Help for a beginner?
Thread Starter
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5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: San Diego
Help for a beginner?
Hello all,
I really appreciate the members here helping others (especially in this subforum), and I'm hoping I can get steered in the right direction.
I have a new Road Glide ST, and hate the fact that I can't hear the speakers on the highway. Also hate the fact that if I want full operability with the Boom GTS, I need WHIM and Harley headset (both of which I ordered...yes, yes...decided to go that route instead of Freewire, two phones, etc.). My issue is, I'd like the fairing speakers to be louder, so I've decided on either the GZ Yellow Basket Neo, or the Hertz SX165 Neos, mostly because I don't really want to modify speaker pods. Both seem to be pretty comparable with the GZ's having more mid bass, and the Hertz being slightly louder and clearer. The problem where I'm really dumb is that I'm not sure what amp I'm going to need, and also if I need a DSP or LOC to go with it. Right now, I'm probably only going to roll with just a two speaker set up, and I know NVS suggests the GZs for those setups. I can see myself maybe, MAYBE wanting speaker lids in the back down the road, but honestly, I'm not sure that will ever actually happen. I only ride solo, so no passenger concerns, and mostly highway commute/road trip on the RG. Ideally would love to keep costs down, and will be doing the install myself to help that (I'm guessing I will have more questions here when that time comes if I can't figure out through the search function). Anyway, hopefully you all have some good input to guide me in the right direction. Thanks!
I really appreciate the members here helping others (especially in this subforum), and I'm hoping I can get steered in the right direction.
I have a new Road Glide ST, and hate the fact that I can't hear the speakers on the highway. Also hate the fact that if I want full operability with the Boom GTS, I need WHIM and Harley headset (both of which I ordered...yes, yes...decided to go that route instead of Freewire, two phones, etc.). My issue is, I'd like the fairing speakers to be louder, so I've decided on either the GZ Yellow Basket Neo, or the Hertz SX165 Neos, mostly because I don't really want to modify speaker pods. Both seem to be pretty comparable with the GZ's having more mid bass, and the Hertz being slightly louder and clearer. The problem where I'm really dumb is that I'm not sure what amp I'm going to need, and also if I need a DSP or LOC to go with it. Right now, I'm probably only going to roll with just a two speaker set up, and I know NVS suggests the GZs for those setups. I can see myself maybe, MAYBE wanting speaker lids in the back down the road, but honestly, I'm not sure that will ever actually happen. I only ride solo, so no passenger concerns, and mostly highway commute/road trip on the RG. Ideally would love to keep costs down, and will be doing the install myself to help that (I'm guessing I will have more questions here when that time comes if I can't figure out through the search function). Anyway, hopefully you all have some good input to guide me in the right direction. Thanks!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 572
From: Lockport Illinois
For starters the GZ Yellow basket will require modification to the pods to get them to fit. For a drop in aftermarket speaker the Hertz SX165 would be the better choice out of the 2 you listed.
To power the speakers you could go with a SD400.4 bridged or if you are not going to add lower or lid speakers. If you will be adding on to the system in the future I would suggest a Cicada BDA1400.4 amp to allow for expansion.
You will need to have the headunit flashed to correct the crazy EQ the mothership has programed to make the stock speakers sound good.
To connect the aftermarket amp to the stock HU you will need a 2 channel LOC or wire to the high level inputs on the amp (depending on amp selected)
To power the speakers you could go with a SD400.4 bridged or if you are not going to add lower or lid speakers. If you will be adding on to the system in the future I would suggest a Cicada BDA1400.4 amp to allow for expansion.
You will need to have the headunit flashed to correct the crazy EQ the mothership has programed to make the stock speakers sound good.
To connect the aftermarket amp to the stock HU you will need a 2 channel LOC or wire to the high level inputs on the amp (depending on amp selected)
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 160
Likes: 77
From: North Carolina
I have the Cicada 6.5" Coaxial installed. At first they didn't fit properly, but after I changed out the screens to some thinner ones they fit perfect. Can't speak on the stereo since I am using the Sound stream, but these speakers are nice and loud even before I paired them with the BDA1400.4 amp Babyboy mentioned above. I think these speakers would certainly be worth having as one of your contenders.
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: San Diego
For starters the GZ Yellow basket will require modification to the pods to get them to fit. For a drop in aftermarket speaker the Hertz SX165 would be the better choice out of the 2 you listed.
To power the speakers you could go with a SD400.4 bridged or if you are not going to add lower or lid speakers. If you will be adding on to the system in the future I would suggest a Cicada BDA1400.4 amp to allow for expansion.
You will need to have the headunit flashed to correct the crazy EQ the mothership has programed to make the stock speakers sound good.
To connect the aftermarket amp to the stock HU you will need a 2 channel LOC or wire to the high level inputs on the amp (depending on amp selected)
To power the speakers you could go with a SD400.4 bridged or if you are not going to add lower or lid speakers. If you will be adding on to the system in the future I would suggest a Cicada BDA1400.4 amp to allow for expansion.
You will need to have the headunit flashed to correct the crazy EQ the mothership has programed to make the stock speakers sound good.
To connect the aftermarket amp to the stock HU you will need a 2 channel LOC or wire to the high level inputs on the amp (depending on amp selected)
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 1
From: San Diego
I have the Cicada 6.5" Coaxial installed. At first they didn't fit properly, but after I changed out the screens to some thinner ones they fit perfect. Can't speak on the stereo since I am using the Sound stream, but these speakers are nice and loud even before I paired them with the BDA1400.4 amp Babyboy mentioned above. I think these speakers would certainly be worth having as one of your contenders.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 3,171
From: Lake Geneva WI
i have a set of the Hertz Neos and GZ Yellow basket coaxials (ferrite magnet). Did a small ear test with them when i got them to see which set was going in the street glide, and which were going in the softail. The Hertz were louder, a bit clearer, to the point where id want the high's turned down a bit, lacking in the lower range a bit. the GZ's sounded deeper/more bass, a little more well rounded. if it were my choice, id get the GZ's. Could buy another set of pods to cut up and get the ferrite magnet GZ's seeing that the Neo's are double the price and the ferrite magnet ones play a little lower. i dont know what road glide pods go for but i got a set of street glide pods for about 40 bucks off ebay.
as far as the line converter and all that. i dont know. i decided to close my eyes, pray, and dive in head first and go all out with an install myself and get a shop to tune the DSP. best of luck!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 572
From: Lockport Illinois
I appreciate the help! From what I was looking at, the new yellow baskets (NEO) have the new magnet and are a drop in fit (also $600 for the pair). If I go to channel LOC, is that basically RCA connectionsm I'm guessing if so, I'd need a single male RCA split into two males RCAs?
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 510
Likes: 78
Fwiw, I got the GZ's to fit fine in the Advanstar lower cubbies with a little heat gun action to clear the ferrites.
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