Hello I have the bose stereo ... and I switched out the front and rear speakers with Focal speakers ...
I'm using a Rockford Fosgate amp to power them. For some reason after the installed put everything in, I get a slight humming noise even without the stereo turned on. Its not engine noise since it doesn't increase in sound when I rev the motor.
The installer said that this was noise from the amp since it turns on when I start the car. He said there was no way to set it so it turns on when I turn on the radio.

 

You could conceivably add a relay switch from your stereo power button to your amps but that would cost you more than a few bucks for the relay and install. My suggestion would be to turn down the input sensitivity/gain very slightly until the noise goes away. I can't guarantee that this would work but it may be a cheap and very easy way to get rid of the noise.

 

Couple thoughts....

How is your wiring done? For example, are your power wires from the amp running down the passenger side and the RCAs running down the driver side. If you have both power and spekaer/RCA wire close together that can contribute to hum or whine.

Secondly, what kind of RCAs are you running? Cheaper RCAs without shielding or braiding can contribute to hum or whine. I personally used the StreetWires ZeroNoise 3 RCAs and even though they cost a bit more than RadioShack plain RCAs, I have no hum or whine.

Lastly, I agree with turning down the gain until the hum goes away. Another cheap try would be to move the power, speaker and RCA wires further apart in the trunk. You could also use larger (smaller gauge) power and shorten ground wires.

Good luck

 

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He said there was no way to set it so it turns on when I turn on the radio.

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If he did say this then I would not listen to any other suggestions he has. I would do like the above poster suggested and check if the speaker wires are near power wires.

 

Hi,
I don't have a humming problem, but a persistent hiss that can be heard at low to moderate volume levels. I adjusted the Line Out Converters (LOC) and the amp gain down, but it didn't help. I'm replacing the original LOC with a higher end model. I'll post the results of the new LOC when I have them installed.


BLKSNAKE - '04 G35 Coupe
Check out my hidden sub! [img]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

 

Does your amp have a remote power on wire? If so, just tap into the remote turn-on wire from the wiring harness. I think it is green/white wire when you unplug the harness from the Bose amp. I had the same problem until I tapped into the remote turn-on wire. Works perfectly now, the amp comes on when I turn on the radio.

 

HI guys, I was wondering since all of you are running external amps I was wondering if you guys are using the stock speaker wire or did you run your own?

 

I'm running stock wire, except for the sub.

BLKSNAKE - '04 G35 Coupe
Check out my hidden sub! [img]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

 

Same here for the front speakers, stock wire to fronts (Infinity Perfect 6.1's)(its a bitch to try to run wires into the front doors!!!!), new wire to rear seat side 6.5"s (Eclipses 6.5" 3-ways), new wire to rear shelf (Infinity Kappas 6x9's 3-ways), StreetWires ZeroNoise 3 RCA from aftermarket deck to Infinity BassLink sub.

 

I had the same problem with a hum after I installed an amp, and tried just about everything to eliminate the problem to no avail. Finally, with very low expectations I might add, I tried ground loop noise eliminators (Crutchfield, to name one source, has them). I bought two of them (i.e., one for each RCA line into my Alpine amp) and they COMPLETELY eliminated the hum. It may be worth your time to give them a shot. Good Luck!

 

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He said there was no way to set it so it turns on when I turn on the radio.



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If he did say this then I would not listen to any other suggestions he has.

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I echo this statement. If the installer does not know how to make the amp turn on with the radio, he is DEFINATELY not competent. Either that, or he does not know how to read a wiring diagram. VERY CLEARLY on the factory wiring diagrams for the Bose amp, you will see the power-on trigger wire. He MUST have had this diagram to successfully hook up the speakers and inputs. Makes NO sense. As far as I know, ALL car amps have a low-current-draw turn-on leed; in addition to the normal (direct-to-a-fuse-direct-to-the-battery) high consumption main power supply.

Is it possible that your installer tied both main power and turn-on leeds togeter, and wired both to "Accessory"??? Anyone who does not know how to make an amp turn on properly certainly is capable of something as stupid as this. I hope he installed one of those large gauge amp wiring kits?

04 G35s 6MT BS Aero Kit/Nav/Prem
Warning: Objects in Mirror Are Losing!

 

Thanks for all the posts ... I'll print them out and bring them to the installer to see if he has more luck.

 

Which wire is the remote turn on wire on the Bose sedan? I followed the schematic that was posted and found that the wire referenced does not switch with the head unit. It does sound like several people have a constant remote wire or they would not be able to relate to this problem.

 

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Which wire is the remote turn on wire on the Bose sedan? I followed the schematic that was posted and found that the wire referenced does not switch with the head unit.

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According to the sedan Bose wiring diagram, it is pin number #31 on Connector #B122 (the plug that goes into the Bose amp). This would be the 24 pin plug going into the Bose amp. According to the diagram, this is labeled "Amp On Signal", and the wire going to it should be green and white.

04 G35s 6MT BS Aero Kit/Nav/Prem
Warning: Objects in Mirror Are Losing!