cracking sound, static in speakers

[Wally]

i have a modest sound system. 4 speakers total and a CD player/head unit. No amplifiers. Was working fine, now all speakers have this terrible sound coming out of them that sounds like a mix of static and cracking. Its not a stereo ground wire. Some web research said it might be either the battery, starter, or alternator.

Anyone have any experience with anything similar?

[texasz]

In my experience the alternator tends to be a whining sound that matches the RPM of the engine (i.e. the more you rev the engine the higher or faster the whine sounds).  This is caused by a ground loop and you have to find a better ground or buy a noise filter.  A crackling/static sound could be several things...

• Check speaker connections, if it's all speakers I'm not sure that this would be the issue.
• If you have a manual volume knob the internals could be dirty, though this would normally only cause the static sound when adjusting the volume
• Is this only when listening to the radio or any source?  If only radio I'd suspect something with the antenna or it's connection.
• If it is only when listening to a CD then I'd suspect something with the read head.
• It could be something with the head unit so it may be worth further troubleshooting on that as well.

These are a few things that come to mind immediately.

 

[Wally]

here is what i have done. Replaced alternator for this and another reason. Didnt fix issue. I bought new wiring harness, re-hooked ALL wiring and checking all connections. Replaced head unit with new, identical model. Music is still crackling periodically whether its a CD or radio. btw, its all the speakers not just say 1 or 2.

[Yarb]

Check the common wires on all your speakers going back to the head unit.

[SteveJ]

Do you have the problem when the key is in the accessory position?

[Wally]

6 hours ago, SteveJ said:

Do you have the problem when the key is in the accessory position?

I do

[SteveJ]

Then the car is not the problem. It's either a component (stereo or speaker) or wiring issue. 

[Wally]

2 hours ago, SteveJ said:

Then the car is not the problem. It's either a component (stereo or speaker) or wiring issue. 

thanks. I have re-wired everything except the battery power wire. will do that today or tomorrow and give an update.

Is it possible that 1 loose speaker wire (or if wire polarity is backwards) would affect all 4 speakers sound?

[Dave WM]

9 minutes ago, Wally said:

thanks. I have re-wired everything except the battery power wire. will do that today or tomorrow and give an update.

Is it possible that 1 loose speaker wire (or if wire polarity is backwards) would affect all 4 speakers sound?

nope