Need Help with factory 2011 LSV MB Quart Stereo

[jikemones]

So I need some suggestions, I purchased a 2011 LSV new last year and have had a hissing sound in the speakers (only when the engine is running) from day one. My dealer has tried a few things with no success. The sound is very annoying, so much so that we have stopped using the stereo all together. My wife’s favorite feature of the boat is the stereo; hence this has become a big issue! This is our third new Skiers Choice boat since 2005 (first two were a 2005 Supra 21 & a 2008 Gravity Games XLV) and may be our last. We have had similar issues with the other two boats as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If I don’t get this figured out soon we will be an ex Skiers Choice customers! So if someone from the factory reads this please step up and help me fix this issue!
Thanks,

[E4NASH]

So I need some suggestions, I purchased a 2011 LSV new last year and have had a hissing sound in the speakers (only when the engine is running) from day one. My dealer has tried a few things with no success. The sound is very annoying, so much so that we have stopped using the stereo all together. My wife’s favorite feature of the boat is the stereo; hence this has become a big issue! This is our third new Skiers Choice boat since 2005 (first two were a 2005 Supra 21 & a 2008 Gravity Games XLV) and may be our last. We have had similar issues with the other two boats as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If I don’t get this figured out soon we will be an ex Skiers Choice customers! So if someone from the factory reads this please step up and help me fix this issue!
Thanks,

Sounds like a bad ground to me. Can you provide some more info about your stereo system? Do you have any amps? If so, how many? What are they powering? Do you have tower speakers? Is the hissing noise coming from All of your speakers? I have a 2011 LSV and don't have this problem. I removed the MB Quart radio and installed a Kenwood. I didn't have this problem before removing the MB Quart either. In my previous '05 LS I did have this problem but it was only coming from the tower speakers the root cause of that was a bad level controller. I swapped that out with the Kicker RZLC and the problem was gone.

I have had this problem in cars before and it was because of a bad ground.

There should be tons of info on this site about this problem and I am sure Phil from Kicker or David from Earmark Marine will chime in eventually.

[jikemones]

I have two amps, sub, tower and boat speakers. As far as I can tell the hissing noise is coming from the tower speakers.

[wolfeman131]

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but have you asked your dealer to fix it?

It should still be under warranty, or just past, but if you have bought all 3 boats from the same dealer I can't see why they wouldn't do everything possible to keep you satisfied and in the SC franchise.

[E4NASH]

I have two amps, sub, tower and boat speakers. As far as I can tell the hissing noise is coming from the tower speakers.

Do you have a remote volume controller for your tower speakers? Did the system come wired up from the factory or was it installed by your or a stereo shop?

[philwsailz]

I can assist you.

First off, the stereo power wiring needs to be re-routed. Take the radio's red wire, yellow wire, and black wire and disconnect them from their current wiring harness. re-route the red power wire through a switch or relay so that the stereo can be turned off, and then take the wiring and go to the largest amplifier's terminal block and connect it there, with a 5A or 10A fuse right at the amp power lug. Connect the yellow wire to the same fuse so that if either the red or the yellow wire shorts out the fuse will blow. Take the black wire and run it straight to the bigggest amps negative terminal. I have attached an image showing this.

For your tower amp, what model amp do you have, (just to confirm)? I actually set the factory settings in the plant for your system, so we can check the amp and make sure that it is set to our specs.

Talk to me Goose, I will get you through it.

Phil
Kicker

1441614417

[philwsailz]

I cant seem to get my pictures to post.... Weird.

[jikemones]

I did ask the dealer to fix it. They tried a few things last Summer with no sucess. I also store the boat inside with them during the winter so I asked them to take a look at it again. (October 31 to May 1st) They said that they asked Skiers Choice for help concerning the issue and didn't get any usefull information?

[jikemones]

I ordered everything from the Dealer and it was installed at the factory. The system does have a drivers and transom remote.

[jikemones]

Phil, thanks for the information. I will try your reccomendations and see how it goes. I hope it works.

[jikemones]

Phil,
I retraced all of the wiring and everything looks good. It still make the noise, only when the engine is running or when I first turn the key on. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

[ditchsnake]

I had the same problem with my supra. Ran the power and ground from the head unit to the battery and problem solved. I heard the hiss when my ballast pumps were on.

[h20boy22]

I had a similar problem on my Supra. My problem was due to the video cable that was running from head unit to VISION system. As soon as I unplugged this (had no intentions of playing videos on the screen) the issue was resolved. Not sure if you have the same issue but thought I would mention it.

[philwsailz]

Phil,
I retraced all of the wiring and everything looks good. It still make the noise, only when the engine is running or when I first turn the key on. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Rather than retracing the wiring to the head unit did you re-wire the head unit?

You need to move the head unit power wire from the helm power wiring as I shared in my previous post. The power and ground wireat the helm are dirty and full of noise and almost always at a different voltage potential than the amplifiers... If your head unit is still connected to the helm power wiring instead of being moved to the big amp or the distribution block, you will have noise.
What you hear when you first turn the key on is likely noise from the computer(s) and the fuel pump, indicating you have a ground-plane issue.

Phil
Kicker

[jikemones]

Phil,

Thanks for more information, I'll give it a try this weekend and let you know how it goes.

Mike

[Jon]

Mike,

I have been in contact with Bell Marine about your boat. I have given them a few items to check. Let me know if there is anything I can help with.

Jon Allen
Skiers Choice Customer Service
865-983-9924 ext 148

[jikemones]

Phil,


Thank you very much! I ran a direct power and ground to the head unit per your last post and it solved all of the noise issues!


Mike

[jikemones]

Jon,
Thanks for following up.

[jikemones]

Phil, these attachments don't work anymore. Any chance I could get you to resend them to me?

Thanks,
Mike

[philwsailz]

lets see if I can remember where those are....

Dang it, I can't get them to upload....

[Raylsv]

Can someone help me do this with some pictures? Im an idiot when it comes to fuses, switches, etc. I'm very competent at doing things but again, wiring is like a foreign language to me. Please help.
I have a 2011 mobius lsv and that hissing speaker sound is driving me mad. I'm sure Phil's instructions work but i have no idea how to install a relay switch nor a fuse at the amp. Sorry guys. I appreciate the help and patience.