2 channel upgrade
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Joined: Aug 2020
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From: indiana
2 channel upgrade
So I am new to the world of harley audio as well as new to the forum. I have ridden a lot of bikes in the past but now am joining the bagger journey. I looked through threads and the FAQ and didnt really find my specific questions answered so here goes.
2019 Road Glide Special and I want to upgrade the two channel system. I am an audio guy at heart and have had some pretty wild systems at home, so sound quality is definitely important. My main goal is to be able to hear my music at highway speeds without having to clip amps and have major distortion like the factory bike. I would like to keep the factory head unit. Budget would be under 400 for replacement speakers and under 500 for an amplifier (might consider a 4 channel amp if it leaves me an upgrade path later and or it can be bridged to two channels) (Also can increase budget if it really makes sense somewhere).
Questions:
1. Can I upgrade speakers with the factory head unit/amplifier and get any kind of appreciable increase in quality at volume (more efficient speakers maybe??)??
2. Is it possible to do the upgrade in stages, ie buy speakers and use for a while and then buy/install amplifier?
3. Am I going to see any appreciable benefit to adding lower fairings and another pair of speakers in them at a later date?
4. What are recommendations on a good to great set of front fairing speakers, 2 or bridgeable 4 channel amplifier?
5. What load leveler do i need and is a standalone DSP a must or can the factory head unit be flashed with acceptable results.
Thanks for any advice
2019 Road Glide Special and I want to upgrade the two channel system. I am an audio guy at heart and have had some pretty wild systems at home, so sound quality is definitely important. My main goal is to be able to hear my music at highway speeds without having to clip amps and have major distortion like the factory bike. I would like to keep the factory head unit. Budget would be under 400 for replacement speakers and under 500 for an amplifier (might consider a 4 channel amp if it leaves me an upgrade path later and or it can be bridged to two channels) (Also can increase budget if it really makes sense somewhere).
Questions:
1. Can I upgrade speakers with the factory head unit/amplifier and get any kind of appreciable increase in quality at volume (more efficient speakers maybe??)??
2. Is it possible to do the upgrade in stages, ie buy speakers and use for a while and then buy/install amplifier?
3. Am I going to see any appreciable benefit to adding lower fairings and another pair of speakers in them at a later date?
4. What are recommendations on a good to great set of front fairing speakers, 2 or bridgeable 4 channel amplifier?
5. What load leveler do i need and is a standalone DSP a must or can the factory head unit be flashed with acceptable results.
Thanks for any advice
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Joined: Aug 2020
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From: indiana
Ok never got any replies on this but maybe it was too vague. So after doing some research, i still havent made it to listen to any speakers anywhere. I am on the warmer side of detail camp. I see a lot of speakers with horns or compression drivers for tweeters and gonna guess that isnt for me. Every compression driver i have heard in a home speaker seems a bit shouty or forward. Maybe thats different on a bike but gonna guess no since the lower end of the frequency range is a bit weak anyway without subs.
so mmmats 6.5 sound like they would fit the bill but of course they are out of stock. What would be the next step up in sound quality or maybe even equivalent to the mmats for the road glide fairing?
i think i will just but the recommended stinger amp and Upgrade to some lower fairing speakers later.
so mmmats 6.5 sound like they would fit the bill but of course they are out of stock. What would be the next step up in sound quality or maybe even equivalent to the mmats for the road glide fairing?
i think i will just but the recommended stinger amp and Upgrade to some lower fairing speakers later.
Last edited by beltfed30cal; Aug 24, 2020 at 09:00 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Mi
What is you budget?
You say you have a road glide then talk about a road king fairing?
Warmer speakers are available, however they normally are not loud enough for a bike!
1. Provide a budget.
2. Provide a bike (19 road glide, or a roadking with an aftermarket fairing)
3. Will you do the install or a shop?
4. Have an end goal in mind.. Ie.. fairing, fairing and lowers, fairing, lowers lids later??
Juice
You say you have a road glide then talk about a road king fairing?
Warmer speakers are available, however they normally are not loud enough for a bike!
1. Provide a budget.
2. Provide a bike (19 road glide, or a roadking with an aftermarket fairing)
3. Will you do the install or a shop?
4. Have an end goal in mind.. Ie.. fairing, fairing and lowers, fairing, lowers lids later??
Juice
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 61
Likes: 23
From: indiana
What is you budget?
You say you have a road glide then talk about a road king fairing?
Warmer speakers are available, however they normally are not loud enough for a bike!
1. Provide a budget.
2. Provide a bike (19 road glide, or a roadking with an aftermarket fairing)
3. Will you do the install or a shop?
4. Have an end goal in mind.. Ie.. fairing, fairing and lowers, fairing, lowers lids later??
Juice
You say you have a road glide then talk about a road king fairing?
Warmer speakers are available, however they normally are not loud enough for a bike!
1. Provide a budget.
2. Provide a bike (19 road glide, or a roadking with an aftermarket fairing)
3. Will you do the install or a shop?
4. Have an end goal in mind.. Ie.. fairing, fairing and lowers, fairing, lowers lids later??
Juice
budget is in first post but even up to 400-500 for fairing speakers is doable if it gains me better sound quality.
i probably will end up with lowers and speaker pods there. But as of right now, no plans to add lids in back.
i will likely do the install and have it s
flashed somewhere. Speakers dont have to be a drop in, as i am competent modifying, etc. but i would rather not completely overhaul the fairing.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,186
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From: Mi
The 8 speaker 2 amp flash appears to be the flattest of the Harley EQ curves/flashes.
I would still look into an Pac SNI-35 or the more expensive BT355(if you are gonna keep the stock flash).
The Stinger amp is a good goto.
Speaker wise look at some of the component speakers out there with a Passive x-over ( you say you want better sound quality). I recently installed a set of audio legion component and they play very warm, they are not the loudest speaker I have installed but for the money they are a good speaker and they look like a coax, and they are motorcycle/water rated.
Juice
I would still look into an Pac SNI-35 or the more expensive BT355(if you are gonna keep the stock flash).
The Stinger amp is a good goto.
Speaker wise look at some of the component speakers out there with a Passive x-over ( you say you want better sound quality). I recently installed a set of audio legion component and they play very warm, they are not the loudest speaker I have installed but for the money they are a good speaker and they look like a coax, and they are motorcycle/water rated.
Juice
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 152
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From: South Side Chicago
Chiming in after juice, you questioned the mmats out of stock. American hard bag has a shipment of their coax in if you are interested in those as well. They will keep you in your budget. I would call them and ask about them if your interested asap. They go fast.
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Joined: Aug 2020
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From: indiana
Thanks for the replies, im sure i will have more questions once i get speakers and amp in hand.
dsp vs a flash??
also line level adapters i assume i will need. Any sound better than others??
dsp vs a flash??
also line level adapters i assume i will need. Any sound better than others??
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,681
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From: Puyallup, wa
The DSP will allow for more tuning and better sound but comes at a price $$. You will be hard pressed to stay on budget as it is MMats pa601.4cx $200.00 AMP 300.00-400.00 (stinger SPX700Xor SD800.4 evox 4 ohm. BT Line Levelers 90.00 and install kit. Since you talked about lowers you might as well get a good 4 channel amp now. The stinger will save you FM as the SD 800.4 will probably kill it.,
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Joined: Jul 2017
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From: High Point, NC.
Honestly, if you're going with the mmats, you dont really need to spend your money on a dsp. Not sure the cost, even at 150 for the dayton, is worth it for the gains you'd get turning with a dsp. They sound good just setting the gains on the amp. Easy to tune!
