Aftermarket HU?
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 94
From: Massachusetts
Aftermarket HU?
2013 Electra Glide Classic
Current set up:
BT 2180 Amp
BT 7P1 7.1 Titan II speakers
Stock HK HU
Stock long antenna
This set up sounds good playing CD's or IHeart Radio, but FM distorts at highway speeds.
Keeping the same amp and speakers, I'm assuming I'll get more FM clarity and wake everything up a bit by switching out the stock HU. True?
I have no intentions of having more than just the 2 speakers in the fairing.
I'm leaning towards the Kenwood X998, seem like a good choice?
If so, just wondering what I need to buy besides the HU for the install.
I want to keep the handlebar controls for volume and CD.
I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, just looking for less distortion.
Thanks!
Current set up:
BT 2180 Amp
BT 7P1 7.1 Titan II speakers
Stock HK HU
Stock long antenna
This set up sounds good playing CD's or IHeart Radio, but FM distorts at highway speeds.
Keeping the same amp and speakers, I'm assuming I'll get more FM clarity and wake everything up a bit by switching out the stock HU. True?
I have no intentions of having more than just the 2 speakers in the fairing.
I'm leaning towards the Kenwood X998, seem like a good choice?
If so, just wondering what I need to buy besides the HU for the install.
I want to keep the handlebar controls for volume and CD.
I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, just looking for less distortion.
Thanks!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,621
Likes: 412
From: Indianapolis IN.
2013 Electra Glide Classic
Current set up:
BT 2180 Amp
BT 7P1 7.1 Titan II speakers
Stock HK HU
Stock long antenna
This set up sounds good playing CD's or IHeart Radio, but FM distorts at highway speeds.
Keeping the same amp and speakers, I'm assuming I'll get more FM clarity and wake everything up a bit by switching out the stock HU. True?
I have no intentions of having more than just the 2 speakers in the fairing.
I'm leaning towards the Kenwood X998, seem like a good choice?
If so, just wondering what I need to buy besides the HU for the install.
I want to keep the handlebar controls for volume and CD.
I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, just looking for less distortion.
Thanks!
Current set up:
BT 2180 Amp
BT 7P1 7.1 Titan II speakers
Stock HK HU
Stock long antenna
This set up sounds good playing CD's or IHeart Radio, but FM distorts at highway speeds.
Keeping the same amp and speakers, I'm assuming I'll get more FM clarity and wake everything up a bit by switching out the stock HU. True?
I have no intentions of having more than just the 2 speakers in the fairing.
I'm leaning towards the Kenwood X998, seem like a good choice?
If so, just wondering what I need to buy besides the HU for the install.
I want to keep the handlebar controls for volume and CD.
I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, just looking for less distortion.
Thanks!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
I agree Steve. If you FM is working fine sitting still or slowly moving, I think i'd be looking at connections in the antenna path to correct your issue.
First and easiest thing to try would be grab a cheap mast antenna from wally world, plug it directly in the back of the stock head unit, zip tie it across your mirror posts and go for a ride. If it's fine, you know the antenna path (or antenna itself) is the problem. if it does the same thing then you know either the head unit or the amp is causing the issues. In that case, next step would be temp wire your front speakers back to your head unit, and pull the fuse on the amp. go for a ride. If the issue is gone, then you know it's the amp, if it's still there then you know it's the head unit.
First and easiest thing to try would be grab a cheap mast antenna from wally world, plug it directly in the back of the stock head unit, zip tie it across your mirror posts and go for a ride. If it's fine, you know the antenna path (or antenna itself) is the problem. if it does the same thing then you know either the head unit or the amp is causing the issues. In that case, next step would be temp wire your front speakers back to your head unit, and pull the fuse on the amp. go for a ride. If the issue is gone, then you know it's the amp, if it's still there then you know it's the head unit.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
now..I will say this also. Aftermarket head units tend to have a better FM receiver than stock because the stock are tuned for that bike, that length of antenna extension, that specific antenna mast. Aftermarkets are tuned a little broader in their capabilities because they have to accommodate for many varying factors from vehicle manufacturer to vehicle manufacturer.
I still highly recommend the Alpine CDE-HD149BT and either the plug n plug biketronics handlebar controller or one of the Axxess controllers. I prefer the BT because it's plug n play, nothing else to wire, waterproof, and lifetime warranty.
I still highly recommend the Alpine CDE-HD149BT and either the plug n plug biketronics handlebar controller or one of the Axxess controllers. I prefer the BT because it's plug n play, nothing else to wire, waterproof, and lifetime warranty.
Last edited by UltraNutZ; Mar 6, 2017 at 10:19 AM.
If daytime visibility is also desirable, consider a marine unit such as a Sony MEX-M70BT/Kenwood KMR-D768BT or budget yet feature packed JVC KD-R97MBS.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDR...p&awnw=o&awat=
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDR...p&awnw=o&awat=
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,997
Likes: 94
From: Massachusetts
now..I will say this also. Aftermarket head units tend to have a better FM received that stock because the stock are tuned for that bike, that length of antenna extension, that specific antenna mast. Aftermarkets are tuned a little broader in their capabilities because they have to accommodate for many varying factors from vehicle manufacturer to vehicle manufacturer.
I still highly recommend the Alpine CDE-HD149BT and either the plug n plug biketronics handlebar controller or one of the Axxess controllers. I prefer the BT because it's plug n play, nothing else to wire, waterproof, and lifetime warranty.
I still highly recommend the Alpine CDE-HD149BT and either the plug n plug biketronics handlebar controller or one of the Axxess controllers. I prefer the BT because it's plug n play, nothing else to wire, waterproof, and lifetime warranty.
Let's say I go with the Alpine CDE-HD149BT.
I'm willing to try this, it's less than $200 shipped and a Saturday morning of time.
Is this the BT product I buy to keep the handlebar controls? - BT1005X - 1998-2013 Multi-Brand Radio Install Kit, (at $219 it's more than the HU.)
I don't see just a plug n play handlebar controller on the BT website.
Thanks and sorry for these seemingly simple questions.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 745
Likes: 28
From: MN. USA
If daytime visibility is also desirable, consider a marine unit such as a Sony MEX-M70BT/Kenwood KMR-D768BT or budget yet feature packed JVC KD-R97MBS.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDR...p&awnw=o&awat=
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDR...p&awnw=o&awat=
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 188
From: Manitowoc county
2013 Electra Glide Classic
Current set up:
BT 2180 Amp
BT 7P1 7.1 Titan II speakers
Stock HK HU
Stock long antenna
This set up sounds good playing CD's or IHeart Radio, but FM distorts at highway speeds.
Keeping the same amp and speakers, I'm assuming I'll get more FM clarity and wake everything up a bit by switching out the stock HU. True?
I have no intentions of having more than just the 2 speakers in the fairing.
I'm leaning towards the Kenwood X998, seem like a good choice?
If so, just wondering what I need to buy besides the HU for the install.
I want to keep the handlebar controls for volume and CD.
I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, just looking for less distortion.
Thanks!
Current set up:
BT 2180 Amp
BT 7P1 7.1 Titan II speakers
Stock HK HU
Stock long antenna
This set up sounds good playing CD's or IHeart Radio, but FM distorts at highway speeds.
Keeping the same amp and speakers, I'm assuming I'll get more FM clarity and wake everything up a bit by switching out the stock HU. True?
I have no intentions of having more than just the 2 speakers in the fairing.
I'm leaning towards the Kenwood X998, seem like a good choice?
If so, just wondering what I need to buy besides the HU for the install.
I want to keep the handlebar controls for volume and CD.
I'm not an audiophile by any stretch, just looking for less distortion.
Thanks!
oops, no cd
load all your cd faves to your phone or ipod?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,449
Likes: 495
From: Port Arthur, Texas
I ran a Sony MEX-M100BT and the display was the awesome, much easier to see than my current Kenwood 998. However, I found the Sony to be more difficult to navigate through my music and the lack of a separate front and rear HPF killed it for me.
I like the Kenwood 998 because of all the options it has but I find the display is hard to see when I'm riding into the sun, ironically this is the opposite problem I had with the stocker
. It's also not the best for music searching off my USB, I have to physically touch the head unit to go up a level in my searches (I'm told this can be programmed in to the module but I haven't verified this with Biketronics yet).
I am using the Biketronics Retro Kit on a 15 RG. I have song forward/back, album forward/back, volume up/down, source select, and the option to use AVC or have a mute button (you can use AVC or mute but not both).
I like the Kenwood 998 because of all the options it has but I find the display is hard to see when I'm riding into the sun, ironically this is the opposite problem I had with the stocker
. It's also not the best for music searching off my USB, I have to physically touch the head unit to go up a level in my searches (I'm told this can be programmed in to the module but I haven't verified this with Biketronics yet).I am using the Biketronics Retro Kit on a 15 RG. I have song forward/back, album forward/back, volume up/down, source select, and the option to use AVC or have a mute button (you can use AVC or mute but not both).