speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

[glastron_scott]

hello i boaters, i need a little help. i just replaced the stock head unit in my boat. it was a cmd4, and i replaced it with a cmd6. very easy install. used the same wiring harness that was connected to the cmd4 and plugged it right into the cmd6. hooked up the rca's and done. i was testing it out and happy with the sound when i noticed that before EVERY song the speakers will make a popping sound. it will do this while playing a cd or running off of the iphone. besides that everything sounds good, but that popping sound will drive me crazy (especially at high volume). Please help

thanks
scott

 

[duke33]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

The only thing I can think of would be a grounding issue.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

using an external amp?

Grounding issue is a likely fault, but the headunit itself could be defective.

 

[mark1905]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

OK.. wait.

To clarify, there is only one POP right before the song? You don't hear any other noise, alternator whine, electrical pops when you hit the trim switch, nothing.. just that one pop right before the song starts? ..and it does this if you're playing something from your iPhone or on the CD player? The volume of the pop sound is dependent on how high you have the volume turned up?

Are you using an external amplifier?

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

the boat is sitting in the driveway so i dont know about the engine noise. i did mess with the trim and didnt hear anything in the speakers. also is seems that if you let the cd, or iphone just play it doesnt pop after every song. but it does when you manually change songs. it will also make the pop sound on the iphone when it starts to play a new playlist or folder. the loudness of the pop does not change with volume. with the stereo turned up loud, or muted makes no difference. it makes the same sound when the stereo switch on the dash is turned off. its not loud, just makes me think something might be wrong. and yes there is an external amp but this is not new to the system. the only difference is the new deck.

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

correction: "it will also make the pop sound on the iphone when it starts to play a new playlist or folder"
the sound does not come from the iphone...i meant to say when playing music from the phone the speakers will pop when the playlist/folder changes.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

Since theres an external amp involved, I'm going to go with my gut and guess its the usual amp DC spike turn on noise.

This is a common thing, and almost always related to the headunit or amp itself. Some headunits contain a "soft turn on" feature that delays the amp on/off, that minimizes or eliminates this, some don't. Since you upgraded within the Clarion line, I'm surprised this issue surfaced, but I guess you never know. I've also never heard of this issue between tracks, only when turning on/off the stereo.

There are some products out there that are designed to stop this sort of thing, although I have no personal experience with them. Heres an example: http://www.hifisoundconnection.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/3920448/vpcsid/0/SFV/30046

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

hmmm, now that you mention it, turning the system on/off does make the same noise. if i remember right i would get the same little pop when turning on/off with the cmd4 but not when changing songs. it really doesnt seem to be that big of a deal, i just wanted to make sure nothing else is going on. i used my wife as a guinea pig and she didnt notice until i pointed it out.

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

thanks for the link, i may try that out!!!

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

hmmm, now that you mention it, turning the system on/off does make the same noise. if i remember right i would get the same little pop when turning on/off with the cmd4 but not when changing songs. it really doesnt seem to be that big of a deal, i just wanted to make sure nothing else is going on. i used my wife as a guinea pig and she didnt notice until i pointed it out.

Its very common, albeit annoying. If you're worried about hurting anything, dont; its harmless.

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

so after looking at the pop stopper on the link you posted, it seems that it just adds a 1 sec delay to turn on/off the amp. that does make sense, but couldnt i just run a 12v wire from my stereo switch on the dash to the remote turn on of the amp?

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

another update: so i ran a remote turn on for the amp from a different source and still got the same popping sound when changing songs. i also discovered that i could still hear the music with the volume all the way off. it was just a whisper but could definitely here it.

 

[mark1905]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

Since theres an external amp involved, I'm going to go with my gut and guess its the usual amp DC spike turn on noise.

I'm going to disagree with that one based on common logic. DC spike noise yes.. but associated with amp turn on.. no. I say that it's a defect within the deck to send out a spike when going from no input to input.. possibly associated with the internal amp in the deck even though you aren't using it.

What makes me think that it's that is that does it while everything is still on and changing songs from playlist to playlist.. where the input goes all the way from something to nothing to something. If the iphone is left playing, then even though it's quiet.. there's still barely audible input coming due to ambient track noise. When you switch from playlist to playlist, you're cutting completely the input and then giving it input again. The 12V+ signal for the amp turn-in isn't changing throughout this process.. it's constant.

Deck defect.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

Mark, your explanation makes sense. I suppose I figured that if he was running an external amp that the deck's internal amp would be completely bypassed and unable to affect sound... Therefore the only way it could be happening was through the remote turn on circuit, and for some reason the deck was turn on and off the external amp when changing tracks. But, since he got the noise when powering the amp with a different turn on source, theres clearly something in the headunit causing the noise.

 

[hrdwrkingacguy]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

I have had a few decks over the years burn up some kind of IC in the ground of the amp pre-outs and click and pop when you turn it on/off or change stations...I seem to remember grounding one of the RCA and if it goes away its the head unit...

 

[mark1905]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

I have had a few decks over the years burn up some kind of IC in the ground of the amp pre-outs and click and pop when you turn it on/off or change stations...I seem to remember grounding one of the RCA and if it goes away its the head unit...

Good call. A quick fix for grounding your RCA cables is to physically loop a piece of wire around the outside base of the female RCA ends at the deck and sandwich it between the male ends of the cable. Hook the other side to a solid battery ground connection. Try that and see if your problem goes away..

 

[glastron_scott]

Re: speakers make a "pop" sound before every song

Good call. A quick fix for grounding your RCA cables is to physically loop a piece of wire around the outside base of the female RCA ends at the deck and sandwich it between the male ends of the cable. Hook the other side to a solid battery ground connection. Try that and see if your problem goes away..

sounds like that would be a good idea but i already sent the thing back. my new one should be in today so hopefully all is good.