DS18’s ION1600.4D
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
From: Manitoba
As of right now, I have DS18 Pro-ZT69 in my saddlebags. My tour pack speakers aren't connected, even when the tour pack is on. In the fairing and tour pack right now, are Rockford Fosgate Stage 1 H-D speakers. However, I am switching the fairing speakers out for DS18 Pro-ZT6 speakers. This will give me comparable speakers in the fairing and in the saddlebags (225w fairing and 275w saddlebags). I will adjust the gains accordingly once I install an amp.
Like some have mentioned, I could replace the speakers in the tour pack with the same as the fairing, and wire them together in parallel. When the tour pack is off, those channels would run at 4 Ohms, and when the tour pack is on, 2 Ohms. The saddlebags would be on the other channel, always at 4 Ohms.
Likely over the winter I will install an amp (DS18 ION1600.4D) but for right now, everything will be running straight off the head unit (Factory 2018 Ultra Limited)
Like some have mentioned, I could replace the speakers in the tour pack with the same as the fairing, and wire them together in parallel. When the tour pack is off, those channels would run at 4 Ohms, and when the tour pack is on, 2 Ohms. The saddlebags would be on the other channel, always at 4 Ohms.
Likely over the winter I will install an amp (DS18 ION1600.4D) but for right now, everything will be running straight off the head unit (Factory 2018 Ultra Limited)
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
From: Manitoba
I ended up adding speakers and an amp a little sooner as funds became available. So currently I have DS18's all around. PRO-ZT69 in the saddlebags, PRO-ZT6 in my fairing, powered by the ION1600.4d amp. The PRO-ZT6 are on channel 1 & 2, and the PRO-ZT69 are on channel 3 & 4.
I tried setting my gains per the calculation and the chart on the pinned thread, but I don't get voltage higher than 13 v out of the speaker side of the amp. I am not sure if the factory 2018 head unit just doesn't produce enough voltage, or if something is wrong. I set my gains to about 3/4 and am running 12V on all four channels.
What I am considering is running tour pack speakers in parallel with the PRO-ZT69 in the back, and then adding lower speakers to run parallel to the PRO-ZT6 in the front. Staying with 4 Ohm speakers all around, that would drop the impedance from the amp to 2 Ohms. Not sure yet what that would do for my power to the speakers and thus the volume/clarity. I'm not adding a second amp and have no plans to do so. The speakers I am considering for the tour pack and lowers are either the PRO-ZXI 6.5" or the PRO-CF6.4SL 6.5".
I am open to any comments or suggestions (except add a second amp)
Thanks group,
I tried setting my gains per the calculation and the chart on the pinned thread, but I don't get voltage higher than 13 v out of the speaker side of the amp. I am not sure if the factory 2018 head unit just doesn't produce enough voltage, or if something is wrong. I set my gains to about 3/4 and am running 12V on all four channels.
What I am considering is running tour pack speakers in parallel with the PRO-ZT69 in the back, and then adding lower speakers to run parallel to the PRO-ZT6 in the front. Staying with 4 Ohm speakers all around, that would drop the impedance from the amp to 2 Ohms. Not sure yet what that would do for my power to the speakers and thus the volume/clarity. I'm not adding a second amp and have no plans to do so. The speakers I am considering for the tour pack and lowers are either the PRO-ZXI 6.5" or the PRO-CF6.4SL 6.5".
I am open to any comments or suggestions (except add a second amp)
Thanks group,
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,213
Likes: 671
From: Andover, MN
I ended up adding speakers and an amp a little sooner as funds became available. So currently I have DS18's all around. PRO-ZT69 in the saddlebags, PRO-ZT6 in my fairing, powered by the ION1600.4d amp. The PRO-ZT6 are on channel 1 & 2, and the PRO-ZT69 are on channel 3 & 4.
I tried setting my gains per the calculation and the chart on the pinned thread, but I don't get voltage higher than 13 v out of the speaker side of the amp. I am not sure if the factory 2018 head unit just doesn't produce enough voltage, or if something is wrong. I set my gains to about 3/4 and am running 12V on all four channels.
I am open to any comments or suggestions (except add a second amp)
Thanks group,
I tried setting my gains per the calculation and the chart on the pinned thread, but I don't get voltage higher than 13 v out of the speaker side of the amp. I am not sure if the factory 2018 head unit just doesn't produce enough voltage, or if something is wrong. I set my gains to about 3/4 and am running 12V on all four channels.
I am open to any comments or suggestions (except add a second amp)
Thanks group,
You should be getting close to 30 volts when running a 1 hz, -5 db test tone. Those amps run close-ish to rated power, which is 30.9 volts at 4 ohm.
-Is your head unit flashed?
-How are you connected from head unit to amp?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 255
Likes: 38
From: Michigan
First thing, lets start with your output voltage. You don't want to be moving anymore forward with our system until you get that issue figure out.
You should be getting close to 30 volts when running a 1 hz, -5 db test tone. Those amps run close-ish to rated power, which is 30.9 volts at 4 ohm.
-Is your head unit flashed?
-How are you connected from head unit to amp?
You should be getting close to 30 volts when running a 1 hz, -5 db test tone. Those amps run close-ish to rated power, which is 30.9 volts at 4 ohm.
-Is your head unit flashed?
-How are you connected from head unit to amp?
-How are you connected from head unit to amp?
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
From: Manitoba
I purchased the Metra BC-9715 wiring harness to connect the OEM head unit (2018 H-D Ultra Limited) to the amp. To power the amp, I also purchased the DS18 4ga amp wiring, and installed a 150amp mini-asl fuse. I haven't purchased a DSP or high/low converter. The amp input wires from the harness are soldered directly to the high input plug that came with the amp. the ground wires of the high input plug are soldered together and connected to the P/A accessory ground that the amp remote wire is also connected to. (remote wire is connected to the positive terminal)
The amp output is connected again to the BC-9715 wiring harness speaker wires, that connect back into the bikes wiring harness, and thus connect to the speakers. Channel 1 is connected to the left front, 2 is connected to the right front. 3 - Left rear & 4 - right rear.
I picked up a Klein Tools digital multimeter, as the one I had wasn't working. With it set to V~ and 200, I tested the voltage coming out of the amp with the head unit volume at three bars from the max volume. I had a 1khz tone file on a usb stick plugged into the bike that played for a minute and repeated, so that I could test the voltages. I had all speakers unplugged from the harness while I did the testing. However, I only tested channel 1 and 3 when setting my gains, as I figured 2 and 4 would be getting the same gain setting.
I also did have the head unit flashed by an independent audio company here in town. They used the technoresearch software. I believe he used the Soundz flash. (However I am not 100% sure)
The amp output is connected again to the BC-9715 wiring harness speaker wires, that connect back into the bikes wiring harness, and thus connect to the speakers. Channel 1 is connected to the left front, 2 is connected to the right front. 3 - Left rear & 4 - right rear.
I picked up a Klein Tools digital multimeter, as the one I had wasn't working. With it set to V~ and 200, I tested the voltage coming out of the amp with the head unit volume at three bars from the max volume. I had a 1khz tone file on a usb stick plugged into the bike that played for a minute and repeated, so that I could test the voltages. I had all speakers unplugged from the harness while I did the testing. However, I only tested channel 1 and 3 when setting my gains, as I figured 2 and 4 would be getting the same gain setting.
I also did have the head unit flashed by an independent audio company here in town. They used the technoresearch software. I believe he used the Soundz flash. (However I am not 100% sure)
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 37
Likes: 7
From: Manitoba
I have my set up complete at this point. I have 6 speakers, all DS18. Tourpack 6.5", fairing 6.5" and saddlebag 6x9. The DS18 ION1600.4D is installed in the fairing along with the VX4HL that DS18 said I needed to have. The radio speaker connections from the factory wiring are plugged into the wires for the Hi/Low converter, which outputs to RCA's that plug into the amp. I ran the 4ga wires to the battery to power the amp.
I have the radio flashed with the "Sounds" flash. It definitely lowered the curve and output voltage of the radio. I have my gains set to a maximum of 20VAC on the rear channels (250w @ 2Ohm) and pretty close to the same for the front (although my speakers allow for more). The highest voltage I can get out of the amp with setting the radio to 3 'bubbles' from max volume and playing a 1Khz audio file is 24VAC. If I do get anything higher, the clipping light begins to light up. I have tried turning the volume down on the radio a notch or two, but with 5 bubbles from max, I can only get about 10VAC if the gains are turned to 100% (which I don't want)
Overall, I think it is set up pretty good, until I get a new HU. I will start saving up for the SoundStream V2.
I have the radio flashed with the "Sounds" flash. It definitely lowered the curve and output voltage of the radio. I have my gains set to a maximum of 20VAC on the rear channels (250w @ 2Ohm) and pretty close to the same for the front (although my speakers allow for more). The highest voltage I can get out of the amp with setting the radio to 3 'bubbles' from max volume and playing a 1Khz audio file is 24VAC. If I do get anything higher, the clipping light begins to light up. I have tried turning the volume down on the radio a notch or two, but with 5 bubbles from max, I can only get about 10VAC if the gains are turned to 100% (which I don't want)
Overall, I think it is set up pretty good, until I get a new HU. I will start saving up for the SoundStream V2.
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