Q Hi, I have run my problem by everyone I know with an electronics background, and nobody can help. I have a 400 watt Jensen 4ch. amp pushing two 10" Rockford Fosgate HLC subs. I've had the system installed for about three months. For the first month, everything worked fine. But about two months ago, the sound would randomly cut out. I have watched the amp, and the power light is always on, and the emblem doesn't stop glowing, so I'm guessing it still has power. Sometimes the sound turns on and off when I go over bumps, but it also goes off sometimes when I'm parked, or at a stop light. I have checked all my connections, and they are all solid. Any suggestions are appreciated.Chris DiChiaraVia the Internet
A Dealing with intermittent problems is always an exercise in frustration, especially when a professional installer is hunting the problem in a customer's vehicle. You have the benefit of always being around when the problem reveals itself, but that is offset by the liability of not having the troubleshooting skills that the pro possesses.
While your message focuses on your amplifier and subs, I suspect the problem is not there. Since your amplifier's indicator light remains on, you're probably right in assuming that the connection to the battery is likely not being affected. There is a possibility that a very brief interruption is causing the amp to cycle too quickly for the indicator light to reset, but I'd put that at the bottom of the list.
The two paths that you can follow in this instance are either a product fault or a connection or cable fault. If you have no clear symptom pattern that would lead you to highly suspect a component, you will need to use a process of elimination. Hopefully the problem occurs often enough that you don't have to wait weeks to determine if a course of action yielded results.
You haven't provided a complete list of your system components or how they are connected, so we'll assume that sound cuts out only on the subs when the problem occurs. Divide your system at the point where you can separate the problem area from the functional area. In a typical system, that would be where the system divides into different signals for different amplifiers. In your specific system, it would be at the input of the electronic crossover or dividing network.
Temporarily run your subs with a full range signal from before the dividing network. This will likely require a "Y" adapter unless you have a set of preamp connections that are available. It won't sound very good, but the purpose is to see if the problem occurs when bypassing the dividing network. If the problem is gone, your dividing network or crossover has an internal fault. If the problem is still present, you have eliminated everything upstream from and including the dividing network. Substitute preamp cables and speaker cables and finally the amplifier until you localize the problem.
Q I have a question. I have Infinity Kappa speakers in place of all my factory speakers. I was playing around with the balance and fader and I noticed something weird. When I fade the music to the back and all on the rear left speaker, all I get is higher frequencies. The back right though seems to work all right. But then when I have them both playing music, they both work fine. I have a Pioneer tape deck, but I don't think that has anything to do with it. I was also wondering if it could be that I'm running my JL subs bridged. My owner's manual for my amp says that if you bridge the subs you will use the right gain on the amp and not the left. Could this be why my mid-ranges don't work the same when they're faded side to side? I have no idea what it is so I'd appreciate some advice. Thanks.Ryan EwersVia the Internet