Configuring two 4-ch. amps??
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
scientific? LOL I'm not even close to being scientific about anything.
I try it, measure it, abuse it; I'll like it or hate it and will relay to you guys here.
I don't have any hands on/ears on with this particular amp but it does look promising for the installs that we're doing here, even for the 14s. Plenty of power to drive anything we'll put on a bike for sure. Keep in mind that this amp is made by the same manufacturer of SoundStream and PPI, which is Epsilon so I wouldn't expect to see much difference if/when I do test it and compare against the PN4.520D.
The key is going to be whether it affects FM reception and if it doesn't, that alone will be a major selling point for you Terrestrial Radio (as GlacierPearl calls it) guys/girls
I try it, measure it, abuse it; I'll like it or hate it and will relay to you guys here.
I don't have any hands on/ears on with this particular amp but it does look promising for the installs that we're doing here, even for the 14s. Plenty of power to drive anything we'll put on a bike for sure. Keep in mind that this amp is made by the same manufacturer of SoundStream and PPI, which is Epsilon so I wouldn't expect to see much difference if/when I do test it and compare against the PN4.520D.
The key is going to be whether it affects FM reception and if it doesn't, that alone will be a major selling point for you Terrestrial Radio (as GlacierPearl calls it) guys/girls
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 412
From: Indianapolis IN.
great news and great writeup sir. Much appreciated. One more option out there now.
The reason the manufacturer suggests running 4ga wire on these things (small class d amps) is because they are really designed to run subs where current draw will be a little higher. Albeit said, solid stranded 10ga wire is perfectly fine in the scenarios that we're installing them.
The reason the manufacturer suggests running 4ga wire on these things (small class d amps) is because they are really designed to run subs where current draw will be a little higher. Albeit said, solid stranded 10ga wire is perfectly fine in the scenarios that we're installing them.
Gannicus- I'm running 8 gauge wire, which is what was running to the SS...happily that meant i didn't have to change the power/ground leads!
When I get home from work tonight I'll fire up the bike and tune to a couple of the FM stations around- if I have FM I'll call it a semi-success; I never lost FM using the SS amp. A couple stations I normally listen to are pretty weak to begin with, so the slight static on them I noticed previously may simply be the tuner section of the Sony not being the greatest (doubt it though). Since I kept FM with the SS, I don't know why the PA would kill it off, since as Ultra noted, they're made by the same company. I don't know what is so different about my setup that I never lost the FM though...about the only thing non-stock on my antenna setup is the relocation kit (moves it from the middle of the filler panel to a tab UNDER the filler panel- thus moving it down and back some compared to stock.)...I tried a hidden antenna and that didn't work for me at all, so the relocation kit worked out well for me (I run a Tour Pak). Maybe in the unbundling the antenna lead and the way I routed it inside the fairing helped somehow...
Last edited by vhmike73; May 8, 2014 at 01:26 PM.
As I recalled (or at least thought I remembered; I rarely use terrestrial radio!!), my FM reception isn't bad at all, even with the PowerAcoustik Razor RZ4.2000D amp in the fairing:
Give it a listen...the video was taken with my iPhone 5 tonight (8MAY14). The FM stations all come in nice and clear (at least the ones that I routinely listen to). And I kinda think the sound is pretty damn good! I think the volume was at about "18" or so on the Sony HU.
I have to say, when I was roaring up the highway at about 70, I could hear the stereo WELL- and it was a good mix from both the front with nice fill from the back speakers. This amp is a winner!!
Give it a listen...the video was taken with my iPhone 5 tonight (8MAY14). The FM stations all come in nice and clear (at least the ones that I routinely listen to). And I kinda think the sound is pretty damn good! I think the volume was at about "18" or so on the Sony HU.
I have to say, when I was roaring up the highway at about 70, I could hear the stereo WELL- and it was a good mix from both the front with nice fill from the back speakers. This amp is a winner!!
Last edited by vhmike73; May 8, 2014 at 10:12 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,621
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From: Indianapolis IN.
Mike - Just for the sake of clarification. . .You are now using only the PA amp and have all your speakers wired in parallel @ 125 watts per speaker?
Last edited by Gannicus; May 9, 2014 at 04:16 AM.
To recap: that's the PA Razor RZ4.2000D mounted in the fairing in the same manner as the SS PN4.520D and running 8gauge power and ground leads, Biketronics BT7P1s in the batwing, Biketronics BT 471s (6.5") in the lower fairing paint-matched CVO Pods wired in parallel to the Front channel. I'm running Pioneer TS-D1602Rs (6.5") in the HogTunes Tour Pak Pods (had to carve out some plastic around the perimeter of the HT speaker opening, as their pods are made for their 5 1/4" speakers to allow 6.5" speakers to fit those pods, but they work!) and Pioneer TS-D6902Rs (6X9") in the HogTunes Lids wired in parallel to the Rear Channel. Of course, I am running off the HU's pre-amp outputs. And lastly- the head unit is a Sony DSX-S310BTX using the Biketronics BT1005 interface and the Metra 99-9600 dash mount kit. I also have an Audiovox XM radio tuner added to the Sony, and for USB, I have a tiny 16GB usb drive plugged into the Tune Tray's USB port, since the iPhone 5 won't work with the Tune Tray (though I can use it via Bluetooth). And as you could see in my quick video, I also retain FM signal.
There's the entirety of my audio- plenty of sources, plenty of speakers, and now plenty of power to drive it all while I'm cruising!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 412
From: Indianapolis IN.
Good Plan. . . Good Execution! Congrats again on your new set up Sir! The next guy I install a system for will be getting the PA amp just so I can have some first hand knowledge to pass on to others. . . lol
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: USA
My SS took a crap on me so I just purchased the RZ4-2000D after a couple PMs to UN. I was getting crossover between the front and rear channels, as in if I only had the front RCAs plugged in I would still hear some music coming from the rears and vice versa. I called SS since I had it for less than a year but since it wasn't "professionally" installed it only came with a 90 day warranty instead of the 1 year that is listed. I checked out the RZ4 warranty card and it's the same thing but I'm hoping to have better luck with it.