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[Harley Guy 5]

Went out for a ride today, first time I turn the radio on,
Or turnd it up but didn’t sound very good, tried to run the base up but still sounds tinny
Even on the headset ,

[Envithyx]

I didn't like the sound of the stock setup on my limited.  From what I can tell, it is the same setup you have, other than I was missing the amp on the tourpack.

So I invested in the Boom!™ Audio Ultra Boom!™ Bagger Kit.  I like how she sounds now.  Not nearly as good as a car setup when it comes to bass response, but the bass improvement alone was very nice.  JCZ and a few others on here got to hear it.  Maybe they can give you their opinion on what they thought as I really have no other speaker combinations to judge it against.  My springer shall remain gadgetless. 

The amp that came in the kit is the same as what you already have on your bike.  Couple that with the bass booster kit and a flash to change your amp's frequency curve and it will fill in the lower end nicely.  The stock amp has a low end frequency cut, wish I knew the exact frequency, but I don't.  I think it cuts everything below 80Hz, and with the bass booster and EQ change, they allow it down to 60Hz.  Just my thoughts.  For all I know, the #s could be more 120Hz and 80Hz.  But generally somewhere in that range.

However, I did audition your bike's audio setup when one was at my local dealer for a bit.  The stock speakers just can't handle the volume without distorting.  It was even worse on the limited without the amp.  The upgraded speakers are very clean, the addition of the 4 tweeters helps a lot.

I'm sure whatever brand/combination you go with will be an improvement to your audio setup.  It appears they only upgraded the audio on the RG and SG to some extent, but still left out some areas to have us go back and buy more stuff (common right  ).

Since you already have the amp, I wouldn't buy the kit unless you have another bike you can use the amp on.  Or if buying the kit is cheaper than the speaker kit and bass booster kit combined minus selling the amp.

As for the sound of the headset speakers.  They sound OK, but not what I would want to use over a long period of time.  I wouldn't be surprised if the low end freq. cut wasn't also affecting the headset, so even if they could produce decent sound over the whole range, it wouldn't matter.

Good luck to you if you decide to change it.  There are so many options, it really is hard to choose.

One of the primary reasons I went with this kit is I got it installed within the 60 day period of purchase.  So it now has a 7 year warranty.  Did the same with a lot of the stuff I put on her. 

[Iron Cross Audio]

I didn't like the sound of the stock setup on my limited.  From what I can tell, it is the same setup you have, other than I was missing the amp on the tourpack.

So I invested in the Boom!™ Audio Ultra Boom!™ Bagger Kit.  I like how she sounds now.  Not nearly as good as a car setup when it comes to bass response, but the bass improvement alone was very nice.  JCZ and a few others on here got to hear it.  Maybe they can give you their opinion on what they thought as I really have no other speaker combinations to judge it against.  My springer shall remain gadgetless. 

The amp that came in the kit is the same as what you already have on your bike.  Couple that with the bass booster kit and a flash to change your amp's frequency curve and it will fill in the lower end nicely.  The stock amp has a low end frequency cut, wish I knew the exact frequency, but I don't.  I think it cuts everything below 80Hz, and with the bass booster and EQ change, they allow it down to 60Hz.  Just my thoughts.  For all I know, the #s could be more 120Hz and 80Hz.  But generally somewhere in that range.

However, I did audition your bike's audio setup when one was at my local dealer for a bit.  The stock speakers just can't handle the volume without distorting.  It was even worse on the limited without the amp.  The upgraded speakers are very clean, the addition of the 4 tweeters helps a lot.

I'm sure whatever brand/combination you go with will be an improvement to your audio setup.  It appears they only upgraded the audio on the RG and SG to some extent, but still left out some areas to have us go back and buy more stuff (common right  ).

Since you already have the amp, I wouldn't buy the kit unless you have another bike you can use the amp on.  Or if buying the kit is cheaper than the speaker kit and bass booster kit combined minus selling the amp.

As for the sound of the headset speakers.  They sound OK, but not what I would want to use over a long period of time.  I wouldn't be surprised if the low end freq. cut wasn't also affecting the headset, so even if they could produce decent sound over the whole range, it wouldn't matter.

Good luck to you if you decide to change it.  There are so many options, it really is hard to choose.

One of the primary reasons I went with this kit is I got it installed within the 60 day period of purchase.  So it now has a 7 year warranty.  Did the same with a lot of the stuff I put on her. 

The low frequency limit only exists in the amp, not the radio. There is no low freq affecting the headset output, or for that matter the radio output. The low end was reduced in the amp because the stock speakers could not handle that range with the additional power.

If you are using an aftermarket amp, the radio output is not limited, so full range will be achieved.
If it sounds tinny in the headset, you need to either adjust the frequency response or change headset.

[Envithyx]

The low frequency limit only exists in the amp, not the radio. There is no low freq affecting the headset output, or for that matter the radio output. The low end was reduced in the amp because the stock speakers could not handle that range with the additional power.

If you are using an aftermarket amp, the radio output is not limited, so full range will be achieved.
If it sounds tinny in the headset, you need to either adjust the frequency response or change headset.

So I was aware the freq cut was in the amp, but never knew exactly why they added it.  Thanks for the tidbit. 

As for my statement about the freq cut to the headphones, it was more of a facetious statement.  Given the amount of space you have to work with for the headset speakers, coupled with allowing some level of road noise in, I imagine it would be hard to create a great sounding set.  I've only tried the stock headset that HD included with the bike.

Do you have any headsets that you recommend?  I've not really had time to go out and audition any.  Thanks in advance for your input.

[Harley Guy 5]

Thanks guys, at lease now i know i will need to spend some more 

[bribe36]

Thanks guys, at lease now i know i will need to spend some more 

And spend more you will!
I started by replacing the factory speakers with the Hog Tunes. i was happy for a while but not quite what I was after. I just finished adding a Hawg Wired package - 300 watts and 4 new HW speakers. I'm closer to what I want but still not there. Yea if you've got the money there's no limit what you can spend to upgrade the sound.  Have fun with it 

[hogsty]

I can't turn mine up past halfway without it distorting pretty bad

[Black Diamond]

And spend more you will!
I started by replacing the factory speakers with the Hog Tunes. i was happy for a while but not quite what I was after. I just finished adding a Hawg Wired package - 300 watts and 4 new HW speakers. I'm closer to what I want but still not there. Yea if you've got the money there's no limit what you can spend to upgrade the sound.  Have fun with it 

bribe

What is the Hawg Wired package lacking? What is your "want"? I'm just starting to look into audio mods. I knew there was a reason to stay away from scooters with fairings.     

JW

[Envithyx]

I can't turn mine up past halfway without it distorting pretty bad

Yeah, that's what I observed too when I listened to the CVO at the dealer.  As for my limited, with the Boom kit installed, I can get to 75% before you start hearing any artifacts - most of the time it's the fairing vibrating.  As for distortion, it doesn't really set in until near max volume and I attribute that to clipping.

At 50% volume, it is also louder than what 50% was before - I can clearly hear the system at 80 MHP at 50% on the freeway.  It may be a function of the amp having more juice than the head unit which drove my speakers before the upgrade, the speakers themselves, or both.  Supposedly the speaker's efficiency is supposed to result in a +6db increase in volume with the same power applied.  Guess since I changed more than one variable at once I'll never really know first hand.

[bribe36]

bribe

What is the Hawg Wired package lacking? What is your "want"? I'm just starting to look into audio mods. I knew there was a reason to stay away from scooters with fairings.     

JW

Oh it sounds pretty great alright, especially when seated on the bike and its blasting in your face (only heard it in the garage so far). Im just thinking that a little more thump would do the trick. My plan is to change the head unit, put an amp in the bags and then add a pair of 2 way 6x9 in the rear. After that maybe go with a sub. I know its a bit of over kill, but i figure Ive got a ton of $$$$ already invested in the bike so whats another grand or two or three even.

[mrmagloo]

I upgraded to the new J&M 7.25" fronts and rears and that alone made a tremendous improvement.  I was going to add the 250w amp later, but it sounds fanatistic as is.

Dr. V-Twin offers CVO members a pretty nice discount on the complete kit. Check the Vendors discount thread.

[bribe36]

I've ordered the replacement head unit, should be here next week and I'll install it next weekend. Now I'm shopping for 6x9's, an amp and a sub. Let the party begin.......