amplifiersaudio kitsbuying guidehead unitsspeakers

Best Harley-Davidson Audio Upgrades in Australia

Why Factory Harley Audio Fails at Speed

Factory Harley-Davidson audio is adequate at 60 km/h. At 100–110 km/h on an open Australian road — or on a New Zealand touring run — wind noise, exhaust and helmet buffeting combine to make factory speakers unintelligible. This is not a volume problem. It is a power and signal quality problem.

This guide covers the best upgrades available through MAA, organised by category and by the problem each one solves.

Best Speaker Upgrade: Cicada Audio Fairing Speakers

For most riders upgrading fairing speakers, the Cicada Audio coaxial and horn-loaded range is the benchmark. High sensitivity, smooth response across the frequency range, and build quality that handles Australian summer heat without complaint.

The CX series fits 2014–2023 batwing and shark nose positions directly. For 1998–2013 models with 5.25" fairing positions, the CHX525 series provides equivalent horn-loaded performance for the classic platform.

Best for: Riders who want a meaningful improvement in clarity and output. Pair with an amplifier — speakers alone on factory power leave most of the performance on the table.

For a full breakdown of the Cicada speaker range: Cicada Motorcycle Speakers Guide for Harley Riders

Best Amplifier: Cicada Audio Amplifier Range

Upgraded speakers running off factory head unit power are running at a fraction of their capability. A dedicated amplifier is what transforms a Harley audio system from incrementally better to genuinely capable at highway speed.

The Cicada Audio amplifier range covers 2-channel and 4-channel options built for motorcycle installation — compact enough to fit standard locations, with the output to drive upgraded speakers cleanly. A 4-channel amp lets you run fairing and rear stage on separate channels with independent level control.

Best for: Any rider who has already upgraded speakers, or who wants to do the upgrade properly from the start. For more on why amplification matters: Internal vs External Motorcycle Amplifiers — What Actually Matters

Best Head Unit Upgrade: Soundstream Reserve Series

The Soundstream Reserve head units cover the most common Harley platforms with model-specific fitment — Street Glide, Road Glide, and classic batwing. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, large high-brightness touchscreens, and 5-volt pre-amp outputs that cleanly drive an external amplifier.

Model-specific head units use factory mounting hardware and integrate with factory handlebar controls. For Australian and New Zealand riders who tour regularly, CarPlay navigation and Bluetooth hands-free are genuine safety and convenience upgrades — not luxuries.

Best for: Riders on older platforms (pre-2014) with CD or cassette units, and any rider who wants modern connectivity or a cleaner signal source for an external amp. For the full comparison: Stock Harley Radio vs Aftermarket Head Units

Best Complete System: Cicada Audio Complete Kits

If you want to do this once and get it right, a matched complete system removes all the guesswork. Cicada Audio complete kits ship with matched speakers, amplifier, wiring harness, amp mounting brackets, crossovers and grilles — everything required for the install, pre-matched and pre-terminated.

This matters because Cicada is one of the few brands that has done the engineering work specifically for Harley-Davidson Touring models. The harness depth alone is unusual — dedicated plug-and-play wiring for virtually every Touring application, sized for factory routing paths, with no cutting or splicing required. Components are pre-matched for impedance and power handling, so there's no compatibility research and no substitution risk.

Kits are available across upgrade stages and platforms: from a focused front-stage speaker and amplifier pairing to full 4-position systems with DSP. The complete kit approach is also the most DIY-friendly entry point — the system design work is done, and the install is execution rather than engineering.

Best for: Riders who want a definitive result with one purchase and one installation. Particularly well suited to DIY installs where getting the component matching right first time matters.

Best Premium Option: DSP-Based Systems

For riders building a serious touring system — multiple speaker positions, precise EQ, time alignment, proper crossover management — a DSP is what separates a good system from an exceptional one.

A DSP lets you correct the factory signal, tune every frequency independently, set crossover points for each driver, and align timing between speaker positions. The result is a system that sounds controlled and clear at any speed — not just in the driveway.

For a plain-English explanation: DSP Tuning for Harley Baggers (Explained Simply)

Best for: Riders with multi-position systems who want the best achievable result.

Find Upgrades for Your Specific Model

Related Reference Guides