Has anyone tried to get a little more volume out of their v-accordion? The only easy way I can think of is replacing the speakers with something more efficient but my first attempt yielded no better results. Does anyone know if the internal amplifier varies between the different models?
FR-1X volume upgrade
- Thread starter Ricach
- Start date
Waste of time and money. The easiest and most effective way to get more volume is to use external amplification.
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2013
- Messages
- 5,178
- Reaction score
- 990
Welcome Ricarh:
Some of the members here on the Forum are aware the fact that I've been affiliated with a Roland dealer that
one of the first stocking dealers here in the US. When the first "V" accordions were shipped here I was a house
accordion tech and found myself learning the construction, electronic parameters, & repairing of these new
electronic "V" models of accordions.
Now I appreciate your ??'s on the volume of "V" accordion models. Well in all models their computers
control the power & wattage (8 ohms) of the original speakers. The internal computers is some models
can be updated but, changing the electronic needs of aftermarket speakers will only result in internal
computer damage.
Some of the members here on the Forum are aware the fact that I've been affiliated with a Roland dealer that
one of the first stocking dealers here in the US. When the first "V" accordions were shipped here I was a house
accordion tech and found myself learning the construction, electronic parameters, & repairing of these new
electronic "V" models of accordions.
Now I appreciate your ??'s on the volume of "V" accordion models. Well in all models their computers
control the power & wattage (8 ohms) of the original speakers. The internal computers is some models
can be updated but, changing the electronic needs of aftermarket speakers will only result in internal
computer damage.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Ricach,
A quick read around the web suggests your question opens a real can of worms.
As JerryPH suggests, get external amplification.
A quick read around the web suggests your question opens a real can of worms.
As JerryPH suggests, get external amplification.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
people been using portable belt=pack booster amps since the
first Auctioneer went hoarse trying to sell the piles of old
farmers junk as the crowd walked behind him
charge it, clip it on your belt somewhere, plug the FR into it, play louder
first Auctioneer went hoarse trying to sell the piles of old
farmers junk as the crowd walked behind him
charge it, clip it on your belt somewhere, plug the FR into it, play louder
Last edited:
Ventura
Been here for ages!
to pursue your original question
YOU get ahold of the schematics
YOU identify in the schematics the class D amp audio output circuitry
YOU open the FR and physically locate the relevant components and circuitry
YOU determine if these component have a prayer of being modified safely,
and then look up the individual components to see if there are higher rated
versions in the same form factor and size
THEN some whiz kid electronics tech might be persuaded to give your idea
a try for a few hundred dollars labor, so long as you bear ALL responsibility
for any and all bad consequences of the re-engineering
YOU get ahold of the schematics
YOU identify in the schematics the class D amp audio output circuitry
YOU open the FR and physically locate the relevant components and circuitry
YOU determine if these component have a prayer of being modified safely,
and then look up the individual components to see if there are higher rated
versions in the same form factor and size
THEN some whiz kid electronics tech might be persuaded to give your idea
a try for a few hundred dollars labor, so long as you bear ALL responsibility
for any and all bad consequences of the re-engineering
Valski
Well-known member
Another option would be to purchase the Fr8x which already has up to 50 watts per side volume. It was designed for more volume, otherwise I like Ventura's belt pack amplifier idea.
Thanks to those who had constructive things to say. I have plenty of external amplification and therein lies the problem. I hear that and not my accordion. (I play professionally to decent size crowds so turning down external amplification is not an option). It's disconcerting for me not to hear and feel my accordion when I play. The FR-1X is my backup accordion to my Zupan w/midi and I will use the 1X occasionally when I have long days and need to give my shoulders and back a little rest. Thus shouldering an 8x is out of the question.
I will assume that the answer to my original post is; No, nobody has pursued this endeavor.
I will assume that the answer to my original post is; No, nobody has pursued this endeavor.
Valski
Well-known member
With all due respect, the choice is between small, light and portable versus large heavy and powerful. You have to choose which is more important and then live with your decision.
Not for a 1X, no. About 15 years ago someone made a kit for the 8X that "boosted" the power up from 50 to 100 watts... at a cost of about 800 Euros. Sounds interesting, until you realize that every time you double the power you gain *exactly* 3 db of volume increase... which in all honestly is just barely audible. So if you wanted a fair amount... let's say a 9db increase the amps would have to be doubled 3 times (50 to 100 wants, 100 watts to 200 watts and 200 watts to 400 watts!). Ever carry a 200 or 400 watt amp around? The weight increase places you a good 10+ pounds above that of an 8X, not including the weight of the extra batteries needed to drive it.
Speaking of batteries... don't forget, a higher wattage amp will easily cut down playing times as well... so then you also need more batteries and that too increases weight.
What I am not understanding is this part: "I have plenty of external amplification and therein lies the problem. I hear that and not my accordion." Is your amplification of not high enough quality to accurately reproduce the sound of the accordion? If you are in a group where you cannot hear yourself playing, then something is not set up properly. Are you using rear facing monitors that point back at you and are loud enough for you to hear yourself clearly and accurately? I played outdoors this summer and had my external setup at pretty much maximum volume without distortion... I heard myself so clearly that I disabled the speakers of m 8X and did not notice the change at all... and at the same time, that move extended the battery life of my accordion as an added plus.
Has this topic ever come up? Here a couple times, in other venues, many times, just sharing what I know as fact confirmed by others... ene cannot go against the laws of physics.
Last edited:
Ventura
Been here for ages!
that may be able to be adjusted...
hearing ourselves does mean different things to different ears, but
the floor falling away from you when you can't hear what you NEED to
or expect to is a common feeling
i recommend to you, if you have a friend with a Titano or PanCordion from
the Deffner era or current, you will notice small louvers attached to the
bodies that re-directs a small portion of the accordion sound toward the accordionist..
play one and you will understand the reasoning behind it
(it received a patent)
in a crowded noisy room while Strolling those louvres are a godsend
perhaps you can figure out some similar small, unobtrusive plastic shape that
would accomplish some improvement for you and your FR1
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
I often see musicians wearing earbuds
/earphones while playing and assume it's so they can hear themselves play.
Maybe that's an avenue you can pursue?
/earphones while playing and assume it's so they can hear themselves play.
Maybe that's an avenue you can pursue?
Chris Laarman
Active member
There even exist devices for that, like my old Powerplay Pro HA4400 by Behringer. Never used it, due to circumstances. I recently noticed "headphone amplifiers" at AliExpress. Much cheaper and smaller.I often see musicians wearing earbuds
/earphones while playing and assume it's so they can hear themselves play.
Maybe that's an avenue you can pursue?
I never play my Roland 8X without external amplification. The volume is excellent. Another reason I wouldn't use the 8X without it is that I use a Microvent 122 in series with the 8X output and the external speaker. When I have a tone selected using the "Virtual Tonewheel", that Hammond sound with the Leslie Tremolo is amazing. It would be impossible (without very major electronic circuit redesign) to have the Microvent Tremolo output its signal to the 8X speakers.
John M.
John M.
Once again, thanks to those who had constructive suggestions and ideas. My sound engineer friend, a real one - pocket protector and everything, suggested that unless I can get my FR1x to vibrate from the internal sound from the notes like my acoustic accordion does, I'm not going to achieve what I'm striving for, no matter how loud I make it (unless its so loud the speakers actually vibrate the accordion). I don't think an increase of that much volume is possible so therefor I don't think I'll ever be able to 'fool' myself into thinking I'm playing anything but a digital accordion. There's worse things in life.......... 
Valski
Well-known member
Remember surround sound in movie theaters? They rigged the chairs to vibrate, unfortunately the trend didn't last because there was too little return on the expensive retrofit. Sometimes we have to accept the limitations of technology. It's similar to people trying to achieve the same bellows resistance in digital accordions as there is in a conventional instrument and they're two different things.
I kind of get what you're aiming forOnce again, thanks to those who had constructive suggestions and ideas. My sound engineer friend, a real one - pocket protector and everything, suggested that unless I can get my FR1x to vibrate from the internal sound from the notes like my acoustic accordion does, I'm not going to achieve what I'm striving for, no matter how loud I make it (unless its so loud the speakers actually vibrate the accordion). I don't think an increase of that much volume is possible so therefor I don't think I'll ever be able to 'fool' myself into thinking I'm playing anything but a digital accordion. There's worse things in life..........
you could hook up a bone conductor headphone to "feel" the sound more
Bone conductors? Vibration disks? Beguiling and ecstatic glances? I fear this forum has devolved worse than Musk taking over Twitter. This keeps up and we'll all be playing Smooth Operator by Sade.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
actually you all might be on to something
digital accordions with internal speakers COULD have a third audio channel
engineered and built into the system, with the third channel feeding such a device
installed against the speakers back-plane
these need to be pressed against something basically
Home
Dayton Audio TT25-8 PUCK Tactile Transducer Mini Bass Shaker 8 OhmThe PUCK™ by Dayton Audio is a small, economical tactile transducer otherwise known as a mini bass shaker that is intended to be used in home theater, gaming, and auto sound applications. This mini bass shaker has the unique...
www.parts-express.com
digital accordions with internal speakers COULD have a third audio channel
engineered and built into the system, with the third channel feeding such a device
installed against the speakers back-plane
these need to be pressed against something basically
