458 Speakers Popping

2012 458 Coupe. JBL "Premium" (if you can call it that) stereo. Planar speakers behind the seats pop and crackle constantly. It definitely is not blown because I have swapped two good ones in and they do it as well. It's either a loose ground somewhere or bad amp. It still plays music fine through all channels. Anyone else have this kind of issue?

 

I don't even know how to turn on the stereo in my 458. I thought it was decoration.
All the sound comes from the big red thing under the glass in the back...

 

I get the sentiment of "the engine is the stereo". However, even with the unit powered off they speakers still have loud pops and crackling at random times.

 

Do the pops vary with the volume control? Turn volume all the way down can you still hear them? Or with setting the input for audio? Radio, usb or?? Are the pops only in one channel or speaker? Or all of them together?

‘Do they get worse when the car is in motion? Or not at all when stationary?

Engine off, radio on do you get pops?

Have any added electronics or made electrical changes to the car at all?

SV

 

It could be the amplifier. This is typical behavior if a transistor or is defective or a capacitor has popped. Remember that the amplifier always has constant 12 Volts going to it. When you turn on the radio, it sends a smaller current 12V signal to the amp that trips some relays so it can produce sound. Any electrical bleed through would most likely make its way to the speakers. I'd gladly lend you a 458 hi-fi amplifier if I had one. I only have a 488 lo-fi amp on hand.

 

It does seem to do it as long as it has power. Bumpy roads seem to make the problem worse. I plan on taking the speaker cover off and see what I can find.


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If bumpy roads make it worse, then it could be either a transistor in the amplifier or the voice coil of one of the speakers.

A cool piece of music trivia. The album "Third Stage" by Boston was recorded without any digital devices whatsoever. Everything was analog. They simulated the sound of thunder on the song "the launch" by tapping their finger on a bad transformer in one of their guitar amplifiers.

 

Then it is possible that my amplifier might be trying to play "Third Stage" for me without prompt. It's 105 degrees here in Texas so I haven't ventured to the garage to mess with it just yet.

SoftwareDrone - If I have a bad amp do you sell an aftermarket solution?

 

Can Scuderia Audio weigh in on this?
Any thoughts?

 

I am Scuderia Audio (owner).

 

Will your new 458 stealth setup power the electrostats as well or is just the door speakers it drives?

 

The replacement amp is a Mosconi 6|8 OEM DSP amplifier. Channels 1 & 2 will cover the door speakers, 3 & 4 will cover the rear speakers, and channels 5 & 6 are bridged to deliver 230 Watts to an add on subwoofer. I could assemble a custom harness that would power the stats if you didn't want a subwoofer. That being said, you really don't want midranges or tweeters behind you. It screws up the sound stage. No IASCA competitor would ever do this. Ferrari did what they did in order to place as many speakers in the car wherever there was room. It does fill the car with lots of sound, but there is no imaging.

 

If your recommendation is to leave them out then that works for me. I may look into getting the complete stealth kit from you with subwoofer (and Focals for the doors) in the fall when it’s a little cooler here in Texas. For now I’ll unplug and mess with the electrostatics and see if I can bandaid the problem. Thanks for all the help!


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No worries. I sell one or two of these systems a week. Just sold one about 30 minutes ago.

 

@SoftwareDrone what is the best routing for the subwoofer wire? Under the carpet and seat?

 

Either under the center console or under the passenger side door sill.

 

Ok going to continue on the "jerk" theme but just can't resist-

Maybe the "crackling and pops" you are hearing is THE AMAZING SOUND OF A 560 HP NA FERRARI ENGINE DOWNSHIFTING

Sorry- I understand people enjoy audio systems and infotainment in modern Ferraris- Enjoy how you wish


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@Shorn355 At a stoplight it is not the car downshifting - the engine noise I would enjoy. It's the electrical popcorn noise behind me ruining the experience!

 

Yeah that would be annoying- Good luck with the fix! I've never turned the audio system on in my 458 so could very well have the same issue- Hope it gets sorted out- Cheers

 

Update: Turned the car on last night and could not get the problem to replicate. I wiggled all of the connectors on the electrostatic and there was no popping. Drove around for half and hour with zero problems. This leads me to believe that @SoftwareDrone is correct and I have an amplifier issue that is happening only occasionally.