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
Is there a Complaints Department phone number for Harley that we should all be calling to complain about this DSP BS in our radios?
I want a program installed into my radio that output a non DSP signal, and I want to be able to install after market Amps of my choice without having to buy Line Converters that are only putting a band-aide on a problem created by Harley. I'd also like to be able to fade front to back on my SGS.
Complaining to my dealer doesn't go far enough up the chain.
Cheers,
Chris
I want a program installed into my radio that output a non DSP signal, and I want to be able to install after market Amps of my choice without having to buy Line Converters that are only putting a band-aide on a problem created by Harley. I'd also like to be able to fade front to back on my SGS.
Complaining to my dealer doesn't go far enough up the chain.
Cheers,
Chris
IMO they did this with the DSP to try and lock you into the factory and upgraded BA junk just as they did with the physical size of the head units. H/K and HD of all companies should know that someone will figure out a way around it.
Sounds to me like J&M with their programmable amps and Cycle Sounds with their magic box have done just that.
Novice
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
After heavy consideration and talking to the guys at bagger nation I decided to go with Rockford Frosgates new T400x4AD amp and the T1653 6x9 3 way rears speakers and the T165 6.5 front speakers. Most likely I'm still going to need the magic box I will let you guys know how it pans out after I complete the install in about a week.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
those guys at bagger nation and yaffee work hand in hand with RF so they should know what works as far as the amps are concerned. I'm still a little skeptical about the Class A side of things..
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 145
Likes: 7
From: Illinois
I just installed the Magic Box today in my SGS with Rockford Fosgate T400x4ad amp. I had to reconnect the RCA I cut off of the harness in my original install (solder and heat shrink to make it right) and it was all plug and play. I had to completely reset the gains on the amp though after install. Before, using the high level inputs, the amp would sense the signal in the speaker inputs and turn on. Now that it is coming in through the RCA's, I had to hook up the remote wire to the Cig Lighter.
Original setting on the amp gain was roughly 1/4 and it sounded great in the garage in accessory mode. When the bike was started, all bass was gone and sounded "tinny" as one person called it. When you would turn the engine off, the sound would all come back full and sound great.
Now adding the magic box, and my gains set at the 1/4 as before, full volume was not very loud at all and sounded weak. I adjusted my gains, crossover adjustment and punch EQ. If I remember correctly, the gains are now at 3/4 - 7/8's crossover is High Pass cutoff around 80hz-ish and Punch EQ is at 3/4's and the sound is out of this world. Took the bike for a ride and can tell immediately that the sound quality was much much better.
One complaint is slight white noise from the speakers at lowest/no volume due to the gain setting on the amp. But it is minimum and I'll be riding it and wont here it once its started.
Setup consists of:
Rockford Fosgate Power T400x4ad
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 6.5's (Faring) Boom Grills
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 57's (Harley Boom Saddle Bags)
Cycle Sounds "Magic Box"
iPod Nano
FM4500
Original setting on the amp gain was roughly 1/4 and it sounded great in the garage in accessory mode. When the bike was started, all bass was gone and sounded "tinny" as one person called it. When you would turn the engine off, the sound would all come back full and sound great.
Now adding the magic box, and my gains set at the 1/4 as before, full volume was not very loud at all and sounded weak. I adjusted my gains, crossover adjustment and punch EQ. If I remember correctly, the gains are now at 3/4 - 7/8's crossover is High Pass cutoff around 80hz-ish and Punch EQ is at 3/4's and the sound is out of this world. Took the bike for a ride and can tell immediately that the sound quality was much much better.
One complaint is slight white noise from the speakers at lowest/no volume due to the gain setting on the amp. But it is minimum and I'll be riding it and wont here it once its started.
Setup consists of:
Rockford Fosgate Power T400x4ad
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 6.5's (Faring) Boom Grills
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 57's (Harley Boom Saddle Bags)
Cycle Sounds "Magic Box"
iPod Nano
FM4500
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
I just installed the Magic Box today in my SGS with Rockford Fosgate T400x4ad amp. I had to reconnect the RCA I cut off of the harness in my original install (solder and heat shrink to make it right) and it was all plug and play. I had to completely reset the gains on the amp though after install. Before, using the high level inputs, the amp would sense the signal in the speaker inputs and turn on. Now that it is coming in through the RCA's, I had to hook up the remote wire to the Cig Lighter.
Original setting on the amp gain was roughly 1/4 and it sounded great in the garage in accessory mode. When the bike was started, all bass was gone and sounded "tinny" as one person called it. When you would turn the engine off, the sound would all come back full and sound great.
Now adding the magic box, and my gains set at the 1/4 as before, full volume was not very loud at all and sounded weak. I adjusted my gains, crossover adjustment and punch EQ. If I remember correctly, the gains are now at 3/4 - 7/8's crossover is High Pass cutoff around 80hz-ish and Punch EQ is at 3/4's and the sound is out of this world. Took the bike for a ride and can tell immediately that the sound quality was much much better.
One complaint is slight white noise from the speakers at lowest/no volume due to the gain setting on the amp. But it is minimum and I'll be riding it and wont here it once its started.
Setup consists of:
Rockford Fosgate Power T400x4ad
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 6.5's (Faring) Boom Grills
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 57's (Harley Boom Saddle Bags)
Cycle Sounds "Magic Box"
iPod Nano
FM4500
Original setting on the amp gain was roughly 1/4 and it sounded great in the garage in accessory mode. When the bike was started, all bass was gone and sounded "tinny" as one person called it. When you would turn the engine off, the sound would all come back full and sound great.
Now adding the magic box, and my gains set at the 1/4 as before, full volume was not very loud at all and sounded weak. I adjusted my gains, crossover adjustment and punch EQ. If I remember correctly, the gains are now at 3/4 - 7/8's crossover is High Pass cutoff around 80hz-ish and Punch EQ is at 3/4's and the sound is out of this world. Took the bike for a ride and can tell immediately that the sound quality was much much better.
One complaint is slight white noise from the speakers at lowest/no volume due to the gain setting on the amp. But it is minimum and I'll be riding it and wont here it once its started.
Setup consists of:
Rockford Fosgate Power T400x4ad
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 6.5's (Faring) Boom Grills
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 57's (Harley Boom Saddle Bags)
Cycle Sounds "Magic Box"
iPod Nano
FM4500
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 333
From: Upper Providence Pa
So much interesting stuff here, I cant help but keep commenting on the fact that each time I learn something new and HD so screwed everyone over on the '14's with this Boom Set-up that we need to do all this to overcome/rectify it.
Novice
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
I just installed the Magic Box today in my SGS with Rockford Fosgate T400x4ad amp. I had to reconnect the RCA I cut off of the harness in my original install (solder and heat shrink to make it right) and it was all plug and play. I had to completely reset the gains on the amp though after install. Before, using the high level inputs, the amp would sense the signal in the speaker inputs and turn on. Now that it is coming in through the RCA's, I had to hook up the remote wire to the Cig Lighter.
Original setting on the amp gain was roughly 1/4 and it sounded great in the garage in accessory mode. When the bike was started, all bass was gone and sounded "tinny" as one person called it. When you would turn the engine off, the sound would all come back full and sound great.
Now adding the magic box, and my gains set at the 1/4 as before, full volume was not very loud at all and sounded weak. I adjusted my gains, crossover adjustment and punch EQ. If I remember correctly, the gains are now at 3/4 - 7/8's crossover is High Pass cutoff around 80hz-ish and Punch EQ is at 3/4's and the sound is out of this world. Took the bike for a ride and can tell immediately that the sound quality was much much better.
One complaint is slight white noise from the speakers at lowest/no volume due to the gain setting on the amp. But it is minimum and I'll be riding it and wont here it once its started.
Setup consists of:
Rockford Fosgate Power T400x4ad
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 6.5's (Faring) Boom Grills
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 57's (Harley Boom Saddle Bags)
Cycle Sounds "Magic Box"
iPod Nano
FM4500
Original setting on the amp gain was roughly 1/4 and it sounded great in the garage in accessory mode. When the bike was started, all bass was gone and sounded "tinny" as one person called it. When you would turn the engine off, the sound would all come back full and sound great.
Now adding the magic box, and my gains set at the 1/4 as before, full volume was not very loud at all and sounded weak. I adjusted my gains, crossover adjustment and punch EQ. If I remember correctly, the gains are now at 3/4 - 7/8's crossover is High Pass cutoff around 80hz-ish and Punch EQ is at 3/4's and the sound is out of this world. Took the bike for a ride and can tell immediately that the sound quality was much much better.
One complaint is slight white noise from the speakers at lowest/no volume due to the gain setting on the amp. But it is minimum and I'll be riding it and wont here it once its started.
Setup consists of:
Rockford Fosgate Power T400x4ad
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 6.5's (Faring) Boom Grills
Hybrid Audio Technologies Imagine 57's (Harley Boom Saddle Bags)
Cycle Sounds "Magic Box"
iPod Nano
FM4500
Last edited by B BAD; Jun 6, 2014 at 12:17 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 192
Likes: 40
From: CA
so if you wanted to start off with the speakers and was looking to upgrade the existing 6.5 front and rear speakers what would suggest.
my intent is to purchase speakers first, then a amp later.
Preferably plug n play or have a easy wiring schematic...
Thanks
my intent is to purchase speakers first, then a amp later.
Preferably plug n play or have a easy wiring schematic...
Thanks
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 217
From: Puyallup Wa.
Amp wise seems best route is J&M or use the magic box at this point.
