370Dancer
Well-Known Member
- Oct 2, 2006
- 2,489
- Boat Info
- 1998 370 Sundancer
- Engines
- 380hp MAG MPI Gen VI with V drives
Ok gang. It's nearly 2018. Time to revisit the entertainment systems.
My current setup is this:
Music:
My system is broken into 3 physical "zones", but always feeding from the same input source.
Boss Single DIN head unit with 4x40w amp built in. am/fm/cd/aux in/aux out
The Boss internal amp feeds the forward stateroom and salon speakers (cabin)
The Boss aux out feeds parallel amps under the sofa (factory is 1 amp. I added another) they are independently powered with switches beside the sofa.
The factory amp feeds the cockpit sub-woofer and 4 speakers
The second amp feeds a pair of Bose outdoor speakers mounted in the aft storage compartment facing the stern
A Boss wired remote is located at the helm, and a second remote is located in the aft storage compartment
XM stand alone receiver with aux output
Benefits:
I can balance the levels between the cabin and the cockpit speakers
I can switch the cockpit/aft off completely by powering down the amps while retaining music below.
I can hear the music while floating behind the boat at anchor with the aft storage locker open
I can control the volume and some other functions from the aft swim platform and helm
The single Aux input of the Boss head unit, when tied to the theater system, allows TV audio in the cockpit
Drawbacks:
No Bluetooth built in
No dynamic balance between the cockpit speakers and the aft facing speakers
Single Aux input has to be manually plugged between inputs when changing sources
I have more potential inputs than the unit provides for
Salon Theater:
27" 1080P HD LCD TV in the salon w/ ATSC tuner
22" 1080P HD LCD TV in the front stateroom w/ ATSC tuner
Logitech powered Surround Sound system with powered sub, and 5 satellite speakers
Creative Labs Extigy head unit that accepts 2 aux inputs, 1 digital audio coax, and 1 optic input. Decodes to 5.1
Apple TV streamer for iphone casting thru TV
Roku Streamer for internet casting thru TV (also video out to 10" chartplotter video input)
Benefits:
Low cost well executed surround system in the salon
27" max size on space where 17"original equipment was housed
Drawbacks:
All streamers go through the salon TV only, meaning through salon only without manual plugging
Extigy does not switch inputs. Whatever is playing comes through the salon surround system
Stateroom TV is isolated from any input but ATSC tuner
Extigy has no aux out for feeding the cockpit system (can't get streaming output to the cockpit/aft zones)
Primary Use Cases:
music when cruising
music when anchored/berthed
TV when anchored/berthed
TV across the system during football games w/ potential cockpit video
Web surfing, email, internet content displayed in salon
Missing features:
dynamic independent volume control between front cockpit and rear cockpit speakers
- cockpit guests don't want speakers blaring in their ears while helm could use more volume
Bow mounted speakers facing aft for bow guests, and potentially the helm
Control from helm of zone volumes, and source inputs
Built in bluetooth as audio source
Connectivity to Stateroom TV/monitor
Centralized internet/LAN for vessel
Integration with Vessel computer other than 15 pin VGA from laptop to Salon monitor
Recent Additions but not implemented:
8" Android Tablet as a full time T-Mobile hot spot for the vessel and entertainment source, which will likely replace vessel computer.
My current setup is this:
Music:
My system is broken into 3 physical "zones", but always feeding from the same input source.
Boss Single DIN head unit with 4x40w amp built in. am/fm/cd/aux in/aux out
The Boss internal amp feeds the forward stateroom and salon speakers (cabin)
The Boss aux out feeds parallel amps under the sofa (factory is 1 amp. I added another) they are independently powered with switches beside the sofa.
The factory amp feeds the cockpit sub-woofer and 4 speakers
The second amp feeds a pair of Bose outdoor speakers mounted in the aft storage compartment facing the stern
A Boss wired remote is located at the helm, and a second remote is located in the aft storage compartment
XM stand alone receiver with aux output
Benefits:
I can balance the levels between the cabin and the cockpit speakers
I can switch the cockpit/aft off completely by powering down the amps while retaining music below.
I can hear the music while floating behind the boat at anchor with the aft storage locker open
I can control the volume and some other functions from the aft swim platform and helm
The single Aux input of the Boss head unit, when tied to the theater system, allows TV audio in the cockpit
Drawbacks:
No Bluetooth built in
No dynamic balance between the cockpit speakers and the aft facing speakers
Single Aux input has to be manually plugged between inputs when changing sources
I have more potential inputs than the unit provides for
Salon Theater:
27" 1080P HD LCD TV in the salon w/ ATSC tuner
22" 1080P HD LCD TV in the front stateroom w/ ATSC tuner
Logitech powered Surround Sound system with powered sub, and 5 satellite speakers
Creative Labs Extigy head unit that accepts 2 aux inputs, 1 digital audio coax, and 1 optic input. Decodes to 5.1
Apple TV streamer for iphone casting thru TV
Roku Streamer for internet casting thru TV (also video out to 10" chartplotter video input)
Benefits:
Low cost well executed surround system in the salon
27" max size on space where 17"original equipment was housed
Drawbacks:
All streamers go through the salon TV only, meaning through salon only without manual plugging
Extigy does not switch inputs. Whatever is playing comes through the salon surround system
Stateroom TV is isolated from any input but ATSC tuner
Extigy has no aux out for feeding the cockpit system (can't get streaming output to the cockpit/aft zones)
Primary Use Cases:
music when cruising
music when anchored/berthed
TV when anchored/berthed
TV across the system during football games w/ potential cockpit video
Web surfing, email, internet content displayed in salon
Missing features:
dynamic independent volume control between front cockpit and rear cockpit speakers
- cockpit guests don't want speakers blaring in their ears while helm could use more volume
Bow mounted speakers facing aft for bow guests, and potentially the helm
Control from helm of zone volumes, and source inputs
Built in bluetooth as audio source
Connectivity to Stateroom TV/monitor
Centralized internet/LAN for vessel
Integration with Vessel computer other than 15 pin VGA from laptop to Salon monitor
Recent Additions but not implemented:
8" Android Tablet as a full time T-Mobile hot spot for the vessel and entertainment source, which will likely replace vessel computer.