So I put J&M Rokker 7.25 speakers in my Street Glide today, and they're a big improvement over the stock speakers. But they distort when I crank the volume. Guess I need the amp too?

 

Yup, you definitely need the amp. Almost useless without it.

 

CHB ,,,,,,

what are you using for a music source thru the Harley HK radio ? ,,,,,

 

So far I've just used the radio.

 

i have the 7.25 non rokker..with the 70.2 hogtunes..although its an improvement over stock..it sounds "tiny" not like full!!!!! It is very loud though... but i think at high speeds all speakers basically sound the same...

 

HK radio is a POS it will distort with the amp too
Try CD in the player, no distortion then

 

I have those speakers and i noticed the same thing really after half volue.
Now ! put in the Rockford Fosgate Amp. No more distortion at any volume I can handle.

Plenty of clear volume at highway speeds. As a mater of fact I'll probably turn the amp gain DOWN a half notch next time I have the bike open.

 

Interested in this. I have the non rokker 7.25 series too. They also distort at higher volumes. Playing cd's is mostly my source of music.

 

Which Rockford Fosgate amp did you get, and how hard was it to install?

 

For those who have distorted loud volumes have you adjusted the equalizers? Did you do it at high volume levels like riding?

If you put the volume up high when riding that's where it needs to have the EQ adjusted. I've seen many listen at low volumes at one tone setting and when loud a different setting works better. Adjust the EQ at the highest volume to make the speakers sound their best at the loudness you listen to it at.

The reason power amps work the best is because you can turn down the main unit limiting the distortion. Then the amp takes that cleaner signal and makes it louder.

Again if the EQ is setup for the loudest volume, and the main unit kept turned down to drive the amp you can improve the sound dramatically with the EQ. It's better turning down the main unit and adding more boost on the power amp.