A question for the gurus on amp install/settings
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 428
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From: New Hampshire
A question for the gurus on amp install/settings
So this will be the first time I've set up an amp on a bike so I'm not completely unfamiliar with it. The current set up is an aquatic AV head unit (MP-5UBT-H) and Focal EC165K (K2 power coaxials) in the front. I will eventually be adding 6x9's in the rear of the bike but I need to give the bank account a rest for a bit but to push these I picked up an Arc Moto 600.4, 4 channel amp.
So here are my questions.
- normally when I've installed an amp in a car I've just grounded it somewhere to the frame, the Arc manual recommends against this and tells you that grounding to the battery is fine. Which way do you guys go when you installed yours?
- I'm concerned about the settings, I believe the Focals are 2ohms so I need to use those settings. Is it best to get 2ohm rear speakers as well? I'm open for recommendations here as well.
- Final one, I've heard the gauge of speaker wire doesn't matter much or at all. What's the thought on this? The amp requires a minimum gauge for power why wouldn't a larger gauge speaker wire be needed for most efficiency as well?
thanks guys!
So here are my questions.
- normally when I've installed an amp in a car I've just grounded it somewhere to the frame, the Arc manual recommends against this and tells you that grounding to the battery is fine. Which way do you guys go when you installed yours?
- I'm concerned about the settings, I believe the Focals are 2ohms so I need to use those settings. Is it best to get 2ohm rear speakers as well? I'm open for recommendations here as well.
- Final one, I've heard the gauge of speaker wire doesn't matter much or at all. What's the thought on this? The amp requires a minimum gauge for power why wouldn't a larger gauge speaker wire be needed for most efficiency as well?
thanks guys!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 277
From: Hawkeye state
So this will be the first time I've set up an amp on a bike so I'm not completely unfamiliar with it. The current set up is an aquatic AV head unit (MP-5UBT-H) and Focal EC165K (K2 power coaxials) in the front. I will eventually be adding 6x9's in the rear of the bike but I need to give the bank account a rest for a bit but to push these I picked up an Arc Moto 600.4, 4 channel amp.
So here are my questions.
- normally when I've installed an amp in a car I've just grounded it somewhere to the frame, the Arc manual recommends against this and tells you that grounding to the battery is fine. Which way do you guys go when you installed yours?
- I'm concerned about the settings, I believe the Focals are 2ohms so I need to use those settings. Is it best to get 2ohm rear speakers as well? I'm open for recommendations here as well.
- Final one, I've heard the gauge of speaker wire doesn't matter much or at all. What's the thought on this? The amp requires a minimum gauge for power why wouldn't a larger gauge speaker wire be needed for most efficiency as well?
thanks guys!
So here are my questions.
- normally when I've installed an amp in a car I've just grounded it somewhere to the frame, the Arc manual recommends against this and tells you that grounding to the battery is fine. Which way do you guys go when you installed yours?
- I'm concerned about the settings, I believe the Focals are 2ohms so I need to use those settings. Is it best to get 2ohm rear speakers as well? I'm open for recommendations here as well.
- Final one, I've heard the gauge of speaker wire doesn't matter much or at all. What's the thought on this? The amp requires a minimum gauge for power why wouldn't a larger gauge speaker wire be needed for most efficiency as well?
thanks guys!
Those Focal are 4 ohm.
Power and ground carries a lot of current, hence the need for the size. Speaker wire carries ac voltage and minimal current. 16g speaker wire is the best for the power you will be using.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,621
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From: Indianapolis IN.
Ditto!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,267
Likes: 135
From: Midland Twp, MI
Those EC165Ks are awesome. Focal did a really good job when they updated the KRCs. After running both i think the EC165Ks are warmer and have a little more bass response than the KRCs. They'll take 150 watts all day from my experience. Best coaxial speaker I've used so far.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 4
From: New Hampshire
Rather than start a new thread I decided to pull this one back up. It warmed up enough here to do the amp install as well as put in my rear speakers. So here's my set up and my current problem.
Aquatic AV Head unit
Arc Moto 600.4 amp wired through the speaker wires and not the RCAs
Focal EC 165 fronts
Hertz MPX690 rears.
When I turn off the internal amp of the head unit the volume is barely loud enough to hear with the engine off. Adjusting the gain upward does nothing, with the internal amp on the sound is very loud with the volume at 4. I'm not sure if I have something wrong in my settings or what. Any advice would be great at this point.
Aquatic AV Head unit
Arc Moto 600.4 amp wired through the speaker wires and not the RCAs
Focal EC 165 fronts
Hertz MPX690 rears.
When I turn off the internal amp of the head unit the volume is barely loud enough to hear with the engine off. Adjusting the gain upward does nothing, with the internal amp on the sound is very loud with the volume at 4. I'm not sure if I have something wrong in my settings or what. Any advice would be great at this point.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,789
Likes: 277
From: Hawkeye state
Rather than start a new thread I decided to pull this one back up. It warmed up enough here to do the amp install as well as put in my rear speakers. So here's my set up and my current problem.
Aquatic AV Head unit
Arc Moto 600.4 amp wired through the speaker wires and not the RCAs
Focal EC 165 fronts
Hertz MPX690 rears.
When I turn off the internal amp of the head unit the volume is barely loud enough to hear with the engine off. Adjusting the gain upward does nothing, with the internal amp on the sound is very loud with the volume at 4. I'm not sure if I have something wrong in my settings or what. Any advice would be great at this point.
Aquatic AV Head unit
Arc Moto 600.4 amp wired through the speaker wires and not the RCAs
Focal EC 165 fronts
Hertz MPX690 rears.
When I turn off the internal amp of the head unit the volume is barely loud enough to hear with the engine off. Adjusting the gain upward does nothing, with the internal amp on the sound is very loud with the volume at 4. I'm not sure if I have something wrong in my settings or what. Any advice would be great at this point.
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