Wow this portion of the forum is really lacking in audio data so I'll contribute what I'm doing. I don't consider myself an audiophile but I love good sounding music. Maybe I am one, IDK.

Anyway, after much research on several forums, prior experience and listening to speakers I've never heard, I've finally put together a system for my new bike. I'll include links for you as well.

My selection criteria was

• 1. Accurate reproduction of music. It MUST sound real!
• 2. 100W+ RMS rated speakers and amp.
• 3. Amp with high S/N ratio, Line inputs, auto turn on, Class D amp and low distortion (THD), though not so sure that matters much at 70+MPH.

My home is full of Polk gear because it sounds real. I've compared side by side Polk to JBL, Infinity, Cerwin Vega, Pioneer, Yamaha and Sony for the home. For motorcycles I've heard the Harley factory speakers and Hog Tunes.

Hog tunes were better than factory, better highs but still no bass and lots of distortion at higher volumes. A set of four 5.25" speakers that drop right in with no mods, a 4 channel fairing amp at 77W/channel (I've read) and complete wiring harness runs about $400. With the tweeter bar they sound decent, just lacking in bass. Tweeter bar add about $180 I think. I'd recommend it if you don't care for it to be loud and clear above 60mph.

After reading what other HD owners had on their bikes, I found that Polk MM651 which are coax and marine rated had high reviews over and over, better than the new J&M ROKKERs, way better than Hog Tunes. J&M I just found are sponsors on this site and have a pinned thread with too many complaints for me. I also listened to a set of 5.25" Hertz coax (good reviews online) but the highs sounded scratchy and rather irritating actually. Also listened to two sets of 6.5" JL coax speakers which sounded great with good bass but only rated at 70W RMS. Unfortunately I couldn't compare any side by side to the Polks.

Polk offers 3 lines of 6.5's with the MM being top dog. All have beefy 1.25" VC's versus factory which looks like maybe 3/4". Considering my experience with Polk & Hog Tunes and my demands, I finally settled on the MM651 all the way around. They are rated at 125W RMS. The 5.25" which will drop right in with no mods are rated 100 Watts. I also like good hi's so I added a set of Polk db1001 tweeters.

After looking at amps ranging from $1000 to $59 I settled on a 4 channel Alpine MRX F65 rated 110W RMS x 4 @ 4 ohm and 160W x 4 @2 Ohm, $359 at Crutchfield. It's rated at 106db S/N at rated power and 0.07% THD max at all power levels which is very good. I'm not trying for "blow my hair back" loud but I do want it DISTORTION FREE at whatever level I listen at. IT'S NOT MARINE RATED so I'm installing it inside the tour pak. I found this same model number on Amazon a good bit cheaper but the specs weren't near as good and it was rated as an AB amp, maybe older models. I almost settled on an JL amp for about $800 with great specs and Marine rated but it didn't have line level input or auto turn on...and was double the price of the Alpine.

I listened to a Road Glide with an Arc system in it. It was LOUD and crystal clear...but it sounded canned, not real, more like low quality no name speakers might sound at low volume. A complete four speaker system with two FAN COOLED AMPS I believe would run about $1400. Totally NOT IMPRESSED with Arc gear.

Lastly, the Harley CVO Boom Audio system I saw at Thunder beach with 5x7's on top of the saddle bags, 6.5"s on the lower fairings, tweeters on each side of the radio (in place of Air temp and Oil pressure gauges) and 5.25" fairing speakers sounded dang good and loud but not much bass. It comes with a harness I think and retails for about $1900 including two separate amps. Others have commented that you can get better with aftermarket.

Also at Thunder Beach the guy with the CVO had an ipod interface so he controls it with the handle bar buttons like the radio. Installed it's about $500, $800 with the saddle bag remote mount. Mine currently rides on the gas tank so I have to remove and stow it every time we stop to eat or such and is a PIB to change anything while riding, not to mention stupid! I'm trying the HDPDPlus for about $280 but there have been issues with it in 2012 models. I'll have about $800 in my system not including the ipod interface when it arrives next week. Can't wait to get it all in and ride!

 

Just got the HDPDplus installed and working. It's awesome! I had a problem with it this weekend but Mark at On The Move emailed me with things to check and it resolved the issues. The cable that comes with this unit is long enough to reach the saddle bags. Harley's cord is too short and costs an additional $129 for their kit.

 

teester. let us know how it turns out sir. Pics of the install would be awesome as well.

Thanks,
Ultra

 

Glad you like what you have.

As far as Polk for the home listening environment, it is ok. Not high end for sure. But certainly slightly better than Infinity, Bose, CV and other mid fi dreck.

Shakey

 

Shakey I have DCM12's for my main speakers, 6 ohm. Odd but dude they freaking rock! I went in Audio City in the 90's to buy some good large mains with Cerwin Vega in mind. The DCM's blew those things away with their sound clarity. Sales guy did a drummer solo for a demo and I was sold! The CV's sucked in comparison! They are 17 years old now and still have that crisp clear bass sound. Have polk RTi28's for surround speakers in the LR and for my pc speakers!

Yea I know Polk may not be the top dog but it IMO can hang with the best of them when it comes to book shelf sized units. And they're affordable.

My speakers haven't come in yet but I'm working now to get the amp in the tour pak. Dang thing is larger than I thought but it's going in regardless!

 

I used to have DCM TF-400s back in the mid 80s. They were great speakers at the time. I moved on into the high end home audio arena, this is my second hobby. My system now is in a dedicated room with high powered tubes, vinyl, and speakers that cost more than my bike did. No five channel or home theater in this room.

Good luck with your upgrade.

Shakey

 

I've looked for some speaker adapters to ensure these speakers would fit back there but all I found were ones by Iron Cross who wasn't sure they would work. I also found a few custom pods but without the radio control switches installed and they were $200!

Well I thought I'd just try first and see if they would fit before I spend that money and then had to install my radio controls. Fits like a glove without the crossover! The crossover would not fit with the speaker but I'm putting the amp in the tour pak so I'll just put the crossovers there too.

 

Sorry I Pm'd you before I saw this. Looks great! Do you know how much room was left between the magnet and side wall of pod? Just wondering if the mm651s will fit back there

 

MM651 is what's in there. Don't bottom out or touch anywhere. Sucks I can't finish it but headed to beach Sunday. Got out of town stuff til then.

 

Finally got it all installed and this setup rocks! Hog Tunes blow compared to this, there is absolutely no comparison! The audio is crystal clear with less distortion it seems at all volumes. At high volume, you can't stand to hear it that loud. We couldn't even talk inside my garage with it turned up and I've yet to turn it up all the way!

Below are photos of the ipod interface I installed for about $270. It allows me to control it with the handlebar controls and charge it while keeping it locked up in the saddle bag. For the Harley version and having them install it would have cost me about $800, $640 just for the parts! Will post more photos later.