Which Cicada Speakers Suit Your Harley and Your Riding Style?
What this is: a plain-English guide to Cicada’s speaker ranges — what each series is built to do, who it suits, and what to expect on a Harley at real highway speed.
What this is not: an amplifier guide or a DSP tutorial. We’ll reference where power and tuning matter, but the deep-dive amp and DSP content will live in dedicated follow-up guides.
Bottom line: Cicada doesn’t do “good / better / best” — they do different tools for different riding styles. Pick the right tool, and your system gets easier, louder, and cleaner.
Quick Take: How to Choose the Right Cicada Speaker
- Want smooth, fatigue-free sound for touring? Start with CX or CS.
- Want vocals to cut through wind at 100+ km/h? Look at CHX.
- Building a loud bagger that gets attention? You’re in PRO territory.
- Going full show / demo / extreme output? That’s HLCD + CM (and usually subs).
- Want high output without unnecessary weight? Consider NEO.
Speaker Types in One Minute
Before we get into the Cicada lineup, here’s the simplest way to understand the difference between “smooth” speakers and “cut-through” speakers.
- Dome tweeter coaxials (CS / CX) = smoother top end, easier listening, more “hi-fi” character.
- Horn coaxials (CHX / PRO) = louder vocal projection at speed, more bite and presence.
- Compression drivers (HLCD) = extreme projection, best when paired with dedicated midbass drivers.
- Midbass / midrange drivers (CM) = punch and body; they make the system feel bigger and fuller.
Important expectation: horn and compression-driver systems prioritise projection over low-frequency extension. If you want warmth and bass weight, plan midbass support and/or subwoofers as part of the overall build.
Riding Style × Series × Sound Expectation
| Riding Style | Best Series | Sound Character | Best Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily commuting | CS | Smooth, easy listening | Big improvement over stock without aggression |
| Long-distance touring | CX | Balanced, richer tone | Fatigue-free clarity with better midbass |
| Highway group rides | CHX | Vocal-forward projection | Clear vocals that cut through wind |
| Performance touring | CX + CM | Clean + punchy | Musical system that still gets loud |
| High-output bagger builds | PRO | Aggressive, maximum output | “Turn heads” volume with the right power |
| Show / demo builds | HLCD + CM | Concert-style projection | Extreme output with proper staging |
| High output with efficiency focus | NEO | Efficient, responsive | Strong output per watt (great for multi-speaker bikes) |
Cicada Speaker Series Explained
Below is what each Cicada range is designed for — in Harley terms.
CS Series — Standard Coaxials (Direct OEM Upgrade)
Who it’s for: riders who want a straightforward “better than stock” upgrade.
Sound: clean and smooth, without the bite of a horn tweeter.
Why riders pick CS:
- Easy listening — not sharp or aggressive.
- Simple upgrade path — ideal for fairing replacements and basic rear fill.
- Best value entry point into real motorcycle-specific audio.
Reality check: CS is not designed to win volume wars at 110 km/h. It’s designed to be a big step up from factory speakers, without forcing you into a complex build.
CX Series — Carbon Matrix Coaxials (Premium Sound Quality)
Who it’s for: touring riders who want better tone, detail, and midbass — not just “more loud”.
Sound: smoother top end than horns, richer midrange, and stronger midbass presence than typical coaxials.
Why CX is a favourite for touring builds:
- Balanced and musical — designed for long rides without fatigue.
- Strong midbass for a coaxial — music feels fuller at cruising speed.
- Easy to live with — it tends to land “right” without needing a radical setup.
Reality check: if your #1 priority is maximum vocal projection at speed, horns still win. If your priority is a system that sounds right, CX is usually the pick.
CHX Series — Coaxial Horn Speakers (Loud, Clear, Highway-Ready)
Who it’s for: riders who want vocals and detail to cut through wind noise at 100+ km/h.
Sound: bright, vocal-forward, high projection.
Why CHX works so well on Harleys:
- Horn tweeter projection — vocals stay clear when the bike gets loud.
- High sensitivity — strong output even without “crazy” power.
- Perfect in fairings and lids — especially for group-ride systems.
Reality check: horn systems prioritise projection over low bass. If you want warmth and weight, plan midbass support (CM) and/or subwoofers as your next step.
NEO Series — Neodymium Lightweight High-Output Speakers
Who it’s for: performance-focused riders who care about efficiency, weight, and output per watt.
Sound: clean, responsive, and efficient at real riding volume.
- Neodymium magnet efficiency gives strong output without extra weight.
- Great for multi-speaker bikes where you want strong overall system output without unnecessary load.
- Smart option for staged builds where you plan to expand later.
Reality check: NEO is about smart performance — not just “the loudest possible”. If you’re chasing maximum aggression, PRO is the next step.
PRO Series — Maximum-Output Coaxial Horn Speakers
Who it’s for: riders who want maximum output and don’t mind designing the system properly to support it.
Sound: very bright, very loud, built for impact and projection.
- Highest output coaxial option in the Cicada range.
- Designed for big power and high riding speed.
- Perfect for fairings + 6×9 lids when you want a “turn heads” build.
Reality check: PRO rewards good system design. The wrong setup can feel harsh; the right setup delivers massive usable volume. This is where amplification headroom and smart tuning start to matter.
HLCD Series — Horn Loaded Compression Drivers (Extreme Top-End Output)
Who it’s for: riders building true high-output, multi-speaker systems where the top end must project long-range.
Sound: intense clarity and projection — “concert-style” top end.
- Designed to pair with CM midbass to fill out the body of the sound.
- Best for Road Glide fairing layouts, custom pods, and staged systems.
- Built for extreme setups where the goal is maximum projection and presence.
Reality check: HLCD systems are almost always a “planned build”. They are not a casual upgrade. They shine when staged properly and tuned correctly.
CM Series — Midbass & Midrange Drivers (Punch and Impact)
Who it’s for: riders who want the system to feel bigger — more chest hit, more body, more authority.
Sound: strong midbass impact with clean midrange.
- Adds the “body” that horn-heavy systems can miss.
- Excellent for 2-way and 3-way builds with HLCD or PRO tops.
- Transforms touring systems when you want punch without relying only on subwoofers.
Reality check: CM is where crossover control matters more. You can absolutely run it in simpler setups, but staged systems benefit from proper tuning.
Cicada Subwoofers — CS250 Series and Bag Drop-In Options
Who it’s for: riders who want real bass weight and fullness — not just loud mids and highs.
Sound: low-end punch, depth, and “full range” feel.
- Designed for Harley saddlebag environments where space is limited.
- Completes horn-based systems by restoring warmth and musical balance.
- Ideal as a Stage 3 step once you’ve got the front stage sorted.
Reality check: subs don’t replace midbass drivers — they add the bottom octave. The best Harley systems do both.
Speaker Placement on Harleys (Simple Guidance)
- Fairing speakers = your main “front stage” (clarity and vocals live here).
- Saddlebag lids (6×9) = more output and bigger sound stage.
- Lowers / pods = midbass punch and “feel” (often CM territory).
- Saddlebags (subs) = low-end body and full-range balance.
DSP Expectations (Short Disclaimer)
DSP isn’t mandatory for every build — but it becomes increasingly valuable as output and complexity increase. Coaxial systems (CS/CX) can sound excellent with sensible power and basic EQ. High-output designs (CHX/PRO/HLCD/CM) are engineered for projection and power handling, not plug-and-play tonal balance. A DSP allows proper crossover control, smooths horn response, protects components, and integrates midbass/subs so the system stays loud and listenable at real riding speed.
Where This Guide Fits in the Cicada Series
This speaker guide is designed to stand alone. If you’re planning a full build, these follow-up guides will help you design the complete system:
- Cicada Amplifiers Guide (coming next): how to choose the right amp series, power levels, and system layouts for Harley touring bikes.
- Cicada DSP Guide (coming next): when DSP matters, what it fixes, and how tuning turns raw output into clean, usable volume.
Final Thoughts
If you match the Cicada series to your riding style, your Harley becomes easier to build and far easier to enjoy. Start with the speaker type that suits your goal — smooth touring (CS/CX), highway cut-through (CHX), maximum output (PRO), or staged systems (HLCD + CM). Then build forward with amplification, midbass and subs as needed.
Want help choosing the right Cicada speakers for your Street Glide, Road Glide, Ultra, Electra Glide, Tri Glide or custom bagger? Motorcycle Audio Australia is here to help you build it right the first time.
Let’s make it LOUD, OK?
Which Cicada Speaker Is Right for Me?
I just want something better than stock — what should I choose?
Start with the CS series. It’s designed as a direct upgrade over factory speakers, offering cleaner sound and better clarity without chasing big volume or complex system design.
I do long highway rides and want clear sound without fatigue.
The CX series is ideal for touring riders. It delivers smoother top-end response, stronger midrange detail, and better midbass than basic coaxials, making it easier to listen to for hours at speed.
I ride in groups and need vocals to cut through wind noise.
Choose CHX. Its horn-loaded design is built for projection, keeping vocals clear at 100 km/h and beyond. It’s one of the most popular choices for highway-focused Harley builds.
I want my bike to be seriously loud.
The PRO series is designed for maximum output. It’s built for riders who want aggressive volume and are willing to support it with proper amplification and system planning.
I want extreme output or a show-style system.
Look at HLCD compression drivers paired with CM midbass drivers. This setup is designed for staged systems where projection, impact, and system balance are tuned intentionally.
I want loud sound but care about efficiency and weight.
The NEO series uses neodymium motors for high efficiency and strong output per watt. It’s a smart choice for performance baggers and multi-speaker builds.