DB501 install with Amp

[Paladin528]

Well the Polk Audio DB501s are on the way along with a Clarion Amplifier small enough to fit under the fairing.
I have looked through some of the posts on the DB501 upgrade and many are somewhat old. 
Is there any new pointers or tips and tricks anyone has for doing this upgrade?

For now I am doing the Fronts only and will upgrade the rear later.  I will however run any wiring changes required for the rear.

[Joe Hummer]

Since I just lost my amp due to poor installation techniques...I would say make sure you install the amp so the flat play is down. I had mine mounted under the trunk and it stopped working and was blowing the fuse. I checked it out as best I could and the only thing I could figure was that water had gotten into it and corroded the power circuit shorting the hit and ground together. Mine was mounted upside down be cause it fit better. Next one will be mounted the right way.

Suggestion 2 (and a result of the first ten above...when you cut your wires to put in the amp, make sure you have it so you can easily put the wires back together when your amp does go out. I used bullet connectors.  Since you are placing the amp up front, use the stock connectors as much as possible and don't splice wires. For the rear...you can probably use the connector under the side cover. 

Joe

[gordonv]

Connectors can be bought here.

http://www.vintageconnections.com/

[fordmano]

Fore future reference:
When you do the rears, buy the same speakers the DB501's will fit they are the same size as the DB401's that I and others have used.
Make sure when doing the wiring in the fairing leave enough wire and space to remove the fairing as normal later if needed.

I poorly routed my wiring and misjudged the length a bit so mounting/installation of the Amp and having to remove the fairing on occasion has been a chore at times.

My Amp also went bad and I have removed it so I only have the front and rear speaker upgrade in place now.

Good luck on the project, the sound quality is well worth the effort it in my opinion.

[Paladin528]

I decided to do the front without the amp since I just got the speakers but the amp is not available yet.  IT SOUNDS LIKE CRAP.  No base and anything over 25 Distorts like there is no tomorrow.
Problem is you need to modify the speaker frames to do the install so now I have nothing.

Why would the polks sound so crappy on my machine.  I double and triple checked the polarity and all of the connections are good but the sound is crap.

Any advice

[Paladin528]

Well I pulled them out and verified them with a different audio source and it would seem that the speakkers are in fact defective.  I have never seen a speaker fail in this way before.  It is like the cone is stuck.  I get sound but no base response at all.

[Steve K (IA)]

Here is how mine is mounted.  Took two years thinking about how to do it and a lot of measuring.
4" angle brackets mounted to the upper triple tree, threaded the holes, with lock washers and jamb nuts on the back side.  Those 2 perches are bakelite/phenolic.
I never did take pictures after getting it all wired up and cabled.  Maybe the next time the fairing is off.

[Steve K (IA)]

A tip on the sound.

I covered the entire inside surface of the fairing and the back side of the speaker panels with Dyna Mat.  And I don't use the speaker enclosures.  

To me, it sounds much better.  And no strange noises coming from the fairing, especially when hitting bumps.  If you have an I/S and don't have Dyna Mat in there, if you knock on the fairing it makes a empty/hollow sound.  With the Dyna Mat, it sounds solid.

As always, YMMV  

[Paladin528]

This morning I took the NEW DB501s to my local Stereo installer and showed him the speakers and he confirmed that the Cone is seized and all I was getting was tweeter out of it.  BOTH speakers NEW in box and both seized solid.
Not to see if I can return for exchange.   UGH  no tunes on the bike for a while

[Paladin528]

Received my replacements today and installed them.  Holy crap what a difference.  They sound awesome.  Can't wait to do the tears and add an amp.

[BigBad1]

Not sure which Clarion Amp you are planning on but I have the Clarion XC1410. I too installed the speakers first. The amp made all the difference in the world. I very rarely turn the volume up past 15-18 and can hear it with no problems.

[Paladin528]

That is the Amp I am installing.  Gonna do it as a winter project.
Was gonna ride the bike to work this morning as the weather is supposed to be nice but alas she wouldnt start.  Weak Battery.  UGH