Turning up Volume Audio Cutting Out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 31
From: Las Vegas
yep, in my bench testing for all amps with gain control I had to turn back the gain a "hair" to prevent clipping when bike was running compared to bike on ACC (not running). any dial in should always be done when running.
OP: on the "ultimate" setup, you need to provide your budget...
OP: on the "ultimate" setup, you need to provide your budget...
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 439
Likes: 435
From: Iowa
[QUOTE=AAWAV;13987071]yep, in my bench testing for all amps with gain control I had to turn back the gain a "hair" to prevent clipping when bike was running compared to bike on ACC (not running). any dial in should always be done when running.
Very good point guys !! Have followed these forums since 2012 and don't recall reading about setting gain while engine running but makes perfect sense. Would bet this is the reason many speakers are toasted early on. Solution usually ends with replacing a speaker hopefully under a warranty claim and dialing back on gain some. Thanks for the tip guys !
Very good point guys !! Have followed these forums since 2012 and don't recall reading about setting gain while engine running but makes perfect sense. Would bet this is the reason many speakers are toasted early on. Solution usually ends with replacing a speaker hopefully under a warranty claim and dialing back on gain some. Thanks for the tip guys !
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels TX
The static noise seems to have gone away. I would attribute that to the suggestion of either the wires picking up voltage from other sources or bad connectors, after shortening the wires and re-running them on top rather shoved into wherever the static is gone after ridding today.
Setting the gain with motor on, oh, didn't do it that way.
Current questions though.
Gain set less than 5, I sometimes get clipping at times in the songs with the volume turned up 9+ bars, is this normal?
I wear a full face helmet, sounds like the low end is muffled on songs and some of the higher ends pitches hurt my ears. Is this normal?
I switched over to my HD Headset and weirdly that sounded ok considering it was on a headset, but the music seemed more balanced and not so much low end overpowering the higher end.
Is this to be expected with 2 way speakers? The only thing I can compare to is my car stock radio (I know a bike system will never sound the same) and ear buds, or the speaker on a cell phone. I guess I don't know what to expect so maybe this is how it is supposed to be.
I would like to find another person with the same set up and play the same song like through Spotify and see what theirs sounds like. Anyone near me or coming near me hit me up I would love to meet with you and compare radio sounds and have you hear mine if it is how it should be.
I maybe just wanting too much for what a bike radio can do. I may have turned into an audiophile and need to change out the HU, and add more speakers, etc. Seems like I am missing something.
Setting the gain with motor on, oh, didn't do it that way.
Current questions though.
Gain set less than 5, I sometimes get clipping at times in the songs with the volume turned up 9+ bars, is this normal?
I wear a full face helmet, sounds like the low end is muffled on songs and some of the higher ends pitches hurt my ears. Is this normal?
I switched over to my HD Headset and weirdly that sounded ok considering it was on a headset, but the music seemed more balanced and not so much low end overpowering the higher end.
Is this to be expected with 2 way speakers? The only thing I can compare to is my car stock radio (I know a bike system will never sound the same) and ear buds, or the speaker on a cell phone. I guess I don't know what to expect so maybe this is how it is supposed to be.
I would like to find another person with the same set up and play the same song like through Spotify and see what theirs sounds like. Anyone near me or coming near me hit me up I would love to meet with you and compare radio sounds and have you hear mine if it is how it should be.
I maybe just wanting too much for what a bike radio can do. I may have turned into an audiophile and need to change out the HU, and add more speakers, etc. Seems like I am missing something.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 31
From: Las Vegas
[QUOTE=Jetblack3;13989068]
Look at bench test sticky in audio. It is mentioned there. Not a big difference between running an not running, but running then gains will be a tad lower. Unless you are pushing to max volume dialed in on not running when you run the bike, you should be okay...
yep, in my bench testing for all amps with gain control I had to turn back the gain a "hair" to prevent clipping when bike was running compared to bike on ACC (not running). any dial in should always be done when running.
Very good point guys !! Have followed these forums since 2012 and don't recall reading about setting gain while engine running but makes perfect sense. Would bet this is the reason many speakers are toasted early on. Solution usually ends with replacing a speaker hopefully under a warranty claim and dialing back on gain some. Thanks for the tip guys !
Very good point guys !! Have followed these forums since 2012 and don't recall reading about setting gain while engine running but makes perfect sense. Would bet this is the reason many speakers are toasted early on. Solution usually ends with replacing a speaker hopefully under a warranty claim and dialing back on gain some. Thanks for the tip guys !
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels TX
I can't push max volume to max even with the amp gain at 0 it starts to cut out. With the gain at 4 1/2ish it cuts out at 10 bars on the stock head unit.
I want more. Time to start another thread for a new head unit I guess. I want cleaner sound and I want more sound and I don't want it cutting out when cranked up.
I want more. Time to start another thread for a new head unit I guess. I want cleaner sound and I want more sound and I don't want it cutting out when cranked up.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,150
Likes: 459
From: S. FL
Do you see yourself adding lowers? Speaker lids? If so, start looking for a 4 channel amp. I was this same way with Kappas and PBR. When I swapped HU's I got better clarity, and when I ditched the amp and got a different one it was like those speakers were different speakers. The bigger the amp I put in my bike the better the kappas sounded. What's your budget? Without going overboard you could add:
RZ42000D Amp - 100.00
Sony MEX Radio - 170.00
ASWC-1 and Metra Intall Kit - 80.00
Then add lowers and speakers down the road. Of course you can go completely overboard too!
RZ42000D Amp - 100.00
Sony MEX Radio - 170.00
ASWC-1 and Metra Intall Kit - 80.00
Then add lowers and speakers down the road. Of course you can go completely overboard too!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels TX
I am now thinking I will want to add lower speakers, and a Head unit.
If I can't get louder and clearer sound than 9 bars on the stock HU and clipping than I will not be happy.
No one has responded to the question of is it normal to for the PBR300x2 with Kappas to be clipping with the gain set at 4 1/2 and the radio at 9 bars.
I am guessing this is what is to be expected, thus disappointed. I will start a new thread since this would be getting off topic about changing up what I do have.
Thanks for everyone's help.
If I can't get louder and clearer sound than 9 bars on the stock HU and clipping than I will not be happy.
No one has responded to the question of is it normal to for the PBR300x2 with Kappas to be clipping with the gain set at 4 1/2 and the radio at 9 bars.
I am guessing this is what is to be expected, thus disappointed. I will start a new thread since this would be getting off topic about changing up what I do have.
Thanks for everyone's help.
Last edited by Highwayman-AL; May 7, 2015 at 06:33 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 10
From: SF Bay area
I would say it's not normal.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 575
Likes: 190
From: USA
I am not thinking I will want to add lower speakers, and a Head unit.
If I can't get louder and clear sound than 9 bars on the stock HU and clipping than I will not be happy.
No one has responded to the question of is it normal to for the PBR300x2 with Kappas to be clipping with the gain set at 4 1/2 and the radio at 9 bars.
I am guessing this is what is to be expected, thus disappointed. I will start a new thread since this would be getting off topic about changing up what I do have.
Thanks for everyone's help.
If I can't get louder and clear sound than 9 bars on the stock HU and clipping than I will not be happy.
No one has responded to the question of is it normal to for the PBR300x2 with Kappas to be clipping with the gain set at 4 1/2 and the radio at 9 bars.
I am guessing this is what is to be expected, thus disappointed. I will start a new thread since this would be getting off topic about changing up what I do have.
Thanks for everyone's help.
- 2003 HU with gain set using VA at 2.5 - Vol 75% no clipping (Loud enough for 75mph w/ Full Face Helmet, shield open)
- Sony GS810BH HU with gain set using VA at 8 - Vol 75% no clipping (Loud enough for 75mph w/ Full Face Helmet, shield open)
- Kenwood KDC-998 with gain set using ear at 9 - Vol 70% no clipping (Loud enough for 75mph w/ Full Face Helmet, shield open)
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels TX
To update my problems. Today I took off the fairing and made several changes. I don't know what did what, but I now have the gain set on the PBR300x2 at about 5 using the DMM and sound test CD showing a voltage of 24.4. I am able to listen the the tunes on CD at 13 stock HU bars and it stopped clipping.
Things I did if this helps out who searches in the future.
I re-crimped all the connections.
I had 4 sheet of polyfill per speaker, reduced to 2 sheets stuff around the speakers.
I shorted the wire for the HU speaker input into the amp so know it is is not bunched up and tucked under the radio (I think this help with some static I was getting)
I set the gain with the bike running.
I found the DB button the tweeter and it was pressed in so I have it out now.
Part of the problem was I am playing MP3's music from my Road Tech Zumo 660, and I had the media volume turned up to 100%. I lowered that down to 80% with the radio set at 13 bars, and the gain set at 5. The clipping has stopped.
Sounds like I expected it to sound finally. However, I do want more. So I will be searching and asking questions about a different Head unit next, then updating the rear speakers, and adding bag lid speakers, or lower speakers. But that is for another thread.
Things I did if this helps out who searches in the future.
I re-crimped all the connections.
I had 4 sheet of polyfill per speaker, reduced to 2 sheets stuff around the speakers.
I shorted the wire for the HU speaker input into the amp so know it is is not bunched up and tucked under the radio (I think this help with some static I was getting)
I set the gain with the bike running.
I found the DB button the tweeter and it was pressed in so I have it out now.
Part of the problem was I am playing MP3's music from my Road Tech Zumo 660, and I had the media volume turned up to 100%. I lowered that down to 80% with the radio set at 13 bars, and the gain set at 5. The clipping has stopped.
Sounds like I expected it to sound finally. However, I do want more. So I will be searching and asking questions about a different Head unit next, then updating the rear speakers, and adding bag lid speakers, or lower speakers. But that is for another thread.