PAC Audio / Stinger Heigh10 / MB Quart - Audio Interference

[1BadDad]

Good Morning, Everyone!

I am looking to see if someone has solved the problem with heated seats and heated steering causing speaker interference in aftermarket sound system setups?

We couldn't get past the heated seats causing static in the front soundstage and when you turn on the heated steering wheel there's a loud clicking sound audible through the front soundstage. SUPER ANNOYING!!

Here's the order of operations on what we have tried.

- I upgraded to the MBQuart system with amplifiers having it professionally installed. This is where the problem began.

- Spoke with MBQuart, they said its probably the AP4-CH41.

- I spoke with PACaudio, they said its probably the MBQUART amplifier, but the rear amp provided the same results on the front soundstage

- Checked our speaker wiring to make sure it wasnt laying near any relays or other cabling that may be used for heated seats / steering.

- Checked all grounding spots and all is well. Same issues exist

- Swapped to much better RCA's. Same issues exist

- I ordered a replacement AP4CH41 on amazon and swapped the unit, same experience so I sent that back.

- At Smoky Mountain Jeep invasion I had Stinger put in their Heigh10 which removes the other PAC audio device for others. Same Experience.

- If you turn down the gain on the front soundstage amp the audible clicking lowers.

My question is.... Before i order a new amplifier from a reputable brand with low noise and go down that path... what am i forgetting to check? This is absolute bonkers.

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[mokeefe]

Don't know if this would fix it, but I would try a ground loop filter first, quick and cheap - something like this:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_127SNI1/PAC-SNI-1.html

 

[Terpsmandan]

The only variable that has not been changed seems to be the amps. I have a stage 6 and I am not having any issues except that the first 400.1 amp that I installed was DOA and Quart replaced it.

 

[lashlee]

If the problem started with the amp install, I would work to isolate the issue from there. I've done a few installs with the PAC piece (both low level and optical) without issue. I have seen issues over the years with various brands of amps that exhibit some odd behaviors so I would look into warranty coverage on them before I went too far into replacements. Did you do the installation or did you have a professional shop do it for you?

 

[1BadDad]

I had it professionally installed. Mb quart is cheap Chinese crap. So I def get what I deserve. So frustrating. No more pac ap4ch41 it’s out of the equation so it’s not the problem.

 

[lashlee]

Quart didn't used to be, but I get it that buyouts and manufacturing changes can make a good product turn to a terrible product. Has the shop that did the work been the one doing the troubleshooting? If they are a dealer, and depending on the relationship with the rep, they might be able to get you new amps without the hassle of removing them, sending them off and reinstalling them once they are returned from service.

 

[Terpsmandan]

So you

- I spoke with PACaudio, they said its probably the MBQUART amplifier, but the rear amp provided the same results on the front soundstage

I have a 22 with cold weather that does not have that issue. I would swap the RCA’s from one amp to the other and then swap the speaker plugs from one to the other. Next thing would be to take the pigtails that came with the amps and hook them to another set of cheap speakers to see if that noise continues.

 

[1BadDad]

So you


I have a 22 with cold weather that does not have that issue. I would swap the RCA’s from one amp to the other and then swap the speaker plugs from one to the other. Next thing would be to take the pigtails that came with the amps and hook them to another set of cheap speakers to see if that noise continues.

I do like that idea. Hooking them up to a separate set of speakers through the amp to rule out interference with speaker wire. Haven’t done that! Good idea.

 

[1BadDad]

Don't know if this would fix it, but I would try a ground loop filter first, quick and cheap - something like this:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_127SNI1/PAC-SNI-1.html

ordered. Will report back.

 

[doit4asmile]

Any luck. I have been having this issue and am looking for a remedy. I have about the same set up plus more and it’s only coming from the front inputs I believe. I am going to switch the front out with the rear when I get the chance to verify but it’s so annoying my wife wants me to just pull it out.

 

[1BadDad]

Any luck. I have been having this issue and am looking for a remedy. I have about the same set up plus more and it’s only coming from the front inputs I believe. I am going to switch the front out with the rear when I get the chance to verify but it’s so annoying my wife wants me to just pull it out.

Nope. Last thing to replace is one mbquart amp for the front soundstage.

 

[JeepinJason33]

Did you figure it out? I already have the full MB Quart system and am thinking about getting the Heigh10...

 

[1BadDad]

Did you figure it out? I already have the full MB Quart system and am thinking about getting the Heigh10...

did not resolve the issue. Its annoying but ive become numb to it. . at least i can drown it out with audio when the wife has heated seats on etc.

 

[ELJL]

Seems the amp is powered from same source line as heated appliances (seats/wheel), which are high current draws i would imagine. Change to another line/source not tied to those. That’s what i would do.

if you cant, maybe change the order of current draw; appliances after amp or vice versa.

Remember, ‘path of least resistance’.

 

[1BadDad]

you would think so, i even ran the amp ground and power cable to an oem battery outside the jeep so the power cable and grounds could hopefully be taken out of the mix, i still received feedback. its almost as if the pac audio devices share some similar power/bcm connections in the dash somewhere and the sound traverses the headunit's RCA outs.

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