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  #1  
Old 12-29-2020, 05:31 PM
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Audio System Layout

Good afternoon friends! I’m having some troubles mounting my aftermarket speaker amp and wiring in a way that doesn’t introduce noise, which is mostly comprised of the pwm signal of the tail lights and alternator noise. For my RCAs I’ve tried running them to my amp a few ways so far, those ways being over the rear fuse panel by going up the passenger side of the car, and today, going through the passenger side cutout underneath of the bench, which runs from under the bench to under the trunk floor, where a large red wire runs though, but alas neither made much of a difference.

So, where did you run your wiring? I’m open to any kind of ideas about what I should do, and after trying to fix this countless times, my X is staying stripped apart until I finally get it right this time. Let me know what you think!


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Old 12-29-2020, 06:31 PM
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So you have checked that the noise is produced on the RCA cable and not some other pathway? (Check with another signal source with short direct RCA line to amplifier.) Is the body of both signal source and amplifier in good ground connection so there's no potential difference for ground loop?
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Old 12-29-2020, 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Clavurion View Post
So you have checked that the noise is produced on the RCA cable and not some other pathway? (Check with another signal source with short direct RCA line to amplifier.) Is the body of both signal source and amplifier in good ground connection so there's no potential difference for ground loop?
Yes I have checked for both of these. Grounds are all directly tied to the battery. When unplugged from the head unit with the amp still powered on, the RCAs still buzz with the pulse width, but if I disconnect them on the amp side, the noise subsides.
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Old 12-30-2020, 04:13 PM
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Audio System Layout

At this point, this is basically an SOS. I’m at my wits end, various car audio forums and subreddits wits end, and my local BMW mechanics wits end. My X needs to be back up and running by the 10th of January so that I can take it back to school with me. I’ve put about 85 hours into working on the audio system since the beginning of December. I’m willing to provide whatever information anyone needs to help me diagnose. Cars an 05 3.0i E53, non-dsp from factory. If anyone can help, I’m basically begging for whatever you can give me.

Here’s what the system sounds like as of right now: https://youtu.be/Z2HPx8YX3ZI


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Old 12-30-2020, 07:01 PM
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What head unit are you using?

There's been quite a few reports of the Chinese generic android units and noise problems which is sometimes due to the poor design of the actual head unit.
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Old 12-30-2020, 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by c-bass View Post
What head unit are you using?

There's been quite a few reports of the Chinese generic android units and noise problems which is sometimes due to the poor design of the actual head unit.
While of Asian origin, it’s of good quality. Kenwood 893s. I ended up switching out my amp for a different one and the noise mostly went away, but I can still hear the frequency of the light pulse. Not sure why it exists in the system in the first place.
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Old 12-31-2020, 03:38 AM
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Most folk don't run line-level audio over long distances in the car - that's most likely your problem. Low-level un-balanced audio signals, esp. over long cable runs, are very suscepable to induced noise.
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Old 12-31-2020, 11:14 AM
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I think most people run low level signals (RCA) to their amps. I know I always have. Good quality, shielded and balanced RCAs should be used for the long run front to back.

What cabling are you using lkv0315? Post some pictures so we can see where/how everything is mounted and their locations.
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Old 12-31-2020, 02:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crystalworks View Post
I think most people run low level signals (RCA) to their amps. I know I always have. Good quality, shielded and balanced RCAs should be used for the long run front to back.
I know it's common in cars in general - I just dont see it done much in our E53 cars, with their PWM lighting etc. I guess other BMW models also use PWM though...

There's no such thing as balanced RCA audio (connectors or cabling) - it's a two-pole connection system so there's only a signal wire and a return wire. Balanced signals require two signal wires (often referred to as hot and cold) plus a shield wire.

Three pin XLR connectors are commonly used in balanced audio connections - like I have on my hi-fi at home (Perreaux).

If your system is using long RCA connections from the head unit to the aftermarket amp in the rear and the audio is clean, then clearly you have done all the work correctly (as I imagine you have - from what we have seen of your work!). It only takes an incorrect earth connection or poor quality cables etc. for electrical noise problems to sneak in...
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Old 12-31-2020, 04:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wpoll View Post
I know it's common in cars in general - I just dont see it done much in our E53 cars, with their PWM lighting etc. I guess other BMW models also use PWM though...

There's no such thing as balanced RCA audio (connectors or cabling) - it's a two-pole connection system so there's only a signal wire and a return wire. Balanced signals require two signal wires (often referred to as hot and cold) plus a shield wire.
Correct, sorry Wayne. I got lost in the marketing material of the RCA's I ran. I meant twisted pair and shielded. As you said, no third conductor in there to cancel any noise picked up along the signal path. My wires are also "directional" but I'm not sure how much I think that contributes to noise reduction. I ran them as the marketing directs, but I suspect they would work installed either way.
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2005 X5 4.4i Build 04/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, Pano, Sport (Purchased 06/14 w/ 109,000 miles) (Sold 8/15 w/121,000 miles)


2006 X5 4.8is Build 11/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, DSP, Pano, Running Boards, OEM Tow Hitch, Cold Weather Pckg (Purchased 08/15 w/ 90,500 miles)

2010 X5 35d Build 02/10
Nav, HiFi, 6 DVD, Sports Pckg, Cold Weather Pckg, HUD, CAS, Running Boards, Leather Dash, PDC, Pano (Purchased 03/17 w/ 136,120 miles)
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