[hodgeaaco]

Well, I just installed the new JM 7.25 speakers today. Took about 2 hours, as I changed out my windshield grommets too, as well as took my time. It did come with 2 pieces of dynamat, which I stuck on the inside of the fairing.

Initially and in the garage, I compared before and after (recorded on my high tech cell ) and did not notice much of a change. But then I turned up the volume and it pumps!! With the stock speakers, I would get alot of distortion at high volumes, with and without the bass turned up. These speakers are clear as day regardless of bass setting. There is a significant increase in bass, but I wouldn't call it "boomin", and I did not expect it to boom. I had both hogtunes and polks in my 05 EG, and while they were significantly better than stock, they still distorted too early and lacked bass. The JM's are certainly better so far, I will reserve my "worth the money" rating until after it is road tested. When it gets warmer (about 20 degrees here) I will take a ride and fully test it out.

 

[BillyBob]

Thanks, Let us know you verdict!!!

 

[TexRedGlide]

Defenitely lookin for feedback on these. At $235 would expect a fairly decent improvement. My experience with J&M 5.25 version was not impressive. So, these are about the only real option left without going full out with amp set up. Interested in sound quality compared to Hawgwired, if anyone has any insight.

 

[FLTR2008Trike]

Defenitely lookin for feedback on these. At $235 would expect a fairly decent improvement. My experience with J&M 5.25 version was not impressive. So, these are about the only real option left without going full out with amp set up. Interested in sound quality compared to Hawgwired, if anyone has any insight.

I had from new installed the Harley amp and rear speakers to my tour pack. I installed the J&M 5.25 speakers in the front and rear and ran them for about a year. They were just ok, not much better then the stock in my opinion.

I swapped the fronts out for the ARC audio 6.5 with the ARC audio KS 125.2 mini amp this summer. Using the ARC audio amp for the front and the Harmon Kardon amp pushing the rears. My system now rocks!!

I did use J&Ms padding for the inside of the outer fairing and took the advice from the forum member I bought my speakers & amp about putting stuffing inside of the rear speaker pods.

I set my balance so my rear speakers are slightly louder then the rear and can hear my system clearly at 80mph. The only time I get sound loss is when there is wind already blowing over 15mph. Then its not as clear

Bass is a sound wave that requires dead air to make it effective to hear and feel. I have some bass sitting still but its all midrange and tweeter when riding

 

[Sancho]

I installed the J&M 7.25" about 2 weeks ago. I'm not a speaker expert so about all I can say is they're better than stock. I can clearly hear them at 80 mph and sitting still they will blow you off the seat with volume turned up. I don't plan on buying an amp as I don't think I need one.

 

[1BigGuy]

I installed the J&M 7.25" about 2 weeks ago. I'm not a speaker expert so about all I can say is they're better than stock. I can clearly hear them at 80 mph and sitting still they will blow you off the seat with volume turned up. I don't plan on buying an amp as I don't think I need one.

I have to agree with you on this one. Mine have been on for a few weeks now, with limited ability to ride, I really don't see the need for any Amp. The Clarity is quite good.

 

[FLTR2008Trike]

I you ride with a louder then stock exhaust and travel at times, the amp helps out.

 

[Ronnie Gary]

Does anyone have any info on these speakers with the Arc Audio amplifier?

The normal sized speakers work well. However, unless you turn down the gain on the amp, it can overwhelm them. I imagine this would not be the case with the larger speakers. But that is just a guess...

 

[Guest]

I installed the J&M 7.25" about 2 weeks ago. I'm not a speaker expert so about all I can say is they're better than stock. I can clearly hear them at 80 mph and sitting still they will blow you off the seat with volume turned up. I don't plan on buying an amp as I don't think I need one.

Can you suggest a good retailer or did you go direct online? Also what was the hardest part of the upgrade to do?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Sancho]

Can you suggest a good retailer or did you go direct online? Also what was the hardest part of the upgrade to do?

Thanks in advance...

I bought mine from Dr Vtwin. I had to call them. The hardest part of the upgrade is putting the fairing back on.

 

[RoadGlideRider]

Can you suggest a good retailer or did you go direct online? Also what was the hardest part of the upgrade to do?

Thanks in advance...

J&M are always at the Laughlin River Run held in Laughlin NV every April. This year it is from April 21 - 25, 2010. I will be there. Looking to see what extras I can get.

 

[Bandit]

J&M are always at the Laughlin River Run held in Laughlin NV every April. This year it is from April 21 - 25, 2010. I will be there. Looking to see what extras I can get.

I'm heading there as well. I want to hear the 7.25's in person before I buy. I had more fun in Laughlin last year than I've had in a long time. Can't wait for this year.

 

[carguy]

I was one of the original testers of the J & M 7.25" on my 07 Street Glide. I found with the bat wing and the speakers right in your face these were the best upgrade I'd had heard especially without and amp.

I was involved in an accident in October and bike was a total loss. I replaced that bike w a 07 Roady. First thing I did was put the 7.25" J & M's in it. I find with the design of the Road Glide fairing and the angle of the speakers and distance from the rider that as good as these sound I'm going to need an amp this time around to hear at highway speeds.

On the bat wing I could listen to talk radio at 80 mph. The Roady needs more volume to do that.

 

[Ronnie Gary]

I was one of the original testers of the J & M 7.25" on my 07 Street Glide. I found with the bat wing and the speakers right in your face these were the best upgrade I'd had heard especially without and amp.

I was involved in an accident in October and bike was a total loss. I replaced that bike w a 07 Roady. First thing I did was put the 7.25" J & M's in it. I find with the design of the Road Glide fairing and the angle of the speakers and distance from the rider that as good as these sound I'm going to need an amp this time around to hear at highway speeds.

On the bat wing I could listen to talk radio at 80 mph. The Roady needs more volume to do that.

Carguy:

Now THAT is what I wanted to know! Thanks for the update. I have the ARC audio amp and it worked beautifully with my older 2-way J&Ms. I took them out to try the Hawg Wired. The J&Ms are just as good, if not better - for less money. So I assume the larger, 3-way J&Ms will be even better. I will most likely order mine up this month. Thanks again!

 

[xusnatc]

I agree,..........that's the kind of info we all need to hear. CarGuy,....Let me paraphrase what you said,....."so what your saying is J&M's 7.25" speakers are worthless on a Road Glide ? LOL

Ronnie,.....I'm with out a doubt no radio guru, but if your running an amp, don't you also have to run a higher ohm speaker or risk screwing the speakers up ?

 

[carguy]

xusnatc
Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 10



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree,..........that's the kind of info we all need to hear. CarGuy,....Let me paraphrase what you said,....."so what your saying is J&M's 7.25" speakers are worthless on a Road Glide ? LOL

I didn't say the speakers were worthless. I've owned a Street Glide and two Road Glides and between them I've tried a least a dozen different speakers and the 7.25" J & M's are by far the best sounding. On the Street Glide with speakers right in your face made the best sound and volume I've ever heard on a bike.

Because of the distance from the speakers and rider it's not as loud as I would like. It's not the speakers fault as they will only produce as much sound as the power behind them. There was no distortion at full volume so I would think an amp would do the trick and make these speakers rock.

 

[Ronnie Gary]

xusnatc
Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 10



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree,..........that's the kind of info we all need to hear. CarGuy,....Let me paraphrase what you said,....."so what your saying is J&M's 7.25" speakers are worthless on a Road Glide ? LOL

I didn't say the speakers were worthless. I've owned a Street Glide and two Road Glides and between them I've tried a least a dozen different speakers and the 7.25" J & M's are by far the best sounding. On the Street Glide with speakers right in your face made the best sound and volume I've ever heard on a bike.

Because of the distance from the speakers and rider it's not as loud as I would like. It's not the speakers fault as they will only produce as much sound as the power behind them. There was no distortion at full volume so I would think an amp would do the trick and make these speakers rock.

The newer Harley radios are set up at 2 ohm impedance. The amp I have (ARC KS 125.2 MINI) pushes 125 watts per channel at 2 ohms. The new J&M speakers (standard and larger variations) for the later Harley radios (2006 & later) are spec'd at 2 ohms and 140 watts per channel. They are more than capable of handling the power of the ARC amplifier. When I had the smaller 2-way J&M's, they worked fine. Based on that, my assumption is the larger speakers should work even better. I doubt you will blow them out or anything. AND the power increase over the stock radio is dramatic.

As Carguy said, the RG speakers are set up further from your ears so they won't be as loud as a SG/EG setup. Add to that, the speaker opening is slightly smaller. IMHO, an amplifier is a must if you really want to reach any speaker's potential. Running them without an amp is okay. But so are french fries without ketchup. The ARC amps are not cheap. But they do work very well. And they are small. Once you have an amp you will never go back to not having one. Trust me on that.

Another thing that helps is having an adequately sized windshield. The cut-down windshields look cool, but the wind buffetting will be noisy, thus compromising your stereo sound. I formerly had a 12-inch Klock Flare. It was okay. When I went to a medium sized Clearview (BTW, also flared), the difference in the wind noise was dramatic. With the Clearview, it seemed as though my speakers added an additional 20-30 watts. I wouldn't even consider going back to the shorter shield (please note that Klock has since added a taller windshield to their line-up - perhaps this would make a difference. However, I haven't used it so I can't comment on that). A stock Harley windshield should give you a similar amount of wind protection as a Clearview, but you lose the downforce benefits of the flare shape. And the "cool factor" is also less...

Does anyone know if the acoustic pads that J&M sells really make a difference? I can't see how they would, as a moving motorcycle is far from an optimal audiophile environment. But some info from a person who really uses them would be nice.

I hope this helps.

 

[carguy]

Ronnie, That would be me. I used the foam in both the bikes with these speakers. It does help the low end of the speakers quite a bit and they do make a nice bass sound, but also realize that small speakers are not going to sound like a sub.

 

[hotrodad]

my 2 cents on J&M 7 1/4" speakers

I have to weight in with my experience today. First time out with the new speakers. Worth every penny if it is improved sound and clarity at hiway speeds and beyond. I have a hotrodded 2005 fltri with 2-1 hi flow pipes. I run a stock windsheild and wear a shorty helmet most of the time. Today I chased a rice grinder down hiway 117 from Dorset to Baysville up to 175kmh rockin out to KISS 'Detroit Rock City' and the volume was barely over half. The sound was clear, undistorted and may have even caused some hearing damage...LOL

I wasn't trying to 'catch' him but he was sure trying to get away from me.
It was a great ride today....

 

[CHAINSAW]

Got mine installed today,.. and... WOW!!! These suckers are baaaaaad assssss! My hogtunes hog pod also really came to life since I put in the 7.25's. Not sure why that was,.. everything was plugged in right. A Great combination and worth every penny.
Eventually going to add the amp, but thats a ways out and right now I'm really really happy with the results from just the speakers. Thinking of speakers in the back to,.. maybe like an Ultra,. maybe speakers in the lids just haven't decided yet. Might be a winter project because all I'm gonna do now is enjoy the clear tunes
J&M could of been more clear on parts of the instructions, but over-all it was an easy job.