Harley Radio Upgrade

By Dennis Santopietro & filed under Articles on Harley-Davidson How-to and More.

Don’t get used to average. You chose to ride Harley to avoid being average like all of the other run-of-the-mill bikes out there. You wanted the best American made ride possible. There’s just one problem. The stock speakers and amp on your bike just aren’t the best they can be. They’re not bad, but there is a whole other world of crystal clear sound out there and you’re missing out. The Hawg Wired DCS combo systems can bring your Harley radio to a new level that you didn’t think was possible on a motorcycle.

For many riders, anything electrical on a motorcycle can be just as frightening as a deer jumping in front of you at 70 mph. If you are one of those guys, the American made Hawg Wired DCS (Direct Connect) systems are built just for you. The installation of the DCS kit truly is plug-and-play. There is no need to splice and solder anything. Hawg Wired designed the DCS to use the same connectors as your factory system and it utilizes your bike’s existing wiring to power the amplifier.

Hawg Wired Audio Upgrade Installation

In other words, anyone can install the Hawg Wired DCS and in almost no time at all. With Hawg Wired’s explicit instructions, you could have your new system installed within a half hour. See the install here: Hawg Wired

The DCS 120W Class-D amplifier is a huge part of what makes this system a success. Some of the benefits of Class-D amplifiers are they have a small size, are light weight, have a high power conversion and produces a low amount of heat. The installation of this amp does not compromise your bike in any way. The small size takes up very little space inside your Batwing or Shark Nose fairing. It also does not compromise your motorcycle’s electrical and charging systems. In other words, there are no needed modifications to your bike.

There are two DCS kits available; the DCS/SX and the DCS/ZX. The difference between the two kits is the speaker size. The SX kit includes two 5.5 in speakers, while the ZX comes with two 6.5 in speakers. Both kits deliver big power, but the oversized speakers in the ZX kit will give you the extra bass and volume you may desire. Just like the amplifier, the speakers are completely plug-and-play to make installation a breeze.

The biggest test for motorcycle speakers is how they perform at highway speeds. They need to be able to cut through all of your bike’s sounds in addition to all of the other road noises. These Hawg Wired speakers do just that with a very clean output that cuts through all of the noise.

If you do happen to be an audiophile, the DCS kits are sure speak to you. Hawg Wired has included built-in crossovers, giving you the ability to completely customize the sound. The amp also includes an RCA jack so you can use any non-Harley or aftermarket stereo. The options for you to customize your Harley’s sound production are wide open.

Both Hawg Wired DCS kits are available for all 1998-2013 FLTR and FLHT models and also for FLHX models from 2006-2013. You should keep in mind that the DCS120 amp is only 4 ohm stable and is designed to only power two 4 ohm speakers and it is also not linkable. If you are looking to add more speakers to your bike, you will need a different amp.

So if you’re tired of the average sound quality from your stock setup, check out the Hawg Wired DCS kits to experience what your motorcycle stereo should sound like.

For fast shipping and great prices on your Hawg Wired DCS kit, head over to the Dennis Kirk website.

Discussion
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16 Responses to “Harley Radio Upgrade”
  3. John D.
    John D.

    Great…..I read your article as soon as it hit my inbox. I’ve been interested in upgrading my stereo, so I follow your link to the Dennis Kirk website, and what do I find…..? A banner stating that the DCS/SX system is NO LONGER AVAILABLE. Very timely article guys……

    Reply
  5. ROARK
    ROARK

    Hi, new to this forum, just joined today. I have a 1996 FLHTCUI , I’d like to upgrade the stereo system but nothing seems available for 97 and earlier. Anyone have info on a plug and play system that would work for me?
    Thanks, Roark

    Reply
  6. Michael
    Michael

    HI I just got the J&M rokker xt-p jamp-250 hc14p for my 2014 street glide and can’t find any installation videos on this anywhere it would be great if you could point me in the right direction thanks

    Reply
    • Dennis Santopietro
      Dennis Santopietro

      Hi Michael, J&M has detailed instructions on their site and it looks similar to the plug and play of the Hawg Wired system we have an install video on. See the install here: Hawg Wired

      Reply
  8. Tim
    Tim

    I have a 2009 FLHTCUSE4 and I would like to figure out how to upgrade the factory amp with an aftermarket and still use the factory Harmon karmon deck

    Reply