Stage 3 audio upgrade worth it ???
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6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Freeport,Texas
Stage 3 audio upgrade worth it ???
I currently have the Rockford fosgage stage 1 fairing speakers in my 2024 street glide. And thinking about upgrading to the stage 3 kit fairing speakers only. Is it really worth the $1200 to upgrade?? Has anyone done the Rockford fosgate stage 3 upgrade fairing only speakers. I Wanted this setup because it’s completely plug and play. Amp and both fairing speakers. But again. Worth $1200. Idk….
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 159
Likes: 135
From: Na Hampsha/Upstate SC
Many years ago when I was but a young tyke I accompanied my father when he was buying a new car. He was an audiophile, obsessed with the QUALITY of sound his new car was to have. Well, this new car had the absolutely best system available at the time. Money was a secondary concern.
We went for a test drive and of course he cranked it up, listening to the glorious to my mind Stravinsky coming from multiple speakers.
We got back to the dealership and he started up about the frequency response, etc, etc. to the sales dude. Apparently it didn’t reproduce the music the way he liked it, the way our home system did.
The salesman was nonplussed, saying, “Well, it’s a car….”
He did buy the car. Some days I really miss my dad. 😎❤️
We went for a test drive and of course he cranked it up, listening to the glorious to my mind Stravinsky coming from multiple speakers.
We got back to the dealership and he started up about the frequency response, etc, etc. to the sales dude. Apparently it didn’t reproduce the music the way he liked it, the way our home system did.
The salesman was nonplussed, saying, “Well, it’s a car….”
He did buy the car. Some days I really miss my dad. 😎❤️
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 574
From: Lockport Illinois
I currently have the Rockford fosgage stage 1 fairing speakers in my 2024 street glide. And thinking about upgrading to the stage 3 kit fairing speakers only. Is it really worth the $1200 to upgrade?? Has anyone done the Rockford fosgate stage 3 upgrade fairing only speakers. I Wanted this setup because it’s completely plug and play. Amp and both fairing speakers. But again. Worth $1200. Idk….
Grant it an aftermarket system for the newer bikes with the skyline system cost more but we'll worth the money.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 428
Likes: 273
From: Kansas
Stage 3 Hell Yeah
We had stage 2 on our last trike, it was very good with 4 speakers.
New 25 SGU is getting Stage 3 Fosgate system with the rear two speakers in the sidebag lids this Saturday.
Last 3 bikes the upgraded stereo was well improved, and I could hear it at 80 mph.
If you like it, go for it.
Mike
New 25 SGU is getting Stage 3 Fosgate system with the rear two speakers in the sidebag lids this Saturday.
Last 3 bikes the upgraded stereo was well improved, and I could hear it at 80 mph.
If you like it, go for it.
Mike
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: hellinois
Just chiming in...your audio will sound only as good as your wind mitigation. Before upgrading your speakers, make certain you have the right windshield. Adding a 6" klockworkz windshield did wonders for my stock speakers before I upgraded to Stage III. Without the windshield upgrade, even the Stage III speakers cannot compete with wind noise.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 1,039
From: Southern Virginia
Just chiming in...your audio will sound only as good as your wind mitigation. Before upgrading your speakers, make certain you have the right windshield. Adding a 6" klockworkz windshield did wonders for my stock speakers before I upgraded to Stage III. Without the windshield upgrade, even the Stage III speakers cannot compete with wind noise.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 528
Likes: 567
From: Georgia Lake Country
I agree with the comments about wind protection and exhaust, but another factor is the type of helmet you wear. The stage 3 provides significant improvement and if you wear a half, open face or no helmet you will probably be happy with it. If you wear a full-face helmet maybe not. With a full face helmet, you are probably better off getting a good comm system with the best speakers you can find. The new Sena 60 Evo comes with Bose speakers, and the Cardo Packtalk Edge come with JBL.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 1,039
From: Southern Virginia
I agree with the comments about wind protection and exhaust, but another factor is the type of helmet you wear. The stage 3 provides significant improvement and if you wear a half, open face or no helmet you will probably be happy with it. If you wear a full-face helmet maybe not. With a full face helmet, you are probably better off getting a good comm system with the best speakers you can find. The new Sena 60 Evo comes with Bose speakers, and the Cardo Packtalk Edge come with JBL.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 428
Likes: 273
From: Kansas
Speakers make the Stereo
The biggest factor in sound on a Touring bike is the Quality of the speakers period.
Just like home Stereo if you don’t have good quality speakers, it won’t sound very good.
You can have two 500 watt amps on your Glide but cheap speakers, it won’t sound all that good.
Sure windshield helps, but when you have Quality speakers capable of handling at least 125 W each and an amplifier capable of supplying the same power to EACH speaker everything else is secondary. These speakers usually have heavy magnets on them.
My 2024 modified RG3 had an 800 W amp, but the speakers weren’t that good, stage 2 cheap speakers . It was so so.
My 2025 Glide has a 500 watt amp and sends 125 W to each 4 speakers which are 3 by nine Stage 3 Rockford. No comparison in sound, not even close.
The Base really rocks on the Stage 3 and it’s the speakers that make all the difference.
I have Bassani 2 into 1 headers with a baffle. It’s fairly loud but the stereo covers it up.
Quality speakers make all the difference!
Good luck and rock n roll
Just like home Stereo if you don’t have good quality speakers, it won’t sound very good.
You can have two 500 watt amps on your Glide but cheap speakers, it won’t sound all that good.
Sure windshield helps, but when you have Quality speakers capable of handling at least 125 W each and an amplifier capable of supplying the same power to EACH speaker everything else is secondary. These speakers usually have heavy magnets on them.
My 2024 modified RG3 had an 800 W amp, but the speakers weren’t that good, stage 2 cheap speakers . It was so so.
My 2025 Glide has a 500 watt amp and sends 125 W to each 4 speakers which are 3 by nine Stage 3 Rockford. No comparison in sound, not even close.
The Base really rocks on the Stage 3 and it’s the speakers that make all the difference.
I have Bassani 2 into 1 headers with a baffle. It’s fairly loud but the stereo covers it up.
Quality speakers make all the difference!
Good luck and rock n roll
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