Any bass at all???
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477
Likes: 103
From: Nashua, NH
Any bass at all???
I’ve been reading this audio forum for a while now, and I’m amazed at the knowledge you all have, and your ability to work on all these complicated systems yourselves, so I’m hoping someone will know the answer to a simple, possibly dumb, question.
i do understand that bass frequencies diminish at speed. I have an ‘18 SGS that came with the “upgraded” Boom II system. Too quiet, and no bass. Went to a prominent car/cycle audio shop in my area, and they installed the Rockford complete H-D system, including authorized H-D flash. Loud, but no bass. Got rid of it.
Went to an award winning motorcycle audio shop who installed a custom system as follows:
Arc Audio Moto 600.4 amp powering 4 speakers. Arc Audio PSM DSP unit. Hertz 6.5 in the fairing, and Hertz 6x9’s in the lids. All tuned by a shop that clearly knows their stuff. Very, very loud. Guess what? No bass.
now I’m being told I need multiple 8” or 10” subs in the bags, lowers with mid bass speakers, additional amp, etc... plus sealing th bags. I’m sure all that would work great, but I use my bags. I ride. I tour, I carry stuff. I don’t not like the look of a tour pack, or lowers. I’m not trying to win the thumping bass award at bike week. I just want to hear a tiny bit of bass to sound better than a clock radio.
Funny thing is, I rented a standard 18 Street Glide in Vegas and rode it all over at highway speeds, and there was actually some bass. Not a lot, but sounded like a basic car radio. It was fine. I could hear it and there was some bass. Perfect. It wasn’t even an upgraded system. So that just made all of the above more perplexing.
So my question is this: Is there anything “simple” I could do, perhaps keeping some of my stuff? Or not. At this point, I have so much in it, I’m no longer concerned with the cost. It’s all about just a little bass!
Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
i do understand that bass frequencies diminish at speed. I have an ‘18 SGS that came with the “upgraded” Boom II system. Too quiet, and no bass. Went to a prominent car/cycle audio shop in my area, and they installed the Rockford complete H-D system, including authorized H-D flash. Loud, but no bass. Got rid of it.
Went to an award winning motorcycle audio shop who installed a custom system as follows:
Arc Audio Moto 600.4 amp powering 4 speakers. Arc Audio PSM DSP unit. Hertz 6.5 in the fairing, and Hertz 6x9’s in the lids. All tuned by a shop that clearly knows their stuff. Very, very loud. Guess what? No bass.
now I’m being told I need multiple 8” or 10” subs in the bags, lowers with mid bass speakers, additional amp, etc... plus sealing th bags. I’m sure all that would work great, but I use my bags. I ride. I tour, I carry stuff. I don’t not like the look of a tour pack, or lowers. I’m not trying to win the thumping bass award at bike week. I just want to hear a tiny bit of bass to sound better than a clock radio.
Funny thing is, I rented a standard 18 Street Glide in Vegas and rode it all over at highway speeds, and there was actually some bass. Not a lot, but sounded like a basic car radio. It was fine. I could hear it and there was some bass. Perfect. It wasn’t even an upgraded system. So that just made all of the above more perplexing.
So my question is this: Is there anything “simple” I could do, perhaps keeping some of my stuff? Or not. At this point, I have so much in it, I’m no longer concerned with the cost. It’s all about just a little bass!
Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 672
From: Andover, MN
Do you know exactly what Hertz are in the fairing?
Couple thoughts:
1) Might be a little low on power. 150w max to each speaker is a little low for Hertz
2) Tuning: that will make a big difference on the "bass" depending how they set up your DSP. You should be getting bass out of 6x9 Hertz
Couple thoughts:
1) Might be a little low on power. 150w max to each speaker is a little low for Hertz
2) Tuning: that will make a big difference on the "bass" depending how they set up your DSP. You should be getting bass out of 6x9 Hertz
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,855
Likes: 1,004
From: Southern Virginia
Old Iron what I did with my Arc 600 amp was dedicate it to the front stage. I then got a separate amp for the 6x9s in the back. Since you already have a good six channel DSP maybe you could get some lowers with mid bass speakers and run those off of channels 3 and 4 of the Arc while using channels 1 and 2 for the fairing speakers. Then you could use channels 5 and 6 of the DSP to feed a good tune to a new amp for the 6x9s.
The sky is the limit I just thought that might get you a little better sound without eating up all your bag space. I have a similar mindset as you. This thing is a motorcycle, not a rolling DJ booth. I like to listen to music but not at the expense of giving up a lot of the functionality of a touring bike.
The sky is the limit I just thought that might get you a little better sound without eating up all your bag space. I have a similar mindset as you. This thing is a motorcycle, not a rolling DJ booth. I like to listen to music but not at the expense of giving up a lot of the functionality of a touring bike.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477
Likes: 103
From: Nashua, NH
Do you know exactly what Hertz are in the fairing?
Couple thoughts:
1) Might be a little low on power. 150w max to each speaker is a little low for Hertz
2) Tuning: that will make a big difference on the "bass" depending how they set up your DSP. You should be getting bass out of 6x9 Hertz
Couple thoughts:
1) Might be a little low on power. 150w max to each speaker is a little low for Hertz
2) Tuning: that will make a big difference on the "bass" depending how they set up your DSP. You should be getting bass out of 6x9 Hertz
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477
Likes: 103
From: Nashua, NH
I asked my audio shop about that just the other day. He said: "8’s go inside the bags facing the wheel under the 6x9’s". "You will lose the front section of the bag". "However, you won’t ever get bass unless you have multiple larger subs, and bags built for bass". "Adding these 8’s will only give you a little more bass, but a lot more volume overall". "Not sure you’ll benefit while your riding".
I gotta thank him for his honesty. I have actually heard that many times as well on these forums.
I gotta thank him for his honesty. I have actually heard that many times as well on these forums.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477
Likes: 103
From: Nashua, NH
Old Iron what I did with my Arc 600 amp was dedicate it to the front stage. I then got a separate amp for the 6x9s in the back. Since you already have a good six channel DSP maybe you could get some lowers with mid bass speakers and run those off of channels 3 and 4 of the Arc while using channels 1 and 2 for the fairing speakers. Then you could use channels 5 and 6 of the DSP to feed a good tune to a new amp for the 6x9s.
The sky is the limit I just thought that might get you a little better sound without eating up all your bag space. I have a similar mindset as you. This thing is a motorcycle, not a rolling DJ booth. I like to listen to music but not at the expense of giving up a lot of the functionality of a touring bike.
The sky is the limit I just thought that might get you a little better sound without eating up all your bag space. I have a similar mindset as you. This thing is a motorcycle, not a rolling DJ booth. I like to listen to music but not at the expense of giving up a lot of the functionality of a touring bike.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477
Likes: 103
From: Nashua, NH
Old Iron what I did with my Arc 600 amp was dedicate it to the front stage. I then got a separate amp for the 6x9s in the back. Since you already have a good six channel DSP maybe you could get some lowers with mid bass speakers and run those off of channels 3 and 4 of the Arc while using channels 1 and 2 for the fairing speakers. Then you could use channels 5 and 6 of the DSP to feed a good tune to a new amp for the 6x9s.
The sky is the limit I just thought that might get you a little better sound without eating up all your bag space. I have a similar mindset as you. This thing is a motorcycle, not a rolling DJ booth. I like to listen to music but not at the expense of giving up a lot of the functionality of a touring bike.
The sky is the limit I just thought that might get you a little better sound without eating up all your bag space. I have a similar mindset as you. This thing is a motorcycle, not a rolling DJ booth. I like to listen to music but not at the expense of giving up a lot of the functionality of a touring bike.
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Joe Kucinski
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 106
From: Lancaster pa
Thanks Thatdude596. I liked your line about it being a motorcycle not a rolling dj booth. That sums up my thoughts exactly. I am just frustrated that after three premium systems by first the dealer, and then two respected, expert shops, I can't hear any bass/mid-bass at all once I put the bike in gear and start moving. I can't do lowers because i have a chopped engine guard, and well, I just don't like the look. You do have a point there about the power to the speakers. So I just emailed "my audio guy" to ask him about either upgrading to the new Arc 720 amp, or adding a second amp to separately power the 6x9's. He shot it down. Told me it would be wasting my money, and this guy is an Arc and Hertz dealer! Back to square one.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 641
Likes: 110
From: Ohio
Eveey 8 inch sub or mid bass I have seen in the bag does face the tire as that's how it gets mounted and hides the hole. They also are always in the rear lower corner of the bag . Saying they won't be noticeable is pure bullshit. Are they gonna be a xompetiton sounding sub, no. Will you hear and feel them at slow speeds and parked yes. Bass frequency gets lost in motion quickly. Call around to some other shops I think they are going to confirm what I stated and below
Imo you are grossly underpowered those hertz 6x9 and 6.5 buy only running a 700 watt amp. You're getting max 175 watts to each. Most people are pushing those speakers 300 watts each. That's almost double what you are pushing now. The more power the more they will be loud and wait for it........the more bass you will have.
Imo you are grossly underpowered those hertz 6x9 and 6.5 buy only running a 700 watt amp. You're getting max 175 watts to each. Most people are pushing those speakers 300 watts each. That's almost double what you are pushing now. The more power the more they will be loud and wait for it........the more bass you will have.