Area 41 Car Audio

Georgia's Mobile Enhancement Experts

2220 Cobb Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA (678) 594-0141
  • Home
  • Services
    • Car Audio
    • Laser and Radar Detectors
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Vehicle Security
    • Window Tint
  • About Us
  • Location
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / ARTICLES / What To Look for When Shopping for Motorcycle Audio Speakers

What To Look for When Shopping for Motorcycle Audio Speakers

Motorcycle Audio SpeakersNow that the weather is great all across the country, motorcycle enthusiasts have a chance to get their bikes out and go for a ride – but many riders complain that the factory audio systems on their bikes don’t sound as good as they’d like. There are several reasons why, and a few relatively easy ways to upgrade these systems. A proper motorcycle audio system upgrade will include at least two components – an amplifier and a new set of motorcycle audio speakers. This article highlights a few things to look for when shopping for new motorcycle speakers.

Mother Nature is a Challenge

Unlike in a vehicle, when you are riding your motorcycle, your speakers are exposed to the elements. Sun, water, sand, dirt and debris are natural obstacles that can harm your speakers. When you are shopping for a new set of motorcycle audio speakers, you want to look for ones that are completely weather-resistant.

Motorcycle Audio Speakers
JL Audio rigorously tests their speakers for exposure to salt spray.

Water-resistant – Most speakers are made of plastics and metal. Within the motor structure of the speaker are ceramic or neodymium magnets bonded to ferrous metal plates. These metal plates must be protected from exposure to water. When it comes to coaxial speakers, there has to be a seal between the woofer cone and the tweeter post. If this seal does not exist, then water can get into the motor assembly and cause corrosion. In the marine speaker market, a test known as ASTM B117 exposes speakers to a salt fog spray to test for corrosion or material failure. If your speakers have this rating, you know you will have the reliability you are looking for to last for years.

Dust-resistant Design – Following the same theme as the requirement for water resistance, a motorcycle audio speaker should be able to operate reliably when dusty or dirty. A few specks of sand wedged between the voice coil former and the tweeter post of a coaxial speaker can wreak havoc on the performance of the system.

UV Exposure-rated – You want to look for a speaker that is constructed with materials that can withstand UV exposure. These plastics will not chalk, fade, crack or degrade, even after years of direct sun exposure. Having your speaker cones or surrounds fall apart after a few years on your bike is a frustrating experience. To confirm that the speakers you want to use are up to the challenge, look for ASTM D4329 testing. This test exposes the products to years of UV and heat exposure in a short amount of time. If they pass this test, you can trust they will work will on your bike.

Motorcycle Audio Systems Need Power

Motorcycle Audio SpeakersTo reproduce your music at a volume level that can drown out the wind and overcome the noise of a loud exhaust, you need power. Adding an amplifier to your bike is a necessity to achieve adequate performance. Your new speakers have to handle the power from your amp.

The voice coil is the motor of your speaker. It converts the electrical signal from your amplifier into a magnetic field that pushes or pulls the speaker cone forward or backward. If you are sending a lot of power to the voice coil, it has to be physically large enough to dissipate the heat that is generated. Look for large-diameter voice coils; they act like the radiator in your car.

Can Looking at the Tweeter Tell Me Anything?

Motorcycle Audio SpeakersThere are some strong stereotypes associated with hard- and soft-dome tweeters. Many say that hard, metal dome tweeters sound harsh and that soft-dome tweeters sound smooth and laid back. After listening to thousands of speakers, we can tell you that as many examples of each type of tweeter confirm this theory as oppose it.

No one single material selection can determine what a speaker sounds like. Every component in a speaker works as part of a system. The cone, surround, spider, voice coil and magnet structure all have an important role in determining the resulting performance of a speaker. The only way to know how a system sounds is to listen to it. That said, choosing materials that offer weather resistance and long-term reliability is crucial.

Where to Buy Your Motorcycle Audio Upgrades

We have seen many people buying bolt-on audio system upgrades at shows like Bike Week or Thunder Beach Fall Rally. The people selling products at these events may even offer to install them right at the show. Convenience and instant gratification are wonderful, but what happens when it comes to after-sales support? What if a speaker fails? What if you take the kit home and something doesn’t fit? You will have to track down the vendor and, unless they are local to you, pay someone to remove and replace the failed component.

When you deal with a dedicated retailer with a “brick and mortar” storefront, you know you will have the after-sales support that you want and deserve. If you have a question or concern, or decide you want additional upgrades, your retailer is there to support you every day.

Stick to the Big Names

If someone approached you at a cruise and said, “Hey, I designed these cool tires in my basement, do you want to try them?” – what would be your response? Unless this last person’s last name is Dunlop or Pirelli, you are going to be skeptical. That is a good thing.

You bought a Honda Goldwing, BMW K1600, or Harley-Davidson Road Glide or Street Glide because you are confident in the process that those manufacturers have put into developing and testing their products. Decades of engineering, design and innovation produce increasingly reliable and higher-performing products each year. Audio components are the same. A small company can go to Asia and have its name put on an order of speakers, but does anyone know what you are getting for your money?

Motorcycle Audio SpeakersDealing with a reputable brand ensures that you will have product support long after the sale is complete. You are getting the latest technologies for incredible performance. FEA design analysis, Klippel testing, fanatical quality control and continued research are all hallmarks of dealing with a premium brand. Why take a risk with your audio investment?

Upgrade Your Motorcycle Audio System Today

When it is time to upgrade your existing audio system or add a new system to your motorcycle, visit your local mobile electronics specialist retailer. They have the products and experience to design an audio system that will sound great and be reliable for years to come.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Motorcycle Audio, RESOURCE LIBRARY

About BestCarAudio.com

BestCarAudio.com is a showcase for the very best mobile electronics retailers in the world and a place to educate and inform interested consumers about existing and emerging technologies.

Recent Articles

Start Stop Indicator

Will Start-Stop Technology Affect Aftermarket Electronic Upgrades?

February 28, 2021 

Many new cars and trucks come with a feature called stop-start technology. This system senses when the car is stopped at a red light or stop sign and shuts down the engine to save … [Read More...]

DragonEye Radar Gun

How Does DragonEye ECCM Lidar Work?

February 21, 2021 

Over the past few months, we’ve talked about how radar detectors and laser defense systems work. Now it’s time to talk about the dreaded and often controversial DragonEye … [Read More...]

Two Stories about how the Drone Smartphone System Saved the Day

Two Stories about how the Drone Smartphone System Saved the Day

February 16, 2021 

While the convenience of being able to remote start your car from your smartphone with the Drone system is obvious, this easy-to-use system has been able to get clients out of a … [Read More...]

USB Thumb Drive

Don’t Put All Your Songs in One Folder on Your USB Drive

February 14, 2021 

With the rise in popularity of digital media files over the last decade, car audio enthusiasts find themselves being more likely to carry a USB memory stick than a stack of compact … [Read More...]

Laser Shifting

How Do Laser Shifter Systems Work?

February 7, 2021 

Sold as a means of preventing police officers from measuring the speed of your vehicle, laser shifter systems are amazing feats of engineering. Laser-based speed measurement guns … [Read More...]

Subscribe!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our website and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Testimonials

I Love This Place!

I love this place! Very knowledgeable staff and they installed one 12 that sounds like 2 for cheap. They also took the time to make sure that the car looks like it does before the installation so you can't even tell anything was touched. If you want awesome car audio come here!

Christopher Cowman

Area 41 Car Audio
5
2016-09-27T02:12:51-04:00

Christopher Cowman

I love this place! Very knowledgeable staff and they installed one 12 that sounds like 2 for cheap. They also took the time to make sure that the car looks like it does before the installation so you can't even tell anything was touched. If you want awesome car audio come here!
https://www.area41caraudio.com/testimonials/go-1sixty8-audio-dont-go-anywhere/

Awesome Staff

Awesome staff and very precise with details. Long wait but they have a comfortable atmosphere and make you feel at home so the wait wasn't bad at all. Will be taking my other car for them next week. I highly recommend them!

Jason Grimm

Area 41 Car Audio
5
2016-09-27T02:18:41-04:00

Jason Grimm

Awesome staff and very precise with details. Long wait but they have a comfortable atmosphere and make you feel at home so the wait wasn't bad at all. Will be taking my other car for them next week. I highly recommend them!
https://www.area41caraudio.com/testimonials/what-a-great-place/

Best Experience!

I went into Area 41 today to upgrade my subs and the salesman spent a long time with me and didn't rush me I really appreciate that I was able to listen to different systems in different cars. I was able to get a whole system that is a lot better than just getting the subs I came in to ask about thank you

Jeff Yagadics

Area 41 Car Audio
5
2016-09-27T00:49:55-04:00

Jeff Yagadics

I went into Area 41 today to upgrade my subs and the salesman spent a long time with me and didn't rush me I really appreciate that I was able to listen to different systems in different cars. I was able to get a whole system that is a lot better than just getting the subs I came in to ask about thank you
https://www.area41caraudio.com/testimonials/best-experience-ever/
5
3
Area 41 Car Audio

Subscribe to Our Website

Enter your email address to subscribe to our website and receive notifications of new posts by email.


Get Directions to Area 41 Car Audio

Area 41 Car Audio

2220 Cobb Pkwy NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
Phone: (678) 594-0141

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Services

  • Car Audio
  • Laser and Radar Detectors
  • Motorcycle Audio
  • Vehicle Security
  • Window Tint

Store Hours

SundayClosed
MondayClosed
Tuesday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Copyright © 2021 Area 41 Car Audio · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.