Here is the scenario:

2001 Miata
Rio Mk II
Sony head unit
MTX 4244 4 ch amp
infininty components

I have the sony leading into the Rio, then into the MTX

when listening to the RIO, there is a faint whine, which get louder when i put the headlights on..and more so when i put the a/c on

when listing to the sony via the aux on the RIO, the whine is much worse, and to make it more interesting, when i adjust the outside mirrors by elecrical remote on the dash i am picking up the noise of the motor!!!

this does not happen when listening to the player (mp3s)

i have top cables in the install..even twisted cables from the Rio to the amp in the trunk

questions:

does anybody think it could be internal to the Rio tht the AUX picks up more noise than the play does?

i am using the ground that was with the stock HU (bose)

i also have a noise filter in-line from the battery to the amp

Any and all suggestions/comments would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

Ed

i am using the ground that was with the stock HU (bose)

Well, that's the first thing I'd change...

Make sure to go through all the steps here.

do you think it would be best to run a ground from the HU's (both the Rio and the Sony) to the grounding point for the Amp, so there is one common ground for all components?

Just go through all the steps listed at that link, and follow the sub-links and go through those, too. Among those steps is verifying that your grounds are good and not through some cheesy bits of unknown wire.

Thanks,

have you heard of any instances that there was something defective internal to the player and not necessarily with the installation?

There was something about the RCA connectors having trouble, but that is rather rare.

have you heard of any instances that there was something defective internal to the player and not necessarily with the installation?

Yes, and that is specifically covered in the list of things at the link I just sent you. Please go through that list.

ok...working through the listing....

but here is one thing i just remembered....

with the car and the player running, the player will turn off..then back on..when i turn on the headlights....

this doesnt happen all the time..but it does happen !


(perhaps i should just get a new car?)

Definately suspect that your ground is bad. The turning on of the lights might raise the voltage of the empegs grounding point so high that the voltage remaining up to 14V or whatever your alt delivers is less than what the empeg needs to operate. Or you have the ground miswired to some other wire, like dimmer... More likely the ground though.

/Michael