2014 Speaker/Amp Upgrade. NICE!
2014 Speaker/Amp Upgrade. NICE!
Ok, so I did the upgrade on my 2014 Street Glide Special. Installed the Boom! 6.5" speakers and the Boom! Amp. The volume isn't nearly as significant a boost as I expected but the sound quality at full volume is simply amazing. Don't know about that 1% distortion claim but the sound is crystal clear at full volume with bass & treble set to maximum. Of course at low volume the excessive bass doesn't sound so hot.
But all in all the upgrade is well worth it. Let me clarify that, buying the speakers and amp from Kutter HD saved me $203 from buying at my local stealership. That savings and the quality sound output makes the upgrade well worth it.
As a side note the amp installs really easily, truly plug in play but to do it easily and per instructions I removed the outer fairing, the wind tunnel, the seat, tank and wire trough. With easy access to everything then the amp was simple plug and play.
The enclosure for the speakers was another story. There are 3 Allen bolts that are easy to access from the front of the enclosure, on the side next to where the amp goes there are two torx screws that are simple enough to access but underneath that where the stereo is positioned there are three more bolts that have to be removed. 1 is simple, the other 2 if you don't have the right socket and extension forget about it, nearly impossible to get to those two bolts, I was really concerned I wouldn't be able to button it back up. Located the right socket and extension and finally simplified the removal & install. So food for thought if anyone decides to upgrade as well.
But all in all the upgrade is well worth it. Let me clarify that, buying the speakers and amp from Kutter HD saved me $203 from buying at my local stealership. That savings and the quality sound output makes the upgrade well worth it.
As a side note the amp installs really easily, truly plug in play but to do it easily and per instructions I removed the outer fairing, the wind tunnel, the seat, tank and wire trough. With easy access to everything then the amp was simple plug and play.
The enclosure for the speakers was another story. There are 3 Allen bolts that are easy to access from the front of the enclosure, on the side next to where the amp goes there are two torx screws that are simple enough to access but underneath that where the stereo is positioned there are three more bolts that have to be removed. 1 is simple, the other 2 if you don't have the right socket and extension forget about it, nearly impossible to get to those two bolts, I was really concerned I wouldn't be able to button it back up. Located the right socket and extension and finally simplified the removal & install. So food for thought if anyone decides to upgrade as well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,002
From: Charleston, SC
What ya mean Lou? That there is a lot of bass at low volume or that is none a low volume?
Great info BTW. Thanks for posting!
lp
Great info BTW. Thanks for posting!
lp
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 25
From: Malaysia
I think he means the bass is too much at low volume level that it doesn't sound too balanced.I think you may have to lower the bass a bit at low volume and load it up at higher levels.And that the speakers don't distort even though he's got the bass loaded to max and the volume high.
I've never cared for high bass output at low volume, seems to drown out the treble to much, IMO. Otherwise the system upgrade sounds incredible. Only thing is I expected going from 25 watts to 75 watts with the upgrade would gain me at least double to possibly triple the volume. I know the triple wattage doesn't truly translate into triple volume but I would expect a significant increase. I had built a custom fairing for my Dyna Fat Bob with 6x9's and a Kicker amp, you could hear me 3 blocks away on that bad boy. I remember people would turn around to see what was coming up the block long before I got to them and they were always amazed it was a motorcycle and not a car. Me thinks I have high expectations due to this custom setup I built. That said at full volume the Dyna setup did not sound even 1/2 as good as the new Boom setup.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,002
From: Charleston, SC
That's incredible because you know the old system had no bass at low volume. I mean with treble still up you hear no bass really and that's no matter what setting you put it on...
Sounds like they really improved. That's awesome. Too much bass on a Harley... never heard that before!
lp
Sounds like they really improved. That's awesome. Too much bass on a Harley... never heard that before!
lp
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 25
From: Malaysia
That's incredible because you know the old system had no bass at low volume. I mean with treble still up you hear no bass really and that's no matter what setting you put it on...
Sounds like they really improved. That's awesome. Too much bass on a Harley... never heard that before!
lp
Sounds like they really improved. That's awesome. Too much bass on a Harley... never heard that before!
lp
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,002
From: Charleston, SC
I think you're comparing the stock old system to the stock new system.Buddy here has already upgraded the speakers and added an amp.That being said it's still nice to know there's such a thing as too much bass on a Harley.I'm assuming this is coming off the batwing speakers only.
lp
Last edited by lp; Sep 21, 2013 at 02:14 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Reading, PA
Did you also get the download from the dealership after you installed the amp? I had the dealer do my install and that also included the software update. Not sure what it does but it has something to do with the amp and the radio using it. On a side note after they did the download my playlists on my s4 dont show up.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: USA
It would have been nice if it could have just all plugged in inside the fairing and not needed to run under the tank.
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