Stereo make over

[molinoman]

While doing my research for the Stallion, I have found myself constantly returning to ideas about how to make the stereo better (and this is without even having heard it in operation). I went thru the threads concerning the existing stereo set up and noticed many of the improvements that were made to ramp the sound up.

Big Dog had the Kicker amp located in the trunk, I noticed another small amp under the seat and I came up with some observations/questions concerning the improvements.

I also downloaded the radio unit (Sony CDX-GT520) manual and installation instructions and came up with the following:

It appears that the Stallion comes with the installed speakers hooked up directly to the unit in the trunk by way of a direct cable (and not using the front speaker wiring...I think). But I also noticed that on the back of the unit there are "phono" plug outputs to plug in external amplifiers (which I believe Big Dog did on his set up and did away with the internal amp in the radio unit itself) or external amplified speakers. It appears that is what happened as well to the other three set ups that were pictured with front speakers as well. They were either plugged in with the original wiring harness or used a separate amp for the front speakers using those "phono" plug outputs as you cannot go from an internal amplifier to an external amplifier (I believe) , if using an external amplifier you would have to use the pre-amp available by way of those phono plug outputs.

I also came across some pictures showing the underside of a rear speaker from the left rear wheel well. I was very surprised that the back of the speaker was open and that it was not enclosed in some way. It would seem that you would lose a good amount of the sound going out the wheel well instead of being redirected back into the "cockpit" by way of having an enclosure present. It would also seem that you would gain a lot more bass "naturally" this way as well and may be why at highway speeds the sound has been "drowned" out from about 60-70 mph upwards.

Has anybody else noticed this or is it just me?

Dennis

52 dtg Dubai
53 dtg Home

[Lunchbox1983]

The sound does wash out especially for the driver, even at much slower speeds. I have alwasys though they should have put a set of speakers somewhere in front. I finally got the camera back and took pictures of the set up we paid for. New speakers both front and back, amp, custom install for the fronts including fabracating fiberglass rings to rasie the spoeakers up some for clarence. They enclosed the backs as well. TOTAL $900

BUT she pumps the sound, unless you love to listen to Mystery books do not ride behind my wife The windsheild acts like a sound cannon so even riding behind her at highway speeds you can clearly hear the novel being read.



Again at first I hated the way it looked, but in time I have gotten used to it, and the sound is hard to beat.

[Lunchbox1983]

[Lunchbox1983]

My wife would not let me drill to install the CB, so I pulled the rear light out, and bent an Ant mount to fit in the slot between the body and the light. Came very well. I use the same CB as Big Dog a Cobra 75 Wx and it works great.

[molinoman]

Thanks Lunchbox as that is what I was kind of thinking of. That is the first I have seen of the front speakers being placed there on top of the dash...didn't realize that there was that much room under the cover.

Are the rear speakers bigger than the originals...they look like they are?

Nice set up...and more pics for my growing library of Stallion pics.

Thanks,

Dennis

51 dtg Dubai
52 dtg Home

[molinoman]

This is one of the pictures I ran across of the rear speaker from inside the left rear wheel well. Notice that there is no enclosure.



Lunchbox, just out of curiousity do you think you could get a picture of the same area just to see what (and how it would fit) it would look like?

Since the stock speaker is a marine type of speaker water isn't going to harm it very much if at all, just wasn't sure how the underside would fare as I'm sure the exposed part of the speaker in the cockpit would be designed for that type of use.

Again Lunchbox that is a great front speaker set up, I wish there were pictures of how they managed to place the speakers there. Guess I'll have to wait to buy my own to find out.

Dennis

[Mattel]

Great mods, but after adding the cb/intercom i can hear all my music over my headset, and i stopped messing with my radio as all my audio problems were resolved.

[Lunchbox1983]

Originally Posted by Mattel

Great mods, but after adding the cb/intercom i can hear all my music over my headset, and i stopped messing with my radio as all my audio problems were resolved.

This is true, but both my wife and I hate wearing headsets, so the stero was worth it once we got over sticker shock.

[Lunchbox1983]

This first picture is the back of the new front speakers, 2nd picture is the fiberglass ring. Notice most of the speaker is above the dash, because there is not much room to clear the triple tree.

[Lunchbox1983]

This is a picture of the back of the rear speaker. It looks to me like some type of plastic housing. We upgraded the speaker to a better quality, but my guess would be if you could find the same housing and add it to the factory speakers it would have a good result.

No matter what you either need sound coming from the front or go to headsets. All a personal preference.

[molinoman]

Thanks Lunchbox...great pics, it does look like the rear is more "water proof" than before and I would imagine the sound is a big improvement over the stock set up.

Also, thanks for the info on the front speakers and the part about the clearance concerning the triple tree...that's good info.

As far as head sets versus open speaker listening, myself, I prefer the open speaker set up...even when I was on the Gold Wing, something about the sound (even though audio wise being superior) being that close to my ears and possibly blocking out some outside noise I may need to hear. JMHO.

By the way Lunchbox, if you don't mind, I am compiling the various speaker (front and now rear) and amp set ups in a photo album under my name just to kind of have in one place the different ideas that have come up and been implemented on this forum for the benefit of everyone if they want to visit it.
It will be under the "Stallion stereo pics" section.

Dennis

50 dtg Dubai
51 dtg Home

[molinoman]

Lunchbox, it just hit me what you said about the front speaker clearance and the triple tree. I didn't realize that was just a shelf to close off the engine compartment from the dash. So I guess that after the gage pod it is all flat to the front of the windscreen. Good to know...now it makes sense how they were able to "hole" that shelf and get those speakers inserted.

Dennis

50 dtg Dubai
51 dtg Home

[Lunchbox1983]

Originally Posted by molinoman

By the way Lunchbox, if you don't mind, I am compiling the various speaker (front and now rear) and amp set ups in a photo album under my name just to kind of have in one place the different ideas that have come up and been implemented on this forum for the benefit of everyone if they want to visit it.
It will be under the "Stallion stereo pics" section.

No problem, thanks for gathering all the pictures together.

[molinoman]

Well, David, next year when my wife and I are going on our looooong vacation, maybe we'll get to stop by in South Carolina and visit for a few minutes (gots lots of places to visit you know) and hopefully I'll get to listen to your "super stereo" and put that experience into my thinking process for when it comes time to take that plunge for the Stallion.

If I come into any more pics I'll update it as I run into them.

Dennis

49 dtg Dubai
50 dtg Home

[Lunchbox1983]

drop me a line when you are in the Charleston area and I will be glad to let you take a test drive. The stallion dealer is about 3 miles from my house as well.

[molinoman]

David, thanks for the offer, we used to live in North Charleston (was there during Hugo) moved to Florida in 1991 for my last duty station before I retired in 1993. For the life of me I can't even remember what road I lived off of it was in a mobile home park across from a shopping center (not a mall) with an old fashioned styled McDonalds at the end of it, might have been Dorchester Rd. We enjoyed it there, bought my used 1984 Venture Royale at the Yamaha dealer there which was down the road from the Honda dealer where I test rode my first Gold Wing.

Dennis

48 dtg Dubai
49 dtg Home

[Lunchbox1983]

Ashley Phospahte Rd & Dorchester Road intersection is the 50's Micky D, the Motorcycle dealers you spoke about are on Dorchester

The Stallion dealer is just a few miles away from there on Old Trolley Road near Dorcheater Road in Oakbrook section of Summerville.

[molinoman]

Thanks for the new directions. That is the road I was trying to remember as in Ashley Phosphate (what a name). I lived in the Saddlebrook Mobile Home Park (Quarterhorse Drive/Ct?) across from that shopping center or whatever it is now. A lot of restaurant/eating places have sprung up since I was there.

I guess to get to that Stallion dealer (if I still lived there) I would just make a right coming out of the park, go to Dorchester make another right and head on down to Summerville.

Enjoyed my time there when there used to be a naval base there. We will definitely put it on our list of places to visit next year when we go on our long vacation.

Dennis

47 dtg Dubai
48 dtg Home

[Markie]

Dennis,

Ah yes...Summerville! Was there roughly the same time as you, compliments of the Nav. Nothing more humbling than to sit inside your house in the dead of night with no power & hurricane force winds blowing outside[Hugo: 9/21-22/89].

I lived at the end of Dorchester Road where it met with 17A. Had I still lived there I would have been a mere 2 miles from a dealer. Of course...living in BFE Pacific NW (SE Washington State) currently my closest Stallion dealer is 1000 miles away. My wife & I wound up buying our 2008 with 35 miles on it last year at Sturgis from the Frederick, MD. Stallion dealer (Cycles & Trikes of Frederick)who had set up shop in a local venue as a vendor. Looking at your return counter to US you will be returning just as the Sturgis rally is gearing up: so that rally might be a source of inventory if you're not too picky on color. For service issues Nick & TBMS have been very accommodating to what problems my rig (#353) has encountered. This group has equally been helpful as well.

Originally Posted by molinoman

Thanks for the new directions. That is the road I was trying to remember as in Ashley Phosphate (what a name). I lived in the Saddlebrook Mobile Home Park (Quarterhorse Drive/Ct?) across from that shopping center or whatever it is now. A lot of restaurant/eating places have sprung up since I was there.

I guess to get to that Stallion dealer (if I still lived there) I would just make a right coming out of the park, go to Dorchester make another right and head on down to Summerville.

Enjoyed my time there when there used to be a naval base there. We will definitely put it on our list of places to visit next year when we go on our long vacation.

Dennis

47 dtg Dubai
48 dtg Home

[molinoman]

Thanks Markie, I guess I am kind of lucky then in that I have at least 3 dealers within roughly a 170 miles of me. But I doubt I'll get to Sturgis as I really won't be ready to deal/buy until March or May next year. But I will have to order probably before that. I am really looking forward to tackling the stereo issue on the Stallion as my personal goal to make it better.

Dennis

45 dtg Dubai
46 dtg Home

[ralph]

looks good, did you have to cut the body any to get the coax and taile light to fit back in

[Lunchbox1983]

Originally Posted by ralph

looks good, did you have to cut the body any to get the coax and taile light to fit back in

No it squeezes in there without any cutting, snug for sure.