Expert: Cleggsan - 10/12/2011

Question
I have a jeep wrangler with a new kenwood headunit, infinity reference speakers
hooked up to a jl audio slash v1 500 1 amp and 1 alpine 10 inch type r with 1/0
gauge wire.

I used to have 6x9s hooked up to a dual amp and different hu but switched for sub. So basically if I hooked up RCA from amp to headunit no sound but amp was powered on but if hooked up to ipod via RCA there is sound. I tried to fix the
problem more than 1 way because I think it is a ground loop so I ran a ground from headunit ground to the rear amp ground but problem persisted. I then got a ground loop isolator and put it at the head unit hooked up to this double groundvand my system works but occasionally cuts out at higher volume for a brief
amount of time. Will this set up damage my expensive amp and system and what canvI do to make my system sounds the best and operates to full potential if anythingvwhile being protected? Also the thought crossed my mind that one of the speakers in my set up could be touching the car ground causing this problem is that possible or likely?"

Last I have another theory but would love an expert opinion before I follow through with it. I have heard some kenwood car stereos have a tiny internal fuse on the rca output that if blown could cause these problems.
I really would appreciate a response thanks

Answer
Sorry, I got a little lost trying to get the full picture of the problem. Let me see if I got it straight:  When you drive the rca inputs using an iPod you get music signal going through to the speakers.  But, when the signal is coming from the head unit outputs to the rca inputs of the amp you get no audio.  Did I get it right?

If the amp(s) are working correctly, as you wisely verified by using an audio feed from your iPod, then the problem is not getting signal from the head unit.  Why don't you check to make sure the rca cables are properly connect to the head unit ouputs.  Seems that is where the problem is.   And, you may have to do some switching around in the menu of the Kenwood head unit to make sure it is programmed for external feed to the amps.

It seems you have the remote power connection made properly or you would not have gotten audio when feeding with the iPod, but just check to make sure the remote wire from the head unit is connected to the remote turn on at the amp.

Any grounding, accidentally or intended from the speaker wires from the output of the amp to the speaker termainals is a potential problem,  so check them out as well.

As for the tiny fuse on the rca output - I have not heard of that so I have no comment.\\\

Hope this helps.  Let me know if there are further comments or questions.