RE: [DML] Car audio question..

["Marc A. Levy" <malevy@xxxx>]

1. Did you replace the speakers?? If not, it is likely this is the problem. Most speakers in a car (harsh environment) will last at most 10 years before the foam surrounds dry out and crack. The noise you describe is typical of this situation. Best thing to do is replace them.

2. On both of my cars (early and late 81) each speaker has its own set of wires from the center console to the speakers. There may have been a "common" connection between each set of speakers (or all of them) at the radio connector, but if you want to use the stock wires it is best to cut that offand separate them. Many high power car stereos use a "floating ground" system where there is no common ground. Connecting them together will cause bad audio, and in some cases damage the stereo. Your manual should tell you if it is common or floating ground.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Hank Eskin [mailto:henry@xxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 8:12 PM
> To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [DML] Car audio question..
> 
<SNIP>
> Here's the problem: The sound is good upto volume level 14 
> or 15 (I know
> the numbers are meaningless, but it's just a point of 
> reference). That
> level is a good, normal level for listening to most things 
> and still carry a
> conversation with someone. As soon as I turn it up past that 
> point, I get
> increasing amounts of loud static. It's not the speakers 
> clipping, or a
> clipping sound at all, the best I can do is describe it as 
> loud static. I'm
> also pretty sure it the amount of static is proportional to 
> the amount of
> bass in the music and/or the bass setting on the radio.
> 
> Here's what I think the problem may be, but I'd like some 
> professional (or
> at least knowledgeable) opinions. The Delorean wiring 
> harness for the Craig
> radio share a common (-) lead between the front and rear 
> speakers for each
> side. (Right common and left common), plus four (+) leads for 
> each speaker
> (6 total leads). Of course, the new radio has separate + 
> and - leads for
> each speaker (eight total leads). I combined the each of the 
> two (-) leads
> for the left and right sides to match up to the harness (8 leads to 6
> leads). Is it likely that the combining of these two sets of 
> two leads from
> the radio is causing the amplifier to cause this static?  
> Should I go back
> in and just wire the speakers directly to the radio leads?
> 
> Besides this one problem, the radio sounds great - no hiss or 
> hum or engine
> interference, etc.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Hank #1619
> 
>