F3T - Speaker and sound improvement ?

[MagYukon]

Hi all Spyder Riders,

Has anyone ever added or modified F3T's original speakers for something better?

I like the integrated radio and that I can stream music from my iPhone directly through the USB cable, but i'd like to improve the sound quality.

I was thinking about changing the front speakers or to add something in the rear (I don't have the BRP top case).

I I had something in the rear, will I need to purchase the BRP rear amplifier or can I add any after market one ?

Any comment or experience is appreciated as always !

Thanks

[Kiry]

This may not answer your question....because I'm not sure if it's sound or just quality you are looking for.

Have you checked the audio options? I know on mine, I have an equalizer, and I can change intensity of sound as well.

[opiewhan]

Hi all Spyder Riders,

Has anyone ever added or modified F3T's original speakers for something better?

I like the integrated radio and that I can stream music from my iPhone directly through the USB cable, but i'd like to improve the sound quality.

I was thinking about changing the front speakers or to add something in the rear (I don't have the BRP top case).

I I had something in the rear, will I need to purchase the BRP rear amplifier or can I add any after market one ?

Any comment or experience is appreciated as always !

Thanks

I can tell you the speakers that came out of my 2011 RT looked like WalMart quality.. Replaced the rear with Kenwood and the front with Xfinity speakers and sounds GREAT..

[Rattlebars]

This tread is in the F3 section hence RT references are not useful but thanks anyway.

[archibald609]

Please check out this link from Derrick Johnson

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja &uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwilqMqomNndAhVFOq0KHZPEBZUQtwIIK TAA&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHqPbodBkc&usg=AOvVaw2gBYrlJA8FKf1cNsv4_H eb

[Kredab]

Please check out this link from Derrick Johnson

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja &uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwilqMqomNndAhVFOq0KHZPEBZUQtwIIK TAA&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHqPbodBkc&usg=AOvVaw2gBYrlJA8FKf1cNsv4_H eb

That's a good video, I'm glad people are starting to figure out how to make these Spyders sound better

[jpat88]

Nice but speakers are 2 or 4 ohms ?

[Rattlebars]

Please check out this link from Derrick Johnson

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja &uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwilqMqomNndAhVFOq0KHZPEBZUQtwIIK TAA&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvHqPbodBkc&usg=AOvVaw2gBYrlJA8FKf1cNsv4_H eb

sure would like to know how he wired it into the system for speakers.

[Kredab]

sure would like to know how he wired it into the system for speakers.

When I got my amp put in my RT, I let the local custom stereo shop do it - no issues and it wasn't a terrible install price. check out your local stores

[Seattle]

Has anyone upgraded their amplifier in a 2018 or newer F3 Limited Spyders? BRP stated the 6x20 amp is proprietary and cannot be upgraded. Can anyone establish if this is a truly a fact?

The volume output on my 2018 F3-L is significantly lower compared to a 2017 F3-L (as an example which uses a different electronic dash cluster and audio system that has two amps to drive the front and rear speakers). Even while traveling at highway speeds with a tall windscreen, I can barely make out the GPS navigation instructions let alone the music even with the volume set to 95% or greater on the newer Spyders. Just in case you might be wondering, my annual hearing test confirmed the ears are functioning at 100%.

To be sure the issue isn't isolated to only my Spyder, I've had on loan over the past two years brand new 2018's and 2019's F3-L's and RT-L's which suffered from the same low volume output compared to their predecessor Spyders. The 2020 F3-L I currently have on loan is a tad louder yet BRP claims it's the same amplifier and speaker setup.

I'm interested to upgrade the audio output so I can hear the nav and music. But so far BRP cannot give me anything more. My Spyder tech cannot find anything to determine any difference either between the 2020 and past two year Spyder Limited models.

Thanks in advance for your reply.

[Rattlebars]

Then I'd say the factory amplifier is routing the signals, which I suppose makes sense as they're using a mid and a woofer. So the best bet is to bypass the factory amp altogether or install true mids in the stock location and woofers as well?

I need to clarify this thread. I've poured over that video and it seems that he's used the Green "midrange" wires to drive a 2 channel amp running the Coax speakers installed. If you play the video, you will notice that when he demonstrates the sound, there is NO BASS at all, just mid to upper highs because I believe he's using the "midrange" output from the stock radio into a 2 channel (left & right) amp. The bass voice coils don't vibrate at all by the reflection in them. I plan to use a 4 channel amp and run both the OEM midrange and the woofer speaker outs through the amp and get a quality set of component speakers to get the signal from all four channels IE Left two speakers and right 2 speakers.

>CLICK ME<

[JS3535]

So what year has a better audio system? The older ones with 2 amps or the newer ones with 1 6x20? The speakers for the 2016 & 2017 are 3x the price of the 2018 & 2019. Not saying that higher price is better quality.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

So what year has a better audio system? The older ones with 2 amps or the newer ones with 1 6x20? The speakers for the 2016 & 2017 are 3x the price of the 2018 & 2019. Not saying that higher price is better quality.

This info is from actually HEARING them perform …. the 16 & 17 speakers were about equal to what I achieved with my 2 ohm JBL speakers …. which is damn good …. however in 18 & 19 the same engineer who screwed up the whole DESS issue probably " FIXED " the also not broken speakers from 16 & 17 ….. this seems to be a common practice at BRP ….. maybe that engineer is a nephew of the founder ….. jmho …. Mike

[Rattlebars]

This info is from actually HEARING them perform …. the 16 & 17 speakers were about equal to what I achieved with my 2 ohm JBL speakers …. which is damn good …. however in 18 & 19 the same engineer who screwed up the whole DESS issue probably " FIXED " the also not broken speakers from 16 & 17 ….. this seems to be a common practice at BRP ….. maybe that engineer is a nephew of the founder ….. jmho …. Mike

[amcvay1979]

I'm still contemplating upgrading the speakers and maybe adding an amp. I wonder if the rear speakers would provide a full range out to send to an amp. Then you'd have to run wires to the front dash and add new speakers, but that may be the only way to pickup full range.

[ssiggy]

I'd like to replicate the harness that goes from the radio to the rear speaker amp. I've got a top case but no amp. Does anyone have a schematic or pinout for that harness? The 2017 F3 Limited schematic doesn't show it, as far as I can tell.

[Rattlebars]

I'd like to replicate the harness that goes from the radio to the rear speaker amp. I've got a top case but no amp. Does anyone have a schematic or pinout for that harness? The 2017 F3 Limited schematic doesn't show it, as far as I can tell.

f3T & Ltd shown. The RaDiO RDO is in the rear under the cowl/(top case?) and the audio unit controls the radio. I would guess that the rear speakers are parallel to the "front" as shown. RW2=right woofer negative RW1=right woofer positive. Extrapolate from there where M = midrange. (no "rear") shown.

radio.jpg

[AzBTO]

Anyone have details about the spyder limted upgraded stereo? https://www.amazon.com/Can-Am-Spyder.../dp/B01B1WTZ9M

[jwulf74]

My wife has a 2018 F3T and I have a 2020 F3L. There is a big audio difference between the 2 where hers "pops" at higher volumes and it doesn't play nearly as loud as mine. Both are on the latest software version for the years. But there is a software differece between the 2 years. Hopefully BRP will update the 2018's to the same level as the 2020's, but I'm not holding my breath. I am working on upgrading hers with some Kicker 6.5's and a Kicker amp. No issues thus far with it all wired for testing and that little amp makes it plenty loud. I just received the inner console part so I can start modifying it to make the 6.5's fit and keep the original for just in case... or restoration for trade later. I will do a write-up in the how to section later.. but it will be a while as I have some "engineering" and likely some fiberglass work to do for the speakers.

For enquiring minds, we opted for the PXA 300.4 just to drive the fronts. It has high level inputs and it seems to work well just tapping the original speaker wires. Basically, the stock amp stays in and feeds the signal to the Kicker amp via the original speaker wires. The original plan was to use 2 channels to drives the mids and 2 channels to drive the tweets as there have been reports of the stock system not providing full range output to the woofers and the tweet outputs block lows for sure, but after semi-scientific testing, the woofer outputs from the bike play frequencies higher than we can hear... we tested the tweet output too and it topped out around the same point as the woofer output... so both play fairly high... or our hearing is shot and we can't hear over that frequency anyway... separating the mid and tweet didn't make a difference either. I am using a component set so I can amplify each separately.

So, based on all that, one set of channels will be used for both and i will use the Kicker crossover and just stick it in the speaker cavity.

The other 2 channels I debated using for the rears, but I may try to sneak a Kicker 6.5" (or was it 6.75") sub in somewhere... like maybe removing the glove box and fiberglassing a housing and downfiring it there... pretty tight fit though and not 100% sure I can get enough air volume in the enclosure... we'll see.

TL : DR version... Yes, aftermarket amplification is possible as are aftermarket speakers... it just depends on the size and how much modification you want to do...

[Rattlebars]

My wife has a 2018 F3T and I have a 2020 F3L.
For enquiring minds, we opted for the PXA 300.4 just to drive the fronts. It has high level inputs and it seems to work well just tapping the original speaker wires. Basically, the stock amp stays in and feeds the signal to the Kicker amp via the original speaker wires. The original plan was to use 2 channels to drives the mids and 2 channels to drive the tweets as there have been reports of the stock system not providing full range output to the woofers and the tweet outputs block lows for sure, but after semi-scientific testing, the woofer outputs from the bike play frequencies higher than we can hear... we tested the tweet output too and it topped out around the same point as the woofer output... so both play fairly high... or our hearing is shot and we can't hear over that frequency anyway... separating the mid and tweet didn't make a difference either. I am using a component set so I can amplify each separately.

So, based on all that, one set of channels will be used for both and i will use the Kicker crossover and just stick it in the speaker cavity.

This is all good info. The woofer outs are full range? THANKS! Can you give part #'s for the Kicker crossover and all you plan to use? Are these linx accurate?

PXA 300.4? to see PXA 300.4

Kicker xover? to see Kicker Xover

[jwulf74]

I will say that the woofer outputs seem to be full range. Without access to a real time analyzer I can't say for sure, but using a tone generator on my phone via Bluetooth to the Spyder it played beyond my hearing ability...

Yep, PXA 300.4.

Speakers we are using are the Kicker KSS650 and they come with a crossover.. using these as the local shop was out of the CS series... downside is that the KS tweets are silk dome so need to be super careful with water... the woofer I'm not so worried about... the CS have a titanium dome. But any coax or component in theory will work... marine grade would be best for water...

The 6.5"s one guy said only took minor modifications to the console to fit... his definition and mine are different... it will take some cutting and some fiberglass to make it right... i think he cut a bunch out and epoxied a Rockford 6.5" pod in... there is a YouTube video showing his end result.

[fhartell]

Read thru this whole tread and my original question hasn't been answered.
What size speakers will fit a 2020 F3 Limited that doesn't involve cutting?

[jwulf74]

None. Only the stock will fit without any modification. Noone has found a drop in that is that exact size of 4.5".

[Spyder Hawk]

Read thru this whole tread and my original question hasn't been answered.
What size speakers will fit a 2020 F3 Limited that doesn't involve cutting?

The Polk Audio DB501 are a direct replacement but they offer no noticeable sound difference that I could hear. The Show Chrome Accessories 13-104 4 1/2" 2-Way Neodymium Speakers also fit, but not as good as the Polk, and still offered no sound improvement.

[jpat88]

Hi,
What is the (electronic) difference between the F3 LTD and RT 2020 ? The sound is very BETTER on the RT 2020.
Thank for your answers