor amps and they distort the signal to the speakers well before the speakers distort - I think trying a known good HU would help eliminate that potential problem.

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

id say the hu if f**ked as i once had this with a spanking new Alpine i fitted at work

id send the hu back and say the units knackered sounds like the crossover / amp inside is dead

[Watso]

checked the phase of the speakers? (I.e got the wires round the right way. + to +, - to -)

Caused some agro for me once upon a time.

Edited by Watso, 08 April 2009 - 11:45 AM.

[somecrapname]

Ive installed my own head unit from scratch, the only thing is, when playing at a very low volume it is clear-ish, but when turned the volume up say loud enough to hear when driving (noisy mini, so this isn't loud) it is completely distorted to the point where it is painful to listen to.. I thought this problem was the speakers straight away, so i tested 3 different sets of speakers, and different speaker wire. Checked all the connections and it still sounds the same. I've also switched the positive/negative around to see if it makes a difference.. it doesnt.
Could this be the Head unit itself? I bought it off ebay, so would need to know whether its on its way out or not..

My head unit is this kenwood one:
http://www.amazon.co...;pf_rd_i=468294

I've bought some new speakers, pioneer ones, nothing special but would be better than the other 3 sets i tried. So will have to wait til there delivered to properly see where the problem is, if these work and I have a feeling they wont, after testing the other 3 pairs... They can't all be blown.
I've heard that this can be caused by the speakers being over powered or under powered, but this isnt a really cheapo head unit, so i didn't think it would make any difference.
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers

try connecting the speakers to your home stereo to check if they work properly, i thought mine were a bit odd sounding at first, distortion at mid/high volumes but when I hooked them to my amp they worked perfectly. I think the HU just isn't powerful enough to drive them, also - try adjusting the EQ or disabling any 'effects' some of these on mine are just plain wrong.

[dannyg2325]

cheap kenwoods usually distort at a mid/high volume, could well be the unit!

[12oss]

have you got the 6x9 wired to a amp or the headunits.

Mine sounded a bit like this and faulted it down to the amp.

I found out that the channels were stuck on sub on all the time.

If they are wired to an amp try wiring them to the iso adaptor. if it works fine then you no the amps fault.

[Marroon]

on mine, the sound goes really distoreded similar to yours, turned out the negative and positive were touching on some of the wires, Insulate all bare wires leading to your speakers with tape or somthing, check there not touching, that caused all my speakers to sound horrible. (and it was only one pair of wires that were touching)