Radio Speakers

[mcgovern61]

As I am in the process of removing my Vetter fairing to go with a windshield only, I still wanted to have tunes. I spent a decent amount of money on a SONY Marine radio setup with 4" Infinity speakers that all went into my Vetter Cycle Sound unit. It all works great and the speakers are great. The problem is, I cannot find 4" speaker housings that will fit the Infinity speakers to hang on the handlebars (or anywhere else for that matter!)

I tried looking into 4" speaker pods and everything out there costs more than a whole stereo system with 250 W speakers!! :shock:

I am looking at several other "bullet" type of speakers. My only concern is that I am going to lose the fullness of the 4" speakers and the decent bass response I get from them. Here are examples of speakers I am looking into that I have at least listened to via Youtube videos. I am reaching out to see if anyone else has tested any of these speakers themselves?

Pyle PLMCS-32 (2 1/2")

Boss MC400 - (3")

Shark 250W - (3")

 

[Omega Man]

My best friend had this type of bullet speaker with amp combo, they were loud but poor bass "richness." The only ones I've ever heard that sounded good across the board were 4"-5".

~O~

 

[brianinpa]

I think JPWinger had a pair similar to those (on top) mounted under his trunk facing forward.

 

[mcgovern61]

I seem to remember that Brian.

Another thought was that Bose has always excelled at making small speakers sound great, but alas, Bose does not have MC speakers. (At least that I can find)

 

[brianinpa]

mcgovern61 » Wed Apr 09, 2014 2:02 pm[/url]":3454dkvj]
I seem to remember that Brian.

Another thought was that Bose has always excelled at making small speakers sound great, but alas, Bose does not have MC speakers. (At least that I can find)

Didn't you mean Bo$e?

 

[mcgovern61]

:smilie_happy: Yup!

 

[zman]

Well there are these..
https://www.parts-express.com/boss-mrwt6 ... --265-4642
and these..
https://www.parts-express.com/pyle-plmrb ... --267-7044
And a bunch on ebay..
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40

 

[mcgovern61]

Thanks Jeff!

I found a pair of Sound Storm Laboratories speakers:

 

[Steve83]

Those are cool! Do they have decent specs?

 

[mcgovern61]

Steve83 » Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:31 am[/url]":1ycaur1m]
Those are cool! Do they have decent specs?

Steve, here is their website:

https://www.soundstormlab.com/off-road-p ... mplifiers/

I purchased the SMC65 set because I do not need the tuner and such. There is a PDF download for the SMC70 unit and speakers. Apparently, it is the same amp and speakers for both.

 

[Steve83]

Nice little set! Be careful with that 600 watt amp, you'll be draining your battery when the stator can't keep up if you crank it too loud!

 

[mcgovern61]

Steve83 » Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:39 pm[/url]":22k8otc4]
Nice little set! Be careful with that 600 watt amp, you'll be draining your battery when the stator can't keep up if you crank it too loud!

:smilie_happy: Not likely. I'm not so sure it is really 600 watt. But, I am going to put an ameter on the wires with the bike off just to check.

 

[Steve83]

Yeah, they do tend to over-rate amps these days. If it comes with at least a 50-amp fuse, it might be close to 600 watts output.

I installed a car stereo that was rated at 60 watts x 4 channels - 240 watts total. The fuse was a 10 amp, so the most power it could take in is 120 watts @ 12 volts. If I could find a machine that put out twice the power that it took in, the world's energy problems would be solved! I guess they are rated in peak watts now, instead of RMS watts. Big difference, but it looks good on the spec sheet.

 

[mcgovern61]

Speakers are here!! :yahoo:

They look very nice and came with all of the hardware needed to mount the speakers and the amp. It is really as plug and play as I have ever seen. There is an aux wire that runs from the amp up to a MP3 device or phone, a volume control knob pre-wired with 4' of wire coming from the amp, RCA inputs for signal in from my Sony radio output, real nice wire connector for all items including the speakers all pre-wired and ready to go. It truly is a mount the speakers and amp, run the +/- to a terminal block, connect the radio and play!

The real test will be the sound! (Can't get to that until tomorrow :cheeky: ).

Pics will follow as soon as I can. :yes:

 

[Steve83]

Cool! I hope they sound as good as they're put together!

 

[mcgovern61]

So I may have been a bit too excited......

The clamps for the handlebars are for larger handlebars (look to be 1 1/4", not even 1"). I did a quick bench test and the hook up was real easy. The speakers provided decent sound, but the bass in my system is causing a little distortion at higher levels. Running an iPod through the AUX wire works real well and sounds pretty good!

Ran the wires from my RCA jacks into the amp RCA inputs and the power is there, but the quality changed. My Sony radio is still putting out a lot of low end. Went to the equalizer and found a mix that is loud and clear! :yahoo:

Started up the bike......... :shock: IGNITION NOISE BIG TIME!!!!! :rant:

Turns out to be coming from my Sony head via the RCA jacks. The amp that came with the speakers works fine with just the iPod. Now I have to debate eliminating the amp and just wiring the speakers direct to the radio since the speaker output was clean before. Apparently, there is no noise suppression on the output for the RCA jacks.

 

[Steve83]

There is minimal - if any at all - shielding of the output circuitry on most audio gear. I installed a large electronic organ in a cathedral years ago, and was picking up a Mexican radio station! It turned out to be in the pre-amp outputs (all 16 channels), and once I shielded the wires leading from the circuit boards to the output panels inside the amps, all was good. Another advantage of pipe organs...

 

[mcgovern61]

Steve83 » Wed Apr 23, 2014 9:45 am[/url]":s3b8gt3s]
Another advantage of pipe organs...

I love the idea, but I don't think I can fit a pipe organ on the bike...at least not without a BIG trailer! :smilie_happy: JK

It is the wiring in the pre-amp in the radio that is picking up the noise. I have a noise suppressor on the + wire, but it must be picking up the ignition noise elsewhere.

The radio is going into the trunk. Maybe I should try running the wires to the trunk first and see if I can drop the noise.

Best way to shield power wires???

 

[slabghost]

Coax wire is great for shielding.

 

[mcgovern61]

slabghost » Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:28 am[/url]":21e2eac7]
Coax wire is great for shielding.

Coax cable for power wires?