To Amp or not to Amp
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: N.E. Ohio
To Amp or not to Amp
I have been considering the boom front and rear speaker + bass port upgrade for my 11 Ultra for some time now. With black Friday almost upon us the local dealership is having a decent sale. (20% off). With the sale price I am seriously thinking of getting the Ultra Boom Bagger Kit that has the front and rear speakers, the bass port and the amp and I assume the wiring needed to install it. Other than more than doubling the cost of just the speakers and bass ports is the added expense of dealer installation of the bagger kit. (3hrs @$68.00 an hour). Installing the speakers and bass ports is a relatively simple diy project, adding the amp under the tourpak however is a lot of extra work I don't want to mess with not to mention the software flash to the radio that's needed. My question is, has anyone listened to the boom speakers with and without the amp. How much difference does adding the amp make? I listened to a CVO Ultra at the dealer with the upgraded Ultra Boom Bagger system and it sounded a lot better, much richer sound than the standard speaker/radio setup. Not a lot of extra bass but some. I'm just not sure how much was the speakers and how much was the amp. Also at highway speed (up to 70mph) can you actually tell a difference in the quality on the sound and not just the volume. Any input will be appreciated.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 795
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
My dad has that set up on his 07 ultra and he is moving to aftermarket speakers and amp cause he can't hear himself think when I pull up next to him with two 6.5s and two tweets and an amp. All aftermarket parts. My suggestion is to save the dough and go aftermarket. The most suspect part of that set up is the boom speakers, next is the amp, then the hk radio..
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: N.E. Ohio
Nice little setup there. I like that plug in the side cover, However riding with earbuds would make me nervous. I like to hear whats going on around me, or comming up on me. I work in a noisy environment and have used Etymotic ER-6 noise isolating in ear earhpones in the past. They are basically ear plug speakers. Definately wouldn't wear them on a bike. Buds might be nice with a full face helmet and the volume not too loud.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: N.E. Ohio
My dad has that set up on his 07 ultra and he is moving to aftermarket speakers and amp cause he can't hear himself think when I pull up next to him with two 6.5s and two tweets and an amp. All aftermarket parts. My suggestion is to save the dough and go aftermarket. The most suspect part of that set up is the boom speakers, next is the amp, then the hk radio..
My situation is that I'm going to use my "loyalty points credit" and get the speakers or the boom bagger kit for free
so I have to go with the Harley parts. I recently got $1100 in purchase credits. I used $400 to get the Hammock seat (on sale) and the rest is burning a hole in my pocket. Also if I get the Boom Bagger Kit and have the dealer install it I'll get free storage for the winter. (never did that before). Still If I only get the speakers and bass ports I'll still have a few hundred left to splurge on other stuff, but if the amp is going to make that much difference I'll go with the kit.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 490
Likes: 1
From: Omaha, NE
Get the amp! This was my situation with my 2009 SG. Winter of 2010 I replaced the stock HD speakers with Hawgwired 2ohm speakers, no amp. With the engine off and bike on the sidestand and running up to 45mph the speakers sounded great. At 55mph and up the Hawgwired speakers sometimes were a little better over stock, overall not worth the $180. Most of the tunes still faded out due to wind noise.
Last winter I installed the Boom amp kit with fairing speakers. A significant improvement over the non-amped Hawgwired's. Sound quality is much better and can hear the tunes clearly up to 70mph.
Last winter I installed the Boom amp kit with fairing speakers. A significant improvement over the non-amped Hawgwired's. Sound quality is much better and can hear the tunes clearly up to 70mph.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: N.E. Ohio
I went with the Ultra boom bagger kit. The dealer discounted the parts 15%, regular labor rate (3hrs @$68 per hr) and free winter storage in their heated storage area. The 20% black friday discount didn't apply with free storage. All in all a deal I could live with...especially since I'm getting the kit for free and just paying for the labor. Now I'm considering one of the Harley zumo gps units (660) $496 with the Black Friday discount. I never did learn to leave well enough alone.
Trending Topics
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
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
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 882
From: SOON TO BE A SAFE AMERICA
I went with the Ultra boom bagger kit. The dealer discounted the parts 15%, regular labor rate (3hrs @$68 per hr) and free winter storage in their heated storage area. The 20% black friday discount didn't apply with free storage. All in all a deal I could live with...especially since I'm getting the kit for free and just paying for the labor. Now I'm considering one of the Harley zumo gps units (660) $496 with the Black Friday discount. I never did learn to leave well enough alone.
May I suggest getting the 665 Zumo GPS instead.
If it were me, I would go the extra and upgrade to it.
The added bonus is that you can download music onto your MP3 that's installed in the GPS. You can down load music for weeks and never every touch your radio to change your music.
Good Luck and Ride Safe,
YELLOWBIRD
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 11,232
Likes: 16
From: Socialist Republic of the USA
That's killer that you're getting all that free except labor.
May I suggest getting the 665 Zumo GPS instead.
If it were me, I would go the extra and upgrade to it.
The added bonus is that you can download music onto your MP3 that's installed in the GPS. You can down load music for weeks and never every touch your radio to change your music.
Good Luck and Ride Safe,
YELLOWBIRD
May I suggest getting the 665 Zumo GPS instead.
If it were me, I would go the extra and upgrade to it.
The added bonus is that you can download music onto your MP3 that's installed in the GPS. You can down load music for weeks and never every touch your radio to change your music.
Good Luck and Ride Safe,
YELLOWBIRD