Minimising Noise and Power Consumption in Car Audio System

How To Minimize Noise And Power Consumption In Car Audio System?

We all hate it the most! Imagine you are driving, shaking your body to the beats of your favorite song, and suddenly, you hear a whining noise coming out of the car’s audio system, which turns terrible if left unattended. 

Yes, this is the noise coming out right through the system – it can be an amplifier or speaker, or even radio, but it sounds unpleasant. 

If you are looking for the most effective tips on minimising the noise from the system and reducing power consumption, you’re at the right place! We have covered the topic for you!

How To Reduce Noise From An Automotive Audio System?

Though audio systems in the car are swamped with the high-power amplifier and the set of efficient speakers, there are several noise sources, including filter noise, power-supply noise, and ground layout noise. The noise is created by amplifiers and speakers as well. 

No matter whatever the source is, it comes in the hearing region of the human ear in a quiet environment. 

The question is, how to fix the noise? 

We have compiled some effective measures below!

How To Deal With The Whining and Buzzing Sound? 

If you have just installed a new amplifier or receiver in your car, you start to experience noise every time you listen to the music. The noise may be in three forms: speakers buzzing, whining of an amplifier, and radio static. 

To fix the problem, you first have to figure out the noise source to find the solution. There are many types of noise you may experience, but 80% of work is already done if the source is determined. But if tech is not your great suit, you may need to seek a tech guru or mechanics’ help. 

Once the problem has been diagnosed and the source is successfully determined, you may follow the following steps. 

Noise From The Receiver

Noise is mostly due to the receivers for stereos. If you have just installed one in your car, you might not have grounded the wires properly. Always make sure to ground the wires as it is instructed. 

The device comes with two quick points to start with. If that’s your first time installing a receiver, you need to learn it a bit. 

At the same time, some significant causes of noise include if the receiver’s wires are grounded near an air conditioner or heater or a computer and nearer the car’s base, you are most likely to hear that noise. 

Noise From The Radio 

Noise through the radio is also unbearable. Check all the sources first, CD, portable USB, and other music storing devices, but if only the radio ends up with the broken audio or whining sounds, it is most probably due to the antenna lead.

To confirm this, you need to unplug the antenna; if the noise is gone and you hear the clearer audio, it is due to something stuck in the antenna lead.

Buy an antenna noise suppressor; this will break the ground path between antenna and receiver and filter the lead to ensure you are listening to the radio in flawless audio. 

Engine Noise 

If the noise emerges from the ground or power wires, this is termed “Engine noise” that keeps generating clicking and whining sounds. It is also called alternator noise. 

If that’s the culprit, you can fix it by introducing an alternator noise filter between an alternator and battery. It helps with the high-pitched noise that varies with the engine noise. 

Noise And Amplifier 

New amplifiers have to be installed nicely. Poor mounting and insufficient grounding may lead to poor sound quality through the system’s audio. 

Read more about – Best Equalizer Settings for car audio

While rubber grommets are usually used to isolate the new amplifier from the base of the car, which helps to reduce noise, try this! Again, a noise suppressor for an amplifier is great to fix it within seconds.

Patch Cable Noise 

This can be the most ignorable section, one cannot even assume that cables can even pick up the noise, but unfortunately, I hate to break it to you, but yes, they can be the hidden reason for noise creation. 

To test this, unplug the cable wires from an amp, check to plug only one of them, either right or left, start the engine and system, and if you no longer listen to the noise, it was due to the cable wires. The solution is to reroute them or buy new, more efficient cables. 

How To Minimise Power Consumption In The Car Audio System? 

Though there are several ways to manage and reduce the power consumption in the car audio system, we’ve shared the most working ones with you!

  • If you know how to use tech well, introducing SigmaDSP technology is like killing two birds with one stone. It will help you minimize the noise and power that is being used to operate the car’s sound system. 
  • Always go with a Power Factor Corrector Amplifier; it will save your system from losing more heat. With this, you will require the cooling devices to keep the system cool as it creates cooling.
  • Explore an option called “Power over Ethernet” it will help you to monitor and control the units with the minor use of energy even when the AC isn’t turned on. 
  • You can also use an option called “External I/O”. It helps you customize an amplifier externally, and you can control the power being used by an AC. 
  • Auto standby products always work. They have a set limit of power usage, and when the threshold is reached, the output levels drop gradually. The standby products work well with an amplifier. 
  • You can also use batteries or capacitors to save the power and utilize it when you run out of it.

Learn more – How to install a second battery for car audio?

Conclusion

Car audio is a little complex system. It requires a significant amount of energy to produce an adequate sound. The bugs often make noise, but the mentioned ways in the blog will help you get rid of the noise and power problems. Try them!

About Brenda Smith

Brenda Smith is an Audio consultant and part-time automotive content writer. She has an Audio engineering degree from a reputed university of Tampa, Florida. Being a great audio enthusiast, she works with her audio consultation startup and writing automotive content as a part-time writer.

Check Also

Do you Need an Amp for Door Speakers?

Do you Need an Amp for Door Speakers?

Setting up a great car audio system is a little tricky. Everyone loves to enjoy ...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *