The Official 2014 audio upgrade thread
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
The flashes appear to work but don't. when they do work, they break other things like fader and eq controls.
This whole thing is a damn mess and HD simply doesn't give a chit because they want you to use Boom Audio.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 456
From: The Great Midwest
Ultranutz----so does the "no amp, 8 speaker" flash not exist anymore? Or has HD changed it where it no longer works for our purpose? Any difference between a 14 model vs 15?
Sorry for all the questions, but I have Biketronics stuff headed my way for install
Sorry for all the questions, but I have Biketronics stuff headed my way for install
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
the flashes do work however it all depends on the person at the dealership. if they know what they're doing they can make them work.
IMO at this point you're probably better off trying to use the Cycle Sounds magic box if you have no faith in your local dealer
IMO at this point you're probably better off trying to use the Cycle Sounds magic box if you have no faith in your local dealer
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Middle TN
Like I posted earlier, I am no expert. My observation is that it seems the setting of amp yes drops the output level to the speaker wires and provides improved tuning functionality of the amp. I do not know about the whole DSP thing as I have not been able to get out on the interstate to thoroughly test due to snow and ice.
My current flash is amp1 yes, amp2 yes, 4 speakers. I have full use of fader, bass and treble control through the head unit. Distortion is minimal up to 75% on the head unit on accy stationary. I can tell no difference with the bike running stationary. More testing needed.
I am liking the ARC KS125.4 and the Kappas. I ported the fairing pods with a 1.125" hole saw and added polyfill. The fronts are nice and tight now but I used the high pass setting on the amp and eliminated / reduced the below 90 Hz response. The tour pack pods being ported to the tour pack really increases the bass volume. I put the amp in high pass on the rear too and set to around 110 Hz.
This is the first time I have done this. I am just playing and learning I think.
BTW... Do not over tighten the screws when connecting speaker wires to the Kappas. The terminals are soldered and firmly mounted to the crossover board. If you over tighten, the terminal can move in its plastic enclosure and actually break the solder joint. I'll not admit how I learned this...
My current flash is amp1 yes, amp2 yes, 4 speakers. I have full use of fader, bass and treble control through the head unit. Distortion is minimal up to 75% on the head unit on accy stationary. I can tell no difference with the bike running stationary. More testing needed.
I am liking the ARC KS125.4 and the Kappas. I ported the fairing pods with a 1.125" hole saw and added polyfill. The fronts are nice and tight now but I used the high pass setting on the amp and eliminated / reduced the below 90 Hz response. The tour pack pods being ported to the tour pack really increases the bass volume. I put the amp in high pass on the rear too and set to around 110 Hz.
This is the first time I have done this. I am just playing and learning I think.
BTW... Do not over tighten the screws when connecting speaker wires to the Kappas. The terminals are soldered and firmly mounted to the crossover board. If you over tighten, the terminal can move in its plastic enclosure and actually break the solder joint. I'll not admit how I learned this...
Last edited by JWilson; Feb 17, 2015 at 11:56 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 109
From: San Diego
2 weeks ago that was the case. HD has released updated software and subsequently released updated flashes for these retarded head units in preparation for the boom 2 crap that has literally screwed everything up we were coming to know about these things.
The flashes appear to work but don't. when they do work, they break other things like fader and eq controls.
This whole thing is a damn mess and HD simply doesn't give a chit because they want you to use Boom Audio.
The flashes appear to work but don't. when they do work, they break other things like fader and eq controls.
This whole thing is a damn mess and HD simply doesn't give a chit because they want you to use Boom Audio.
In other words, I am guessing my '14 Limited has never undergone a head unit flash at the any HD dealer, it is probably set up as AMP 1 & 2 = NO, & 4-Speakers/No AMP...I am just guessing here...& perhaps, as UltraNutZ suggested, using the magic box or some other third party interface maybe the temporary solution...IMO...
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 1,091
From: Eastern IA
I did hear a boom stage 2 at a dealer yesterday , it sounded really good but the wood enclosure they have the demo in isn't the same environment as it would be on the bike. Listening to in a show room is a whole different experiance than @70mph on the slab with modified exhaust and surrounding noises. He was waffling on the exact price also as if to say it's cost prohibitive.
Complete different subject , I'm also thinking of porting my fairing pods . It stands to reason that many other speaker enclosures are ported why not these pods ? Bose has been vary innovative with porting and successful with small enclosures over the years. The big question is how big a port and the best placement of it . Obviously you want to avoid any of the structural webbing as it is the fairing support.
Seems your happy with the results JWilson , I too was thinking one larger hole vs what I saw many posts back with a series of small ones . Curious of your placement and do you feel this alone was a good improvement , better bass maybe ?
Complete different subject , I'm also thinking of porting my fairing pods . It stands to reason that many other speaker enclosures are ported why not these pods ? Bose has been vary innovative with porting and successful with small enclosures over the years. The big question is how big a port and the best placement of it . Obviously you want to avoid any of the structural webbing as it is the fairing support.
Seems your happy with the results JWilson , I too was thinking one larger hole vs what I saw many posts back with a series of small ones . Curious of your placement and do you feel this alone was a good improvement , better bass maybe ?
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Middle TN
I did hear a boom stage 2 at a dealer yesterday , it sounded really good but the wood enclosure they have the demo in isn't the same environment as it would be on the bike. Listening to in a show room is a whole different experiance than @70mph on the slab with modified exhaust and surrounding noises. He was waffling on the exact price also as if to say it's cost prohibitive.
Complete different subject , I'm also thinking of porting my fairing pods . It stands to reason that many other speaker enclosures are ported why not these pods ? Bose has been vary innovative with porting and successful with small enclosures over the years. The big question is how big a port and the best placement of it . Obviously you want to avoid any of the structural webbing as it is the fairing support.
Seems your happy with the results JWilson , I too was thinking one larger hole vs what I saw many posts back with a series of small ones . Curious of your placement and do you feel this alone was a good improvement , better bass maybe ?
Complete different subject , I'm also thinking of porting my fairing pods . It stands to reason that many other speaker enclosures are ported why not these pods ? Bose has been vary innovative with porting and successful with small enclosures over the years. The big question is how big a port and the best placement of it . Obviously you want to avoid any of the structural webbing as it is the fairing support.
Seems your happy with the results JWilson , I too was thinking one larger hole vs what I saw many posts back with a series of small ones . Curious of your placement and do you feel this alone was a good improvement , better bass maybe ?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 1,091
From: Eastern IA
Improvement... Yes. It was obvious right after the first one was ported how much better it was. I feel the even bigger improvement was adjusting the crossover in the amp to get rid of the amplified bass that just would not clear up. I did not take a picture, but I placed the port in one of the lower places on the pod where I did not interfere with a stiffening member in the pod if that makes sense.
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3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
I just picked up a 15 FLHXS and will upgrade the speakers and add a power amp. After reading about 30 pages of this topic I know that I 'm going to install the BT 2180 power amp. I'm only going for batwing speakers so I won't need the BT 4180. What I'm confused about is what speakers can handle 360 watts RMS and still fit in the batwing.
I'll worry about flashing the head unit later....
I'll worry about flashing the head unit later....
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
I just picked up a 15 FLHXS and will upgrade the speakers and add a power amp. After reading about 30 pages of this topic I know that I 'm going to install the BT 2180 power amp. I'm only going for batwing speakers so I won't need the BT 4180. What I'm confused about is what speakers can handle 360 watts RMS and still fit in the batwing.
I'll worry about flashing the head unit later....
I'll worry about flashing the head unit later....
http://www.biketronics.com/2014-bt7p14-speaker-upgrade/