Michael's 2018 Street Glide: From Factory Audio to a Four-Speaker Cicada System

Custom Build · Michael's 2018 Street Glide

Michael's 2018 Street Glide went from an existing SoundStream WHD14+ source unit to a fully amplified, DSP-tuned four-speaker Cicada system: CHX65.2 horns up front, CXX8.2 8-inch speakers in Cicada 14CHDLID8 replacement lids at the rear, all run from an FLX700.4PRO DSP amplifier we pre-tuned before it shipped. It started as a simple two-speaker upgrade and grew into a proper build, a strong example of what a properly amplified and DSP-tuned Harley saddlebag speaker upgrade can deliver.

Michael's 2018 Harley Street Glide with the four-speaker Cicada Audio system
Michael's 2018 Street Glide with the four-speaker Cicada system.

Where Michael Started

Michael came to us with a 2018 Street Glide already running a SoundStream WHD14+ head unit, one of the cleaner starting points for an audio upgrade. The WHD14+ has a built-in 2-ohm-stable Class-D amplifier, but Michael knew he was not getting everything he could from his system. He wanted more volume, stronger mid-bass and better sound quality than the head unit's internal amplifier could deliver on its own.

About six months earlier we had an initial conversation and put a Wild Boar two-speaker kit on his radar as a straightforward upgrade path. When Michael came back ready to pull the trigger, we introduced him to the Cicada Audio range, and the brief expanded pretty quickly from there.

The System

What started as a two-speaker discussion ended as a proper four-speaker, amplified system, configured as separate front and rear speaker stages from one four-channel DSP amplifier.

Component Power / role
SoundStream WHD14+ head unit Starting point: existing CarPlay head unit, feeding the amp from its 5V RCA pre-outs
Cicada FLX700.4PRO 4-channel Class-D amplifier with onboard DSP: 700W RMS total (175W×4 at 2Ω), pre-tuned before shipping
2× Cicada CHX65.2 fairing 6.5-inch 2Ω PRO coaxial horn front stage, one speaker per front amplifier channel
2× Cicada CXX8.2 saddlebags 8-inch 2Ω, 200W RMS coaxial rear stage, one speaker per rear amplifier channel
Cicada 14CHDLID8 lid kit Vivid Black replacement saddlebag lids, purpose-built to house the 8-inch CXX8.2s
Cicada 14HDAR-SG rack Street Glide fairing amplifier mount, positioning the FLX700.4PRO directly above the radio
Cicada CHDSGG grilles 6.5-inch replacement round fairing grilles for the CHX65.2s
Wiring package Cicada HDFLXFO and HDFLXRO speaker output harnesses, HDPG8K 8 AWG power and ground kit, and our modified WHD14+ signal harness
Result Amplified, DSP-tuned four-speaker system with strong mid-bass

The 14CHDLID8 lid kit deserves a mention on its own. Rather than permanently cutting Michael's original lids, it replaces them with a complete purpose-built system: the Vivid Black lids arrive with the 8-inch openings, dividers, damping, grilles, hinges, rear harness and mounting hardware, and the CXX8.2 speakers are then fitted into them. Michael keeps his OEM lids, so the bike can go back to stock whenever he wants.

Cicada CXX8.2 8-inch speaker fitted in the 14CHDLID8 saddlebag lid on Michael's Street Glide
A Cicada CXX8.2 8-inch driver in the 14CHDLID8 replacement lid.

Pre-Tuned DSP and a Plug-and-Play Harness

One of the things that makes the FLX700.4PRO such a strong choice for this kind of build is the onboard DSP. Before we shipped the amp, we configured the DSP profile specifically for Michael's install. The rear channels were EQ'd and crossed over for the CXX8.2s in the saddlebag-lid position, with extra emphasis through the usable mid-bass range, and the front channels were tuned separately for the CHX65.2 horns, high-passed at 120 Hz with a 24 dB-per-octave slope, the minimum we specify for this speaker in a high-output application, to keep the horns within their safe operating range as the bike's primary forward soundstage.

Because Michael was doing the install at home rather than going to a shop, we built the wiring as a complete plug-and-play package. Cicada's HDFLXFO and HDFLXRO front and rear speaker output harnesses handle the amp-to-speaker connections, and our own modified SoundStream harness carries clean line-level signal from the WHD14+'s 5V RCA pre-outs into the FLX700.4PRO. Everything is labelled and plugs together with no splicing into the factory audio loom. The HDPG8K also supplies the correctly sized, pre-terminated power and ground wiring, so there is no separate cable kit to source or power specification to work out; that harness still runs between the battery and the amplifier. The amp itself is mounted on the Cicada 14HDAR-SG rack directly above the radio inside the Street Glide fairing.

The Result

The system is now installed and running. Michael is happy with the volume and sound quality, but what really got him was the mid-bass. That is usually what happens when you go from driving the speakers directly off the head unit's internal amplifier to a dedicated external amp with DSP-controlled channels: the low-mid response fills out in a way that makes the whole system feel more complete, particularly at speed. Michael's wife described it as a bit obnoxious. Michael loves it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an amplifier for Harley saddlebag speakers?

Most factory and OEM-style head units, including the WHD14+, have a built-in amp that can drive a basic speaker upgrade. But for larger drivers like 8-inch coaxials, or for real volume and clean mid-bass at highway speed, a dedicated amplifier provides the power those speakers need, while onboard DSP lets the front and rear channels be crossed over, level-matched and equalised independently. Together, as in Michael's build, that is what makes the difference.

Can you fit 8-inch speakers in Harley saddlebag lids?

Yes, with a purpose-built lid kit. Standard Harley saddlebag lids are not cut for 8-inch drivers, so a kit like the Cicada 14CHDLID8 replaces the lid entirely with one pre-cut and finished in Vivid Black to match. Michael kept his original lids so the bike can go back to stock, and a raw version is available for bikes in another paint colour.

What does a four-speaker Harley audio upgrade typically include?

A front pair in the fairing, a rear pair in the saddlebag lids, and a 4-channel amplifier to power all four. Adding onboard DSP lets each pair be tuned separately for its position, which is what gives a build like Michael's its balance between the forward clarity and projection of the fairing horns and the added mid-bass weight and acoustic scale of the 8-inch rear speakers, which reach down to around 50 Hz.

Thinking About Something Similar?

Running a WHD14+ or similar head unit and want to know what a proper amplified speaker upgrade would look like for your bike? Tell us your bike, your riding and your budget, and if you are installing it yourself we can set up a pre-configured amp and harness like Michael's.

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More reading: our guide to Stage 1 to 3 upgrades, and more completed customer systems in Custom Builds.

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