I finally did it...
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 683
Likes: 85
From: Ohio
I am keeping the DSR1 just in case but hoping that it sounds like the PBR300 did with the RF flash. The new Amp will be here today so I will hopefully get it wired in tonight and see. I will try it both ways and see what works best, if there is no significant difference at speed I prefer to leave it out. I am building this for riding and not my garage or a parking lot, no need to have symphony quality.
I am using low input with RCA plugs. This is with the RF Flash that worked great for my PBR300x2 and stock Boom 1 speakers.
This was initially installed with no DSP and after turning I found that there was a difference in on speaker so I ran a voltage test on all the lines and found one that was way off from the other 3. I tracked down the issue to a faulty RCA adapter so ditched the adapters for a Stinger RCA cable and soldiered the connections.
This was initially installed with no DSP and after turning I found that there was a difference in on speaker so I ran a voltage test on all the lines and found one that was way off from the other 3. I tracked down the issue to a faulty RCA adapter so ditched the adapters for a Stinger RCA cable and soldiered the connections.
It's not a dsp. It's a 10 buck item that takes the signal from stock HU and converts to RCA set up. When I did not have one, I could not control the amp worth beans. Could not properly test the output voltage with the test tone to set gains. Was all over the map. Once I installed the sni-35 (as Tailwind and others told me) then I finally had steady voltage out of the amp for gain setting.
I did get the RF amp installed and the sound is night and day from the Stinger, there had to be something wrong with that amp. I used the clip indicator to determine my max volume and it was about 75% which on a good head unit would be over 90%. The rear speakers sound much better as well, bass is solid and mids/highs don't hurt my ears. I love the input and output level adjustments on this amp, the indicators take the guesswork out of the gains. Once you figure out how it works, it WORKS. Now that it's all working I am planning on getting the RF Install kit so I can clean up the wiring and possibly get a bit better sound out of it. I will read up on it a bit before I drop coin but it looks to be a pretty good setup.
I did order the wiring kit from Rockford Fosgate. Once I plug that in the speakers will be on the stock wiring so that will eliminate the RCA plugs altogether. The amp has a plugin for the DSR1 so it can be integrated into the system if I want to keep it. As long as I can find somewhere to mount it I will do that. I just want to get the system fully operational before I start adding new components. I like the fact that the kit makes this plug-and-play, no extra wiring involved. Plus the mount has cooling fins on it so that should help keep the amp a little cooler.
Last edited by TexasMotorcycleRider; Jul 16, 2020 at 02:18 PM.
It's DONE!
Here is what I ended up with:
Rockford Fosgate TM400X4ad 400x4 Amp
Rockford Fosgate TMS69BL14 Rear Lid Speaker Kit with TMS69 6x9 Coaxial Speakers
Rockford Fosgate RFK-HD14 Amp Install Kit
Mmats 601CX 6.5" Full Range Coaxial Speakers
Rockford Fosgate DSR1 Digital Sound Processor
Adding the install kit was a really good update that let me get rid of all the RCA plugs and additional wiring. With the cable that comes in the kit, all the speakers (front and rear) are run from stock wiring. Once I had everything hooked up and set correctly, I can turn up to 100% volume with very little distortion. It sounds awesome in my garage and as expected, at 60-70 I can barely hear the rear speakers with a half helmet and earplugs but the fronts are audible at just over 50% volume. With no earplugs I can't go to full volume without discomfort.
On the amp, there is a clipping indicator. With the wiring harness and DSR installed it clips around 85%, before it was closer to 75%. RF has an update coming to the DSR that will utilize the "Vehicle" plug on the DSR and harness that will give the DSR access to the digital signal coming from the radio. This should get the clip down to nill at 100% and also allow for "Low Level" on the input side. That is excellent!! I am sure once that is available the gains can come up even more making this a tad bit louder than it already is.
Overall, I wish I would have went with the RF amp and install kit first as it is plug and play and sounds great. Would have saved some time but hey, it's all good experience. I have about $1500 into this not counting the wasted RCA cables I bought and cut up to make fit into stock plugs, adapters, etc. When you start pricing full speaker/amp kits it is easy to see how they can be so expensive.
Good Luck!
Here is what I ended up with:
Rockford Fosgate TM400X4ad 400x4 Amp
Rockford Fosgate TMS69BL14 Rear Lid Speaker Kit with TMS69 6x9 Coaxial Speakers
Rockford Fosgate RFK-HD14 Amp Install Kit
Mmats 601CX 6.5" Full Range Coaxial Speakers
Rockford Fosgate DSR1 Digital Sound Processor
Adding the install kit was a really good update that let me get rid of all the RCA plugs and additional wiring. With the cable that comes in the kit, all the speakers (front and rear) are run from stock wiring. Once I had everything hooked up and set correctly, I can turn up to 100% volume with very little distortion. It sounds awesome in my garage and as expected, at 60-70 I can barely hear the rear speakers with a half helmet and earplugs but the fronts are audible at just over 50% volume. With no earplugs I can't go to full volume without discomfort.
On the amp, there is a clipping indicator. With the wiring harness and DSR installed it clips around 85%, before it was closer to 75%. RF has an update coming to the DSR that will utilize the "Vehicle" plug on the DSR and harness that will give the DSR access to the digital signal coming from the radio. This should get the clip down to nill at 100% and also allow for "Low Level" on the input side. That is excellent!! I am sure once that is available the gains can come up even more making this a tad bit louder than it already is.
Overall, I wish I would have went with the RF amp and install kit first as it is plug and play and sounds great. Would have saved some time but hey, it's all good experience. I have about $1500 into this not counting the wasted RCA cables I bought and cut up to make fit into stock plugs, adapters, etc. When you start pricing full speaker/amp kits it is easy to see how they can be so expensive.
Good Luck!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 1,603
From: High Point, NC.
Now once those crappy RF speakers blow, that amp wont be enough to power anything worth replacing them with. They're known for that.
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This system is exactly what I was looking for. The amp has plenty of power to run any 100-150watt 6x9. I build my systems to ride, not sit in my garage so going down the road at 70-80 I have the fade all the way to the front unless my wife is riding with me. The rear speakers sound great, plenty of bass when parked and crystal clean to nearly 100% volume. It is LOUD!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 1,603
From: High Point, NC.
This system is exactly what I was looking for. The amp has plenty of power to run any 100-150watt 6x9. I build my systems to ride, not sit in my garage so going down the road at 70-80 I have the fade all the way to the front unless my wife is riding with me. The rear speakers sound great, plenty of bass when parked and crystal clean to nearly 100% volume. It is LOUD!
Also I know first hand the difference in rf 6x9 speakers and at least thebmmats 690s. I replaced mine with the mmats and was a HUGE improvement
My buddy is going through this right now. Spent 2500 bucks on a full rf system installed by black cat harley and its toast. Good luck.