‘18 Ultra Classic help please

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Dec 5, 2020 | 05:25 PM

whitebuffalo

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‘18 Ultra Classic help please

1st Harley I’ve had with any kind of radio system, I’m old and I’m lost as far as upgrading. I’ve read this section of the forum for 3 days and searched and I’m no less lost I think. I have a 18 Ultra with the stock 4.? Boom head unit and speakers. It’s pretty useless at highway speed, especially after too many years of drag racing, drag pipes, and working in a body shop. I want to make a upgrade, but funds are limited as I’m not working due to some medical issues. From what I’ve read it seems like the Stinger amp and mmat PA601cx speakers are probably the best bang for the buck. Is this still right even though the Stinger amp is considerably higher priced than it used to be? Will the 601cx speakers fit into the TP. Pods? Seems like I read that mods were needed. Are adapters or covers needed also? Will I need a BT 355 or the Breakout kit that I think includes it. I don’t care about fade, I think that’s one of the things I read about on the Ultra. Is there some kind of a kit that I would need to make a clean install without any cutting or splicing? I haven’t done anything with audio stuff in probably 30 years, boy things sure have changed a lot in that time! Any help you can give a half deaf old biker would be greatly appreciated.

Dec 5, 2020 | 06:46 PM

Adenton528

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Joined: Feb 2016

Posts: 721

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From: Jerseyville, IL

Following is a list of a budget system that would work.

1. Stinger amp or equivalant
2. MMats in fairing are good and will fit in fairing pods without issue. Just have to zip off the locating pin on face of pod
3. Mmats will not fit in tour pack pods without adapters and even then it's a little bit of work
4. PRV 6MB250 fit in tour pack pods and drop right in as do these https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646C...-46CSC674.html
5. Metra ST-AK8 wiring kit for power, ground, and remote for the amp. Also comes with a nice piece of velcro for securing amp to factory rack above radio
6. HD fairing power adapter for remote power to signal amp to turn on https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/e...ess/p/69200921
7. Some good 16 gauge speaker wire to run to the speaker pods
8. BT355 (Breakout not needed, just push fade all the way to the front so it sends all the signal of head unit to the front speaker connectors)
9. A set of Stinger 4000 1.5 foot RCA cable to go between your BT355 and amp

Solder or butt connectors, some female spade connectors, TESA tape for wrapping connections, heat shrink, and some Tech flex to use as a protector for speaker wires going back to pods and you should be in business.

Last edited by Adenton528; Dec 5, 2020 at 06:48 PM. Reason: addition

Dec 5, 2020 | 06:54 PM

travelingypsye

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2017

Posts: 3,371

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From: indiana

Exactly what Adenton said! You wont be disappointed.

Dec 5, 2020 | 07:25 PM

whitebuffalo

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Thank you Adenton & Gypsye for the quick response. The 2 different speakers you listed should play well with the mmats in the fairing correct? The speaker wires running to the TP pods will connect to the amp or line leveller? No way to tie into factory connections for TP pods under fairing I’m guessing. Tech flex? Is this basically just plastic wiring loom? Thanks a bunch for trying to help a old guy out!

Dec 5, 2020 | 07:30 PM

Adenton528

Road Captain

Joined: Feb 2016

Posts: 721

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From: Jerseyville, IL

To be honest I like the kickers a little better. They're a full range speaker but aren't quite as loud as the prv. Just a more pleasant overall sound.

Don't tie into existing speaker wires. Just run new ones. Put some heat shrink over the stock connections in the tour pack pods to protect them.

Metra kit comes with speaker wire for front.

The BT355 will hook into your stock speaker plugs and then the rca end will connect to your stinger RCA and then into the amp.

Tech flex is a woven fiber wrap. Think of a Chinese finger trap. Much nicer than plastic loom.

Dec 5, 2020 | 07:47 PM

whitebuffalo

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Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 42

Likes: 23

Thanks Adenton, I know exactly what you’re talking about with the tech flex now, I just didn’t know what it was called. Much more flexibility than the convoluted loom I was thinking of. I like the price on the Kickers. I’m still a little bit confused with the rear speakers. Will I be running them on the same 2 channels as the front mats? Thanks for taking some time to deal with a ignorant old guy.