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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| I upgraded my stereo this past summer with the Alpine Amp, and Kicker PS speakers... It sounded great but the Alpine amp left me with a lot to be desired in the power department. So I upgraded that Alpine to the New Rockford Fosgate PBR 300X4, which has the power, but a short life.
I suspect the trip to the rally this past summer routinely riding in 100 plus degree weather, combined with the load I was putting on the amp was just too much for the port little guy. I was going to get the Rockford amp repaired but the repair was going to cost almost as much as just replacing the amp. So.... I decided to upgrade again, this time I will be installing the Arc KS 125.4 mini amp.
The arc amp is a bit on the long side so I am going to have to get creative in mounting it if I keep it in the trunk stem. I wouldn't mind mounting the amp else where but there are not many good alternatives that are as protected from the elements, and I don't want to give up bag space.
We will see how it all goes... I figure by the time I am done upgrading my stereo system on the Vision, I could probably arc weld with it.
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 42
Prescott, AZ | Can't mount it in the fairing? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| There are spots but there is also a much higher chance of it getting wet there, which out here in the pacific northwet is something I am concerned about. |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | Kevin - where did you have the Rockford amp mounted? I have mine mounted in the left bag and while it runs warm, I've never had it go into thermal protection (off) mode. I am planning to add vent holes this spring. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| Jeff,
I had mine mounted in the trunk stem, and I tried to keep a pretty good amount of metal on metal contact to help sink heat away form the amp. I never had it go into thermal protection. If fact the amp still works until I start to put a good demand on the Boosted Rail Technology. Now every time the boost light fires off the amp duds out. I believe it was either a faulty amp, or my demand on the boosted rail was just too much. So instead of making the same amp work, I am going to try the Arc Amp, give conventional technology a shot. Plus the Arc amp has an integral fan. I think mounting it will be interesting but I will figure it out.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | So what speakers are you running now?
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| Still using the Kicker PS5250s. They are awesome.
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Camas Washington | I love my Alpine amp with Hertz speakers. Feel it provides enough power to driver the speakers without any distortion. 80 mph and I can hear the music very clean even with a 3/4 helmet. Best part is you can mount it in the trunk hole and keep it out of the way. |
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Tourer
Posts: 366
Albuquerque, NM | Can anyone post some feedback on the Alpine KTP-445 amp. I am planning on this upgrade this spring. I like the mounting loc. in the front fairing. Don't want to loose any storage in the bags and sometimes remove the trunk. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 114
Southeast, AZ United States | How about if someone can answer a question on whether or not installing an amp and speakers will have any ill effect or benefit to the factory intercom system? Thanks all.
Ken |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| Riverdawg - 2012-02-13 11:46 AM
I love my Alpine amp with Hertz speakers. Feel it provides enough power to driver the speakers without any distortion. 80 mph and I can hear the music very clean even with a 3/4 helmet. Best part is you can mount it in the trunk hole and keep it out of the way.
I actually ditched the Alpine Amp in favor of more powerful options. I felt the Alpine just didn't have the balls I was looking for to drive the Kicker PS5250s
I ride with a half helmet and ear plugs 90% of time, so my system has to be powerful enough to overcome the ear plugs at speed.
I upgraded to the Rockford Fosgate PBR 300X4, and it delivered on the power department but not on the reliability and longevity end, it lasted all of maybe 4 months.
So now I am moving to the Arc KS 125.4 mini, which has the power, it's also employs conventional technology. I believe it was a the boosted rail technology on the Rockford that failed prematurely. The boosted rail tech is also what allowed the RF to be so small. The arc takes up a larger foot print which will make finding it a home a little more challenging, but I think (hope) the amp itself will have what it takes to handle the duty cycle I demand.
It will be interesting to see how this thing goes. One think I have considered is running two alpine amps bridged but they were not designed to be run that way, which would mean a shorter life... But how much shorter?? Don't know. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Camas Washington | The one problem with the Alpine amp is installing it. There are instructions on this site and also the VMC, forgot who provided them. The problem is they are not very clear on some steps. After 2 weekends of not being able to get it to work I took it to a local stereo shop. The installer had installed this unit on several bikes. He new what steps were missing from the instructions I was using plus a a couple wrong steps. One thing he did was install a couple of diods to protect against a surg. Like I noted before there is plenty of power to drive the Hertz speakers I installed which are a top line speaker. Doing 80 mph with the volume at 12 is clear and loud. I ride with both a 1/2 and ear plugs or a 3/4. Just a warning, if you upgrade to speakers with a large magnet the front speaker boxes will need to be reformed via a heat gun and this is a pain in the ass. For the rear speakes get some foam box covers, suff some speaker material in them at it will help boost the sound a little. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| Riverdawg - 2012-02-14 9:27 AM
The one problem with the Alpine amp is installing it.
I got the Alpine amp working on the first go around, no diode, no extra stuff, no surge, just wired up and go.
You must have better ears than mine or the kickers need more power to produce. On the alpine amp, I could hear the front speakers ok, and the backs not at all at speed. With RF amp I could blow my brains out all around from any speaker at any given point in time with a full helmet and ear plugs in. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Camas Washington | The one problem with the Alpine amp is installing it. There are instructions on this site and also the VMC, forgot who provided them. The problem is they are not very clear on some steps. After 2 weekends of not being able to get it to work I took it to a local stereo shop. The installer had installed this unit on several bikes. He new what steps were missing from the instructions I was using plus a a couple wrong steps. One thing he did was install a couple of diods to protect against a surg. Like I noted before there is plenty of power to drive the Hertz speakers I installed which are a top line speaker. Doing 80 mph with the volume at 12 is clear and loud. I ride with both a 1/2 and ear plugs or a 3/4. Just a warning, if you upgrade to speakers with a large magnet the front speaker boxes will need to be reformed via a heat gun and this is a pain in the ass. For the rear speakes get some foam box covers, suff some speaker material in them at it will help boost the sound a little. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I did not want to use up storage space for audio equipment. Instead of 1 big amp in the saddle bag or trunk, I found it much easier to hide 3 smaller ones.
Here is a link to the install process. (Click the arrow on the right side of the pic to go to the next pic. Captions underneath each pic.)
http://picasaweb.google.com/105510930734514474102/2008VictoryVision...
Here is a link to my original write up.
http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2301&pos...
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Edited by victoryvisiontour 2012-02-14 1:29 PM
(AMP INSTALL.jpg)
Attachments
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 AMP INSTALL.jpg (59KB - 11 downloads)
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | victoryvisiontour,
What amps are those?
Ride Safe |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | radioteacher - 2012-02-14 2:45 PM
victoryvisiontour,
What amps are those?
Ride Safe
They are Hawg Wired amps. They put out a lot of power for their little size. I guess that is why they are a bit pricey. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| victoryvisiontour - 2012-02-14 2:18 PM
radioteacher - 2012-02-14 2:45 PM
victoryvisiontour,
What amps are those?
Ride Safe
They are Hawg Wired amps. They put out a lot of power for their little size. I guess that is why they are a bit pricey.
Without a doubt you are paying for the cost of miniaturization With the Hawg Wired amps. I still have less in my whole upgrade than the cost of one of those amps.
I do will not give up cargo space for the amps. I will find a home for the new amp that's not taking up cargo space. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Phenix City AL. | My plan is to mount the arc audio amp, in the bag, for the heat issue I am going to add a 12v 60mm 20mm fan, to pull heat out of the bag, the fan pulls 14qfm is this a good idea or not? To install the amp, I am getting a low level input converter, to have RCA plugs to hook up the speaker wires to the amp, is this worth doing? As for speaker install I am going to remove the plastic housings and install foam housings, is it worth the time? One last question, for the trigger wire for the amp,whats the best place to hook into? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HELLO? You'r bike must sound like one of those idiot low-rider Honda Civics with the WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP sound....
I am 68 years old, and at level 12 on my STOCK system with only replacement speakers - I can hear things fine at 60mph. Maybe getting the wax out of your ears would be cheaper???
HELLO? AM I ANNOYING YOU NOW? HELLO???? <grin - just teasing - mostly... >
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | They have it installed soley to annoy 68 years and older... I'm not there yet...but I'm too cheap to add the annoyance also...
For the posters - thanks for posting - as my hearing fades I may go to an amp, but I wouldn't know where to put it on an Indian... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | jb.hatch - 2012-02-23 11:10 PM My plan is to mount the arc audio amp, in the bag, for the heat issue I am going to add a 12v 60mm 20mm fan, to pull heat out of the bag, the fan pulls 14qfm is this a good idea or not? To install the amp, I am getting a low level input converter, to have RCA plugs to hook up the speaker wires to the amp, is this worth doing? As for speaker install I am going to remove the plastic housings and install foam housings, is it worth the time? One last question, for the trigger wire for the amp,whats the best place to hook into? I've been researching the audio upgrade area for quite a while. The ARC unit is pretty damn good, haven't really found any negative comments about it anywhere. As far as cooling the amp I'm thinking it probably won't be needed. There are tons of Harley riders who have this amp tucked in either the front fairing or the saddlebags and it appears that none of them have had heat issues. The ARC has low level inputs available so a line converter would not be needed. Removing the front speaker housings and switching to foam is worth it. The housings are held in with four "pressure" clips, simply grab hold of the housing and with some pressure it will pop right out. The ARC units have a sensor that detects incoming signal via the speaker inputs and triggers the amp to turn on. So...no trigger wire.
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| donetracey - 2012-02-23 11:04 PM
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HELLO? You'r bike must sound like one of those idiot low-rider Honda Civics with the WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP sound....
I am 68 years old, and at level 12 on my STOCK system with only replacement speakers - I can hear things fine at 60mph. Maybe getting the wax out of your ears would be cheaper???
HELLO? AM I ANNOYING YOU NOW? HELLO????
don, the stock setup was fine when I don't wear ear plugs or a full helmet. Its when the ear plugs and full helmet come, is when the stock system wasn't enough. I ear ear plugs and an half helmet 95% of the time. But my system has very little base, those low rider ricers kick my ass when it comes to that.
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| jb.hatch - 2012-02-23 9:10 PM
My plan is to mount the arc audio amp, in the bag, for the heat issue I am going to add a 12v 60mm 20mm fan, to pull heat out of the bag, the fan pulls 14qfm is this a good idea or not? To install the amp, I am getting a low level input converter, to have RCA plugs to hook up the speaker wires to the amp, is this worth doing? As for speaker install I am going to remove the plastic housings and install foam housings, is it worth the time? One last question, for the trigger wire for the amp,whats the best place to hook into?
I have a KS 125.4 and it handles the high level inputs from the Vic Stock head unit just fine. I wouldn't bother with line converts. The Arc amps also have auto on with high level inputs so a signal wire isn't required, the auto on works great. For a fan the KS 125.4 has a built in fan.
In my ride this past weekend, I have found that the Arc Amp runs MUCH MUCH cooler than the RF Amp. The Arc was barely warm to the touch but the RF amp use to get blazing hot.
I haven't found a permeate home for it yet, if I can't find a spot in the faring I am going to sacrifice a little space in the trunk to the audio gods.
So far I am VERY happy with the Arc Amp. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 49
| After looking at a lot of different options and not wanting to compromise the limited space in the bags, I went with the Hawg wired amp and had dealer here in MA. install. There is space right in front of the left bag ( underneath the left bag towards the front) that it fits clean. I think you can even fit a little larger amp in this area. It is protected from the elements and stays nice and cool. Hawg wired a bit expensive but it cranks! No worries. |
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Amps, amps and more amps
