Audio Systems Find answers to all of your stereo, speaker and other audio technology questions here.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

audio upgrade help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 01:56 PM
  #1  
Alton Bonin's Avatar
Alton Bonin
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
From: mentor ohio
Default audio upgrade help

Looking for an audio upgrade for around $1000 or less. For a 2013 Electra glide ultra limited. I want all new speakers and lower fairing speakers. Was considering boom stage 1 but I’ve heard a lot of negative comments about them. I’m not looking to be heard 5 miles away but something that sounds good and can be heard well at freeway speeds would be great
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 04:20 PM
  #2  
Fireball Jack's Avatar
Fireball Jack
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 851
From: Puyallup, wa
Default

I wouldn’t be concerned about lowers because at freeway speed they don’t bring much to the dance. Are you ok with losing fm radio?
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 04:25 PM
  #3  
SBates08's Avatar
SBates08
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
Default

Originally Posted by Fireball Jack
I wouldn’t be concerned about lowers because at freeway speed they don’t bring much to the dance. Are you ok with losing fm radio?
This statement could not be any more wrong. Lowers will bring more to the dance than any other location on the bike except for the fairing. Out of the 4 basic holes to fill on a motorcycle, the lowers are 2nd in line for best sound.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 04:36 PM
  #4  
slodsm's Avatar
slodsm
Road Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 353
From: Tyler Tx
Default

Originally Posted by Fireball Jack
I wouldn’t be concerned about lowers because at freeway speed they don’t bring much to the dance. Are you ok with losing fm radio?

Dude lowers bring more than everything else on my bike. If I could only have 4 speakers I’d take fairing on lowers over fairing and ANYTHING else.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 04:39 PM
  #5  
Vigr's Avatar
Vigr
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 9
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by SBates08
This statement could not be any more wrong. Lowers will bring more to the dance than any other location on the bike except for the fairing. Out of the 4 basic holes to fill on a motorcycle, the lowers are 2nd in line for best sound.
i second this motion
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 05:07 PM
  #6  
Hoyt 1911A1's Avatar
Hoyt 1911A1
Grand HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 893
From: Southern Virginia
Default

Alton are you going to keep your stock head unit? If so you might want to get a couple of PAC low level converters to be able to connect to an amp. If you don't mind spending a little over 100 bucks you could send the head unit to Iron Cross and have them install preamp outputs for you. If you are looking to replace the head unit let these guys know and list the options you would like in it and they can recommend a make and model for you.

Also with you looking to run six speakers there is another decision you will need to make. Do you want to hear the rear pod speakers clearly yourself or are they just for your passenger? If they are just for your passenger you could get a good four channel amp and run the lower fairing and rear pod speakers on the same channel in parallel (probably the rear amp channel) to save some cash and complexity. If you want to hear them yourself and be able to tune them individually then you will need either a six channel amp or maybe a micro two channel amp dedicated to the pods in addition to the four channel amp for your front four speakers.

Also let folks know if FM reception is important to you or not. If it is a more expensive amp may be required.

Flesh out the details for the smart folks here and they can get you going in the right direction. I have a bike similar to yours but I had very specific wants and did things differently than most folks would.
 
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2019 | 07:05 PM
  #7  
Alton Bonin's Avatar
Alton Bonin
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
From: mentor ohio
Default

Originally Posted by Hoyt 1911A1
Alton are you going to keep your stock head unit? If so you might want to get a couple of PAC low level converters to be able to connect to an amp. If you don't mind spending a little over 100 bucks you could send the head unit to Iron Cross and have them install preamp outputs for you. If you are looking to replace the head unit let these guys know and list the options you would like in it and they can recommend a make and model for you.

Also with you looking to run six speakers there is another decision you will need to make. Do you want to hear the rear pod speakers clearly yourself or are they just for your passenger? If they are just for your passenger you could get a good four channel amp and run the lower fairing and rear pod speakers on the same channel in parallel (probably the rear amp channel) to save some cash and complexity. If you want to hear them yourself and be able to tune them individually then you will need either a six channel amp or maybe a micro two channel amp dedicated to the pods in addition to the four channel amp for your front four speakers.

Also let folks know if FM reception is important to you or not. If it is a more expensive amp may be required.

Flesh out the details for the smart folks here and they can get you going in the right direction. I have a bike similar to yours but I had very specific wants and did things differently than most folks would.
i actually bought a new head unit, a Jensen power sports , plug n play replacement . (HD1BT).

i would like to be able to hear my rear speakers myself

As for FM reception. If I could keep the signal that would be great because I actually do use the fm radio but if it’s a huge difference in price I guess I could live without it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2019 | 02:12 PM
  #8  
FrenchieM's Avatar
FrenchieM
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 185
From: Fond du Lac WI
Default

Originally Posted by Fireball Jack
I wouldn’t be concerned about lowers because at freeway speed they don’t bring much to the dance. Are you ok with losing fm radio?
Ride next to me and I’ll show you what lowers bring at freeway speeds. Get educated on here man and then next
time you can give solid information to others.
 
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 02:33 PM
  #9  
Alton Bonin's Avatar
Alton Bonin
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 41
Likes: 2
From: mentor ohio
Default

I actually bought a new head unit, a Jensen power sports , plug n play replacement . (HD1BT).

i would like to be able to hear my rear speakers myself

As for FM reception. If I could keep the signal that would be great because I actually do use the fm radio but if it’s a huge difference in price I guess I could live without it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 23, 2019 | 04:05 PM
  #10  
Hoyt 1911A1's Avatar
Hoyt 1911A1
Grand HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 893
From: Southern Virginia
Default

would like to be able to hear my rear speakers myself
That being the case it looks like you will need six amplified channels to balance everything out. To keep FM I don't know how you could do that for under a grand. I think Bates had a setup similar to what you are looking to do at one time. Maybe he can give you some recommendations for your budget.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:41 PM.