See below this video for useful links, info, and ratings.
Video-Upon popular request from our audience, I will review four major brand name speaker and amplifier systems for replacing the stock Boom Audio speakers & adding an amplifier on 2014 & newer Harley-Davison touring motorcycles equipped with the Boom™! Box Infotainment system.
Fo
r reference and a baseline, we are comparing all systems to the Harley Davidson brand Boom Audio Stage 2 Speaker & Amp system. We sought out three other comparable brand name audio systems on the market that are competing with Harley-Davidson. We installed all the systems ourselves and we have very popular videos available for each. All four systems can be installed in your very own shop or garage right on the kickstand with the help of our tutorial videos.
The systems aren't cheap, so save your money and don't take your Harley to a dealership to have a system installed. With minimal basic tools, all the systems can be installed in your very own shop or garage right on the kickstand with the help of our tutorial videos. Videos by bikers for bikers.
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We have spent time with each of these audio systems and have tested them heavily in many different real world environments. We are bikers through and through, so our tests are for the average day to day biker out there. We did not test in some sterile controlled environment like many manufacturers do.
Note: We get asked often to try to do an audio/video comparison and then share it on our weekly Law Abiding Biker™ Podcast or on our popular YouTube Channel, but the fact of the matter is that would not do any of the systems justice. It simply does not translate correctly to the listener or viewer for a stereo system comparison.
The four systems we are comparing are: (2014 & newer touring models)
- Harley-Davidson Boom Audio Stage 2 Amplifier & Speaker System
- Hogtunes Amplifier & Speaker System
- Cycle Sounds Amplifier & Speaker System
- J&M Rokker XX Extreme Amplifier and Speaker System
Review of each system:
Harley-Davidson Boom Audio Stage 2 Amplifier & Speaker System
Parts we used: (affiliate links)
- Use our Adventure Harley Davidson Affiliate Link to purchase Boom Audio components based on your particular needs. Items sold separately with this HD system. After clicking through the link, search for the listed components.
- Boom! Audio Amplifier Kit-Fairing Part #76000278
- Boom! Audio Stage II 6.5” Batwing Fairing Speakers Part #76000524
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Boom! Audio Stage II 6.5” Road Glide Fairing Speakers Part #76000594
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
- Have to have the system “flashed” after install
- Price point is higher
- Great sounding & can turn all the way up w/o distortion
- No splicing or wire stripping
- No need to adjust amp after install
The Harley Boom Audio system ads a ton of high-quality sound and is a great addition to the stock Harley Boom!™ Box Infotainment system. Once you have the Boom Box “re-programmed” or “flashed” by a dealership after install of the components, you will definitely be impressed. The price point is higher compared to competitor systems simply because it is stamped with the Harley logo. However, the Boom Audio system is slightly easier to install compared to some competitor systems, which require some minor splicing. The install instructions that come with the system can confuse any technician. Our official Boom Audio Stage 1 & 2 Speakers & Amp Video makes it a breeze to understand and install the system. We were able to turn the system up all the way with almost no distortion. It can be easily heard running at freeway speeds and above.
Hogtunes Amplifier & Speaker System
Kits we used: (affiliate links)
- Hogtunes Speaker And Amp Kit For Harley Street Glide 2014-2016
- Hogtunes Speaker And Amp Kit For Harley Road Glide 2014-2016
- Hogtunes Speaker And Amp Kit For Harley Ultra 2014-2016
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
- Lower quality sound and can't turn all the way up without distortion
- Great price point
- No Boom Box “flash” needed after install
- No splicing or wire stripping
The Hogtunes audio system has the cheapest price point out of all the others. No splicing or stripping is required during installation. The system adds much sound over the stock Harley Boom speakers. The speakers are not separates and the clarity of the sound just is not there like the other more expensive systems. You can definitely hear distortion if you turn it up over half way. The system can be heard at freeway speeds at around half volume. The install instructions that come with the system can confuse any technician. Our official Hogtunes amp and speaker install tutorial video makes it a breeze to understand and install the system.
Cycle Sounds Amplifier & Speaker System
Parts we used: (affiliate links)
- 6.5 Inch Coaxial Speakers (pr) 2014 HD 6.5″ replacement fairing speaker grills (pr
- DSP Line-Level Shifter (Magic Box) for 2014 Harley Radios – (Front Speakers)
- Magic Box line level shiifter for 2014+ Ultra models and use with ultra rear speaker harness
- 2014 HD Ultra rear speaker input harness for aftermarket amplifiers
- Cycle Sounds premium amplifier installation kit
- Harness for aftermarket amplifier to 2014 HD Stock front speaker connections (optional with std magic box)(white/white-blk,grey/grey-blk
- Micro 4 channel amplifier
- Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
- No need to “flash” the Boom Box after install
- Some splicing and wire stripping needed during install
- Great sounding
- Lower price point than others
- Really need to spend some time adjusting amp after install for optimum sound
The Cycle Sounds system ads a ton of quality sound and is a great addition to the stock Harley Boom!™ Box Infotainment system. Once you adjust and dial the amp in you will be impressed. The price point is better than the competing Harley-Davidson Boom!™ Audio Stage 2 amp & speakers and you don't need to “re-program” or “flash” the Boom Box at a Harley dealership after install like with the Boom Audio system. You will really need to spend time making amp adjustments to get great sound and minimize distortion at higher volume levels. There is also more to installing this system and some minor splicing is necessary. With our official Cycle Sounds Speaker & Amp Install Video it will be a breeze!
J&M Rokker XX Extreme Amplifier and Speaker System (head to head with the Harley Boom Audio Stage 2 System)
Kits we used: (affiliate links)
- J&M Rokker XX Extreme 330W Speaker Amp Kit For Harley Touring 2014-2016
- J&M Rokker XX Extreme 330W Speaker Amp Kit For Harley Road Glide 2015-2016
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Price point a bit higher
- Great sounding & can turn all the way up w/o distortion
- No splicing or wire stripping
- No need to adjust amp after install
- No need to “flash” the Boom Box after install
The Harley J&M Rokker XX Extreme audio system adds a ton of high-quality sound and is a great addition to the stock Harley Boom!™ Box Infotainment system. It is nice that if your Boom Box has not been changed/flashed from stock then you don't need to make a trip to the dealership after the J&M install.
The J&M is about $100 cheaper than the Harley Boom Audio Stage 2 kit, but the price point is still higher compared to competitor systems. However, the J&M system is slightly easier to install compared to other competitor systems, which require some minor splicing. The install instructions that come with the J&M system can confuse any technician. Our official J&M Rokker XX Extreme Speakers & Amp Install Video makes it a breeze.
It is also nice that the J&M amp doesn't need any adjustments after install and they have it all dialed in to work optimally with the Boom Box system. We cranked the system all the way up and got no distortion. It can be easily heard running at freeway speeds and above.
Note: If you appreciate this information and it is helpful, please consider purchasing any amp and speaker kits through one of our below affiliate links. No additional cost to you, but we get a small kickback should you click through and purchase. It helps us bring more content like this to the biker community!
Purchase any Amp & Speaker Kit through our affiliates!
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Too bad you didn’t try Biketronics,less expensive, better sounding than J&M and HD with a lifetime warranty. Their amps are built in house and their speakers are made by HAT, Hybrid Audio Technology, and their in your backyard, Moscow Idaho.
Hey there , hope you are well and getting some riding in!!
Well, our work is never done here at Law Abiding Biker Media and ongoing. Those are just the four bigger names. Of course, there are may others out there and we will continue with our many projects. If it works out or they hit us up, we’ll definitely install, test and report. If you know someone there tell them to hit us up.
Thank you. As always we are open and look forward to installing and testing other units. This just happen to be the first four and the most requested via email. We have had a few requests now for Bikertronics and hopefully they will reach out to us. We’d love to acquire, test and do an HD install video of their system. In fact we will even sell them the video so they can give it to their customers as an incentive to purchase their product. 🙂
Interesting thing is until we did these installs and video’s we didn’t have one request in the over 50 emails for a review of a Bikertronics system. This was even though we did podcasts and short video’s about the Hogtunes and Cycletunes systems. Then once we did the HD Stage II and J&M and subsequently did a comparison we had 4 people question why we didn’t include them. The reason is stated above so I won’t rehash it. I thank you for your comments and appreciation of what we did based on what we had at the time. We do this out of passion for motorcycling and look forward to more stereo reviews in the future.
Big D. from LAB.
Seriously dude… How do you do a “best Harley audio system” video without mentioning Biketronics. J&M? Maybe. But the rest aren’t even serious contenders.
We tested four big name systems based on high demand by name from our core audience. Our work is ongoing as is our filming of installs. It appears Bikertronics feels left out………..If they want to send us a system we’ll certainly install, film, test, and review. Ride Safe!
As always we are open and look forward to installing and testing other units. This just happen to be the first four and the most requested via email. We have had a few requests now for Bikertronics and hopefully they will reach out to us. We’d love to acquire, test and do an HD install video of their system. In fact we will even sell them the video so they can give it to their customers as an incentive to purchase their product. 🙂
Interesting thing is until we did these installs and video’s we didn’t have one request in the over 50 emails for a review of a Bikertronics system. This was even though we did podcasts and short video’s about the Hogtunes and Cycletunes systems. Then once we did the HD Stage II and J&M and subsequently did a comparison we had 4 people question why we didn’t include them. The reason is stated above so I won’t rehash it. I thank you for your comments and appreciation of what we did based on what we had at the time. We do this out of passion for motorcycling and look forward to more stereo reviews in the future.
Big D. from LAB.
Thank you for this video. Although Biketronics was not listed, this was a fair review.
I had the HD Boom II installed at the dealership against the advice of pretty much everyone I spoke with. What I came to find out is there were a lot of little bugs and sound quality issues when the system was first released. As Ryan has mentioned in other videos detailing the updates to the head unit, each revision had bug fixes. The Boom II amps needed an update as well. Aside from the cost, the main complaint was popping and poor quality, and thankfully I have not had those issues. Perhaps at the time of my install they had worked out the major bugs, or maybe I’m lucky.. can’t tell with Harley sometimes.
As far as the sound quality, or comparison to the other systems, I have no point of reference other than my experience with custom car audio in my own vehicles. That being said, I like how it sounds, I just don’t know if the other systems would sound better to me. That’s why I like this review; you were able to install and listen to each system in your own bike, in a controlled environment, and give a reasonable opinion. Good work!
Thank you. As always we are open and look forward to installing and testing other units. This just happen to be the first four and the most requested via email. We have had a few requests now for Bikertronics and hopefully they will reach out to us. We’d love to acquire, test and do an HD install video of their system. In fact we will even sell them the video so they can give it to their customers as an incentive to purchase their product. 🙂
Interesting thing is until we did these installs and video’s we didn’t have one request in the over 50 emails for a review of a Bikertronics system. This was even though we did podcasts and short video’s about the Hogtunes and Cycletunes systems. Then once we did the HD Stage II and J&M and subsequently did a comparison we had 4 people question why we didn’t include them. The reason is stated above so I won’t rehash it. I thank you for your comments and appreciation of what we did based on what we had at the time. We do this out of passion for motorcycling and look forward to more stereo reviews in the future.
Big D. from LAB.
Biketronics and J&M are heavily represented and recommended in other forums, I’m sure that’s why there are some people that were surprised Biketronics was not reviewed. When I mentioned it, that was not a critique, just wishful thinking.. lol. thanks for the reply.
Great video guys. I was inquiring about the J&M Rokker XX and the HD Boom at my local HD dealer and they mentioned a possible compatibility issue with the Rokker 330 amp and the HD “hidden” (in the fairing) antennas. He said something about interference caused by the amp being installed too close to the antenna inside the fairing. He also thought it may have been corrected more recently by J&M. Any thoughts or insight would be appreciated. Thanks, and keep up the great work guys, I appreciate all your efforts.
I don’t have the hidden antenna Barry. I will say that if there was any issue it would not be specific to J&M Rokker System. Every aftermarket system we installed puts the amps in the same exact place to include the Harley Davidson Stage 2. So, HD would have to be having a problem with their own product. Hope this is helpful in some way.
I took the advice of this review and I purchased the J&M ROKKER XXR EXTREME 330w 2-Speaker Amplifier Kit 14-18 Harley back on Feb 2018. System not sounding right and I reached out to the company for help. I was told that I had the best system but I could upgrade to the stage 4 for a plug and play system. No support after 6 months of owning it and a system that sounds horrible. I purchased the installation video from this site so I am verified purchaser and not using this site to complain. But do your research before purchasing.
Good info Alan. Sorry you are having problems with the J&M company. That’s not cool.