More power vs. more speakers vs. higher efficiency
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 412
From: Indianapolis IN.
I'd say most guys have their biked parked 60 percent of the time. Hence the cool factor T. Between work and family how much do we really ride? Two or three long trips in a year? several little short trips? Less than that if you live in the Midwest or East. You Texas and Florida boys have it much better than we do. lol
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 747
Likes: 52
From: Alabama
Power is the most important to me. Of course I don't want distortion, and want clean SQ throughout the band width. But my requirements are no more bag space given up other than the 6x9's in the lids. No cutting of front fairing, just 6.5's in speaker holes and horns in gauges. Not giving up razor or full tour pack space for speakers or amp. Don't want tour pack pods or lower pods. So I am stuck with a 6 speaker system if you count horns as separates. So the only way for me to achieve the volume I needed was power. Funny thing is the last two bike nights at two different HD dealerships, my bike got more love than a 10-12 speaker bike that has $6500 in audio. I'm not saying I can compete with his bass, volume, or SQ. What I am saying is most people seem to be very impressed with a stock configuration system that plays as loud as mine does with the clarity that it has at that higher volume. I am showing a lot of people in my area, that you can have what the majority of peoples unicorn is for under $2000.
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Banned
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 196
From: Miami, FL
I'd say most guys have their biked parked 60 percent of the time. Hence the cool factor T. Between work and family how much do we really ride? Two or three long trips in a year? several little short trips? Less than that if you live in the Midwest or East. You Texas and Florida boys have it much better than we do. lol
G.....Baggerbills post is great because you and I both have tried and sent each other so many products to test out without really knowing anything abotu them! Remember those huge Zapco amps, I bet your bike now sounds better with less power. So really this thread is not so much as knowing what the finish line is, but rather where do you start planning.
If a guy on here says "I want more volume" or "I want more bass" where do they start. How many times have I read that speaker sucks for bass, or that speaker is great for bass. So does he need a different speaker, or maybe he needs more power, or maybe he need more speakers.....heck maybe he needs less speakers and more power!! Which is why Bills bike is kicking ****. It's a combination of power, efficient speakers and horns, with bass speakers in the back.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 672
From: Andover, MN
Power is the most important to me. Of course I don't want distortion, and want clean SQ throughout the band width. But my requirements are no more bag space given up other than the 6x9's in the lids. No cutting of front fairing, just 6.5's in speaker holes and horns in gauges. Not giving up razor or full tour pack space for speakers or amp. Don't want tour pack pods or lower pods. So I am stuck with a 6 speaker system if you count horns as separates. So the only way for me to achieve the volume I needed was power. Funny thing is the last two bike nights at two different HD dealerships, my bike got more love than a 10-12 speaker bike that has $6500 in audio. I'm not saying I can compete with his bass, volume, or SQ. What I am saying is most people seem to be very impressed with a stock configuration system that plays as loud as mine does with the clarity that it has at that higher volume. I am showing a lot of people in my area, that you can have what the majority of peoples unicorn is for under $2000.
^^^. My exact thoughts. I want to stay with 4 speakers plus horns. If I can get by with one amp, even better! Now if Haze can match up my unicorn, I will be a happy man!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,358
Likes: 53
From: WA State
I'd say most guys have their biked parked 60 percent of the time. Hence the cool factor T. Between work and family how much do we really ride? Two or three long trips in a year? several little short trips? Less than that if you live in the Midwest or East. You Texas and Florida boys have it much better than we do. lol
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 574
Likes: 34
From: Idaho
Yep this, I am not the guy the rides up to bar with stereo blasting or sitting in town with it cranking, stereo is for my enjoyment not a check me out my stereo is bad **** . Winter sucks and cant ride to work kids grown so bike is weekend worrier time and we hit it hard only reason care what it sounds like parked is because if its right should sound good parked or down the road.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 85
Likes: 1
From: IL
I don't know enough probably to say much, but from a weekend worrier "loud and clear" is all it's about. No parking lot audio. Not once in 25 years have I or heard anyone use their sled for listening to tunes while parked. For me, the best I have ever heard has been the DD's with a quality amp and aftermarket HU.
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Banned
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,177
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From: Miami, FL
He's not wrong though....your bike is still parked 60% of the time whether tunes are playing or not!
So here's the thing, whether you are parked, riding, or in a show the formula to get there still centers around more power, more speakers, or greater efficiency. I would offer that if you're radio is never on while parked then there is ZERO need for speakers inside your bags, and I would also say that speakers in your lids are probably not needed either if you are a solo rider. It's wasted power! (this coming from the guy that sells speakers and amps).
It goes back to the fundamental start....if you want more (and in the case of the guys who "ride" is more defined as bass, volume, etc. well that applies to anyone) then where should you concentrate your efforts. For example are you better off with 100w to each lower and fairing speaker or are you better off with 200w to just your fairing?
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Banned
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 196
From: Miami, FL
That's a great question and perhaps an alternate approach is not to ADD more speakers but in this case add more power. Many of you guys only want amps in your fairing. So if you want louder or think you need more would you be better off with less speakers (maybe 4 8.8's instead of 6) and MORE power to those four instead of less power and more speakers.....or do you need a combination of more efficient speakers that require less power and then just one set of 8.8's to provide the balance. If you think you need 8 full range speakers and need to add more amps(power) somehow you may miss a better opportunity.
I've tried a BUNCH of stuff and I'm confident that a combination of efficient speakers, efficient amps, less speakers and more power to those speakers nets a better result. Here's an example. Bagger Bill is running two T400X4AD, he has one running his MMats at about 100w and the other channel running the horns at about 50-60watts. No more juice needed there. Then he has the other one bridged at 200w to a set of Arc Moto 6X9's in his lids. I think he'd get better results with this current set up rather than adding another set of 6X9 inside his bags and then giving each set 100w. He's better off with less speakers and more power in this case (which was also his input in his post).
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 188
From: Manitowoc county
He's not wrong though....your bike is still parked 60% of the time whether tunes are playing or not!
So here's the thing, whether you are parked, riding, or in a show the formula to get there still centers around more power, more speakers, or greater efficiency. I would offer that if you're radio is never on while parked then there is ZERO need for speakers inside your bags, and I would also say that speakers in your lids are probably not needed either if you are a solo rider. It's wasted power! (this coming from the guy that sells speakers and amps).
It goes back to the fundamental start....if you want more (and in the case of the guys who "ride" is more defined as bass, volume, etc. well that applies to anyone) then where should you concentrate your efforts. For example are you better off with 100w to each lower and fairing speaker or are you better off with 200w to just your fairing?
So here's the thing, whether you are parked, riding, or in a show the formula to get there still centers around more power, more speakers, or greater efficiency. I would offer that if you're radio is never on while parked then there is ZERO need for speakers inside your bags, and I would also say that speakers in your lids are probably not needed either if you are a solo rider. It's wasted power! (this coming from the guy that sells speakers and amps).
It goes back to the fundamental start....if you want more (and in the case of the guys who "ride" is more defined as bass, volume, etc. well that applies to anyone) then where should you concentrate your efforts. For example are you better off with 100w to each lower and fairing speaker or are you better off with 200w to just your fairing?