Good morning all. Currently running a stock head unit, Arc moto Bx 125.2 amp and Hertz HCX 165's I'm looking to upgrade the HU and add speakers to the lowers. I've been looking at the Aquatic AV HU because of it's plug and play ability with myself being of limited AV experience although I did wire my amp and speakers. The $600 price on the Aquatic has me thinking twice though. I've had other people say that I'd get better sound quality running a Alpine head unit with a control module for the hand controls. I'm planning on running JL audio marine 6 1/2's in the lowers. What I'm looking for is a nice clean sound at highway speeds. I'm trying to stay away from putting horns in the dash at this moment and don't plan on putting speakers in the saddlebags. My wife doesn't know how to pack light.....lol For a novice installer would I get the sound I'm looking for going with either head unit and would I need to change out my arc amp, would the JL's give me better sound on the highway. Thanks for you input.

 

Anyone??

 

Ron, I personally am not a fan of the AV head units. Way over priced and lacking in my opinion. Alpine HU's are really nice as well as Sony and Kenwood. In short to answer your question, yes you'll have to go with 4ch amp as the Arc 125.2 just will not have enough power to push 4 speakers.

 

Agree with Bates 100%. Had a Aquatic Gen 2 for a whopping month before it went bye bye. I can go on and on on my dislikes of the Aquatic but will say any unit that the hand control takes you to audio adjustment is just plain stupid. Last thing I need while riding is to adjust my audio settings.

 

I like the display on the Sony BT100 but it lacked some control over xovers as well as being a pita to navigate through my music. Can't say how much I loved the display though, EASILY viewed even with my rain cover on it.

Using the Kenwood 998 right now, semi easy to navigate but display isn't the greatest. Excellent control of audio though, xovers and slope all customizable front and rear.

Never tried an Aquatic as they don't make one for a Rushmore bike.

 

I used to think the same about the Aquatic until a customer had to have it as his radio from fear of rain on his bike. I said use a rain cover and he said I'd rather just have a radio that can stand the rain then have to pull over and dig a cover out of my bags. Truth is, his bike sound pretty damn good. When a guy asks for "plug and play" chances are he's not going to know how or want to mess with a 13 band EQ much less slope settings on a front and rear crossovers. If you get an average radio at 150-170 bucks and add a Hawg Wired install kit our BT kit the price is very close to the AQ. It's not a radio for the audiophile that's for sure, but there's a place for it at the right price. Softy used one on his set up and I though it sounded great.


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B87...JoV2tubjQ/view