Reference Series · Speakers
Coaxial vs Component Speakers for Harley Touring: Passive, Active and Horn Options
Quick answer: A coaxial combines its drivers in one mounting position; a stereo pair uses two amplifier channels. A component system splits the mid-bass and tweeter into separate positions with a crossover. Crucially, a passive component front pair still runs from two channels (the supplied crossover divides the signal), while a fully active front pair needs four (one per driver). Horn coaxials (Cicada CH/CHX) sit in one position but use a supplied external crossover and prioritise output and projection. For most Harley builds a coaxial or horn coaxial is the right answer; a component system adds placement and tuning flexibility when the install supports it.
The comparison matters because it changes how many amplifier channels you need and what crossover hardware is involved. This guide sorts out four distinct architectures and where each fits on a Harley.
What Is a Coaxial Speaker?
A coaxial speaker combines the woofer and tweeter in a single housing on a shared axis, with the tweeter in the centre of the woofer cone. You mount one unit per position. A single speaker uses one amplifier channel, a stereo pair uses two channels, and a four-speaker front-and-rear system uses four. It reproduces the broad audio band assigned to that speaker position from one mounting location, which makes it simple to install and compatible with standard factory cutouts. The trade-off is that both drivers radiate from the same point, so there is no separate tweeter placement to work with.
What Is a Component Speaker System?
A component system separates the mid-bass driver and the tweeter into two independently mounted units, with a crossover dividing the signal. The important distinction, which decides your amp-channel count, is passive versus active:
- Passive component: one amplifier channel per side feeds a passive crossover, which divides the signal between the mid-bass and tweeter. A passive front component pair therefore runs from two amplifier channels, the same channel count as a coaxial front pair.
- Active component: the mid-bass and tweeter each receive their own DSP output and amplifier channel. A fully active front component pair requires four amplified channels; adding an active rear component pair would bring the total to eight.
The potential benefit of separate mounting is placing the tweeter where it improves the high-frequency path to the rider. That is an opportunity, not a guarantee: whether a component system outperforms a good coaxial depends on tweeter placement, crossover design, polarity, level matching and tuning. Poor placement can introduce path-length differences, lobing, phase cancellation, an overly bright near-side output or poor integration through the crossover region.
Horn Coaxials: A Different Problem, Not a Lesser Component
Cicada's CH and CHX ranges are coaxial (one housing, one mounting position), but the tweeter sits behind a horn. Horn coaxials are not simply halfway between a coaxial and a component system: they solve a different problem. They prioritise higher acoustic efficiency, controlled high-frequency dispersion, greater output capability and simpler mounting than a separate tweeter, from a single position. A component system, by contrast, prioritises driver placement and tuning flexibility.
One important wiring point: unlike a typical dome-tweeter coaxial, the Cicada CH and CHX horn coaxials use a supplied external passive crossover network. The CH series is explicitly documented as bi-ampable; CHX also uses separate external crossover hardware, but confirm the exact CHX model wiring and manufacturer instructions before bypassing the supplied passive network for active operation. They still normally use one amplifier channel per speaker in passive operation, and you must install the supplied crossover exactly as specified rather than assuming the filtering is inside the speaker. At highway speed in an open fairing, the efficiency and projection of a horn coaxial like the CHX65 are real advantages without the placement complexity of a component system.
The Four Architectures at a Glance
| Architecture | Channels for a front pair | Crossover arrangement | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional coaxial (CX / CXX) | 2 | Built-in passive tweeter filtering on current CX/CXX; confirm the exact product | Simple direct-fit upgrade |
| Horn coaxial (CH / CHX) | 2 | Product-specific; CH/CHX use a supplied external passive crossover | High-output, highway-focused build |
| Passive component | 2 | Passive crossover per side | Separate tweeter placement without extra amp channels |
| Fully active component | 4 | DSP crossover, one channel per driver | Maximum control and tuning flexibility |
How This Applies to Harley Touring Positions
Many standard Harley Touring fairing and saddlebag positions accept a single coaxial replacement, but the factory architecture varies by year, model and audio package. Confirm whether the original position is a conventional coaxial, a bi-amplified position or part of a factory component arrangement before choosing. For a simple drop-in on a coaxial position, a coaxial or horn coaxial is the direct upgrade. Component systems become interesting in two scenarios:
Street Glide batwing grille tweeters. The batwing fairing has grille positions that can accept dedicated tweeters separately from the inner fairing speakers. The CHDSGGTK grille tweeter kit places Cicada RR tweeters in the batwing grilles, which builds a component front stage when paired with a dedicated CM65X mid-bass in the fairing. Do not pair the CHDSGGTK with a CX, CXX, CH or CHX speaker: those already include a tweeter, and adding the grille tweeters would double up the high-frequency drivers.
Dedicated mid-bass with a separate crossover. Cicada's CM65X Carbon Matrix mid-bass drivers are designed to be paired with separate tweeters. They can be used passively with a suitable matched crossover, such as the network supplied in a complete component or grille-tweeter kit, or actively using DSP crossovers and separate amplifier channels. The standalone CM65X pair does not itself include a passive crossover. Running a CM65.4X or CM65.2X mid-bass in the fairing alongside separately mounted tweeters gives the most placement and tuning flexibility, but a fully active version requires additional amp channels and DSP programming.
The 14CXK65 Component Kit, Explained
The 14CXK65.2 component kit for 2014-2023 Harley Touring contains two CM mid-bass drivers, two RR tweeters and two external passive crossovers (with tweeter attenuation). A few things to understand before buying:
- Run passively, it uses one amplifier channel per side, the same channel count as a coaxial pair.
- The final impedance the amplifier sees varies by frequency through the crossover.
- The tweeter mounting still has to be planned; the kit is not automatically a direct physical fit in every factory tweeter position.
- A fully active installation can use the drivers without the passive crossover, but only when the DSP and amplifier channels are configured correctly for each driver.
Which Type Is Right for Your Build?
| Build type | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-in upgrade, standard positions, no DSP | Conventional coaxial (CX or CXX) | Direct replacement, significant improvement over factory, two channels for a front pair |
| Step-up amplified build, highway focus | Horn coaxial (CH or CHX) | Higher efficiency and projection at speed; install the supplied external crossover |
| Street Glide with batwing grille positions | Dedicated CM65X mid-bass + CHDSGGTK grille tweeter kit | Separate tweeter position, without doubling up tweeters |
| Full system with DSP, maximum control | Component (CM65X + tweeters, or 14CXK65.2 kit) | Passive or active; active gives per-driver DSP control |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do coaxial speakers need a crossover?
Yes, the tweeter needs frequency protection, but the crossover may be built into the speaker, supplied inline, or provided as a separate external network. Check the exact product rather than assuming: many conventional coaxials use a built-in tweeter filter, while Cicada CH and CHX horn coaxials use a supplied external passive crossover that must be installed as specified.
What makes horn coaxials different from standard coaxials?
A conventional coaxial commonly uses a dome or similar direct-radiating tweeter, generally with less controlled dispersion than a purpose-designed horn; in a horn coaxial the tweeter sits behind a horn that raises efficiency, controls dispersion and helps the highs cut through wind noise. Cicada CH/CHX horn coaxials prioritise output and projection from a single position and use a supplied external crossover, rather than being a lesser version of a component system.
Can I run a component system on a standard amplifier?
Yes, if it has enough channels. A passive component pair (like the 14CXK65.2 with its supplied crossover) connects the same way as a coaxial pair, using two amplifier channels, because the crossover divides the signal before each driver. A fully active component pair needs a DSP and four channels (one per driver). For most riders, a passive component kit is the simpler starting point.
Will I notice the difference between coaxials and components at highway speed?
The staging difference is easiest to assess while stationary or at lower road speeds, where wind and helmet noise mask less of the spatial detail. A well-designed component system can improve stage height, high-frequency direction and tonal balance, but at highway speed the full staging improvement is harder to hear, and the result still depends on tweeter placement and tuning.
Do the Cicada CHX horn coaxials need a crossover?
Yes. The CHX is a coaxial horn design, but it uses a supplied external passive crossover rather than an internal one. It still normally uses one amplifier channel per speaker in passive operation; the external network divides the signal and protects the tweeter section, so install it exactly as specified.
Not sure which speaker type suits your setup?
Tell us your model, your amp situation, and what you are trying to achieve, and we'll point you to the right speaker configuration.
Get a Recommendation →Related Guides
- Cicada Motorcycle Speakers Guide: the full range from CX coaxials through CHX horn coaxials to CM mid-bass drivers.
- How to Match Speakers and Amplifiers: RMS, sensitivity, impedance and channel counts.
- Harley Audio Upgrade Stages: where passive and active components fit in a staged build.
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