quality speaker sound

[Firefighter]

Been riding my Valk for a few years, 2000 IS. I always relax with music. Nearly always use a mp3 player plugged straight into the factory radio . The sound is decent most of the time. If I use the factory radio at hiway speed, I usually can't understand the music unless I know the song. What do big boys use,, amp? Then better speakers?  Tried some helmet speakers, never seemed right. Thought about XM radio, would that sound good like my MP3, or like my radio??  And what about bass ? Is there such a thing on motorcycles.  Thanks for input.  Firefighter,, Harlingen, Texas.

[GJS]

Yes

The Amp and speakers.

Start with the speakers.

There have been many posts here. Just search for good Interstate speakers and you'll get loots of input.

Personally I use a good set of helmet speakers.

Have you Maxed the Base on the controller?

Good luck.

GJS

[Bone]

Have you looked at  WWW.MotorcycleTunes.com

I bought speakers (handlebar mount) and a 500 watt amp for my 98 Tourer from them. I do play a MP3 player through the system. The speakers sound good behind a windshield.

[Red Diamond]

Hope your ears haven't been spoiled by Goldwing audio, if so, the I/S speakers will never satisfy your ears. I installed Polk Audio DB501's in the rear, DB 401's in the front,with an amp, still sounds like crap.

[fordmano]

I did the Polk Audio db501's up front and db401's in back wish I would have done the db501's in rear also. Then a 400watt 4 channel Pyle waterproof  marine amp in the fairing.
It sounded great to my non audiophile ears even at speeds in excess of 100mph. Now I seem to have either a problem with one or both front speakers or the front channel of the stock radio itself. I don't think the radio issue would be a normal side effect of the configuration I have setup.

[jimmytee]

  Call me crazy,   sound was one of the reasons for buying my woody with the 4) 5" speakers and one of yhe reasons I just got the leather wrapped harley bags. There is a speaker grille kit that allows me to put some 6 x 9 speakers in the lids. That should improve the bass. Mount a sub in your trunk...

[fordmano]

I have looked at on of those super compact low profile self powered subwoofers that are also weather resistant, I just have't convinced the wife I should invest in anymore audio equiptment for the bike since she dosen't like the music very loud when riding anyway....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PYLE-MARINE-AUDIO-PLMRBS8-NEW-8-LOW-PROFILE-AMPLIFIED-MARINE-SUBWOOFER-SYSTEM-/310584776164?pt=US_Marine_Audio&hash=item48504b95e4&vxp=mtr

[BF]

I don't have an Interstate, but I've got a Woody's fairing that I put a Sony DSX-S100 in (you put your mp3 player inside the unit), in which I've added a Rockford Fosgate amp (mounted in the fairing) and took out the stock 5" speakers that came with the Woodys and installed a set of 4, 5 1/4" Alpines. 

I jam at any speed now.   

[jimmytee]

Bf-sorry not trying hi-jack this thread, but which Rockford amp did you end up with, I remember you posting about this. Did it make a big difference for you?

[JC]

Hey BF - Did you have to modify the fairing to fit the 5 1/4's? I've got the stock Woody's speakers and don't have the sound I'd like, although it might be the cheap stereo I'm using.

[Motorider]

I just installed a set of Tork Xpro speakers in my helmet. Best sounding speakers I have ever used. I know you said you didn`t like helmet speakers. But I`m very happy with the Torks.

[cajunito]

Hey BF - Did you have to modify the fairing to fit the 5 1/4's? I've got the stock Woody's speakers and don't have the sound I'd like, although it might be the cheap stereo I'm using.

  I'd like to know that too BF... I am getting a Woody fairing for pretty much the same reason... But I want it to pay off... Where did you mount the amp in the fairing?

[BF]

Bf-sorry not trying hi-jack this thread, but which Rockford amp did you end up with, I remember you posting about this. Did it make a big difference for you?

Made a hell of a difference.    The thing blows me away.  The thing has stupid power and kicks serious butt.  I can't even use all of that power....had to dial it down some before I go totally deaf.  

However, it's the 300 watt, four channel amp.  This one......

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_details.aspx?itemid=120465

You can find it for less than half the price that they list it for on that link.  Pretty good amp for a little more than a hundred bucks.  

Hey BF - Did you have to modify the fairing to fit the 5 1/4's? I've got the stock Woody's speakers and don't have the sound I'd like, although it might be the cheap stereo I'm using.

Yes, I did.  Had to make the holes bigger to fit the 5 1/4 Alpines.  You don't have to remove much material, but you do have to remove some.  5 1/4" speakers are just a tad too large for the holes that Glenn cuts out for the 5" speakers.  

I did a little write-up on it when I made the holes bigger.  This should answer most of you guy's questions.....





[url=http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,49492.msg471359.html#msg471359]http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,49492.msg471359.html#msg471359[/url]

Hey BF - Did you have to modify the fairing to fit the 5 1/4's? I've got the stock Woody's speakers and don't have the sound I'd like, although it might be the cheap stereo I'm using.

  I'd like to know that too BF... I am getting a Woody fairing for pretty much the same reason... But I want it to pay off... Where did you mount the amp in the fairing?

Read that thread that I posted a link to above.  It shows how I mounted the R/F amp (lots of pics).  Made a bracket out of a piece of flat bar alum I got at Lowes.  You can form it, bend it really easy.  It makes a solid mount for the amp.  It's a tight fit, but it does fit and it doesn't hit anything or touch the outter part of the fairing at all.  

[cajunito]

Thanks, BF.... From what I read on Glen's website, I should be able to order a Woody with 5 1/4 holes cut out... I want plenty of good,solid sound... I have listened to the Polk audio marines on these,and while they provide a good sound while stationary, they don't give that "umph" that I was looking for.  This should be just the ticket. 

[BF]

Thanks, BF.... From what I read on Glen's website, I should be able to order a Woody with 5 1/4 holes cut out... I want plenty of good,solid sound... I have listened to the Polk audio marines on these,and while they provide a good sound while stationary, they don't give that "umph" that I was looking for.  This should be just the ticket. 

Glenn is good people.  I talked to him several times on the phone back when I ordered mine.  He'll do most anything you want to the fairing including cutting the holes for whatever size speakers you want.  You just need to let him know before he builds it as he doesn't have fairings sitting on a shelf in a warehouse somewhere......he builds each one by hand (himself....he's a one man shop) by order. 

[cajunito]

Yes, I received an email from him earlier, and got this ordered.. When you wired your stereo & amp up, did you wire in an additional fuse?

[BF]

Everything on my bike that came with an inline fuse I kept it as is with the inline fuses.  However, EVERYTHING (inline fuse or not) on my bike is wired into/through a PC-8.  This.....

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/Fuseboxes/PC-8/pc-8.html

[gregk]

do you guys think that Fosgate Amp would help the sound quality on a interstate?