Ok I'm back.

I was going to try and give my Rokker findings as a whole "System" , but a couple of things poped up that are worth mentioning in reference to the rear Rokkers. As I have mentioned in the past Boom posts, I found the Booms to be a very well thought out upgrade to the standard production speakers. I even went as far as to say that the Rokkers would really have to step up to the plate once it was their time to show. Well after the changover at Dr. V-Twin, and subsequently replaying my first impressions, I can tell you that the rear Rokkers were out of the gate first as far as first impressions were concerned. I had already had my mind set not to get into doing any "knee-jerk" compairing and wanted to do all my critical listening in the same areas and conditions as the Booms, but the Rokker rears just stood tall and demanded to be noticed, and I was sitting 10 feet from the bike. I could feel the rears 10 feet away and sitting on the bike for the first 10 minutes I could "feel" the air volumn "punching" my back. On the Booms, I would have to turn my head 90 degrees and bend slightly down to hear them, but the Rokkers I can hear facing forward and feel the lower frequencies punching my kidneys. I felt no air-volumn with the Booms, albeit the other frequencies reproduced very well on Booms. So for the gentleman who was interested in the "Bottom End", yes bottom end presence was "FELT".

Lets start off with a video using the same locations and sweeping test reference signals we did on the Booms. Two things poped up that are worth mentioning. One, the Rokkers we noticably "louder" than the Booms. About 7-8 db louder with peeks at about 112db (10db louder at peaks). Now I am not of the school that "louder is better", It's about quality and not quantity with me but secondly let me just point out that the "Energy" was consistant throughout the entire sweep. If you remember in the same video of the Booms I felt the "energy" dip, and reset during the sweep. This tells me that the crossover in the Rokkers are very well designed. Give a listen and I will be back in a few minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9AkFIS1gyg

 

Here is another quick sweep demonstrating the sustained energy of 100K to 500Khz. The energy actually peaked at around 113db. Pretty impressive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwjiN-rRoQc

Now as far as music, because of the limitations of the Flip camera, the music sounds a bit distorted. It wasn't though, it's just that the Rokkers were too loud for the small built in microphone of my camera. If you can put that aside, listen to the 2 AC/DC clips and see if there arn't any subtle differences compaired to the Booms. To me, there is more "excitement" in the midrage of the two clips, especially in the song (Shook me all night long) where Malcome Young joins in doubling his brother Angus's guitar riff, (Angus plays 2 bars of the riff and then Malcome doubles up on bars 3 & 4 of the verse).

Additionally listen to the kick drum and snare drum on both of the clips. The snare is "punchy" and the kick is solid. The kick is felt well in the fronts but the Rokker rears really reproduce the kick drum, so much so, that you feel your back being "hit" with the air as you sit on the bike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l42K0O8nU74

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCL1gTCHx0



Going to break for 10 minutes here. Be right back.

 

Here's some video of me trying to ride and film at the same time. Yes I dropped the camera 2 times LOL, but at least you can hear the Rokkers and the wind!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8S1ej24Lpw

I'm going to break for a few hours here. I will post my closing thoughts, final observations, and my conclusions tonight. Thanks for hanging in there!!!!

 

Now I know why your an "Audio" Specialist!

Awesome stuff JohnnyBoy ...thanks for the write-up. Looking forward to the final conclusions!

 

This post actually has me excited to receive my new J&M Rokkers.. If they perform as well to my ears as they do for yours I might have found what I have been looking for.

 

I don't even ride a bagger and i am excited about them after hearing them on Sunday. Now if a bagger would somehow appear in my parking spot I could get some. LOL

Drew

 

Ok, here's my final thoughts on the J&M Rokkers:

There are those of us who pride ourselves on the quality of our audio. Anyone who has followed this thread obviously has an inkling and passion for their music. As far as upgrades to the CVO (or any bike) I truly believe that if you are passionate about audio as I am, and that you seek quality audio and are as discerning as I am about DETAIL, the J&M's are a good investment. I must remind you all, I am passionate about my music, when I hear Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love, I don't hear the bands guitar riff, I hear Jimmy Page on his Les Paul. The J&M crossover on the Rokkers is meticulously designed. Are there better speakers out there? Maybe, albeit they must be paired with the right driving elements to make them "Shine". I will not replace my head unit or amplifier supplied to me on my CVO. I just don't want to go there. I believe the J&M Rokkers are a good choice for those of us that want that extra "Sparkle" without revamping our entire audio chain. Of all the PM's I have received since starting this post, most of the users are in the same boat as me, guys who have realistic expectations about dialing in there audio. Of course there are those who are expecting the "Holy Grail" of modifications, and I apologize to you who feel that way. That isn't what this is about, this is about those of us who appreciate audio and wish to invest in the "nuances" that separate us from the rest of the pack that feel a total system i.e. head unit, amplifier, multiple speaker relocation, etc. etc., is warranted. At 80 MPH+, I can't distinguish between the Booms and the Rokkers at all!!! But when I'm cruising the highways at 65-70 with my buddies listening to AC/DC, I hear dynamic range, I feel bottom end, I hear "Energy" in the critical "Mids" of these Rokkers. They are expensive no doubt, but if you are critical as I am about accurate reproduction of sound it is a good investment. Once again, the best advise as a professional audio engineer I can give is to LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN. Your ears, not mine, are the final judges in determining what the right choice is for you. In closing, for me, the latin phrase "Res Ipsa Loquitur" is applicable here to my experience with the J&M Rokkers. Look it up.

 

JohnnyBoy,
"the thing speaks for itself".
Excellent write-up Dude! Sweet bike you got there too ...enjoy!

 

I will tell you right now if these sound like the original 7.25" speakers I will be disappointed. The originals lacked midrange in a big way, no solid crack in a snare drum, no edge in the distortion of Jimmy Page's Les Paul, no dynamics in female vocals... They sounded 'hollow' to me...

I hope what I am reading in your posts translates to what I am looking for on the bike. I fully understand the limitations of the motorcycle audio 'environment' and have realistic expectations. I mean if I really wanted some nicce speakers I know that Morel Elates and Focal K2 Powers will bolt right up.. But now we are talking $450-$650 speakers. Which after 40MPH will not sound appreciably better.. Yeah in a parking lot they will sound GREAT though Anyway.. I should have mine installed on my bike by next weekend. Will keep you posted.

 

Sublime, Like I said, the best audio professional out there right now is YOU!!!!! Remember what I said, "Critical Listening", you are the judge. I have no doubt your expertise will guide you in the right direction you need to be brotha!!!!! I see your in California, if your ever in LA brotha, hit me up at my studio, www.ssipost.com Look up my riding group in the groups section of HDF "Socal Nomads".