Troubleshooting Crackling Tweeters in a 2010 Infiniti G37x

Question

I recently got a used 2010 Infiniti G37x with the Bose sound system and noticed that the tweeters have a slight crackling sound when playing most songs. I assumed they were blown so I replaced both tweeters with brand new OEM replacement parts from a dealer and they STILL sound like crap...

Just to clarify, I'm referring to the super tiny speakers up next to the windows:

The crackling is subtle enough that they don't really sound blown, they just add sort of a static sound, similar to the sound of digital clipping. It makes the music sound degraded in quality. It's just annoying enough to drive you nuts when you show a friend and they say "It sounds fine to me"...

The crackling is coming from both tweeters, driver and passenger side. It's highly unlikely that both of the new tweeters I just bought are blown. I also ruled out the possibility that the Bose system might just have crappy tweeters in general because my dad has a 2013 G37x with the exact same sound system and his sounds crystal clear.

I'm not the most experienced with car audio so I'm not sure what to check next. What else could cause this problem? Are there any simple tests I can do to help pinpoint the exact cause?

CalgaryCoolCat · Answer

Sounds like you have a bad ground.  If possible hook up another set of speakers and see if you have the same result.

H. Daun · Answer

Crackling can be caused by a few different types of interference depending on what you are doing and how.

If you are listening via an AUX cable plugged into your phone, and your phone is charging.
You will be hearing the A/C Interference generated by your alternator.
There are products you can by that isolate the Phone from the Car when charging so that it doesn't have the noise come through.
This typically increases in frequency as you rev the engine.

If this is not the case, and you are listening via bluetooth, a USB plugged in, a CD, or radio (Radio can have its own crackling due to compression so I would not bother testing with Radio).

Some possibilities are, the ground going to your Head Unit is not very good and you are getting interference coming from there.

A connection on the internal wiring loom for the speakers is corroded, damaged, or shorting to ground intermittently.

Realistically it is very hard to diagnose something like this, your best bet would be to go to an Auto Electrician who specializes more in Car Audio, as they would be able to test things properly.

Troubleshooting Crackling Tweeters in a 2010 Infiniti G37x

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