Hogtunes or not...
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Thanks for the input UN. I am tempted to try the 4ch RF amp. I've read many posts here on guys that have used that amp with no issues. I even read of someone who mounted two of them. The DB speakers have that open grill design, not good on a bike. The DXI are reasonably priced but 60 watts continuous. The RF amp is rated at 75 watts. Any worry with damaging the speaker?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
obviously you want as good a speaker as you can afford and if me, for the fairing I'd go with the Titan II 6.5 or 7.1" . The rear pods though you're pretty limited on what you can put in there because of depth and the diameter of the magnets. Take a look at the specs on the Polk MM651 speakers to get the measurements of the speaker you'll have to stay within to fit back there.
Thanks for the input UN. I am tempted to try the 4ch RF amp. I've read many posts here on guys that have used that amp with no issues. I even read of someone who mounted two of them. The DB speakers have that open grill design, not good on a bike. The DXI are reasonably priced but 60 watts continuous. The RF amp is rated at 75 watts. Any worry with damaging the speaker?
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood Tx
Hey graf, I've been trying to make up my mind on the same thing. I've been back and forth on whether to get the PBR300x4 or the Soundstream PN4.520
If I get the PBR amp then I'm commited to either the DB or DXI speakers. Should I have an issue with the PBR amp then I am stuck with 4 ohm speakers. The MM series are a better speaker both in construction, sound, and efficiency. You could get the MM's and roll the dice on the soundstream. If you don't lose the FM then, from what I've read on here, you've got a nice setup for a reasonable amount of money. If you are one of those with problems then you can try to sell the amp. This puts you in a tough spot because you cant go to the 4 channel PBR at this point due to the impedance issue. This narrows your choices to the amps that are "motorcycle" specific ie J&M, Biketronics, etc. These are going to be considerably more expensive so your end cost is going to go way up. I think this probably sums it up in a nutshell.
I don't know if anyone has tried to figure out (if even possible) what percentage of SS amps cause problems. 50/50 60/40 ?? That might help in your decision if you knew it was a possibility but it was slight or conversely, if it was almost guaranteed to cause issues. This is what I have come up with after reading countless posts. I hope that helps
If I get the PBR amp then I'm commited to either the DB or DXI speakers. Should I have an issue with the PBR amp then I am stuck with 4 ohm speakers. The MM series are a better speaker both in construction, sound, and efficiency. You could get the MM's and roll the dice on the soundstream. If you don't lose the FM then, from what I've read on here, you've got a nice setup for a reasonable amount of money. If you are one of those with problems then you can try to sell the amp. This puts you in a tough spot because you cant go to the 4 channel PBR at this point due to the impedance issue. This narrows your choices to the amps that are "motorcycle" specific ie J&M, Biketronics, etc. These are going to be considerably more expensive so your end cost is going to go way up. I think this probably sums it up in a nutshell.
I don't know if anyone has tried to figure out (if even possible) what percentage of SS amps cause problems. 50/50 60/40 ?? That might help in your decision if you knew it was a possibility but it was slight or conversely, if it was almost guaranteed to cause issues. This is what I have come up with after reading countless posts. I hope that helps
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
my guestimate is probably 50/50 shot it will or will not cause FM reception issues.
Out of 7 that I've done here locally, only 1 had the issue and fortunately it was a 2 speaker setup so resolve was a PBR300x2. From what I gather reading the posts it's about 50/50...
Out of 7 that I've done here locally, only 1 had the issue and fortunately it was a 2 speaker setup so resolve was a PBR300x2. From what I gather reading the posts it's about 50/50...
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood Tx
I work for an airline and thought I'd ask one of the avionics guys about the interference issue. One of the guys happens to ride and he told me he had the problem when he added an amp. Notice he said had. I asked him what he did to solve the problem and he said he used lead. I didn't understand what he meant at first. He said he used a piece of lead between the radio and the amp and problem solved. He said you go to the roofing section at Home Depot and get a lead vent stack flashing. Take a 3lb sledge and pound it to thin it out. He said you don't need very much and by reducing the thickness it cuts down on the weight. When it's good and thin you cut a nice square the size of the radio. He said they use lead all the time to block the GPS signals on the planes when testing them. I thought he was yanking my chain. We were in the avionics shop when I was chatting with him. He takes an 8 inch square piece of lead from a shelf. He asks me what my cell number was and calls my phone, obviously it rings. He then put my phone on the table and laid the lead sheet over it and tried calling it again and nothing. It went straight to voice mail. He said wait a minute for the phone to look for the cell signal which he said it does every so often. When he uncovered the phone it said no signal. Then after about 15 seconds it got signal again. I would have thought it was total bs if I didnt see it myself.
Worth trying?
Worth trying?
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
lead has always been my suggestion but finding it mainstream is not so easy. Thanks for the tip on the vent stack...
I work for an airline and thought I'd ask one of the avionics guys about the interference issue. One of the guys happens to ride and he told me he had the problem when he added an amp. Notice he said had. I asked him what he did to solve the problem and he said he used lead. I didn't understand what he meant at first. He said he used a piece of lead between the radio and the amp and problem solved. He said you go to the roofing section at Home Depot and get a lead vent stack flashing. Take a 3lb sledge and pound it to thin it out. He said you don't need very much and by reducing the thickness it cuts down on the weight. When it's good and thin you cut a nice square the size of the radio. He said they use lead all the time to block the GPS signals on the planes when testing them. I thought he was yanking my chain. We were in the avionics shop when I was chatting with him. He takes an 8 inch square piece of lead from a shelf. He asks me what my cell number was and calls my phone, obviously it rings. He then put my phone on the table and laid the lead sheet over it and tried calling it again and nothing. It went straight to voice mail. He said wait a minute for the phone to look for the cell signal which he said it does every so often. When he uncovered the phone it said no signal. Then after about 15 seconds it got signal again. I would have thought it was total bs if I didnt see it myself.
Worth trying?
Worth trying?
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
I work for an airline and thought I'd ask one of the avionics guys about the interference issue. One of the guys happens to ride and he told me he had the problem when he added an amp. Notice he said had. I asked him what he did to solve the problem and he said he used lead. I didn't understand what he meant at first. He said he used a piece of lead between the radio and the amp and problem solved. He said you go to the roofing section at Home Depot and get a lead vent stack flashing. Take a 3lb sledge and pound it to thin it out. He said you don't need very much and by reducing the thickness it cuts down on the weight. When it's good and thin you cut a nice square the size of the radio. He said they use lead all the time to block the GPS signals on the planes when testing them. I thought he was yanking my chain. We were in the avionics shop when I was chatting with him. He takes an 8 inch square piece of lead from a shelf. He asks me what my cell number was and calls my phone, obviously it rings. He then put my phone on the table and laid the lead sheet over it and tried calling it again and nothing. It went straight to voice mail. He said wait a minute for the phone to look for the cell signal which he said it does every so often. When he uncovered the phone it said no signal. Then after about 15 seconds it got signal again. I would have thought it was total bs if I didnt see it myself.
Worth trying?
Worth trying?
Digging online, i also saw some of the EMI shielding foil/tapes (here are some from 3M). Thinking that might be easy to do between the HU and amp.
Wonder if copper or aluminum would work as well as lead w/o the weight?
