$20 stereo upgrade

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Aug 8, 2008 | 12:10 PM

blu-prl

Thread Starter

Stage IV

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 4

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From: snohomish, wa

$20 stereo upgrade

Hi folks... new to posting on this forum ( although I have been reading for the past 6 mos or so)

I just installed (last Friday) a Biketronics kit on my 07 FLHT. I upgraded to the sony 680 w/ipod cable and a set of after market speakers (Memphis Audio)

After installing (which takes about 1.5 hours) I rode 50 miles on Saturday(mainly highway) and 50 miles on Sunday (mainly country roads). The sound was decent, nothing spectacular, but decent.

On my way home Sunday, I stopped by a Stereo Shop and picked up a package of Dynomat- 2 10X10 sheets for $20. When I returned home, I popped the front fairing of, cut the sheets to fit and stuck them on the inside of the fairing behind speakers.

I rode the bike 3 days this week to the office (about 65 miles roundtrip) and the sound quality has improved significantly... Sound is much cleaner now and I do not need nearly the same volume level as I was using before.

Well worth the $20 and the hour it took to de-install/re-install the faring and put it in... imho

Just thought I would share this with the group

Also, for any of you FLHT guys out there with a non factory radio, Here's another cheap upgrade for you. I had the glove box liner already. I cut the zippered portion off, just behind the velcro. Placed new velcro around the radio mount and re used the zippered portion... It looks much cleaner than the plastic splash guard that come in the retro kit, and keeps the sunlight and rain off the radio. The only down side is controlling the radio (other that with the handlebar controls) at a stop light/sign is impossible. Not a big deal for me, I only listen to 1 station or my Ipod. And because it is velcro, you can pop it on/off in 2 seconds when you need to remove your radio's face plate. Pop it back on... and it doesn't look like you have a radio installed in your bike.... it helps keep honest people honest-

Enjoy

Aug 8, 2008 | 12:38 PM

garyhendley

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 2,706

Likes: 1

From: Sunland, CA

you can buy sound pads from any electrical distributor for about $3.75 ea
they are 10 x 10" putty pads you mold on to the back of the speakers
the same effect-ride safe

Aug 8, 2008 | 02:35 PM

ponesma

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 218

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From: Volo, Illinois

This is interesting. I have done the same radio upgrade to my FLTR (Sony, Biketronics and HogTunes). Can I get a bit more info on how you install these pads? Do I just form the pads to surround the speaker, to cover the backside of the speaker. How do they stay on the there?

No chance you have any pictures?

Aug 8, 2008 | 02:50 PM

itsmyforte

Tourer

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 282

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From:

Go to walmart, buy a bag of poly-fill(polyester fibers in a bag) for about $2.50. Fit as much of the polyfill inside the fairing as you can, but don't "pack it tight", it should be loose. It slows down wave propagation in the fairing area so you don't have as much cancellation in the bass/midrange frequencys. You could also use this in addition to the dynamat approach which will stop vibrations in the fairing itself. You do not want to "cover" the back of the speaker with dynamat or pads as some have called it. You place it everywhere but on the speaker itself.

blu-prl, thats a **** idea about the velcro radio bag. +1

polyfill material link: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=260-317

dynamat/dampening material: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=268-030

Last edited by itsmyforte; Aug 8, 2008 at 03:00 PM.

Aug 8, 2008 | 02:58 PM

acchd

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 3,002

Likes: 86

From: Charlotte Metro

Thanks for the tip on Dynomat as I have a Dragonfly fairing under stereo construction. Several members have said the MH Instruments 100 watt mini amp is great. It's only $50 too

.

http://www.mhinstruments.com/products/mini_amp.htm

Aug 8, 2008 | 02:58 PM

blu-prl

Thread Starter

Stage IV

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: snohomish, wa

ponesma-

i am not sure how the putty works that garyhendley refers too....
the dynamat( i spelled in wrong the 1st time)is adhesive backed and sticks directly to the fairing not to the speaker. I traced a template(of the inside of the fairing) on paper 1st. I then cut it out with scissors and laid it on top of the dynomat. Cut the dynamat to fit. Peeled of the backing and placed it on. Smooth out all air pockets, Reinstall fairing and enjoy

. It is simply a dense material that reflects the sound better than the plastic- like material of the fairing-

sorry, but i forgot to take pics while i was doing it

feel free to shoot me a pm and i can go into further detail