Adding a higher wattage amp has benefited my system but also made me more aware of hiss in the background of the music. Has anyone added a pre-amp or other component to process the signal before it reaches the amp. I don't have any alternator whine or mechanical noise, just the hiss.

 

One thing that helps is a line driver. It boosts the voltage from the deck and will allow you to turn your gains down.

 

My deck puts out 5V which supposedly requires the Soundstream amp to be set with the ATTEN ON setting (5v to 12v input).. It seems to improve the noise ratio a bit when I have this ON. But it also seems to cut the overall gain of the amp. Ie: I can crank out louder music with the ATTEN OFF.

I will check into the line driver. I have a tendancy when I run into snags to just blame it on my present equipment and want to sell it all for something supposedly better.

 

I have the same problem. PG makes the best, doesnt induce noise at all

 

I'm thinking of trashing the Soundstream and go either S/G Xenon or J/L.

question. With your system on, source set to CD or Tuner, and volume set to 0 -- can you hear any faint noise when you put your ear up to the 6.5 or tweeter. My old amp no, this soundstream yes.

Another thing, do you get weird pops and fizzles from the amp? Occassionally, I'll hear some fizzle or farting noises at low volume which vanish and I can't seem to reproduce??????

 

I hear no hiss at 0 volume, only when the deck sends a signal through my rcas do I get a hiss.

Never get any pops or fizzles, thats strange. Ive heard good things about the soundstream amps...


If I ever buy another amp it will be a Mcintosh or Tru.

 

umm, yeah dan, it's your... system... that's the problem. you should just take it all out and... umm... sell it all to me. that'll definitely cure the problem with the hiss! no seriously, ahsmo's right. get a line driver or upgrade your rca's. that's what i'd do as a 'next step'.

 

point well taken motown.. I need to chill on the spending and be content for awhile.

 

if you have a ipod, that serves as a good tool to test your source for noise. If you have noise even with the ipod. Your amp is messed up.

 

Guys have 'em here at work I could borrow. WHat do you mean as a source. Should I run it into the Aux input of the HU, or does it have it's own RCA outs I can hook directly to the Amp?

thanks for the tip.

 

hook it up directly to the amp with a mini to rca cord

 

Ahsmo, when you mentioned Phoenix Gold what model line?

 

Xenon is their top current line


what I run in my car
200.4 and 1200.1