180 watts per channel - I may have solved my radio problem
#11
08-20-2009 | 11:22 AM
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Metro Denver
TexasFatBoy
Question for you:
Are you running an external XM unit or the HD module built into the HK radio??
IF you are using an external unit, you might look into adjusting the audio level up. I run a Sirius Starmate 5 on my UC and have found that when I put it on the bike (I switch it between my truck and the bike), I have to adjust the Starmate 5's Audio Level from 50% to 98%)...then run the HK at 50% and it is perfect for the road at 70 - 75.
As others have said...thanks for the write-up! Knowledge is always good and if I decided to upgrade my audio system at some point, I'll keep your post in mind.
Question for you:
Are you running an external XM unit or the HD module built into the HK radio??
IF you are using an external unit, you might look into adjusting the audio level up. I run a Sirius Starmate 5 on my UC and have found that when I put it on the bike (I switch it between my truck and the bike), I have to adjust the Starmate 5's Audio Level from 50% to 98%)...then run the HK at 50% and it is perfect for the road at 70 - 75.
As others have said...thanks for the write-up! Knowledge is always good and if I decided to upgrade my audio system at some point, I'll keep your post in mind.
#12
08-20-2009 | 11:39 AM
Thread Starter
|
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 34
From: ST. Louis
TexasFatBoy
Question for you:
Are you running an external XM unit or the HD module built into the HK radio??
IF you are using an external unit, you might look into adjusting the audio level up. I run a Sirius Starmate 5 on my UC and have found that when I put it on the bike (I switch it between my truck and the bike), I have to adjust the Starmate 5's Audio Level from 50% to 98%)...then run the HK at 50% and it is perfect for the road at 70 - 75.
As others have said...thanks for the write-up! Knowledge is always good and if I decided to upgrade my audio system at some point, I'll keep your post in mind.
Question for you:
Are you running an external XM unit or the HD module built into the HK radio??
IF you are using an external unit, you might look into adjusting the audio level up. I run a Sirius Starmate 5 on my UC and have found that when I put it on the bike (I switch it between my truck and the bike), I have to adjust the Starmate 5's Audio Level from 50% to 98%)...then run the HK at 50% and it is perfect for the road at 70 - 75.
As others have said...thanks for the write-up! Knowledge is always good and if I decided to upgrade my audio system at some point, I'll keep your post in mind.
Yeah keep this amp in mind I think there is a way to hookup four speakers off of it, but you'd have to ask Biketronics people about it.
I might add that I called Biketronics three times during the install and they were very cordial and seemed concerned to help me. Once to hookup the ground, once about a wire that was hiding on me and I couldn’t see it LOL (did I say I was no mechanic?) and once to verify which HD speaker wire was the negative.
#13
08-20-2009 | 11:48 AM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 15
From: sand mountain Alabama
Good write up.
I am also using the biketronics 180 watt amp and titan 6.5 inch speakers. Sounds very good and has great clarity.
You said you ran it up full volume at highway speeds. How in this world are you able to take that much volume?
I never run mine past 5 bars and sometimes I have to drop it to 4 bars because of the volume, it is very loud and clear. If above 80 I might go to 6 bars but then I change and go to my head set to cut out all the wind noise.
The amps are really small and I was very surprised at the volume and clarity of the system.
I started with the 75 watt amps. With my pipes being so loud I wasn't that happy with it. Called them and spoke to a lady there ans she said not a problem. Send us the 75 watt amps, we will credit the cost of the 75 watt amp. You pay the difference in the price, per their on line store prices, we will ship you the 180 watt amp.
That is very good support. The only extra I had to pay was the shipping to ship back the 75 watt amp.
Install was a piece of cake
Yes you can connect up to 4 speakers.
In God we Trust
dd
I am also using the biketronics 180 watt amp and titan 6.5 inch speakers. Sounds very good and has great clarity.
You said you ran it up full volume at highway speeds. How in this world are you able to take that much volume?
I never run mine past 5 bars and sometimes I have to drop it to 4 bars because of the volume, it is very loud and clear. If above 80 I might go to 6 bars but then I change and go to my head set to cut out all the wind noise.
The amps are really small and I was very surprised at the volume and clarity of the system.
I started with the 75 watt amps. With my pipes being so loud I wasn't that happy with it. Called them and spoke to a lady there ans she said not a problem. Send us the 75 watt amps, we will credit the cost of the 75 watt amp. You pay the difference in the price, per their on line store prices, we will ship you the 180 watt amp.
That is very good support. The only extra I had to pay was the shipping to ship back the 75 watt amp.
Install was a piece of cake
Yes you can connect up to 4 speakers.
In God we Trust
dd
#14
08-20-2009 | 11:58 AM
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 34
From: ST. Louis
I did make the mistake and took one ear plug out while I had it on full volume.
I won't do that again. LOL
You are right about 5 bars is enough.
It's good to know I may be right on this. What surprised me compairing this to the other style of amp was the clarity at all volumes.
#17
08-20-2009 | 04:03 PM
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 44
From: Roswell, GA
If what you have works for you that's great. Sound is a very personal experience (which is why there are so many products to choose from in exhausts, for example).
#18
08-20-2009 | 05:02 PM
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
I've got the tweeter pods with the HT speakers and amp. I'm not bashing the other systems because if it's good it's good, regardless of what's the hot product at the moment. I have to say that the HT system is great. I love the pods because as stated above, the unobstructed speaker pods just blast crisp, clear and loud sound right at you. I often find I need to turn them down where before I needed to max out. The other systems sound impressive too though.
#19
08-20-2009 | 06:54 PM
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 34
From: ST. Louis
My experience with the Hog Tunes tweeter pod is that providing unobstructed paths for the sound makes the sound clearer and louder than would be the case if the path is obstructed. HT's website makes this point about our fairing mounted speakers with the handlebars/master cylinder, etc. being in front of those speakers.
If what you have works for you that's great. Sound is a very personal experience (which is why there are so many products to choose from in exhausts, for example).
If what you have works for you that's great. Sound is a very personal experience (which is why there are so many products to choose from in exhausts, for example).
I am sure the "HT tweater speaker pod" would be even better. But for now, I think it's going to work. Like I said, I'll give it a good checking over this weekend.
Thanks for the input.
Les
#20
08-20-2009 | 07:51 PM
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
I don’t mean to start a fight over amps for our radios, but here’s what I came up with.
Some of my riding buddies say they can hear their radios just fine at highway speeds, this I don’t understand because I can’t even recognize songs at highway speeds, let alone enjoy listening to it.
Here’s been my problem: Speed limits are mostly 70 mph in Texas (except for the local speed traps). If I stayed at 65 or slower I don’t think I would be having this problem…………and the fact that I live in a small rural area full of rednecks, so I don’t have anybody to go to for help with upgrades. So it’s all, try this and try that and see if it works on my own.
The stock HK radio’s sound lever output is different for all inputs.
1) X-M radio is the lowest output and this is what I use all the time. (I am hooked on satellite radio)
2) FM is the next level up but the reception sucks (I live in the middle of nowhere, I guess) Plus I don’t think the HK unit is the best reception radio anyway.
3) CD’s out put is the loudest, but I quit buying music after they changed from 8-Track tapes. So don’t even bring up buying songs for the iPod at 99 cents per song. 1000 songs is $990 dollars LOL
Let’s all understand that the stock radio is 20 watts per channel.
So I tried the Hawg Wired 75 watts per channel amp and speakers and I still couldn’t hear it worth a damn at highway speeds. When riding at 70 (unless I had a tail wind) I basically turned the radio off most of the time. $800 shot to he$$
I thought well maybe the speakers weren’t big enough, so I put in the 6 ½” speaker upgrade and this did help.
Now here is what I ran into with a normal style amp. You have to adjust the “gain and frequency” to get it just right. To do that, you have to take the front of the fairing off. I had that sucker off at least once a week all last summer and fall trying to get that freakin amp dialed in. Basically, you have to turn down the base to get more volume for highway speeds. Then it sounds like crap at any another speed.
When I traded bikes, I told my service guy don’t put the amp in the new bike, it is no better than the stock crap speakers. But I did keep my 6 ½” speakers, but I don’t think the 20 watts is enough to run them at highway speeds.
So after hearing an interview with Toby Keith and him saying he had a 360 watt amp (180 per speaker) in his Road Glide, I knew something better was out there. So I broke down last week and called Biketronics http://www.biketronics.com/index.html . After a short discussion, he recommend to me their 180 watts per channel amp, because I already had the 6 ½” speaker upgrade. What sold me was, he said you had to be careful with the unit because it is loud enough to cause “ear damage”. I said then that’s the puppy I want then. LOL
I installed it myself, I’m no genius but I can turn a wrench when I want to. THERE IS NO “GAIN AND FREQUENCY” DIALS TO MESS WITH. Just put the sucker in and turn it on. I took a short ride yesterday and right now I am happy.
Here are some results (I did all tests both direction, in case there was any head or tail wind):
Half Helmet: I could hear it fine at highway speeds. I did not have to run full volume at all, a little over half on the bars. I even ran up to 85 and still could hear if fine.
Half Helmet with ear plugs in my ears. The quality of the sound was much better, because it was cutting out the wind noise, but I had to run at full volume. I could hear it fine though.
¾ helmet with the shield up or down I could hear it fine. Once again the quality was better because of lower wind noise in my ears.
It worked fine with the AVC. The quality of the sounds was fine at all sound levers too. Not like those amps with the “GAIN AND FREQUENCY” bull crap.
So far I am pleased, but then I did say I did a short test ride. This weekend I should have a full report. Hopefully I have a good amp, that provides good quality sound, at all speeds. That’s all I want, is to hear my music while riding. I’m in no pi$$ing contest, on whose is bigger and better and louder. I’m just a simple guy and wanted a simple hookup. I think it this is going to work. If it doesn’t work, then the next step is a radio head unit swap.
I know, sorry for the long post. But this has been a year long ordeal for me. Thanks to all the guys who have been trying to help me to get a better system, but like I said I’m alone around here and I’m not doing another amp with that “GAIN AND FREQUENCY” bull crap.
Some of my riding buddies say they can hear their radios just fine at highway speeds, this I don’t understand because I can’t even recognize songs at highway speeds, let alone enjoy listening to it.
Here’s been my problem: Speed limits are mostly 70 mph in Texas (except for the local speed traps). If I stayed at 65 or slower I don’t think I would be having this problem…………and the fact that I live in a small rural area full of rednecks, so I don’t have anybody to go to for help with upgrades. So it’s all, try this and try that and see if it works on my own.
The stock HK radio’s sound lever output is different for all inputs.
1) X-M radio is the lowest output and this is what I use all the time. (I am hooked on satellite radio)
2) FM is the next level up but the reception sucks (I live in the middle of nowhere, I guess) Plus I don’t think the HK unit is the best reception radio anyway.
3) CD’s out put is the loudest, but I quit buying music after they changed from 8-Track tapes. So don’t even bring up buying songs for the iPod at 99 cents per song. 1000 songs is $990 dollars LOL
Let’s all understand that the stock radio is 20 watts per channel.
So I tried the Hawg Wired 75 watts per channel amp and speakers and I still couldn’t hear it worth a damn at highway speeds. When riding at 70 (unless I had a tail wind) I basically turned the radio off most of the time. $800 shot to he$$
I thought well maybe the speakers weren’t big enough, so I put in the 6 ½” speaker upgrade and this did help.
Now here is what I ran into with a normal style amp. You have to adjust the “gain and frequency” to get it just right. To do that, you have to take the front of the fairing off. I had that sucker off at least once a week all last summer and fall trying to get that freakin amp dialed in. Basically, you have to turn down the base to get more volume for highway speeds. Then it sounds like crap at any another speed.
When I traded bikes, I told my service guy don’t put the amp in the new bike, it is no better than the stock crap speakers. But I did keep my 6 ½” speakers, but I don’t think the 20 watts is enough to run them at highway speeds.
So after hearing an interview with Toby Keith and him saying he had a 360 watt amp (180 per speaker) in his Road Glide, I knew something better was out there. So I broke down last week and called Biketronics http://www.biketronics.com/index.html . After a short discussion, he recommend to me their 180 watts per channel amp, because I already had the 6 ½” speaker upgrade. What sold me was, he said you had to be careful with the unit because it is loud enough to cause “ear damage”. I said then that’s the puppy I want then. LOL
I installed it myself, I’m no genius but I can turn a wrench when I want to. THERE IS NO “GAIN AND FREQUENCY” DIALS TO MESS WITH. Just put the sucker in and turn it on. I took a short ride yesterday and right now I am happy.
Here are some results (I did all tests both direction, in case there was any head or tail wind):
Half Helmet: I could hear it fine at highway speeds. I did not have to run full volume at all, a little over half on the bars. I even ran up to 85 and still could hear if fine.
Half Helmet with ear plugs in my ears. The quality of the sound was much better, because it was cutting out the wind noise, but I had to run at full volume. I could hear it fine though.
¾ helmet with the shield up or down I could hear it fine. Once again the quality was better because of lower wind noise in my ears.
It worked fine with the AVC. The quality of the sounds was fine at all sound levers too. Not like those amps with the “GAIN AND FREQUENCY” bull crap.
So far I am pleased, but then I did say I did a short test ride. This weekend I should have a full report. Hopefully I have a good amp, that provides good quality sound, at all speeds. That’s all I want, is to hear my music while riding. I’m in no pi$$ing contest, on whose is bigger and better and louder. I’m just a simple guy and wanted a simple hookup. I think it this is going to work. If it doesn’t work, then the next step is a radio head unit swap.
I know, sorry for the long post. But this has been a year long ordeal for me. Thanks to all the guys who have been trying to help me to get a better system, but like I said I’m alone around here and I’m not doing another amp with that “GAIN AND FREQUENCY” bull crap.
Is there any issue or challenge in running the power to the fairing from the battery (under the tank)? Was this part of the install at all difficult?