Whine through speakers

[Oranoco]

When I got my 96 A4 T Sport it came with an aftermarket radio. This has since been binned and I have fitted my trusty Alpine deck. When I connected the magic box to allow me to keep the Audi amp for the rear speakers I got engine whine through them. I have added a nice set of Focal components to my front doors and a pair of 12" Kicker subs in the boot and it all sounds rather nice apart from that damn whine on the rear speakers. I intend on adding an amp to get the most from the components up front and was hoping to just add some better rear speakers to give me some fill and the back seat passengers some melody.

Any ideas before I just rip it out and run some fresh speaker cables straight from the deck?

 

[AndyMac]

Errrr rip it out and run some fresh speaker cables straight from the deck is the only way forward.

 

[wallacr]

I've seen engine whine before when the radio hasn't been earthed sufficiently. My brother has a 98 A4 and he replaced the head unit for a kenwood one and had pretty bad engine whine and all we did was run a better quality earth cable and it did the job.

Not sure if this will help you, but I hope you get it sorted soon.

Cheers,

Rich

 

[dualmono21]

it could be the earth on the headunit or the earth on the standard amp its more likely to be the earth on the headunit
personally id ditch the standard amp and rear speakers and put something in which is going to do justice to the focals
replacing the speaker cable to the rear speakers may just show the inadeqaute earth on the headunit

 

[AndyMac]

The issue is the feeble pre-out cable Audi use, nothing to do with the HU or the amp. The low level pre-out cable is not shielded properly at either end, so will pick up alternator whine.
If the fronts running off the HU don't whine then it's not an earth issue, and rewiring the rears will solve the problem.

 

[jdp1962]

Sure you haven't got a James Blunt CD in the head unit?

 

[Bong Water]

I have this problem in a previous car and it turned out to be a bad earth

 

[Oranoco]

The issue is the feeble pre-out cable Audi use, nothing to do with the HU or the amp. The low level pre-out cable is not shielded properly at either end, so will pick up alternator whine.
If the fronts running off the HU don't whine then it's not an earth issue, and rewiring the rears will solve the problem.

CheeRS mate.

Next question for the weekends job, how big are the stock speakers as I have a set of 6" Infinty 2 ways kicking about here?

 

[AndyMac]

The stock fronts are 4" and you only have 55mm depth to play with which includes the fitting adapter, so wave goodbye to your Infinitys I'm afraid. You'll need 5.25" slim components.

 

[Oranoco]

I've already got my 5¼" Focals in the front. It's the back speakers I'm having problems with. Also have some 5¼" Kenwood Dualmags somewhere.

 

[AndyMac]

Ahhh, sorry, the rears are 6.5" coaxials, but again you need fitting adapters and need to remove the cover on the back shelf for access.

 

[Defratos]

Errrr rip it out and run some fresh speaker cables straight from the deck is the only way forward.

Agree with Andy, I've had the same problem (still do, been too lazy to get it sorted)