[Helmwurst]

Has any one used the DSP Line Level Shifter from Cycle Sounds with aftermarket amplifiers? I get the hard work and efforts by Hog Tunes and J&M on creating new amplifiers to level out the crap coming out of the stock head units at speed.
I removed a ton of audio equipment from my 2011 SG. I want to install the amp and speakers in my RG Special and have just heard about the Cycle Sounds (Magic Box) . Looking for some real input here. Did it do the trick or am I not going to be happy with the results. Ed is kinda out there in his engineering, but his stuff works.

 

[Oddball]

Mine is better than it was. Still sucks above 50 or 60. Turn the AVC down or off. Turn the bass and treble down to half. Or sitting still you can have a really nice $25000 boom box. Depends on how you look at it. I'm bitter, sorry. Infinity kappas, NVX 400 and magic box.


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[MisterD]

From what I read, you need a powerful amp and the ability to turn the gains up to make up for the volume loss the magic box steals.

 

[dozer23]

Not sure about the magic box stealing power ( first I herd of that) I have been using the magic box with jl audio hx280 amp. Bridged 140 watts per channle. hybrid audio 6.5 coaxel speakers and it sound as good as any system I have come across.

 

[09Sharknose]

Has any one used the DSP Line Level Shifter from Cycle Sounds with aftermarket amplifiers? I get the hard work and efforts by Hog Tunes and J&M on creating new amplifiers to level out the crap coming out of the stock head units at speed.

I removed a ton of audio equipment from my 2011 SG. I want to install the amp and speakers in my RG Special and have just heard about the Cycle Sounds (Magic Box) . Looking for some real input here. Did it do the trick or am I not going to be happy with the results. Ed is kinda out there in his engineering, but his stuff works.

When you talk about the "crap" coming out of the stock head unit at speed, it helps to know how it works and what that "crap" is. Then like any other problem, you come up with a plan to solve it.

The stock head unit already has an internal amplifier. Just like any amplifier, it amplifies EVERYTHING that comes through it and sends it to the speakers. So if you have a crappy source, or are planning crappy quality music to start with, it's gonna sound like amplified crap coming out. Also, if you take that crappy signal and send it in to an aftermarket amp that's pumping 100w/ch, you're reamplifying a signal with all of the crap still attached to it. This is the problem that having RCA (pre out) jacks on your head unit solves. The signal is sent out BEFORE the head unit amplifies it. HD will not put preouts on their head units.

Think about how an old vinyl record sounded with the static and such. Then consider amplifying that signal. That's what's happening when you use high level(speaker line) outputs from your head unit to your aftermarket amp.

A line level converter or "magic box" takes the amplified signal and strips the distortion and amplification from it. Kind of an aftermarket preamp kit. This gives your aftermarket amp a clean signal to amplify, resulting in a much more clear sounding stereo assuming your speakers are quality.

My advice:

Find a seat you're gonna do the majority of your riding with.

Find a properly fitted windshield. The top of the windshield should be somewhere between the tip of your nose and the top of your nose, depending on the characteristics of the windshield, while sitting upright in riding position. The stock RGS windshield looks cool, but sucks for riding and music.

Once you've attacked these two areas successfully, then do some research on this forum and decide how much you want to spend for your stereo system. I promise you, there will be more boom for your buck this way!

Good luck!


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[dozer23]

Thanx for the crappy lesson on crappy audio. I could not have said it better.

 

[Helmwurst]

Same here, but I kinda knew all that already. I was looking for input on the use of the Magic Box. And what you all have said is what I was looking for. I have heard a lot of claims from a lot of makers of audio gear, but until it is installed and you are headed down the slab, you don't really know what you just paid for.
I have a RF 4 channel I took out of my SG w/ Focal speakers. It sounded pretty good in there with the stock HK unit. I realize the new 14+ systems have many more features and sound better that the previous stock units, but I alo know there is a lot of other "programmed" adjustments coming out of the speakers w/o any driver input. That being said, the magic box seems like a good idea and it is the easiest thing to try w/o kicking my self in the arse after the sale.Keep the comments coming..Thanks in advance.
By the way, new w/s went on today, to remedy the some of the issues

 

[RDCRIS]

With the help from DOZER, I'm running the MAGIC box without any problems! I would think any (quality) line converter would work, I use a fairly large one in my truck. Anyway may set-up on a 15RG is (Magic box feeding both F&R channels to SoundStream PN1.450 amp pushing BT 6.5's in the upper fairing and Infinity db651's in the lower fairing). Amp is set to HIGH pass and gains were set by ear individually for the best sound. Everyone that hears my system is amazed.
And yes as mentioned different songs at different recording levels will make a difference in what comes out. So when your adjusting the gains use the best sounding song you have to set them.

I've turned off the sound control and the bass is less than half and treble is just above half. Still get plenty of bass sound with the HIGH pass filter on.

What is nice about the MAGIC box is you don't have to cut any wires. I don't have any dealer flash and don't want to either.

 

[Helmwurst]

I just got my bike back from the dealer for first service. One issue I had last week while at BB&BBQ was, I had the volume almost all the way up, speed vol set to 0. The volume would drop in half and then come right back up a few seconds later. Of course they could not duplicate. They checked the software up date I had installed and all was well. The tech told me to leave the bass and treble to mid setting, they get better performance from them that way, I get that, when you pay 8.00 for the stock speakers they put in there , I can see why. Like I said before...... CRAP......It will all be good in the end..:grin:

 

[dozer23]

A lot of people are doing different things. Some work some don't. when I was designing my system I did a lot of research.and came up with the most logical answer. clean up the mess being produced by the source. Shutting off the auto volume adding line leveler (magic box) did the trick.

 

[cobra206]

Quick question, is this Magic box only available for 2014 and later bikes... I looked at cycle sounds website and can't find a Magic box for the earlier bikes. Am I missing something

 

[MisterD]

Not required for 13 and earlier

 

[12fltrx]

I am running the Magic box with my system, I am using the Diamond Micro4v2 amp and HCX speakers in my 15 RGS, as stated earlier, dpending on the out put of the song that you are using, this will determine the best sound. On my amp, I have input sensitivity set to 50%, and the crossover to just under straight up and down. when I set the sensitivity, I had the Bass and treble at 50%. system sound really good. I have a tour pack on the bike and I am running the stage 1 boom speakers in there, they sound good, but I dont sit on the rear seat, so the wife said that it sounds really good for her. I plan on putting the Saddlebag lids in the winter and I am torn between the Hertz ecx 570, or the Biketronics 5x7 speakers, the price is the difference. so in my opinion I think the Magicbox does what is supposed to. when I get the lids I do plan on running the magicbox for the rear, and when I set it up I plan on running the pods off of the line out before the Magicbox, just to get alittle sound out of them, I dont always run the tourpack so I am not to concerned about the sound out of the pods. oh and the volume I run going down the Interstate I have it set bars before being full volume. Good luck on your venture.

 

[cobra206]

Not required for 13 and earlier

Thanks

 

[09Sharknose]

Not required for 13 and earlier

'13 and earlier benefit in the same way '14+ bikes do from the use of line converters. Although Biketronics may not market the "magic box" to '13 and earlier bikes, if you are still using the stock radio, the signal coming from your head unit is amped just like the Rushmore bikes. Therefore inserting a line level converter will give you a cleaner signal to run into an aftermarket amp.


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[MisterD]

I ran biketronics 7.1 in my streetglide with a fosgate 300x2 amp, stock head unit and it flat out rocked. No need for lids or lowers. Wife heard it loud and clear. 2014 streetglide and no magic box

 

[Shaner87]

So it seems like the magic box for the Rushmore bikes is hit and miss. Also seems like the flash can either work or become a nightmare with the stealerships. So what is everyone finding more dependable? I have a 2015 RGS that I bought a PBR 2 channel amp and a set of JL C5-650X speakers for. I am in-between on whether to go with a flash or the magic box. I know I'm going to need something before it gets to the crossovers because I don't want to overwork them by sending them the amped signal from the infotainment system.

 

[dozer23]

A you need the magic box to clean up the signal. J&m says there is no need for a flash! (Nightmare is over) they are using a line level filter also.and they know harley stereos better than any body.further more it makes the amp.install nice and easy by adding RCA'S to the stereo.