Many questions - Focal FDP Sport Amp
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From: New York
Many questions - Focal FDP Sport Amp
Accumulating parts for the winter upgrade -- So far, I have the Focal Amp, and have quotes from Biketronics for brackets, line leveler and amp tray and still trying -- TRYING -- to keep things simple. A few questions, of which I know there are no definitive answers. I'll take opinions, please -- as many as you've got:
1 - the FDP has Harley molex connectors included. I'm guessing that it still needs a flash to use them, or you're back to traditional wiring with BT 355?
2 - again, on the speaker connection, isn't it simpler to run the new speakers to the HD hardware, again using the prewired connector?
3 - On speakers, I really want to go simple, and leaning towards Faital coax because of recommendation here on the forum - they fit the BT brackets and don't require a xover -- then, someone here says they will. Really? I thought the advantage of coaxials is that they are a one wire, already simple xover'd speaker? If I'm going to need xovers, I might as well go the full monty with the Hertz 1630 kit w/matching tweeters? MUCH more complicated -- more tunable, sure. But trying to go simple -- what do you think?
4- I guess it matters on the speaker choice, but should I consider bridging the amp, since I'm only going 2 channel? Or will that blow stuff up?
5- Does anyone worry, or has noticed, that too much weight of upgrading amps/speakers is poorly affecting the handling of the motorcycle? Or even just pushing the bars around in the garage?
thanks, and a happy holiday!
1 - the FDP has Harley molex connectors included. I'm guessing that it still needs a flash to use them, or you're back to traditional wiring with BT 355?
2 - again, on the speaker connection, isn't it simpler to run the new speakers to the HD hardware, again using the prewired connector?
3 - On speakers, I really want to go simple, and leaning towards Faital coax because of recommendation here on the forum - they fit the BT brackets and don't require a xover -- then, someone here says they will. Really? I thought the advantage of coaxials is that they are a one wire, already simple xover'd speaker? If I'm going to need xovers, I might as well go the full monty with the Hertz 1630 kit w/matching tweeters? MUCH more complicated -- more tunable, sure. But trying to go simple -- what do you think?
4- I guess it matters on the speaker choice, but should I consider bridging the amp, since I'm only going 2 channel? Or will that blow stuff up?
5- Does anyone worry, or has noticed, that too much weight of upgrading amps/speakers is poorly affecting the handling of the motorcycle? Or even just pushing the bars around in the garage?
thanks, and a happy holiday!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2017
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From: indiana
What bike and year do you have? The focal sport will fit the stock amp tray on a 2014+ street glide (batwing) without needing an amp tray so if this is what you have, you wont need the amp tray. With the line leveler, you wont need a flash of any kind unless you add rears/lowers and want fade control front to rear. The hertz mlk 1650's have some of the BEST SQ on the market and will do you justice but not as loud as the pa faitals you are talking about. Those faitals are more of a hybrid speaker with a woofer and horn combined in one but like you said will need separate channels for the tweeter and woofers to make them sing. Speakers are a personal choice and everyone's ears are different.
For the wiring on the focal, with the line leveler you wont use the molex connector that comes with the amp. The line leveler will connect to the speaker output from your HU and rca connectors from the LL to the amp input.
Hope this helps.
For the wiring on the focal, with the line leveler you wont use the molex connector that comes with the amp. The line leveler will connect to the speaker output from your HU and rca connectors from the LL to the amp input.
Hope this helps.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,482
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From: Minnesota
The Faital coax is not a traditional coax speaker. The woofer and horn are fed separate. I would recommend a dsp to make them sound good. They also fit in the stock speaker pods.
As for amp tray, I would get a jm tray if your amp choice wont fit the stock tray.
As for amp tray, I would get a jm tray if your amp choice wont fit the stock tray.
Last edited by InthewindMN; Nov 24, 2018 at 09:04 AM.
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From: New York
What bike and year do you have? The focal sport will fit the stock amp tray on a 2014+ street glide (batwing) without needing an amp tray so if this is what you have, you wont need the amp tray. With the line leveler, you wont need a flash of any kind unless you add rears/lowers and want fade control front to rear. The hertz mlk 1650's have some of the BEST SQ on the market and will do you justice but not as loud as the pa faitals you are talking about. Those faitals are more of a hybrid speaker with a woofer and horn combined in one but like you said will need separate channels for the tweeter and woofers to make them sing. Speakers are a personal choice and everyone's ears are different.
For the wiring on the focal, with the line leveler you wont use the molex connector that comes with the amp. The line leveler will connect to the speaker output from your HU and rca connectors from the LL to the amp input.
Hope this helps.
For the wiring on the focal, with the line leveler you wont use the molex connector that comes with the amp. The line leveler will connect to the speaker output from your HU and rca connectors from the LL to the amp input.
Hope this helps.
But for now, which way should I go, and do I need to buy something else to mount the hertz tweeters and xovers cleanly?
Thanks also for the heads up on the tray. Yes, I own a 2016 SG.
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From: New York
thank you, I'm trying to really, REALLY avoid DSP addition.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Indiana
Personal opinion get which ever you can find cheapest. Heck if you can find the ml1650 mids stand alone there are a lot of tweets that will work well and save you some cash. It's not difficult to mount tweets in the grill. I posted some decent pictures of when I did it last year.
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From: indiana
Helps a lot, thanks Psye. You've convinced me to go Hertz. BT has quoted me the 1650 w/ a cheap tweeter and simple cap high-pass, sending the full spectrum to the midbass. This sounds to me like an overly simplistic bodge, although it's a drop in, one step move to the 1650, with BT manufactured bridges that fit -- and the price for the package is pretty good. Alternately, I can buy the 1650 kit with matching tweets and xovers -- but yields up questions on how to mount the tweeters and where to put the xovers -- not counting how to set them up!!
But for now, which way should I go, and do I need to buy something else to mount the hertz tweeters and xovers cleanly?
Thanks also for the heads up on the tray. Yes, I own a 2016 SG.
But for now, which way should I go, and do I need to buy something else to mount the hertz tweeters and xovers cleanly?
Thanks also for the heads up on the tray. Yes, I own a 2016 SG.
https://www.americanhardbag.com/coll...t-part-rgtwmpk
You can also mount the cross overs on the side of the bt speaker brackets.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Indiana
Meh if you read the Hybrid white papers you'll find that passive crossovers are a poor compromise for active tuning. Also the more you try to add to a passive to "fix" it the worse things get. If a mid can't roll off naturally and sound good it's probably poorly designed.
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Joined: Nov 2018
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From: New York
Meh if you read the Hybrid white papers you'll find that passive crossovers are a poor compromise for active tuning. Also the more you try to add to a passive to "fix" it the worse things get. If a mid can't roll off naturally and sound good it's probably poorly designed.
As for me, I just want tunes, not a show bike and the stock audio setup is plain crap. Also, I like to ride and am frightened that too much junk under the fairing will badly affect front end handling -- I've got real expensive ohlins fork cartridges that've really made the bike great to ride and don't want to mess that up. finally, and not to try to flame anyone and what they do -- I had a pretty long career in home audio and never liked the results of response fix/digital processing. Not that in this application it's probably the right way to go, but I can't get over a lifetime of avoiding it.........even in my bike. Call it a old habit that's tough to break.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Indiana
I'm sure at speed it probably won't be audible anyway. I'm sure the 1650 comp set is a dang fine setup. I just prefer to only use a cap on the tweets when running active isn't feasible. I also prefer paper cone mids to poly or aluminum that's why most heat say all ears are different.