Avic N2 in 2002 Boxster

[chiefsalami]

Definitely yikes... I would not let Circuit City or any installer like that touch any of my cars, especially the Porsche. It's so easy with just buying a snap-in harness and doing the install yourself. By the way, how's your FM radio performance? I have had several VWs and they require an antenna booster because if not the radio (particularly AM)

That said, your problem sounds like alternator whine, which has been said here is due to crappy grounds. You could try the internal radio amp, but I wonder whether this unit even has amplified outputs - a lot of the naviagtion units don't because so many cars have built-in amplifiers anyway or people also have upgraded audio systems. Also, you have to go through the car's stock amp to be able to use the built-in speakers. If you are replacing the whole system, then run a new amp and speakers with good wire and bypass the stock amp.

As far as the grounding problem, Radio Shack sells a little device called a ground-loop isolator. That will significantly cut down on ground-induced noise, so take a look at that - it's pretty cheap.

[gjin15]

Hello,
Thanks for all your replies...
What do you mean by "deck" amp? Does a 2002 porsche boxster come equipped with this?

What is the diff between a "stock" amp and a "deck" amp? And also, he thought it was a ground problem too.. so he grounded it to the chassis of the vehicle.. it decreased the noise significantly but there is still a buzzing noise.. furthermore.. yes the noise does increase as I accelerate

Thanks again

[boomer8800]

how about some pics??

[chiefsalami]

By "deck amp" aka preamp, they are referring to the radio's built-in amplified outputs (which generally will be like 30Wx4 max, which is crap). But like I said, a lot of these navigation units don't even have amplified outputs - don't know about the N2 specifically. The stock amp refers to the car's built-in audio amplifier (part of the Bose system, for example) that handles amplifying and distributing the sound to the stock speakers.

If you're still getting a buzz, especially when accelerating, you definitely have a ground loop problem and really should get the ground loop isolator. Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. installers don't know **************** about how to install something the right way, and just rush through the installs anyway.

[gjin15]

Okay, I will try the ground loop isolator. THe circuit city guy told me today that it would cost 70 bux to rewire all the wires to the "deck" amp.. i don't know if this is right.. is this hard to do? Thanks for all your help

[TriGem2k]

Originally Posted by gjin15

Okay, I will try the ground loop isolator. THe circuit city guy told me today that it would cost 70 bux to rewire all the wires to the "deck" amp.. i don't know if this is right.. is this hard to do? Thanks for all your help

I wouldn't do it. I would keep my car as far away from Circuit City as possible.

[chiefsalami]

Amen to that. Again, don't pay them any more money. They should do the job right based on what you have paid them already. Of course, our idea of "a job done right" versus theirs will always be a big difference, I think.

IMO, I would not use the deck's amp and/or rewire the car unless you are going to upgrade your amplifiers and speakers. You might actually end up with worse sound quality.

But the ground loop isolator will definitely cut down on the alternator whine - so definitely do that, or revisit the installation job to make sure it's done right - because you shouldn't need the isolator anyway. As a side note, I have a full computer (running Windows XP) in my car with a touchscreen motorized VGA monitor in the dash and an aftermarket headunit for the radio and DVD player. I did the install right, and have no engine noise coming through my speakers. And I'd be more likely to, because a computer generates more electrical noise than any headunit by itself. But the installation was done right (I did it myself).