![]() ![]() Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day While these noise filters are technically just patches, and your underlying problem still exists, they’re patches that solve the immediate problem. Since there is no direct electrical connection between the input and output, the ground loop and any interference it generates is isolated from the signal. The audio signal enters the isolator through the input jack, passes through the transformer, and exits through the output plug. Ground loop isolators consist of an input, an output, and a transformer. ![]() If the thought of tearing down your audio system, locating the grounds, and then putting everything back together doesn’t sound appealing, then you might want to look into an isolator. Isolating Ground Loops While the right way to fix a ground loop is to deal head-on with the differential in ground potentials between different components, it’s not the only way. This is a situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that everything is carefully plotted out during the planning stage of any new car audio system and then hooked up correctly during installation. The right way to fix the problem is to tear down your sound system and attach the grounds from components like the head unit and amp directly to the chassis in the same place. For example, grounding one audio component to the chassis and one to the cigarette lighter is a classic situation that can lead to the creation of a ground loop. Grounding a head unit to a cigarette lighter instead of the chassis also can introduce a ground loop. The chassis - and any metal that’s in contact with it - is the ground, but not all grounds are created equal. Unfortunately, the matter of grounding is a little more complicated in-car audio systems. Fixing the problem may be a simple matter of changing where you have things plugged in. In-home audio systems, ground loops usually happen when two components are plugged into different outlets. When the difference in ground potentials is removed, the unwanted current flow ceases, and the noise goes away. If those two locations have different ground potentials, an unwanted current flow, which can create noise, is introduced into the system. This noise problem can occur at any time two audio components in the same system are grounded in different locations. If you can't fix the problem the right way, the solution is to use an in-line noise filter.Ĭar Audio Ground Loops Although there are a lot of things that can introduce unwanted noise in a car audio system, ground loops are the single biggest culprit. The right way to fix a car audio ground loop problem is to ground everything in the same place. That can create an unwanted current, which introduces the sort of interference that is often described as a hum or a whine. Ground loops occur when two components are grounded in locations with different ground potentials. ![]() It’s impossible to say for sure without looking at your specific car audio setup, but your audio system may be suffering from a classic ground loop problem. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on SeptemTweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Connected Car Tech Android Auto Apple CarPlay Navigation If a whining noise from your car stereo has you covering your ears, a ground loop may be to blame. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles. How to get rid of annoying sounds on your car audio system By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Smart & Connected Life > Connected Car Tech 124 124 people found this article helpful
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