Car audio systems can suffer from a few major problems, mainly due to age and long term usage.
Like any product, car audio accessories, such as amplifiers eventually wear down and need parts replacing; however, this does not necessarily mean the amp needs replacing as it can be due to something as small as wire that may need replacing.
If your stereo and speakers have started to make fuzzy hissing or popping sounds, it's vital that you first of all check that it's not the amplifier, before you go ahead and do something drastic, like replacing your stereo.
Take a little time and see if you can figure out the problem.
Common causes of amp faults include problems with the amplifier ground.
Have a look at the ground, if it looks broken or damaged then disconnect it immediately.
Then replace the old ground with a new one.
A second major problem is with voltage as the correct amount of voltage may not be getting through.
To check that enough power is getting through, attach a voltmeter to the power line and power up your car.
A voltmeter will measure how much voltage is getting through from the battery to the amp.
Generally, there should be 13 volts going through from battery to amp.
If not, then you may have to replace the battery, the alternator and power cable, depending on what the problem exactly is.
If you've still not found the problem, check that the fuse is the correct size for the power input.
An incorrect fuse can often cause under powering of the system, in turning causing distortion and low quality sound.
Check with a car audio specialist that it is the correct fuse.
You can usually find a specialist on online forums, who can do the specialist calculations to figure out if it is the right fuse for your amplifier.
Another test to do to see if the amplifier is the cause is by disconnecting the current speakers and connecting the amp to another set of speakers.
If the sound is still distorted, it is likely to be the amp, if not; it may be a problem with the signal.
If it's a problem with the signal, it may be due to a faulty RCA cable.
The RCA cable named after its inventor, the Radio Corporation of America, is an electrical cable that carries audio and video signals.
These connectors are usually colour coded to enable quick and easy connection, and to tell you where they belong.
Connect up another working RCA cable, and if the noise goes away, it was simply the RCA cable needed replacing.
If the problem continues, you may just need a new amplifier.
However, before you purchase another amp, it may be worth conferring with the manufacturer.
Sorting out the problem may take you time and effort, but it will save you money and enable you to use your beloved amp for another good few years.
Like any product, car audio accessories, such as amplifiers eventually wear down and need parts replacing; however, this does not necessarily mean the amp needs replacing as it can be due to something as small as wire that may need replacing.
If your stereo and speakers have started to make fuzzy hissing or popping sounds, it's vital that you first of all check that it's not the amplifier, before you go ahead and do something drastic, like replacing your stereo.
Take a little time and see if you can figure out the problem.
Common causes of amp faults include problems with the amplifier ground.
Have a look at the ground, if it looks broken or damaged then disconnect it immediately.
Then replace the old ground with a new one.
A second major problem is with voltage as the correct amount of voltage may not be getting through.
To check that enough power is getting through, attach a voltmeter to the power line and power up your car.
A voltmeter will measure how much voltage is getting through from the battery to the amp.
Generally, there should be 13 volts going through from battery to amp.
If not, then you may have to replace the battery, the alternator and power cable, depending on what the problem exactly is.
If you've still not found the problem, check that the fuse is the correct size for the power input.
An incorrect fuse can often cause under powering of the system, in turning causing distortion and low quality sound.
Check with a car audio specialist that it is the correct fuse.
You can usually find a specialist on online forums, who can do the specialist calculations to figure out if it is the right fuse for your amplifier.
Another test to do to see if the amplifier is the cause is by disconnecting the current speakers and connecting the amp to another set of speakers.
If the sound is still distorted, it is likely to be the amp, if not; it may be a problem with the signal.
If it's a problem with the signal, it may be due to a faulty RCA cable.
The RCA cable named after its inventor, the Radio Corporation of America, is an electrical cable that carries audio and video signals.
These connectors are usually colour coded to enable quick and easy connection, and to tell you where they belong.
Connect up another working RCA cable, and if the noise goes away, it was simply the RCA cable needed replacing.
If the problem continues, you may just need a new amplifier.
However, before you purchase another amp, it may be worth conferring with the manufacturer.
Sorting out the problem may take you time and effort, but it will save you money and enable you to use your beloved amp for another good few years.
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