J&M replacement speakers
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 512
Likes: 3
From: Washington
RE: J&M replacement speakers
ORIGINAL: Georges
Well my JM'S showed up at my door today. I can't install them on my bike yet, still waiting for an HD harness for XM. So I looked at them for awhile then thought Why Not... They make somewhat heavy headphones with some duct tape and coat hangers, but the sound is aweome. [:-]
Well my JM'S showed up at my door today. I can't install them on my bike yet, still waiting for an HD harness for XM. So I looked at them for awhile then thought Why Not... They make somewhat heavy headphones with some duct tape and coat hangers, but the sound is aweome. [:-]
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From:
RE: J&M replacement speakers
I bought a used '03 Aniversary Edition Ultra Classic last August. Around 60 mph the sound started to become distorted. Terrible around 70...
I finally decided to replace the front and rear speakers with J&M. When I received them from my wife for my Birthday (love ya honey), I was shocked to discover that I had Hog Tunes speakers in my ride! The speakers are listed at 5.75 Ohms (usual rating and not 2, 4 or 8 Ohms).
For the record I have an OEM 8 Ohm system that drives the speakers.
So I went and replaced the Hog Tunes with the new J&M speakers. Wow what a difference at higher speeds! At low speeds up to45 mph they sound very similar but the J&M sound cleaner at higher speeds since they are listed at 8 Ohms in lieu of 5.75 Ohms so they are a perfect match to my 8 Ohm sound system. The J&M front speakers are a basic low-tech component type with a separate mid-bass speaker plus atweeter mounted in the supplied grills instead of a traditional two-way, one-piece design by Hog Tunes.
I am now selling these Hog Tunes speakers.
Any offers???
My wife also bought the J&M antennas for me since they were also on my birthday wish list.
You will loose some reception versus the long whip antennas the is OEM. If you live in alarger cities like LA, NYC, Philly, Dallas, etc. you won't find any difference with the much better looking J&M antennas. If you are traveling across unpopulated areas, I would suggest that you use your larger whip type ones and the local everyday travels use the J&M antennas. The antennas were easy to put on and they have a little allen set screw to keep them in place. If you want to change them, keep track of the little allen wrench that comes with the antenna.
I finally decided to replace the front and rear speakers with J&M. When I received them from my wife for my Birthday (love ya honey), I was shocked to discover that I had Hog Tunes speakers in my ride! The speakers are listed at 5.75 Ohms (usual rating and not 2, 4 or 8 Ohms).
For the record I have an OEM 8 Ohm system that drives the speakers.
So I went and replaced the Hog Tunes with the new J&M speakers. Wow what a difference at higher speeds! At low speeds up to45 mph they sound very similar but the J&M sound cleaner at higher speeds since they are listed at 8 Ohms in lieu of 5.75 Ohms so they are a perfect match to my 8 Ohm sound system. The J&M front speakers are a basic low-tech component type with a separate mid-bass speaker plus atweeter mounted in the supplied grills instead of a traditional two-way, one-piece design by Hog Tunes.
I am now selling these Hog Tunes speakers.
Any offers???
My wife also bought the J&M antennas for me since they were also on my birthday wish list.
You will loose some reception versus the long whip antennas the is OEM. If you live in alarger cities like LA, NYC, Philly, Dallas, etc. you won't find any difference with the much better looking J&M antennas. If you are traveling across unpopulated areas, I would suggest that you use your larger whip type ones and the local everyday travels use the J&M antennas. The antennas were easy to put on and they have a little allen set screw to keep them in place. If you want to change them, keep track of the little allen wrench that comes with the antenna.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 486
From: Nor Cal
RE: J&M replacement speakers
ORIGINAL: grinner
Bose home audio stuff generally sucks. Their wave radio is crap. One of my friends has one and I can hear the plastic rattling at any volume. The whole enclosure is made of plastic. I don't like hearing plastic with my music. There's a reason why quality audio speakers are made with wooden enclosures and metal bracing. I do like Bose noise canceling headphones for airplane rides though.
I think a subwoofer on a motorcycle is impractical, but I'm not sure it's necessary for good sound.
I currently have some Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers in my living room that are amazing. Small but very musical and accurate and tight bass in the range they can produce.
I can appreciate small speakers. I can't appreciate crappy sound. I'm not saying Hogtunes or J&M are crappy (I've never listened to them) but from the design goal and the components involved, and others' assessments, I'd say they're probably okay, which for me is crappy.
I want speakers that sound great when parked, can play that same great sound at loud level for 70mph rides, and I'll deal with the wind noise. That's like having a high quality car stereo and opening the windows or putting a convertible top down. I can still hear the quality, even with the wind blowing past my ears.
I'll make a post about Hawg Wired and get opinions. I think their stuff is probably better sound quality. It's certainly more expensive. For those seeking an improvement for $100, J&M or Hogtunes is the only way to go.
Bose home audio stuff generally sucks. Their wave radio is crap. One of my friends has one and I can hear the plastic rattling at any volume. The whole enclosure is made of plastic. I don't like hearing plastic with my music. There's a reason why quality audio speakers are made with wooden enclosures and metal bracing. I do like Bose noise canceling headphones for airplane rides though.
I think a subwoofer on a motorcycle is impractical, but I'm not sure it's necessary for good sound.
I currently have some Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers in my living room that are amazing. Small but very musical and accurate and tight bass in the range they can produce.
I can appreciate small speakers. I can't appreciate crappy sound. I'm not saying Hogtunes or J&M are crappy (I've never listened to them) but from the design goal and the components involved, and others' assessments, I'd say they're probably okay, which for me is crappy.
I want speakers that sound great when parked, can play that same great sound at loud level for 70mph rides, and I'll deal with the wind noise. That's like having a high quality car stereo and opening the windows or putting a convertible top down. I can still hear the quality, even with the wind blowing past my ears.
I'll make a post about Hawg Wired and get opinions. I think their stuff is probably better sound quality. It's certainly more expensive. For those seeking an improvement for $100, J&M or Hogtunes is the only way to go.
mike
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From:
RE: J&M replacement speakers
My wife bought a four speaker set for my birthday (Thanks Ev) and installed them. To my surprize the speakers in my used HD Ultra were non other than hog tunes!
I've been most pleased with the sound especially at higher speeds.
I now have a set of Hogtunes Speakers for a '03 Ultra and have not had the heart to sell them yet because what could I say about them?
"They are okay but I replaced them with a set of J&M speakers that I love." By the way, the bass thing is not that big a deal at 60mph.
If you want more bass I would suggest modifying your fairing and install 6x9's, placing a marine deck with controls up front with an 8w rms, 4 channel amp. Big $$$ of course.
Tull
I've been most pleased with the sound especially at higher speeds.
I now have a set of Hogtunes Speakers for a '03 Ultra and have not had the heart to sell them yet because what could I say about them?
"They are okay but I replaced them with a set of J&M speakers that I love." By the way, the bass thing is not that big a deal at 60mph.
If you want more bass I would suggest modifying your fairing and install 6x9's, placing a marine deck with controls up front with an 8w rms, 4 channel amp. Big $$$ of course.
Tull
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 822
From: Nevada
RE: J&M replacement speakers
ORIGINAL: JMJOHN
Guys ,,,,,
come on now ,,,,, the Harley Fairing isn't exactly the perfect acoustical environment for speakers ,,,,, certainly not like something custom made for your home ,,,,,
and how do you think those $1,000 -$5,000 a pair home speakers would sound to your ears going down the highway, mixing with 70 mph worth of wind noise and loud pipes ?? ,,,,,,
Guys ,,,,,
come on now ,,,,, the Harley Fairing isn't exactly the perfect acoustical environment for speakers ,,,,, certainly not like something custom made for your home ,,,,,
and how do you think those $1,000 -$5,000 a pair home speakers would sound to your ears going down the highway, mixing with 70 mph worth of wind noise and loud pipes ?? ,,,,,,
Good point. Throw a helmet in the mix and even the bestspeakers will be challenged.That's why I still have stock speakers in my '05. Since I wear a helmet, I found a better investment ishelmet speakers.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From:
RE: J&M replacement speakers
Mike_Oh,
The Ohm for the '03 deck is 8 Ohms. The Hog Tunes speakers are 5.75 Ohms. Not a perfect match but claimed as I guess good enough.
J&M said they bench tested the ohm ratings of Hog Tunes and they are closer to 4 Ohms than 5.75. No matter because if I replace my speakers, I want an exact match in Hom ratings.
The newer Harman Kardon decks are now 4 Ohms to the best of my knowedge. I believe that if you want to replace yours with one of the newer ones will set your back around $900...
Harley Davidson does have two options and the dealership will be happy to explain them to you. The range from $200+/- up to $600+/- for new speakers or speakers + amp.
There are even more expensive audio alternatives elsewhereif you want to keep your original deck but onlyif you have a fat wallet; you are not married; you do the bills; your wife doesn't want to know, etc. (you get the picture).You could easily spend $2000 to get a add-on amp, special speakers to also mount in your lower fairing glove boxes, etc., etc. to add that kind of sound.
Nothing will duplicate the sound of a car when you travel the open road at 60+ mph...
If you need that much sound, hell buy a Goldwing that's nice and quite and upgrade that ride. I think the reason I like my HD is also the sound when I don't play music so your are always competing with the rumble.
Anyway, J&M Speakers fit my desire just fine.
Tull
The Ohm for the '03 deck is 8 Ohms. The Hog Tunes speakers are 5.75 Ohms. Not a perfect match but claimed as I guess good enough.
J&M said they bench tested the ohm ratings of Hog Tunes and they are closer to 4 Ohms than 5.75. No matter because if I replace my speakers, I want an exact match in Hom ratings.
The newer Harman Kardon decks are now 4 Ohms to the best of my knowedge. I believe that if you want to replace yours with one of the newer ones will set your back around $900...
Harley Davidson does have two options and the dealership will be happy to explain them to you. The range from $200+/- up to $600+/- for new speakers or speakers + amp.
There are even more expensive audio alternatives elsewhereif you want to keep your original deck but onlyif you have a fat wallet; you are not married; you do the bills; your wife doesn't want to know, etc. (you get the picture).You could easily spend $2000 to get a add-on amp, special speakers to also mount in your lower fairing glove boxes, etc., etc. to add that kind of sound.
Nothing will duplicate the sound of a car when you travel the open road at 60+ mph...
If you need that much sound, hell buy a Goldwing that's nice and quite and upgrade that ride. I think the reason I like my HD is also the sound when I don't play music so your are always competing with the rumble.
Anyway, J&M Speakers fit my desire just fine.
Tull
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 513
Likes: 74
From:
RE: J&M replacement speakers
J&M self proclaims that he "bench tests" speakers inaccurately -- by testing resistance at DC rather than impedance. Hog Tunes speakers are appropriately spec'd for the radios for which they are designed.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From:
RE: J&M replacement speakers
Can you please explain to me why a 5.75 Ohm speaker is used for 4 Ohm and 8 Ohm speakers???
Am I reading their (Hogtunes) information incorrectly?
BTW, thanks for the clarification on the testing that J&M does.
Is "Bug Sucker" your real nickname or just a name that someone gave you afterunfortunate accident that happened one day riding. I know the first large bug that hit me in the face at 55mph almost make me suck some asphalt...
Happy New Year...
Am I reading their (Hogtunes) information incorrectly?
BTW, thanks for the clarification on the testing that J&M does.
Is "Bug Sucker" your real nickname or just a name that someone gave you afterunfortunate accident that happened one day riding. I know the first large bug that hit me in the face at 55mph almost make me suck some asphalt...
Happy New Year...