Front Speakers

[BenO]

Well I got the front speakers attached. But I dropped one and damaged the other case so I will be odering a new set. Thinking of just getting straight Black but wife likes the crome look.

They are installed so they don't touch any thing but the surface they are attached too.

 

[Mattel]

Looks great Ben-0, I like black, and being upfront you may get less glare from that strong FL sun if they are black. How do they sound? Can you hear better at high speeds?

 

[CRBandit]

BenO, where did you connect the speakers to? Did you run them all the way to the source (the stereo unit in the trunk)?

Wayne
#414

 

[BenO]

Well Mattel I only have the speakers mounted. I will be wiring it in when the last of my add-on lights and the replacement speakers come in, so I only have to put it up in the air with it disassembled once. (for now that’s the plan lol)

Here is the link of the speakers. DWG waterproof stereo audio speakers Only - No Amplifier These NEW 4 Inch Chrome, or Black external stereo audio speakers compliment any motorcycle, cycle or bike

If you look around the site you can find these speakers with a 100 watt amp and remote using these speakers.

I choose not to use the amplifier for now any ways. The stereo should drive these without the amp. One thing I have found out so far with the remote hooked up connected you can’t use the RCA jacks to hook up the speakers.

So now I have to follow the wire bundle till I find the end of the cable to hook them up there.
I will let you know as soon as they are sounding off. The boss said I had to stay with the chrome replacements, if that’s all I hear about the money being put into the Stallion I will comply.

 

[Fortsand]

I finished installation of my speakers today. I have the set that includes the small amp. They sounded great until I started the engine, then all kind of electrical hash comes in. This noise could compete with a siren. I am hoping Ben can give me some pointers.

 

[Mattel]

You may need to get an electrical engine noise filter. I have one on my CB intercom and I still hear a little bit of hiss.

 

[Fortsand]

Here are some pictures of my front speaker install. My first step was to fashion some mount brackets for the speakers. I used some 16 ga metal I had on hand for this. I first primed the brackets with self etching primer, then put on a top coat of flat black to match the speakers. I was able to use an existing bolt to secure the mount. I did have to drill one hole in the left tunnel to route the wire. On the right side, there is already an existing hole which I used. Running the wires from the front to the seat area was the biggest challenge of the entire project. I raised it as high as my capability to gain access underneath.

Next I went to the radio unit in the trunk and removed the radio. I went into the menu to set up the audio for the front speaker. I have the fader centered, the bass maxed out and the treble @+5. Then there was the task of running wires to the RCA line level outputs on the back of the radio. The plugs are too large to push through the tubing in the trunk wall, so I was able to pull the tubing completely out from the wheel well, then push the plug the hole and push the wire down through the slit in the connector. I then routed the wire under the seat where I planned to mount the amp.

I finally got everything connected and it sounded great..................until I started the engine. The noise sounded like a siren. I e-mailed the manufacturer of the speakers and within 2-3 hours I had an answer. He told me to install a ground loop isolator from Radio Shack. I did that today and it sounds great. On a test ride, I can hear the radio at a volume level of 20 doing 60 mph. At volume level 25 it will blast you out. I am a happy camper. Next project please!!!

Here are my speaker brackets. You will notice that they are not
symmetric, reason being I had to deal with the asymmetric mounting surfaces in the Stallion.

Here is the existing mount bolt above the tunnel I used to secure the brackets.

This the amp mounted under the seat

[B] This is the remote control. I may move it to an accessible
location. I have the volume maxed out, but I can still control it
with the normal radio volume

After I got everything connected and turned it on, it sounded great until I started the engine. I was picking up a lot of electrical hash. I contacted the manufacturer and he told me to install one of these.
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii399/Fortsand/Groundloopisolator.jpg Then I was a happy camper.

Here is the finished product. Maybe this will go over better than
the windshield wings, lol!!!!!!!!
http://i549.photobucket.com/albums/ii399/Fortsand/Speakersinstalled.jpg
I guess I am using too much space as it only giving links to the pictures. Has anybody else ever maxed out a post with too many pictures?

 

[Fortsand]

I sent some of the pictures of my speaker install to the web site from where I purchased them. Received a reply from them requesting permission to use a picture on their web site.

 

[Nana]

How cool is that! You'll be published !

 

[Mattel]

Fortsand,
I am not clear on your post. Did you connect your front speakers to the front speaker outputs? That way you have your front controlled with a separate amp from your rear factory speakers?

I have heard a few people like Big Dog installed an amp on the rear speakers with great results. I would think if you installed an amp on the front and rear you would have a great setup. What led you to just amp the front speakers? I would think you could do that with the factory amp as the front speakers are mostly highs and mids that do not require as much power as the rear speakers that have more base.

I like how you made the brackets, and the tight space that it fills, but I thought you ordered the wind deflectors from Southwest, and I thought they intrude into this space a bit. I may be wrong. But since we are talking about that, I wonder how good of a space those would be for mounting front speakers? If it is a solid piece, it would make a great front speaker box.

Either way, I like you solution. We now have several to choose from to allow us to better hear the audio at hwy speeds.

 

[Fortsand]

The front speakers are connected to the amp. The amp is connected to the front RCA line level outputs on the radio in the trunk. I can control the volume to all four speakers with the volume control on the radio. The RCA line level output is controlled with the normal radio volume control. The amp came with the speakers so I went ahead and installed it. The rear speakers give the bass emphasis. I really don't feel like I need to amp those at this point.
My wind deflectors came from Baker Built Co's: Air Wings; Products; Engraving. They are mounted on the windshield. This picture should clear everything up.

 

[Papa Zook]

I guess I am using too much space as it only giving links to the pictures. Has anybody else ever maxed out a post with too many pictures?

I dont know if its photobucket or this site, but it could be a bandwidth issue. I could not post pictures to the Harley forum this morning, it would show broken picture image..later today I could.

Nice work Joe.

 

[Mattel]

Zook,
That hapened to me on the Stallion Thread. It took them months to fix. I think they know how to do it now, just contact Administator.

 

[CRBandit]

I sent some of the pictures of my speaker install to the web site from where I purchased them. Received a reply from them requesting permission to use a picture on their web site.

Fortsand, you don't mention make or model of the speakers you used or have a link to their web site where they show your pictures.

I'm getting ready to install some front speakers and want to look at all the options from the other members posting here.

Thanks.

 

[CRBandit]

Fortsand, in your post on 2-28-09 you posted some pictures. The third picture shows the amp under the seat. When I showed your picture to my audio dealer, he said there isn't an amp small enough to fit in that space. Please provide the make and model of amp you used if at all possible. I'd like to pass this information on to my audio dealer as I intend to add some front speakers and think the amp would help drive them better. Thanks.

Wayne
#414

 

[Big Dog]

Wayne, here are some speakers that I had put into the dash, they are marine grade.

And then my amp is mounted in the trunk.

This may work for you. The sound is great, just glide down the road with my Sirius, and Miles the wonder dog.

 

[Mattel]

Killer setup Big Dog! I like how you have it working now! How is the hand held CB working? Next time we ride we will try it out. Drive safe and toss the wonder dog a biscuit!

 

[CRBandit]

Big Dog, thanks. I had seen your other post of these speaker pic's and your amp placement when you posted about changing out the rear speakers a while back. I believe I will go with your front speaker setup but I like Fortsand's amp placement better under the seat (if I can find one to fit) so I don't loose the trunk space but otherwise your amp setup is the next option.

Wayne
#414
Mellow Yellow

 

[Lunchbox1983]

Motorcycle Tunes has a 500 watt amp for $50 that will fit. I have one installed on my Vulcan, it does not heat up. Pushes my speakers very well excellent company.

 

[BenO]

Cr Bandit, Fortsand used the speakers I had installed on my staillion except I didn’t use the Amp that came with them. The performance is great for me without the amp. If you look in the earlier postings in this post you will see the website link I posted.

.

 

[CRBandit]

Thanks. Found the amps on the DMG page linked in an earlier post.

Wayne
#414
Mellow Yellow