You can always get a cheap active crossover that will be much less than a DSP!

 

I have a basic DSP in my HU...998. I have used signal processors in a few of my van builds (which I use to compete locally with), and of course on the sound boards when I worked with rock bands as a PA roadie (Santana and Montrose to name a few)!. I realize a sound processor is the best way to bandpass each individual speaker to send it the frequencies that each speaker is happy playing! If I decided to add a DSP, I would have to rewire my whole bike and of course spend more money. It would take more money and time that I am not willing to invest at this time! My bike sounds pretty damn good right now! Why are some signal processors called PSM's and some are called DSP's? Which PSM are you running and why that particular one?

 

PSM is the name of the Arc DSP. Kinda like the Fosgate is the DSR1 and JL is TWK88.

 

That's good to know Marshal!

 

Which one would you recommend, and do they come in multi channels?

 

Mike, it sounds like you are looking to bump your system up a noticeable bit from where it is now. I don't know near as much as most folks on this forum do but I also was in the same boat of resisting a DSP as long as possible. When I got to the point of running eight speakers of four different types I finally realized I just could not get the sound I wanted without a DSP. I could get each pair of speakers to sound pretty close to what I wanted them to with amp adjustments and crossovers, but I could not get them to all blend together properly.

I'm sure with your audio background you know what I am talking about. To sort of test the waters I bought a cheap $15 12v DC tone board off of Ebay and tinkered with it and was amazed at how I was able to get the speakers to sound more to my liking. I then decided to keep my eyes open for a used Arc PSM DSP. The reason I chose the Arc was because I knew my rear amp needed an obnoxious amount of voltage on the input to sound good in comparison to my front amp. The Arc has a line driver built in so I was able to boost the voltage of the signal to that amp without overpowering the front one. The voltage of each set of inputs can be adjusted independently.

Tuning became MUCH easier because I could have my PC plugged into the PSM so I could tune each channel on the fly and get each set of speakers sounding the way I wanted them to. I also found out after some test rides that I needed to boost the gain on a couple of channels so that they would blend better. I had run the gains of the amp to their limits trying to balance out my fairing speakers and lowers because they are very different sensitivity levels. The PSM made it drop dead easy to tweak the gains so that as I ran the volume up no one pair of speakers got ahead of or behind the others. This is something that takes some test rides to get right but it is easy as all get out when you have a DSP.

I'm not trying to say you are going about this project wrong, but having gone down that road myself I thought I'd share what I learned.

Good luck.

 

With a complex system & no DSP, ur simply going to plateau well below the true capability of your system.

T

 

Thanks for all the thoughtful reply's to my dilemma... I realize a Signal processor (DSP-PSM) is ABSOLUTELEY the ultimate way to provide the proper frequencies to each individual speaker! I was trying to find a great amp that I could bandpass the frequencies to each set of speakers, which IMO would be the next best alternative, and a more affordable option. Right now I have 6 sets of speakers on my bike, I can use the 998 (bullt in DSP} to run my front stage. I am now and, HAVE BEEN THINKING since I decided to add the GZCK 8's to my bags, about adding a DSP (probably the DD one) to my rear stage and replacing the SS TN with either a 6 channel amp like the MMats 6150 or 2 Sound digital amps! If I had buku amounts of cash laying around, it would be a no brainer... but like many on here how much discretionary income that is available for the unicorn hunt is always a real consideration! Saying all that I am leaning toward getting a DSP for my rear platform...mmm maybe add some horns also...lol

 

Think this thru Mike. U won't need 2 SDs to power those 6 speakers. Wiring strategy!

All the left over cash pays for a DSP!!!

T

 

I'm all about doing the most for the least amount of cash, so always looking for the cheapest alternative with a respectable quality of product/sound. I'll be trying tthe Dayton Audio DSP (new $150.) an a 4 speaker system hopefully this week. It's going in a Dyna with a small batwing fairing using Beyma coax's, and 2 PRV 8's in modified stock hardbags with horns. I've heard good reviews on the Dayton unit but I'll find out soon and let you know.