Easy Stereo Add-on

[53driver]

Hey All,
I installed some rear speakers about a year ago. They put out only about 1/10th the volume of the front speakers. So, pretty much useless. I have tried other speakers with the same result.

If you were using the OEM amp to drive 4 speakers, I'm not surprised. OEM amp can barely drive two...

So, gave up and added a two channel amp to drive the rear speakers. What a world of difference! I am shocked! Those crappy little speakers are suddenly fantastic!

Proper power is goodness!

With the four speakers the sound is so much fuller. You feel like you are in a room filled with music. Also, the little four inch rear speakers have much more bass and more punch than the front (I think that the front speaker magnets are just too small).

The odds are very good that the power amp you installed is providing much more oomph to the rear speakers than the OEM amp is providing to the front speakers (8 Watts). Low range demands more power.

It came out great. The amp has enough oomph to drive another speaker using the bridged output. I might someday cram a woofer into the glove box area. I am happy for now.

Check the amp manual....I would be VERY surprised if you can use the Bridged output simultaneously with the other outputs. "Bridging an amp" means linking the two stereo sections together to form a more powerful mono amplifier and by internal functionals, it cannot perform stereo functions simultaneously.

In the mean time though...enjoy your tunes!

[98valk]

If you were using the OEM amp to drive 4 speakers, I'm not surprised. OEM amp can barely drive two...

The odds are very good that the power amp you installed is providing much more oomph to the rear speakers than the OEM amp is providing to the front speakers (8 Watts). Low range demands more power.


Check the amp manual....I would be VERY surprised if you can use the Bridged output simultaneously with the other outputs. "Bridging an amp" means linking the two stereo sections together to form a more powerful mono amplifier and by internal functionals, it cannot perform stereo functions simultaneously.

In the mean time though...enjoy your tunes!

It isn't so much a power problem with the OEM amp. We've been through this already and I have shown that the OEM amp will supply 40W per channel into 4 ohms.

100_3263.jpg
~36v pk-pk ~= 12.6v RMS

The problem was the extreme difference in speaker sensitivity between OEM and my rear speakers.

I can run speakers simultaneously in Bridged and Stereo. My two speakers are effectively hooked up to the bridge outputs already as an 8 ohm load. The two stereo outputs (R- & L+) are permanently linked on this amp. I can connect another single 8 ohm speaker across that 8 ohms and have a total impedance of about 4 ohms. This amp will handle this. Good point, though. You are keeping me on my toes.


On a side note for anyone:
The front OEM speakers are labeled as 3.8 ohm. The tweeters are labeled as 4 ohm (impedance, not resistance). These speakers are in parallel. So, it would appear that it is a 2 ohm load total, at least at some frequencies. Interesting .....

[53driver]

It isn't so much a power problem with the OEM amp. We've been through this already and I have shown that the OEM amp will supply 40W per channel into 4 ohms.

Copy. I must have missed that post. I was going by what a Honda Gold Wing mech told me about the 2012 and up stereos.

Attachment 13835
~36v pk-pk ~= 12.6v RMS

So this is with a sine wave (freq?) on the stock amp?

The problem was the extreme difference in speaker sensitivity between OEM and my rear speakers.

That'll do it everytime!

I can run speakers simultaneously in Bridged and Stereo.

Damn - amp technology is getting better and better. None of my pro-audio amps will do that.

These speakers are in parallel. So, it would appear that it is a 2 ohm load total, at least at some frequencies. Interesting .....

Aye, very interesting. I wish you would have put an Ohm meter across the speaker leads when you had her apart.
And no, I wouldn't have thought of it either....

[98valk]

Aye, very interesting. I wish you would have put an Ohm meter across the speaker leads when you had her apart.
And no, I wouldn't have thought of it either....

Actually, I did try. They have a cap there probably to block the lower frequencies (an LC circuit?). So, I couldn't easily get a resistance measurement.

I did measure .68uf at two different frequencies with a cap meter. And measured about 8 ohms impedance at 100khz with another meter. That happens to be the frequency the meter uses.

The tweeter is marked 15w. That's not a lot of power, but a lot for a tweeter.

Maybe next time I am in there, I'll try more testing ...

[flat6bagger]

98,
although this amp runs cooler,does it get enough air under the seat to keep the amp cool and the seat from getting hot?
thanks,
Doug

[98valk]

98,
although this amp runs cooler,does it get enough air under the seat to keep the amp cool and the seat from getting hot?
thanks,
Doug

I don't have a great answer to those questions. I thought about that too. And I believe that there is enough cooling there, and I doubt that it will be felt through the passenger seat.

It is pretty roomy there and it is not air tight or anything.

Unless I make the effort to remove the seat after riding and check it, I will just have to wait and see.

The OEM amp is right there also. Honda thought it was okay. That should be a good sign.

Anyway, good questions. You guys just keep me thinking ...

[srt8-in-largo]

Fancy! Nice job Valk!

[Jimmytee]

I don't have a great answer to those questions. I thought about that too. And I believe that there is enough cooling there, and I doubt that it will be felt through the passenger seat.

It is pretty roomy there and it is not air tight or anything.

Unless I make the effort to remove the seat after riding and check it, I will just have to wait and see.

The OEM amp is right there also. Honda thought it was okay. That should be a good sign.

Anyway, good questions. You guys just keep me thinking ...

The OEM amp is not right there. It is up under the rear fender behind the rear wheel.

[53driver]

Actually, I did try. They have a cap there probably to block the lower frequencies (an LC circuit?). So, I couldn't easily get a resistance measurement.

Good on you. I would have forgotten completely...