Speakers Popping on Startup or Shutdown

A speaker making a pop sound is caused by a surge of power being sent while the speaker is powered on. This usually happens when turning an audio system on or off while the speaker is connected to an external amplifier. It indicates that the speaker is receiving a surge of power after the amplifier turns on. This is likely related to wiring. When properly installed, the stereo will turn on first and the amplifier will turn on shortly after. When turning the stereo off, the amplifier will turn off simultaneously.

Before moving forward, update the software of the stereo and re-enter any DSP settings being used.

Troubleshooting checklist

• Turn off the stereo
• Verify the installation according to the installation manual
• Measure resistance on each speaker
  
• Reduce the Level / gain on the amplifier
• Check for any loose connections
  

The stereo should be connected to a 12v battery and the Blue AMPLIFIER ON wire should be connected to the REM terminal on the amplifier. The amplifier should be connected to a 12v / 24v battery depending on the amplifier, and connected to the same ground as the stereo. The speakers should be connected to the speaker terminals on the amplifier. All connections should be direct. Refer to each device installation manual for exact specifications. If the installation deviates from this configuration, an installer or electrician should be consulted.

A pop can also occur if resistance on a speaker is lower than it should be. Measure the resistance at the speaker terminals. A standard 4-ohm speaker should measure between 3.2 and 4.2 ohms. Significantly lower resistance than this can cause surges of power to the amplifier. A speaker showing this behavior should be considered faulty, disconnected, and replaced as it may cause other problems including damage to the amplifier.

Note: Always measure resistance on the speaker terminals themselves, not on the connected wires.

Further troubleshooting

If the checklist has been exhausted and a pop is still heard when turning the stereo on or off, the source of the power surge must be found.

1. Turn off the stereo
2. Disconnect 1 pair of RCA cables from 1 zone on the amplifier and turn the system back on
   • Repeat these steps for each pair of RCA cables for each zone on the amplifier
3. Turn off the stereo
4. Disconnect 1 speaker from 1 channel on the amplifier and turn the system back on
   • Repeat these steps for each speaker connected to the amplifier
     

If disconnecting any particular RCA cable resolves the popping noise, replace the RCA cable. If disconnecting any particular speaker resolves the popping noise, replace the wire connecting it to the amplifier in case of a short. If replacing the wire in question does not work, the speaker may have a bad voice coil and need replacing.