Are you guys talking just a straight up speaker swap, or a speaker swap and the addition of an amp? I'm no audio guru but I can't see how just a straight speaker swap alone will make that kind of difference. Please enlighten me?

 

HT's are better than stock, but are heavy weight wise for your fairing due to their magnet size. One the HD techs said that from my local dealer.

I swapped my HT's out to Kicker's "Thanx to Firecap" from this site."
(If you want to talk or buy stereo's PM him, he will not steer you wrong..)
They're as good, if not better than the HT's, more clarity and not so heavy weight.
No regrets on the Kicker's.

 

I did a straight speaker swap and it made a huge difference, I am no expert but when you compare them side by side during the install the HD speaker magnet looks like a small toy compared to the HT.

 

TO YOU GUYS THAT SEE THE HAWG TUNES/HAWG WIRED/iBOOM HARLEY SOUND SYSTEMS, AND THINK "GREAT, THATS WHAT I WANT"... I did the same thing, and wasted a ton of money. I have an Ultra Classic, and did the whole Hawg Tune set up, amp, speakers, sound bar, etc.. Its JUNK compared to after market equipment. My friend did the opposite of me, spent the same amount of money, and I cant hear mine next to him, and mine sounded like crap. Dont waste your money or time, cause its plug in play, etc- Its a weak system and no power.... Get you an Arc Audio 250w amp for 2 channel set up, or JL Audio X400w 4 channel (THE BEST). Fits perfect and will run all 6 speakers... We put 6.5's components in dash, 6.5" in lowers and 6" in tour pack w/ 1 of the amps above, and you will sound like your in a car. You can add 2- 6x9's in each saddlebag, if you dont need storage. My buddy did that also, using the same 400W amp, and its the clearest,loudest sounding bike I have ever heard.... Dont try to save and cut corners, cause you will be in my shoes, redoing it all, and fixing things you wouldnt have to, if you did it right the first time. Im posting this cause I hope I can get through to atleast 1 person, and they dont make the same mistake I did. You cant have that sound, unless you get the right amp and speakers. They both measure roughly 2" x 7" x 8"... Thats what works !!! They are made to resist heat w/o airflow.. Get the right bike shop to do it. Stereo shops charge too much to remove the front fairing (usually $100-$150), when the bike shops DO NOT ! That savings alone will buy you a set of 6.5" components !! I know, cause I just did it... Bottom line - YOU MUST GET THE RIGHT AMP, and 1 set of 6.5" components, and 1 set of 6.5" coaxials (if you have lowers). If no lowers, you need atleast 1 set of 6x9's for the bags... Up to you - I didnt use my lowers for storage, so why not add speaker pods, with 6.5's - If you go with speakers in the bags, they make a 1.5" spacer on ebay, or cut your own out of MDF, slightly larger than the speaker, tilt it away from your saddlebag pins, so u can remove them (with connectors for easy removal), attach the spacer to the inside of saddlebag, then attach the speaker to it.. Drill 1/2" holes on the opposite side of bag, the same layout as 6x9... Marine grade works best, but car speakers are fine, as water is minimal, and hard to get in through the drilled holes. Anyways, its not a hard process, but if you do it right once, you wont have the anxiety and headache of worrying while you lay in bed. Ive been there and done that !! You will save 40% if you buy your equipment online and take it to the person who installs it ! I have compared prices and its worth getting it ALL before hand...You can get the adapters for your speakers in your front fairing for your 5.25" to fit 6.5" - Some like 7.25" top/bottom, but I have seen that the 6.5" work as good or better, and cheaper and more selection....I hope this helps someone and keeps them from making the mistakes we have with HAWG TUNE junk- If you have any questions when your ready. Email me, I will help ya- endress1@charter.net

RIDE ON ---- Shiney side up !!!

 

I can't say what brand is best since I only have stock to compare to but I am happy with my 5x7, 2 ch amp and tweeter pod on my '11 RG. With stock, when I got it above 50 I pretty much had to know the song to be able to follow the music. After adding HT, clarity at speed is much better and sounds better at low speed as well. Louder but not tremendously louder. You get more bass but I only really notice that at low speed or stopped. I think at high speed it is lost in road noise, etc. I looked at Harley speakers and might have gone that way but the 4 ch amp was expensive and 90 day warantee was insulting. They would not add to my extended warantee since I did not buy at time of bike purchase.

One issue I did run into ... initially, the HT setup sounded like crap and I was afraid I had wasted my money. "Boomy" sound and what sounded like distortion. Got some good support from HT and pulled fairing to check install. Found that the glove box in the inner fairing was rubbing against the outer fairing. You could see the impact point and powdery plastic/paint residue at the point they came in contact. I think there must not be much clearance at that point between the fairings when assembled and the extra bass (and resulting fairing flexing) from the HT speakers and amp were enough to make the two contact. I put some thick tape on the inner fairing at that contact point and buttoned it up and it sounded MUCH better. I wonder if some who complain about crappy stereos and distortion are actually experiencing this problem and don't know it?

 

 

I had hog tunes.....pulled the speakers but kept the tweeter pod and went with j&m .

Hog tunes are heavy magnets.....they sounded great to me. I should have kept them. The tweeter pod is awesome.

 

...totally AGREE!..I have the regular Hog-Tunes..they are a LITTLE better,with a heavier magnet...but otherwise it's basically the same type of speaker....some of these responses make me laugh.."HUGE DIFFERENCE"...really?...c'mon..get real..a little better yes...huge?...I don't think so...how could they be?..no additional amp, same size speaker,...same crappy radio.....

 

Hey endress you still on this site? if so i have a few questions for you....

 

I see he made a post last year, so maybe. Try a PM?