A car stereo that whines, buzzes, and pops as you’re driving down the road can ruin the time you spend in your car. You may end up turning your stereo off.
If you have a long commute, a car ride in silence will probably feel a lot longer than it is. A noise filter can bring back your tunes without the interference that makes listening to your stereo painful.
Don’t be intimidated if you don’t know how to install a noise filter on car stereo systems. Noise filter installation is easier than you probably think, and we’ve compiled a guide on installing it here.
Installing a Noise Filter in your Car’s Stereo System
A noise filter for a car stereo is a ground loop isolator. This small and inexpensive device interrupts the constant ground loop noise within the wiring of a car. A noise filter interrupts and absorbs that sound before it comes through the speakers and ruins the stereo’s sound.
When installing a noise filter, you’ll want first to know what type it is. There are two main types of noise filters:
- An inline noise filter is installed directly into the wiring of the car. This simple device is a core of magnetic ferrite with the audio power wire wrapped around it. The ferrite pulls the noise interference caused by the car’s electrical system from that wire and absorbs it so that the sounds don’t reach the car speakers.
- An RCA line filter is plug-and-play and requires no wiring knowledge. This filter is a more accessible filter to install.
Below, we’ll go into choosing the right filter for your car stereo and then installing it depending on the type.
Choose the Right Noise Filter for Your Car Stereo
You’ll need to troubleshoot to determine which type of noise filter will most likely eliminate your stereo interference.
Do a Noise Test
To figure out how to install a noise filter on car stereo systems and determine which type of filter you need, perform this simple test.
- Start your car.
- Turn your stereo on.
- Unplug the RCA cables on the back of your car stereo.
If the noise goes away, you’ll probably get the best results with an inline noise filter.
If the noise doesn’t go away after you unplug the RCA cables, plug them back in. Go to your amplifier, which is probably in your trunk, and unplug the RCA cables from the amplifier. If the noise goes away, you’ll need an RCA line filter.
If you install a filter and still have noise, you’ll have to look deeper into your system’s writing and grounding to determine where the problem lies.
How to Install a Noise Filter on Car Stereo Systems: RCA Line Filters
Installing an RCA line noise filter doesn’t require tools, wire-cutting, or knowledge of your car’s electrical writing system. The RCA wires that run from the amplifier to your stereo are clearly marked and plug directly into both devices.
To install an RCA line filter:
- Work while your car is not running and your stereo is off.
- Unplug the RCA wires from your stereo amplifier.
- Plug those RCA wires into the wires on one end of the filter.
- Plug the filter wires into the amplifier.
- If there’s a ground wire, attach it to any bare metal, such as an unpainted screw tip or bolt.
Doing this places the filter between your stereo and amp to filter out noise before it hits your speakers.
Can You Ground a Car Amp to The Battery?
How to Install a Noise Filter on Car Stereo Systems: Inline Noise Filters
Most inline car stereo noise filters will be a small box or cylinder with three wires protruding from it, most often red, black, and green, though the cables can be any color. Check your filter’s manufacturer instructions to be sure you have the wires straight.
Some filters have all three wires protruding from one end, but others may have wires sticking out of two sides. Both will work the same.
To install an inline noise filter:
- Work while your car is not running and your stereo is off.
- Following your noise filter’s manufacturer’s instructions, locate the wire on the back of your stereo receiver that connects to the car’s battery.
- Cut this wire.
- Using wire strippers, carefully remove about an inch of the insulation from both cut ends of the wire.
- Remove about an inch of insulation from each of the wires of the noise filter.
- Locate the input wire on the filter designed to go to the power source (the battery) and twist the metal of that wire with the wire coming from the battery.
- Tug gently to be sure the connection is secure, then wrap with electrical tape.
- Repeat with the wire on the filter designed to go to the output source (the stereo). Twist the metal of that wire with the wire coming from the stereo and secure it with electrical tape.
- Twist the ground wire from the noise filter onto any bare metal part of the car, such as an unpainted screw tip or bolt.
Watch the video tutorial to learn how to install an inline noise filter on a car stereo.
Now that you know how to install a noise filter on car stereo systems, you should be able to enjoy static-free stereo sounds anytime you’re in your car.
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