2014–2023 Harley Street Glide Audio Upgrade Guide

July 11, 2026

Model Guide · 2014-2023 Street Glide

Upgrading the audio on a 2014-2023 Harley-Davidson Street Glide starts with identifying the factory radio, speaker package and amplifier configuration. This guide covers 6.5-inch fairing-speaker fitment, Boom! Box 4.3, 6.5GT and GTS integration, CarPlay and Android Auto options, lower-fairing and saddlebag speakers, amplifiers, DSP tuning and goal-based upgrade paths, so you can choose the right path for your bike rather than a one-size-fits-all kit.

Important model note: This guide covers the 2014-2023 standard Street Glide and Street Glide Special, the 2022-2023 Street Glide ST, and 2015-2022 CVO Street Glide models. The redesigned mid-year 2023.5 CVO Street Glide introduced the new fairing, 12.3-inch display and current-generation audio architecture and is covered, with the 2024+ Street Glide, by the Skyline OS Touring guide. Earlier bikes are covered by the 1998-2013 Batwing Touring guide.

Quick answer

Most standard 2014-2023 Street Glides start with two 5.25-inch fairing speakers, but purpose-built 6.5-inch replacements are available and fit without cutting. The best upgrade depends on whether the bike has a Boom! Box 4.3, 6.5GT or GTS, whether a factory amplifier is fitted, and whether you want a simple speaker improvement, an amplified front stage, lower-fairing speakers, or a fully amplified four-speaker system. Only the GTS offers factory CarPlay and Android Auto (wired); 4.3 and 6.5GT bikes get them through an aftermarket head unit.

Jump to: Which system do I have · Boom! Box radio · Speaker sizes · CarPlay and Android Auto · Speaker-only upgrades · Lower fairings · Saddlebag speakers · Radio flash · Amplifier and DSP · Upgrade paths · FAQs

Which Street Glide Audio System Do I Have?

A base Street Glide, a Street Glide Special, a Street Glide ST and a CVO Street Glide can share the same outer Batwing fairing but run very different audio systems underneath. Before selecting parts, identify the exact model, the radio (Boom! Box 4.3, 6.5GT or GTS), whether a separate factory amplifier is fitted, which speaker locations the bike has (fairing-only, lower-fairing or saddlebag) and whether the radio has previously been flashed or the audio system modified.

Starting system	Typical equipment	Main integration concern
Standard Street Glide	Two fairing speakers; radio-driven unless upgraded	Radio model, impedance and current flash
Street Glide Special	Two fairing speakers; higher-spec radio common	Radio and any accessory audio equipment
Street Glide ST, 2022-2023	Boom! Box GTS and two fairing speakers	Speaker impedance, any accessory amplifier and previous modifications
CVO Street Glide, 2015-2020	Factory-amplified Boom! system; speaker count and locations vary by year (the 2015 launch system was four speakers on 600 watts, bi-amplified)	Bi-amplified wiring, multiple amplifiers, impedance and factory EQ
CVO Street Glide, 2021-2022	Rockford Fosgate factory-amplified system (the 2021 model ran 6.5-inch fairing and 5x7-inch saddlebag speakers on a 400-watt amplifier)	Factory amplifier retention or bypass, speaker impedance and existing tuning
Previously modified bike	Any combination	Inspect and measure the entire system

A standard two-speaker Street Glide and an amplified CVO system may look identical from the outside but need very different wiring, integration and amplifier strategies.

Which Boom! Box Radio Is Fitted?

Confirm the radio actually fitted to your bike rather than relying on model year alone. Three Boom! Box systems were used across this generation, a bike may have been upgraded during its life, and the radio decides both the integration approach and whether factory phone projection is available.

Radio	Typical application	Factory phone projection
Boom! Box 4.3	Standard and base models across the generation, including base bikes after 2018; smaller display	None
Boom! Box 6.5GT	Higher-spec 2014-2018 bikes, and an upgrade for 4.3-equipped bikes; larger touchscreen	None
Boom! Box GTS	2019-2023, standard on the Street Glide Special and ST, optional on the standard Street Glide	Wired CarPlay and Android Auto
Aftermarket head unit	Available for this Batwing platform	Features vary; wireless projection available on selected units

Some speaker and amplifier upgrades also perform best after a Harley radio flash or with a suitable integration device; see the radio flash and integration sections below.

What Size Speakers Fit a 2014-2023 Street Glide?

Most standard 2014-2023 Street Glides use a 5.25-inch (133 mm) factory driver in the fairing speaker assembly. Purpose-built 6.5-inch (165 mm) upgrade packages can use the available fairing space with the correct mounting hardware, wiring and grilles, without cutting the fairing, which is why a factory 5.25-inch specification and a direct-fit 6.5-inch upgrade are not contradictory. This does not mean every generic 6.5-inch car speaker is a direct replacement: basket diameter, mounting pattern, magnet depth, terminals and grille clearance must all suit the Street Glide fairing. Use a confirmed direct-fit speaker or the correct Harley-specific mounting components.

Speaker size is only one part of compatibility. Factory and aftermarket Street Glide systems may use different speaker impedances, and the speaker must suit the radio or amplifier driving it. Do not choose a replacement based on diameter alone. CVO systems use different speakers, impedance and amplification according to model year, and previously modified bikes may contain almost any combination, so both groups must be identified before ordering. For factory speaker sizes across every Harley Touring era, see: What Size Speakers Does My Harley Have? Factory Speaker Sizes by Year and Model.

Can I Add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to a 2014-2023 Street Glide?

Street Glides equipped with the Boom! Box 4.3 or 6.5GT do not have factory Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. A compatible aftermarket Batwing head unit can add CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and RCA outputs while retaining the factory fairing installation.

The Boom! Box GTS supports wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto when the radio has the correct software, projection mode is enabled and the required phone and headset connections are present. Harley introduced the GTS for 2019 as standard on the Street Glide Special and as a factory option on the standard Street Glide. Existing GTS units later received Android Auto support through a software update, so an older GTS may need updating first.

Riders wanting wireless CarPlay or Android Auto, modern Bluetooth, stronger audio controls or clean RCA outputs may still prefer an aftermarket head unit. On CVO and other factory-amplified bikes, factory amplifier retention or bypass must be addressed separately. See Stock Harley Radio vs Aftermarket Head Units, the SoundStream Reserve V2 vs WHD14+ comparison for the two popular 2014-2023 Touring head units, and the CarPlay and Android Auto reference guides.

What a Speaker-Only Upgrade Can and Cannot Change

A well-matched speaker upgrade can improve clarity, weather resistance and usable output, particularly where the factory speakers have deteriorated. The result depends on sensitivity, impedance, installation and the clean power available from the radio. On a radio-driven standard Street Glide, a sensitive 2-ohm direct-fit speaker can make worthwhile use of the available factory power. It will not achieve the sustained output or headroom of a correctly integrated amplified system, but it can be a sensible first step and does not prevent an amplifier being added later.

What a speaker-only change cannot do is add amplifier headroom or correct an unsuitable radio configuration. The Boom! Box output is configured around the factory audio system, and that configuration may include EQ and output behaviour that is unsuitable for a different speaker or amplifier layout. The common highway complaints follow from this: distortion that appears before you reach the volume you want, sound that turns brittle or harsh at speed as factory EQ meets better speakers and wind noise masks detail, bass that drops away as volume rises, and speakers that sound better at idle than at 100 km/h. Adding more power to an unsuitable source configuration makes it louder; it does not fix it. Riders seeking sustained highway output will usually benefit from addressing the source integration and available power as part of the same build.

Learn when a Harley radio flash, line leveller or DSP input correction is the right solution.

Can I Add Lower-Fairing Speakers to a Street Glide?

Lower-fairing speakers can expand the front stage on a 2014-2023 Street Glide by adding another pair of speakers closer to the rider. They require compatible vented lower fairings, speaker pods or glove-box replacement mounts, along with wiring and sufficient amplifier channels; see the lower fairing audio collection for pods and speakers confirmed for this position.

Fitment must be confirmed for the exact lower-fairing configuration. Some Twin-Cooled CVO models use the lower fairings for cooling-system components, so a generic lower-fairing speaker pod should not be assumed to fit. Fairing and lower-fairing speakers should ideally run on separate amplifier channels so their crossover, level and equalisation can be configured for their different positions. Lower speakers may be used as mid-bass support, front fill or a wider-band front channel depending on the speaker and system design.

Can I Add Saddlebag Speakers to a Street Glide?

Standard Street Glide saddlebags are not automatically equipped with speakers. To add a rear stage, aftermarket cut-in kits, replacement speaker lids, or fully assembled and prepared saddlebags are available, and these are generally designed for 6x9-inch speakers. You will also need the appropriate wiring and amplification. If your bike already has an OEM-style 5x7-inch saddlebag-speaker system, as found on some CVO, factory-accessorised or previously modified bikes, 5x7-inch replacement speakers are available for that position. Once the required lids or prepared bags and wiring are in place, a four-channel amplifier or DSP amplifier can run two fairing channels and two saddlebag channels independently.

Saddlebag speakers add output and passenger coverage, but they are behind the rider. For a solo-rider system, investing the same amplifier power and budget into a properly designed fairing-and-lower front stage may produce a stronger result at the riding position.

Does My Street Glide Need a Radio Flash?

Not every Street Glide audio upgrade requires the same radio configuration. A compatible flash may be used to reconfigure the Boom! Box output for a different factory-style speaker or amplifier package. Other builds retain the existing flash and use a Harley-specific integration device or DSP input correction instead. The correct approach depends on the radio, current flash, factory amplifier, speaker layout and aftermarket equipment being installed. A flash should not be treated as a universal cure: the source output should still be tested for usable frequency response and maximum unclipped volume.

Amplifier and DSP Integration

A suitable DSP, DSP amplifier or Harley-specific integration device can condition the measured factory signal before it reaches the aftermarket amplifier and speakers. Its role depends on the source configuration and the equipment being used:

Existing system	Typical integration approach
Factory radio driving two speakers	Measure output; flash, integration device or DSP correction as required
Factory Boom! amplifier	Retain through compatible integration or bypass completely
Bi-amplified CVO system	Reconfigure wiring and amplifier channels before using conventional full-range speakers
Rockford-equipped CVO	Confirm whether the factory amplifier and tune are being retained or removed
Aftermarket head unit with RCA outputs	Feed the aftermarket amplifier from the pre-outs; separately address factory amp retention
Previously modified bike	Inspect and test before selecting parts

A DSP can provide crossover control, output equalisation, channel levels, routing and time alignment, and a processor with appropriate OEM-input correction may compensate for measured factory EQ. It cannot repair a source signal that is already clipping, or restore dynamics removed by source-level compression. The radio's maximum usable volume and input response must be established during setup, and the system must be configured within those limits.

DSP Tuning for Harley Baggers (Explained Simply)

Street Glide Audio Upgrade Paths

Choose the path that best matches what you want the system to do.

Path 1: Simple Two-Speaker Improvement

Confirmed direct-fit 6.5-inch fairing speakers, retaining the factory radio, with the radio configuration checked. Suitable for riders who want a modest, clean improvement without a larger build.

Path 2: Highway-Performance System

6.5-inch fairing speakers with an external amplifier or DSP amplifier, correct radio integration (flash or input correction) and a proper gain and crossover setup. This is the path for riders who want clean, controlled output at touring speed.

Path 3: Expanded Front Stage

Fairing and lower-fairing speakers, where compatible lowers or speaker pods are fitted, on independent amplifier channels with crossovers and levels configured around each location.

Path 4: Four-Speaker or Full-System Build

Fairing, lower-fairing and/or saddlebag speakers, speaker lids or prepared bags and wiring where required, four or more amplifier channels, an optional DSP for tuning, and an optional aftermarket head unit for CarPlay, Android Auto or the cleanest signal source.

Across every path: identify the radio, amplifier and speaker configuration before choosing parts; use confirmed direct-fit 6.5-inch fairing speakers on standard bikes, or the correct components for a CVO or modified system; integrate the source correctly (flash, integration device or DSP input correction as the build requires); provide enough clean power for the chosen speakers, using an external amplifier where the radio alone is insufficient; and set gain structure and crossovers properly, with DSP tuning where its control and integration functions are needed. Match the source, speakers and power to your bike and your goal, rather than assuming every build needs the same parts in the same order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Boom! Box radio does my Street Glide have?

Many standard bikes have the Boom! Box 4.3 (a smaller display), including base models after 2018. Higher-spec 2014-2018 bikes often have the 6.5GT, and the GTS arrived for 2019 as standard on the Street Glide Special (and later the ST) and as an option on the standard Street Glide. Confirm the radio actually fitted rather than assuming by model year.

Will 6.5-inch speakers fit my 2014-2023 Street Glide fairing?

Most standard 2014-2023 Street Glides use a 5.25-inch factory driver, and purpose-built 6.5-inch direct-fit packages are available for this fairing without cutting. A generic 6.5-inch car speaker is not guaranteed to fit: basket diameter, mounting pattern, magnet depth, terminals and grille clearance must all suit the fairing. Confirm a direct-fit speaker or the correct Harley-specific components, and check whether your bike is a CVO or previously upgraded system first.

Does the Street Glide ST use the same speakers as a standard Street Glide?

The 2022-2023 Street Glide ST ships with a Boom! Box GTS and two fairing speakers, so it follows the standard-bike upgrade path: confirm impedance, any accessory amplifier and previous modifications, then choose direct-fit 6.5-inch speakers with or without an amplifier.

Can I add Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to my Street Glide?

Boom! Box 4.3 and 6.5GT bikes have no factory projection; an aftermarket Batwing head unit adds CarPlay and Android Auto. The Boom! Box GTS supports wired CarPlay and wired Android Auto with current software, projection mode enabled and a compatible headset paired. Wireless projection means an aftermarket head unit on this platform.

Are Street Glide speakers 2 ohm or 4 ohm?

It varies by year, audio package and whether the bike uses the radio's internal amplifier or a separate factory amplifier. Check the existing speaker and system before ordering rather than assuming based on model year alone.

Can I add lower-fairing speakers to a Street Glide?

Yes, where compatible vented lower fairings, speaker pods or glove-box mounts are fitted, with wiring and enough amplifier channels to run them separately from the fairing pair. Confirm fitment for your exact lower-fairing configuration, particularly on Twin-Cooled CVO models where the lowers house cooling components.

Do standard Street Glides have saddlebag speakers?

Not usually. A base Street Glide is a two-speaker (fairing) bike. To add a rear stage you generally use a cut-in kit, replacement speaker lids or fully prepared bags, which are usually designed for 6x9-inch speakers, plus wiring and amplification. If the bike already has factory 5x7-inch saddlebag speakers (some CVO, factory-accessorised or previously modified bikes), 5x7-inch upgrade speakers are available for that position.

Do I need a DSP, a line leveller or a radio flash?

It depends on your goal and the source configuration. A line leveller or integration device converts and manages the factory speaker-level signal so it can safely feed an aftermarket amplifier. A radio flash reconfigures the factory radio for a different audio package, while a DSP adds output tuning and, on suitable models, OEM input correction. A DSP is optional and, where used, needs proper tuning. The right solution should be based on the measured source behaviour and the parts you are fitting.

Are CVO and Special Street Glide audio systems different?

CVO systems are substantially different: 2015-2020 models are factory-amplified Boom! systems, often bi-amplified, and 2021-2022 models use a Rockford Fosgate factory-amplified system, each with additional speaker locations. Street Glide Special models usually require the same checks as a standard bike, but may have dealer-installed, factory-accessory or aftermarket upgrades. Identify the radio, amplifier, speakers and wiring actually fitted before selecting parts.

Shop 2014-2023 Street Glide audio

Upgrading a 2014-2023 Street Glide? Shop what fits the Batwing fairing, and confirm your factory speaker size, radio and audio package.

Have a CVO or previously modified Street Glide? Contact Motorcycle Audio Australia with the year, exact model, radio, amplifier and current speaker locations so we can verify the integration requirements.

Plan your Street Glide audio system

Riding one of these? Tell the System Builder your model and year and it will match the whole system, from speakers and amplification to wiring, mounting and Boom! Box integration, and price it.

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