Hi, i'm wondering if anyone here has been able to entirely replace the stock TSX amp while keeping the stock cd/nav setup? I saw a thread on this a while back regarding the stock cd player wire configuration, and how each channel uses three wires instead of a standard two as input to the amp. I've been to installers who tell me it's just not possible, and i'll need to run some sort of signal converter in order to obtain 4 channels for an aftermarket amp. Has anyone found a work around for this, and if not, what is a good signal converter? I am running a JL 500/1 off of some $20 pos filter i bought at a local shop; there has to be something better. Ideally though, I want an adapter that grabs the signal directly from the cd player. Is there anything like this? I am also wondering if Optima makes a battery that will fit in the stock TSX battery location.. Thanks!

 

Welcome to the board!

This topic has so many threads and posts that one suspects you have a great opportunity in front of you... "search". Hell, read the stickies in A/V! For your question, it's worth it.

And Optima makes a "Honda" battery. I have one in my CR-V, and see no reason that it wouldn't fit in the TSX. I think you have to spec the Pos/Neg terminal orientation to make sure it will work...

 

Its impossible don't try it.

 

I am not entirely sure what you are asking here but I have swapped out my stock amp for a PG 100.4, I have a low level to RCA converter I bought at Fryes however there is alot of tranny noise now, I have tried grounding it in a number of locations but no luck, thus I am installing an Alpine HU and by-passing the entire system all together. U could try this same setup and get the SHO controler to run the RCA's from the HU to your stock system and than back>>???

 

What is a low level to RCA converter? Do you mean a high-level to RCA converter?

Zasker, have YOU read the sticky thread? You don't need one!

What is tranny noise?

A number of people have replaced the OE amp without any adapter, and gotten rid of any engine noise. I suggest you are replacing the OE HU too hastily. Also, your method of getting rid of engine noise by moving the ground is not a method that pays off very well... you might want to read this thread (you can skip the theoretical bullshit, just read the first three or four posts before the conversation deteriorates...)

Something not in that thread but mentioned in the sticky thread is that the Airbag ECU under the radio also emits noise, which can be picked up by GLI's and probably cables and passive xovers too.

 

i have replaced my stock amp and have no engine noise.

 

Whoops, neglected to include the engine noise post URL: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10280

 

hi, thanks for all the responses. i did see a couple of other threads on this. so it is possible to splice RCA's to the CD player output and just run that signal to my amps?

 

I did not have time to sodder RCA's to the factory low level wires so I just bough an adapter that turns them into RCA's. I cannot remember the adapter I bough but it I can look when I get home. I have tranny noice becase of a bad ground so I here the whine through the speakers, that is ok howerver as I will be installing a new head unit today and getting rid of the hod podge of wires I currenty have.

 

There is no such thing as an adapter from low-level signal wires to RCA's - it's just a short RCA with the connectors cut off of one end. You are probably using a speaker level adapter (LOC) that you don't need.

I have never heard of tranny noise. I do not think your engine noise was neccesarily because of a "bad ground".

I think you are getting a new HU for a wrong reason.

zasker, you seem to have restated your post because you thought I didn't understand. I understood (expect for the tranny noise stuff, maybe: ) but I disagree. I think you should take a look at your install again...

 

Yes there is: http://www.cardomain.com/item/PERSVEN4, The stock HU has low level wires that do not have RCA Ends. I did not want to create my own with a soldering gun so I just spliced them into the device above so I could run RCA's to my PG amp in the trunk. ~

Tranny noise is extremely common problem in any car if the system is not grounded properly, there a multitude of "noise" suppression devices that can be purchase to combat this. I have encountered the before and resolved it before. I am buying a aftermarket HU because the factory unit gets shitty reception. It is absolutely horrible, I have spoken to Acura about this several times and why the service MGR acknowledged that the reception was less than stellar and they basically told me without a recall I would have to live with it. I have owned 10 cars thus far and the reception in the TSX is worse than the Krako deck I had in my 79 Valerie. This is also a common problem and has been discussed in a number of threads on Acuarzine, , and Temple of Vtec.

 

dude, you bought a unit that is designed for adapting balanced differential signal systems such as Bose and Infinity OE signals from the OE HU to the OE amp.

That is NOT the type of signal your TSX has. Your TSX has a standard single-ended preamp output, and this thing is unneeded. It would be one thing if you had no noise, but you used this thing AND you still have noise. Doesn't this tell you something? (Like it didn't do what the link said it would? : )

"DC coupling circuitry ensures noise-free integration"

Or not... not saying it's causing the noise, but you don't need it, and there's no reason to use it, other than you didn't want to use butt connectors on your RCA splice.

If it helps, think of balanced signals as the 3-conductor-per-channel XLR cables for pro audio, and unbalanced single-ended RCA two-condutor-per-channel cables as the standard for home audio. You need a converter to connect the two - they are not compatible.

I still have never heard of tranny noise, and I suspect there is no filter in the world with that term on its packaging. I have heard of engine noise, which technically should be called alternator noise. I think you are just using the wrong term.

Installing an aftermarket HU might get rid of your noise, for several reasons... one of which could be if your Vendetta is sitting on top of the Airbag ECU and picking up noise from it (like GLI's have in several vehicles). In that case taking out the Vendetta could help your problem.

Regardless, you won't get any FM reception unless the OE HU is on, or if you grab the RTO lead from the HU tht turns on the FM antenna amp in the back of the car, and tie it to the Alpine RTO output. FYI.

 

If I was rude I do apoligise but I do know what I am talking about. I may have sent the wrong product link but basicly the box connectes raw rca's and alows you to convert to speaker or rca. Its crap but doing it the right way takes alot more money. Tranny NOice = alternator noise, that just a termanology problem. Oh well.

I am aware of the Antenna issue and will either do that or I am considering installing a golf hard antena in the center/back of my roof as I think that might look cool, although thats alot of work as well . So again if I was rude I apoligiese, no point in arguing ~

 

Hmmm... as far as this box goes, in the words of Principal Ed Rooney, roll her old bones on over here - I'd like to see this dead grandmother (or conversion box) first-hand. Can you show us the right link? This product sounds like it might be useful for others...

Also, what's "expensive" about hacking one end off of an RCA cable ? The wire has the right kind of signal on it, so what's the "expensive" conversion that you refer to? Can you help me understand what you mean about this "expensive right way"? Thanks.

And for those following along at home, since the engine noise isn't associated in any way with the the tranny - as in, what gear you're in - there's absolutely no reason to call engine noise or alternator noise "tranny noise". But there I go, worrying about terminology again.

 

yes, yes, I was wrong.

I did have an opportunity to install my new Alpine HU and PG Xeon amp yesterday and it sounds fantastic, I have not installed the PAC unit yet but that next weekends project. As for the Alternator noise, it is still there but much more subtle now, not sure what to do about that but oh well. I read in another post about the Airbag ECU as likly being a problem. Any way I can shield the back of my alpine from this, some sort of barrier?
As bad as it sounds I must admit I did this entire install with the factory HU in place, as I could not get it out . This added to the install time but in the end I was able to get everything installed.

As for the AMP install I ended up cutting a piece of Plexy to fit the contours of the spare tire well and mounted my amp there as it would not fit under the seat. The Plexy looks ok but I think I will carpet it and make it look a little more professional.

 

I don't think the airbag ECU is your problem. If you want to find out, set a towel on your center console, make sure your wires are long enough, pull your HU out of the factory spot, and see if your noise goes away when you get the HU and the cables away from the Airbag ECU.

This worked fine with the GLI test - close, noise, far, no noise.

I don't think it's the Airbag ECU.

Is the noise present when you lower your amp gains? They may be too high.

Is it present with the radio OFF? (If so, your tweeter xover location is the problem - inductors in the xovers picking up noise).

Where is your HU grounded? Try running a good ground wire back to the amp (-) terminal and see if anything changes.

Do you have noise with the antenna unplugged? Might need an antenna filter.

If you take a long set of RCA's and run them from the HU to the amp, OUTSIDE the car, does the noise go away? This determines if the noise is being picked up by the RCA cable due to routing or due to a crappy cable.

 

So here is where I am at, the noise is very very suttle and I have not been able to isolate where it comes from, howerver driving home last night it spiked and became louder then the music that was playing, I tried turning off the HU, no go, turned off the car and back on, no go. than I poped the trunk to look fiddle with my amp and the noise went away as soon as I opened the trunk.
Not sure want to make of that but I read another post of yours and one item it could be is my crossover. I have diamond componits and I put one of the crossovers behind the HU as I could not find a good mounting spot under the drivers feet. Since the noise was only firing from the drivers tweeter it is possible that it could be the close proximity of the HU, crossover, and Airbag ECU. This weekend I plan to pull it all apart again, and move the crossover and place it under the firewall somewhere closer to the drivers door. This will also give me an opertunity to move the main power wire as I used the factory amp power wire for a main wire, I am thinking I might just run a dedicated wire to the fuse block under the hood.

Is the noise present when you lower your amp gains? They may be too high.

Amp Gains are at 50% so I dont think that is the problem.

Is it present with the radio OFF? (If so, your tweeter xover location is the problem - inductors in the xovers picking up noise).

Nope.

Where is your HU grounded? Try running a good ground wire back to the amp (-) terminal and see if anything changes.

I will likely try this as well as I used the factory amp ground wire.


Do you have noise with the antenna unplugged? Might need an antenna filter.

I have though about that, I am realy displeased with the reception in the TSX, I can turn the antenna booster off/on independantly of the new HU and for the most part I only see minimule gains, however that would be an additional idea, I have never seen an antenna filter would it go inline between the factory wire and the back of my new HU?


If you take a long set of RCA's and run them from the HU to the amp, OUTSIDE the car, does the noise go away? This determines if the noise is being picked up by the RCA cable due to routing or due to a crappy cable.

I did not try that but I bought some good Monster Cable interconnects so that should not be the problem, but than again, anything is possible: http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/mocain404chc4.html


I will keep playing with this untill I get it right, I come this far so I am not ready to give up yet.

 

So here is where I am at, the noise is very very suttle and I have not been able to isolate where it comes from, howerver driving home last night it spiked and became louder then the music that was playing, I tried turning off the HU, no go, turned off the car and back on, no go. than I poped the trunk to look fiddle with my amp and the noise went away as soon as I opened the trunk.
Not sure want to make of that but I read another post of yours and one item it could be is my crossover. I have diamond componits and I put one of the crossovers behind the HU as I could not find a good mounting spot under the drivers feet. Since the noise was only firing from the drivers tweeter it is possible that it could be the close proximity of the HU, crossover, and Airbag ECU. This weekend I plan to pull it all apart again, and move the crossover and place it under the firewall somewhere closer to the drivers door. This will also give me an opertunity to move the main power wire as I used the factory amp power wire for a main wire, I am thinking I might just run a dedicated wire to the fuse block under the hood.

Is the noise present when you lower your amp gains? They may be too high.

Amp Gains are at 50% so I dont think that is the problem.

Is it present with the radio OFF? (If so, your tweeter xover location is the problem - inductors in the xovers picking up noise).

Nope.

Where is your HU grounded? Try running a good ground wire back to the amp (-) terminal and see if anything changes.

I will likely try this as well as I used the factory amp ground wire.


Do you have noise with the antenna unplugged? Might need an antenna filter.

I have though about that, I am realy displeased with the reception in the TSX, I can turn the antenna booster off/on independantly of the new HU and for the most part I only see minimule gains, however that would be an additional idea, I have never seen an antenna filter would it go inline between the factory wire and the back of my new HU?


If you take a long set of RCA's and run them from the HU to the amp, OUTSIDE the car, does the noise go away? This determines if the noise is being picked up by the RCA cable due to routing or due to a crappy cable.

I did not try that but I bought some good Monster Cable interconnects so that should not be the problem, but than again, anything is possible: http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/mocain404chc4.html


I will keep playing with this untill I get it right, I come this far so I am not ready to give up yet.

 

If your noise only comes out of one tweeter (this can be hard to tell), and sometimes it gets louder than the music, that's scary noise.

If you have NO noise with the car radio off, crossover location is not the issue, unless the xover is almost touching the HU and that's the problem... or, more likely, you have two sources of noise, and one is intermittent and one is constant.

If I had this kind of intermittent-intensity noise in my car, I would rip out everything aftermarket and reinstall it all.

Before I did that, I would do the radio-removal and bypass-cable tests (use a 3-dollar RCA for the bypass test) and I would drop the amp gain to minimum and see what happens.

I would also swap LF and RF at the amp speaker terminals and see if the noise moves from the Driver side to the Pass side. If it does NOT move, it's the xover. If it does move, it's the other direction, and you should swap the amp input RCA L and R. If it moves then, it's the HU or the RCA, and if it doesn't, it's the amp itself.

 

What I recommend for you to get rid of your engine noise is to install two 12v inline power filters for the 12v constant and acc going to your new Alpine HU.

I have been battleing a similar problem with noise for months and months now. My problem is that I installed an Ecipse EQ in the glove box so I can get that great aftermarket HU sound a factory HU. Well to make a long story short, no matter where I got power or ground for the EQ, or where I put a ground loop isolator I still had some sort of noise. Since the EQ I have also acts a line driver boosting RCA line voltage to a peak of around 8 volts, the EQ was acting line a microphone amplifying any noise around it. So as a last and final resort I went to RadioShack and bought two of their Heavy Duty Automotive Electrical Noise Filters. I installed them inline in the constant, acc, and ground going to my EQ and that fixed it all. I have not one ounce of any kind of noise and it sounds and works great.

 

DO NOT do that until you do the rest... It's theoretically possible but the others are most likely. THat HU is unlikely to need one, and notice hat this guy tried others first...

 

this prooves as many have said in the past that many times engine noise has nothing to do with it being induced from the RCA cables but rather from the electrical system itself.
there might be another solution for more severe problems. i dont remember the link but someone makes a DC-DC power supply that you can install to provide power to a HU or similar device that provided clear noise free output because it is electrically isolated from the car electrical system.
they are kinda pricy though.

 

Dude, this just makes me sad, I did my system in my 2k accord in less than 3hrs. With my TSX I am running on 4 weekend's and I am still battling gremlens.
I can say this much, although the new HU gets better reception than stock it is still realy shitty. I am thinking I am going to bag the factory antenna setup and but my own booster, antenna and wire. Maybe get like a 01 Gulf short whip antenna and mount it in the center/back of my roof that would look pretty slick I think but also be a fair amount of work.