Hey guys! Sorry if this is in the wrong category. Tried to start post in Stereo section but no go. ANYWAY, I've had my 2007 Hummer H3 for about 3 years now and it came with a very nice Pioneer system w/ speakers. It happens randomly that my sound often makes clipping sounds and get's worse with the more volume I give it. It sucks because I seem to only be able to run it at about a 2 to 3 on a scale of 1 to 10(high volume). and sometimes it has that clipping sound even near minimal volume. Sometimes it starts clipping at around 7-8 on the volume dial! You know, sounds like a bad radio signal coming in waves, but, it is clipping, because when I turn the volume down when it starts, the clipping stops. A friend suggested that maybe my Onstar or Camera wiring was the cultrate but I don't know why that could be. That has nothing to do with the stereo system. I did remove, and unplug, and check all of my connections and reinstall it and everything was fine........for a while until it started up again. I'm wondering if the aftermarket speakers (Pioneer) are too much for it. When it let's me, I get great volume and sound until the clipping strikes again.... Do you think my ECM could be a culprit? I've removed and cleaned my BCM and it was just fine. The radio grounds seem to be fine. I have not looked behind my door panels yet, but I assume they either work or they don't. I am wondering if it could be my alternator system not putting out enough amps, or maybe my battery, (but it's brand new and brand name for Hummer H3). This is just driving me nuts and makes me want to remove the radio and re-wire it as a stand-a-lone without the GPS and On-star crap connected........ BUT, I'm afraid I might cause a security issue with my vehicle.... Anyone else experience this clipping phenomenon?? I really don't want to buy a new system and mount it solo. My current system is very expensive and is loaded with mapping/speed monitor, GPS, blue tooth, etc.....! Any ideas? I will have my alternator checked by a friend of mine soon. Just to ad, I don't have any amp installed. That leads me to believe the speakers might be too much for the radio. Thanks for your time. SCOTT

 

maybe the speakers are bad if original or maybe the interface module is going bad or bad connections

 

Thanks, yeh, I think I'm going to have a look at them speakers. When I bought the Hummer, I did get the Pioneer boxes with the old speakers and radio in them and I'm wondering if I might have a loose wire on one of the speakers etc. Thanks for replying. Random clipping is so suspicious.

 

If the new speakers were just stuffed in the doors by the prior owner with no moisture protection, they could have gotten wet too much too many times and connections could be corroded. You probably do not know what adapter(s) were used, some are ultra cheap and failure prone.

Test by putting the old radio in. If it plays fine, then your head unit is junk. If it suffers the same problem, your speakers are junk.

Since none of us know what the prior owner did to install what you have, we are not going to be much help.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I do believe the last owner had them professionally installed. He didn't look like the sort of a DIY feller.....

 

"Professionally installed"... You mean some peach fuzzed Bozo the Clowns working at the local car stereo shop?

 

That's how I describe them...

 

OK, I removed the rear side door panels for a look and sound test while looking. The clipping started at around 17 on the volume dial and from there progressed. I took a video that I will try and post and for one, I was very disappointed when I saw these cheap speakers! I usually don't run speakers unless they have big heavy magnets. Anyway, I removed the rear side doors because they wouldn't be a burden if I needed my vehicle right a way. There definitely was some rust, but, normal for 8 year old speakers non protected in a door. Everything else looked fine. I WOULD NOT use whoever installed this system again though. And, I will not put these speakers back in. Damn feather weight crap anyway....... The speakers say a minimum 50 watts up to 350 watts...... They don't look like they could handle 20 watts.... Maybe I will check youtube reviews on this model of speaker.... AFTER, I removed both rear speakers, I turned my stereo back on and omg, let the clipping begin! Does having two channels open, cause this??? I know you shouldn't run a stereo without speakers attached, but, I think that is IF you go at a high volume.... anyway, The front speakers clipped all the way as I turned the volume down to '0'........ I'm now thinking my problem is with the front speaker/s..... I'm pretty sure my stereo is just fine as I've been able to crank the tunes on a good day,,,,, I don't know if it got worse or not as I moved the door back and forth or coincidence... I am just going to keep my stereo off until I place a custom speaker box of (4) 6x9's in the back. I really don't need speakers in my doors and that will make wring easier. Anyway, I will think about it. Maybe replace the door speakers and do a custom box with two good 3 or 4 way 6 X 9.... Anyway, I will see if I can post a couple short videos I took with my phone as well as photos... Sorry, said videos too long. Thanks fellers.....

 

they look like they where decent speakers. if you push on the speaker cones and they feel "crunchy" then the voice coils might be going bad or forign debreis might be the issue. if you have a Ohm meter check to see if the voice coils are anywhere near 4 oms plus minus maybe 10 or 20 percent.

 

Rust and corrosion are not a speaker's best friend. If the rears had zero moisture protection I think it is safe to say the Fronts don't either. Using speakers with too high a Watt rating is just as bad as using speakers with too low watt specs. Low they can fry, high the head unit or Amp can't drive them adequately and they sound like chit and overwork the system.

FWIW I used XTC Speaker Baffles on my old 07 and cut the bottom 1/3rd or so out so air could freely flow with the woofer. Kept water from above away from them permanently.

Used those since, and lately I have been using Stinger Roadkill FAST Rings. The foam may let some persistent moisture through, but air can move and not restrict the speaker.






I always Dynamat the doors when speakers are replaced. I just stick with that even though there is some newer and lighter weight stuff on the market now.

Sounds (that is a pun) like you are on the right trail to clean up your issues. Good luck.