Advice on setup for 14SG. New to bike audio and need help
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Cruiser
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From: Ohio
Advice on setup for 14SG. New to bike audio and need help
So I have been researching and researching, thought I made up my mind, looked some more and changed my mind etc etc. Anyway I have a 14 SG with lowers and a tour pak with pods. After looking and budgeting what I want to spend at this current time I have come up with a couple options. The tour pak is only on sometimes so I am not overly concerned with that off the bat. Basically I want to buy quality parts and do it in stages if thats reasonable. I have been talking to LL at 77 Customs and Biketronics. As I said I have made up my mind and changed it so many times its not funny. At this point I am looking at doing the Fairing speakers and amp. Later this summer I will probably add the tour pak speakers and probably lower speakers. Onto my options.
Option 1- Was the BT4180 with the 7.1's in the fairing only. Obviously that would include the speaker brackets and everything. I read alot about the BT4180, but not much on the speakers, and was told by a couple individuals I may be pretty underwhelmed by them and that there are much better speakers out there for the money. But everyone seems to love the BT4180.
Option 2- Diamond Micro 2v2 amp with Hertz Mille speakers in the fairing. And then when if I add lower speakers to bridge them on the 2v2 and if I do tourpak speakers to either get another 2v2 or get a 4ch amp at that point.
My thoughts were to get a 4ch amp from the get go to be setup for future additions. But I was advised that you shouldn't run only 2 channels on a 4channel because of an imbalance? Does this sound correct? That is why he recommended the Micro 2v2 instead of a 4ch at this time. So I am pretty overwhelmed with all the info I have been given and would really appreciate the advice from the knowledgeable people in the forums. Thanks for all your help!!
Option 1- Was the BT4180 with the 7.1's in the fairing only. Obviously that would include the speaker brackets and everything. I read alot about the BT4180, but not much on the speakers, and was told by a couple individuals I may be pretty underwhelmed by them and that there are much better speakers out there for the money. But everyone seems to love the BT4180.
Option 2- Diamond Micro 2v2 amp with Hertz Mille speakers in the fairing. And then when if I add lower speakers to bridge them on the 2v2 and if I do tourpak speakers to either get another 2v2 or get a 4ch amp at that point.
My thoughts were to get a 4ch amp from the get go to be setup for future additions. But I was advised that you shouldn't run only 2 channels on a 4channel because of an imbalance? Does this sound correct? That is why he recommended the Micro 2v2 instead of a 4ch at this time. So I am pretty overwhelmed with all the info I have been given and would really appreciate the advice from the knowledgeable people in the forums. Thanks for all your help!!
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Option 2- Diamond Micro 2v2 amp with Hertz Mille speakers in the fairing. And then when if I add lower speakers to bridge them on the 2v2
My thoughts were to get a 4ch amp from the get go to be setup for future additions. But I was advised that you shouldn't run only 2 channels on a 4channel because of an imbalance? Does this sound correct?
Imbalance? That's incorrect. The term is normally running a channel unloaded. Most four channel amps (not the 4180) are essentially two amps in one case. Channels 1 and 2 being one amp and Channels 3 and 4 being another. Now if you ran channel 1 with an unloaded channel 2 that may cause issues on some amps but highly unlikely on a Class D amp and you an always ground that channel if needed. The other channels 3 and 4 would be fine with no load.
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Cruiser
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Two things so that you are making decisions with good info. I think in option two you mean run the speakers in "parallel" not bridged. When you bridge you combine two channels together. So a four channel amp is a two channel and and a two channel amp becomes a 1 channel amp when bridged. When you run two speakers together it's called parallel. The issue here is that this amp is rated at 150 @ 4 ohm (one set of speakers) and 250 @ 2ohm (two sets of speakers in your case) so when you run two sets you are gonna take away at least 25w from your fairing speakers.
Imbalance? That's incorrect. The term is normally running a channel unloaded. Most four channel amps (not the 4180) are essentially two amps in one case. Channels 1 and 2 being one amp and Channels 3 and 4 being another. Now if you ran channel 1 with an unloaded channel 2 that may cause issues on some amps but highly unlikely on a Class D amp and you an always ground that channel if needed. The other channels 3 and 4 would be fine with no load.
Imbalance? That's incorrect. The term is normally running a channel unloaded. Most four channel amps (not the 4180) are essentially two amps in one case. Channels 1 and 2 being one amp and Channels 3 and 4 being another. Now if you ran channel 1 with an unloaded channel 2 that may cause issues on some amps but highly unlikely on a Class D amp and you an always ground that channel if needed. The other channels 3 and 4 would be fine with no load.
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Cruiser
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Makes sense. So would you suggest starting out with a 4channel from the start based on what I am planning on doing later this summer/winter? Or start with the 2channel and build from there. Or for instance if I had all the speakers replaced, fairing, lowers and tour pak would it be recommended to have even more than a 4 channel(such as a 4ch and a 2 ch) so that you don't loose power to whichever speakers you run in parallel? Also, what are your opinions on the Hertz Mille vs the BT 7.1's? I appreciate your help with taking the time to explain some things... I would much rather make a good educated purchase. Or I guess, based on what i have posted, what would your advice be to start out with for an amp and fairing speakers? I would like to keep the Budget around the $800 mark, but I am open to suggestions.
Last edited by newmanb138; Jun 9, 2016 at 09:54 PM.
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Best advice I can give is listen to Haze, don't run your fairing speakers in parallel with anything, they are what you will hear all the time.
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Cruiser
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Sorry for the confusion haze, the $800 is for 2 speakers and an amp. The other 4 will come later on.
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Originally Posted by newmanb138
Sorry for the confusion haze, the $800 is for 2 speakers and an amp. The other 4 will come later on.
Start hitting the audio classified a bit as there have been some screaming deals to be had on various equipment there as well.
BT4180 is a very very safe play. I dig that amp as it is an all around solid performer w lifetime warranty. Good/bad is that it is a "smart" amp and has no ***** on it should u become an audiophile and want to really dial gains and freqs in. If u don't see urself sitting in the garage talking to yourself about audio for hours on end, u won't give a rats **** about the *****.
Fathers Fay coming up so u can hopefully expect BT to throw down some 15% off specials on their goods.
Plenty of other very good options so take good notes, and take ur time.
T
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Cruiser
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I'm thinking u can do pretty damn good with that budget. U might even be able to drop some budget friendly Polk 651s in the lowers and get all 4 channels cranking right from the start.
Start hitting the audio classified a bit as there have been some screaming deals to be had on various equipment there as well.
BT4180 is a very very safe play. I dig that amp as it is an all around solid performer w lifetime warranty. Good/bad is that it is a "smart" amp and has no ***** on it should u become an audiophile and want to really dial gains and freqs in. If u don't see urself sitting in the garage talking to yourself about audio for hours on end, u won't give a rats **** about the *****.
Fathers Fay coming up so u can hopefully expect BT to throw down some 15% off specials on their goods.
Plenty of other very good options so take good notes, and take ur time.
T
Start hitting the audio classified a bit as there have been some screaming deals to be had on various equipment there as well.
BT4180 is a very very safe play. I dig that amp as it is an all around solid performer w lifetime warranty. Good/bad is that it is a "smart" amp and has no ***** on it should u become an audiophile and want to really dial gains and freqs in. If u don't see urself sitting in the garage talking to yourself about audio for hours on end, u won't give a rats **** about the *****.
Fathers Fay coming up so u can hopefully expect BT to throw down some 15% off specials on their goods.
Plenty of other very good options so take good notes, and take ur time.
T
Lets say someone is doing all 6 speakers at once.. What amp do you choose? A 4 channel with the fairings and lowers in parallel and the tour pak on the rear channels, or 2 2channels?... My head is beginning to hurt..