Changing 2nd Gen Speakers

[Cougar]

Changing 2nd Gen Speakers

 

From what the guys posted last week about the Polk's

I ordered two of them and I think they are great sounding!

 

Two Summers ago I changed the stock speakers to

Pioneer TS-G10400's the speakers are OK but just not

there yet.

 

I then added bass blockers and it helped. now with the

blockers added to the new Polk's (front only) Moocho better.

 

The Polk's can handle a little more power (amp in trunk)

so combined with the bass blockers it really sounds great

even with-out the fairing on the bike. That is the problem

with the fronts.. not like the rear on the RSV. (in a pod un-cased)

sound much better. So I left the Pioneers in the rear for now.

 

Here are some pics of all 3 speakers

OEM SPEAKERS (Junk)

 

Pioneers Much Better

 

Polk's Even Better 107DB400Polk Audio db 400 4" 2-way Speakers

1049.9949.99

 

Here is all 3 of them top view

 

And side view

 

Now with that being said, here is how you remove

and put them in a 2nd Gen.....

 

#1 Remove Fairing. (there is no going in from the front)

 

#2 Remove the gold bracket

and the black box (blinker box>?)

 

#3 Remove the Philip's screw for each speaker

 

#4 Start removing the four screws holding the speakers

in place.. use a 8mm wrench when you can and a 5/16

deep socket for the hard to get to ones.

#5 Now with all the screws removed you start to pry

the front bikes grill along with the speaker a part.

 

 

If adding Polk's you will need to enlarge the (2) inner

holes a little bit.. (2 holes that will face the middle of the bike)

 

#6 when adding the new speakers the (inside holes will be placed in-between the plastic as show)

 

NOTE: I did place small pieces of cardboard in-between the metal

bracket and the magnet so it Will help NOT to demagnetize the speakers.

 

#8 DONE

(replaced everything in reverse order)

 

 

 

Now CRANK IT UP!

Happy Riding!

Jeff

 

Notes:

2-way 4" car speakers

polymer/mica composite woofer with butyl rubber surround

liquid-cooled, silk/polymer composite 3/4" dome tweeter

certified for marine use

2-way crossover network

recommended power range: 4-35 watts RMS

peak power handling: 105 watts

frequency response: 85-22,000 Hz

sensitivity: 91 dB

top-mount depth: 1-13/16"

Edited August 17, 2016 by Freebird

[SteveP]

Good article -- especially with all the pictures. I've added it to my favorites, as upgrading my speakers might make it to my "Winter Mods" list.

 

Do you have the model/part no. for the Polk speakers? I might as well learn from your experience and skip the step of using the Pioneers. Thanks, Cougar!

[Cougar]

Thanks,

Here ya go..

107DB400Polk Audio db 400 4" 2-way Speakers

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?search=107DB400+Polk+Audio+db+400+4%22+2%2Dway+Speakers&i=107DB400

Enjoy,

Jeff

[Eck]

Jeff,

I noticed the POLK speakers you installed aren't just limited to use in your car — they've passed tough environmental testing that certifies them for marine use.

[Riderduke]

This fall I replaced my speakers with pioneer and I am not happy. I will give these polk speakers a try.

[ventureblue]

This fall I replaced my speakers with pioneer and I am not happy. I will give these polk speakers a try.

 

some people are up way too early!!! whats up Duke?

[Pilot]

It looks like the DB400 have been replaced by DB401, most lickly the same speakers just a number change. With my hearing I think an old soup can and some string will work just fine.:rotf:

[Freebird]

Great write-up. I will add it to the tech library soon. One note. I doubt that these would work in the rear pods. Looks like the magnet is a big deeper. I originally tried some Infinity speakers on my '99 and they would not work in the rear either. The pods would not go back together due to the size of the magnet. That being said, I think that you get very little from the rear speakers. The fronts are where most of your sound comes from. I will likely give these a try also. I too am running the Pioneers at this time but am not completely happy with them.

[Freebird]

It looks like the DB400 have been replaced by DB401, most lickly the same speakers just a number change. With my hearing I think an old soup can and some string will work just fine.:rotf:

 

Crutchfield still has both listed. They may just be selling out the existing stock of the 400 though. The difference appears to be the power rating. 105 peak for the 400s and 135 peak for the 401s. RMS tops at at 35 for the 400s and 45 for the 401s. I actually think that the 400 model will be better for our bikes AND they are $30.00 cheaper than the 401s.

[Cougar]

Now keep in mind... I am using bass blockers. to be able

to crank up my Polk's even higher. (used with amp)

so the rumble doesn't-

Force you to turn them down.. I do however like the highs

coming out of the Polk's better.

 

Don. I used the F/S control. or whatever you call it,

and adjust my rears to match the front of the bike.

but your right a lot does come out of the front.

(but is adjustable)

Jeff

[DLBCAL]

Crutchfield still has both listed. They may just be selling out the existing stock of the 400 though. The difference appears to be the power rating. 105 peak for the 400s and 135 peak for the 401s. RMS tops at at 35 for the 400s and 45 for the 401s. I actually think that the 400 model will be better for our bikes AND they are $30.00 cheaper than the 401s.

 

I use the 401's for my Venture. Front only right now. I installed them last spring.

 

They are the best speakers I have tried. Very good sound and yes they are marine grade.

[Cougar]

I have been trying to figure how to make the front

speakers sound like the rear. with some kind of backing

for the sound to be even better. These caught my

eye while surfing around in crutchfields..

 

I hope they fit! there might be just

enough room in there!

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-1b0A1wum8mx/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=237XT42

 

I think this is the ticket for the front.

I ordered the slim type. I will let ya know how

they work!

Jeff

[Cougar]

I like the 3rd review. As I am using bass blockers as well...

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=237XT42&tp=2809&tab=review

There Just might be hope for the front after all *LOL*

Jeff

[Cougar]

Talked with Crutchfield today and they say that the 400's

will be going out of stock.. HURRY there is only 464 Speakers left! *lol*

401's will take there place. I think I will try the rear next. but gunna

look in the rear pod for room first. like Don says , waiting till me back

covers show up first. then I will do a write-up on how to remove/replace

the rear 2nd Gen Speakers as well. For the price and if they do no work

I will have spares I Guess gunna put the Speaker Baffles in the rear

as well... Also they told me to make sure I cut a dime size hole in the bottom of the baffle to make the suction not be so bad. I will add these

baffles to the write ups. gatta do somthing in these Iowa Winters!

Stay Tuned!

Jeff

[midnightventure]

I ordered the Polk db400s from Crutchfield last Sunday. Got them Wednesday. Put them in today. I didn't have to open the mounting holes any. It was raining here so I didn't get to try them out.

[Cougar]

Bill, ya know you are allowed to try them out with-out

riding the bike !

 

I Just ordered two more for the rear. and I now have all

4 Baffles to place over the speakers I really think the baffles

will be the topper for the rest of the sound that I need..

Jeff

PS (great you did not have to enlarge the holes)

[midnightventure]

I have ridden a couple of hundred miles with the Polk speakers now. They are definitely better than the stock Clarions. I have to turn the volume a little higher to get the same volume.

[Cougar]

Glad you like them Bill...

 

Yes , that is why I Installed the AMP in my trunk

to get the Volume I needed , I even did that before

the Polk's though.. It Also helps Lots with my new

Zumo GPS to hear what it is saying and also help

the music come from that even louder.

 

Anyway , I am glad you had success with them.

can not remember if you changed out the rears yet or not?

(did you add bass-blockers?)

 

I still have not installed my second set yet into the rears.

 

Some say there might not be enough room. I will get them

to fit some how with the baffles. I also still have not

installed my baffles to all four speaker as well. *sigh* to

damn COLD.... Buurrrrrr

Jeff

[midnightventure]

I just put in the new speakers. Nothing else.

[BuddyRich]

After Cougar'swrite up last night I started looking for some 400's. I did some checking and the 400 are 1 13/16 thick and the 401's are 1 15/16 thick so I guess we should stick with the 400's if the 401's are 1/8 inch thicker.

[Cougar]

Polk Audio db400

 

4" 2-way car speakers

Certified for marine use

 

9 people say: http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/v3.0/star-rating/5.0.gif

Item #107DB400

IN STOCK

 

Original Price $69.99 Price Break -$20.00

Final Price $49.99

[KiteSquid]

After Cougar'swrite up last night I started looking for some 400's. I did some checking and the 400 are 1 13/16 thick and the 401's are 1 15/16 thick so I guess we should stick with the 400's if the 401's are 1/8 inch thicker.

 

But that measurement MAY be withe the cover installed, which we dont use....

 

 

for the price diffence, I would buy the db400's

[Cougar]

The Back Cover Baffle is about an 1/8 th inch thick..

 

But when I installed it back into place it compressed part

of the baffle just a bit. seems like there might be a 1/16 inch

left? not sure. hard to tell. I think somebody if they bought 2

of the 401's.. and before the placed them into the front of

the bike maybe try a test fit on one of the rears..

Jeff

[flb_78]

Circuit City has the Polk 401's for 79.99 and if purchase a 2nd set, the 2nd set is half off.

 

4 polk 401''s for 120 bux.

 

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=172442#CustomerRatings

 

• Package Deal: Buy 1 pair of Polk speakers get the 2nd 50% off

[Relaxin]

You guys were talking about amps. What type of amps and any pics of installing amp in trunk? Thanks...Jerry