Sound system upgrade

Irie308

Well-Known Member
May 28, 2013
2,577
CT
Boat Info
2004 420 DB, GHS Hydraulic Lift
Garmin 8600/Garmin 1222 plus
AB Mares 10 VSX with 30 hp Tohatsu
Engines
Cummins 450C 8.3 L Turbocharged
Looking to gain some knowledge on setting up a decent sound system on the boat. I never really invested too much into the audio system on our previous 320. However since swapping out our current clarion head unit and replacing the bridge and cockpit speakers I think i'm starting down the road to wanting a better sounding setup. I'm looking to gain some knowledge and build to suit our musical taste. I'm not looking to host dance parties on the dock but I can appreciate nice round base and crisp sounds. Therefore i'm looking for some guidance on speakers, subs and amplifiers. Below is a list of current setup.

Current Setup = 1 Fusion ms-ud755, 2 Fusion NRX300 ; Cockpit =2 JL MX650; Bridge = 2 JLMX650, 1 stock 10" Sub ; Salon/Master = 4 stock speakers, AMPS = 2 Clarion stock (I believe bridge and cockpit is fed by the 400 watt clarion and the interior is fed by a separate 40 watt amp.

Naturally i'm keeping the JL's and the Fusion and would like to build form there. Recommendations
 
My first question would, how many listening zones do you want? Do you want the salon/master a separate volume zone from the cockpit/bridge? Do you want the salon and master a different zone? Same with cockpit and bridge? This will dictate the number of amp chnls needed. You could get away with a single 5 or 6 chnl amp, up to a 5 or 6 chnl and 4 chnl.

Is the factory woofer a clarion? White with white closed louvered grill? Likely running infinite-baffle, using the boat cavity as its enclosure?
 
yes, i would like the bridge/cockpit and salon/master to all be on their own zones. The factory woofer is as you described.
 
I am having the below installed on my 370 as we speak, I listened to this setup with a single sub at a local boat show and it will flat run you out of the boat, I am pretty sure every person in the auditorium stopped and look at the boat we were sitting in when he fired up my Audio Test Playlist. Loud is great and I enjoy it, but for me, the most important thing was it was so clean and clear.

4 Zones= Cockpit, Cabin, Aft 7s, Bow 7s.
(1) Apollo RA770
(4) BLUAVE MC9s
(2) BLUAVE M10S4 Subs
(4) BLUAVE MC7s in Pods (2 face bow / 2 face aft)
(1) BLUAVE B800.4 Amp
(1) BLUAVE B1000.1 Amp
(1) NRX300 Wired Remote
The cabin has existing Sony speakers I am leaving for now
 
to all be on their own zones.
Sorry to ask again, 2 zones or 4?

That woofer is not a true IB, so its going to be ok at best. So I would consider upgrading it to a true IB woofer. If you want to match your existing speakers, then go with the MX10IB in whatever grill choice you have. Other notables, The Wet Sounds Revo-10FA (gets my nod for its extra power handling, 2 woofer colors and 8 grill style choices, and the Kicker KMF10 (2 grill color choices and comes in 2 and 4 ohm for better amp pairing flexibility).
 
4 zones would be the preference. I’m not clear on 4 vs 2 ohms and how they pair with the amp.
 
Ok, so an 8 chnl amp would allow for the 4-zone volume configuration for the full range speakers. This leaves a dedicated amp to drive the woofer.

The woofer ohms is the load "seen" by the amp. In most amps, it dictates the output and safe operation of the amp.
 
Wylie can I pm you a few specific questions?
 
Actually i'll just continue the discussion here:
Any recommendations on a quality 8 channel amp to drive the speakers? If i went with the JL MX10IB3 what amp would you recommend? Also would I need to run more substantial power cables to the amps? Would standard rca cables suffice for the listening zones? Also if i'm running the woofer on its own amp, what is required as far as wiring to ensure that the woofer is supplying the necessary base to each zone on demand?
 
Ive had experience with both the JL M800/8 and the Kicker KXMA800.8. I trust both and both perform very well. The JL offer a tad bit more wattage RMS, but the Kicker has clip indicator lights below each gain dial. Great for the DIY installer.

Id want an amp that offers at least 300W rms @ 4 ohm. In the JL line, it would be the M600/1. Out of the Kicker line, the closest best match, would be the KXA800.1. Lots of head room for that woofer, which is a good thing, but its not a marine built amp though. this is where having woofer ohm options comes in handy.

Another option would be to use a 4 chnl and 5 chnl Such as the Kicker KXMA800.5 and KXMA400.4 or the KL M700.5 and M400/4. Same wattage to the 8 full range zones, but a little less to a 4 ohm woofer like the MX10IB.

You will defenitely want amp cable gauge. My gut says the current amp wiring is undersized as it is. Id suggest a large trunk line, then through a distribution system at the amp to a smaller short branch line to the each amp.

I would suggest a quality RCA, but that does not necessarely mean you need the most expensive.

If im reading right, you want the woofer to be zone #5. This is going to get tricky if you fusion head only has 4 zones. At first glance, the woofer is going to end up being tied to one of the 4 zones.
 
This is a great thread and if you guys dont mind can i chime in as I am redoing my 420 stock setup and trying to decide on JL M's or Mx's along with replacing amp to a JL 280x4 or mx500/4 - my arch has oem 6.5's and cant decide if I want to increase the HOLE or stay stock -
Thanks guys and then were to purchase as they vary all over the place - Sonic electronix has some good prices, I think?? ;)
 
If you can get by on 3 zones you might be able to get by with one amp, depending on how many speakers you want to run.

I have almost the same head unit (fusion UD 750). I have it paired with a JL M1000/5. 2 M 10’s off the sub channel in parallel. 2 sets of MX650s off the other 4 channels (zones 2&3). 1 set of Polk 6x9 in the cabin (came with boat) off the head unit (zone 1).

I may add a set of mx770 and parallel the 6.5’s down the road.

Boat rocks. Sound is crisp. Nothing is power starved.

25-30 years ago I used to be into the car stereo scene. Amps have come a LONG WAY since then.
 
This is a great thread and if you guys dont mind can i chime in as I am redoing my 420 stock setup and trying to decide on JL M's or Mx's along with replacing amp to a JL 280x4 or mx500/4 - my arch has oem 6.5's and cant decide if I want to increase the HOLE or stay stock -
Thanks guys and then were to purchase as they vary all over the place - Sonic electronix has some good prices, I think?? ;)
First let me say, if you purchase your JL from an authorized credible outlet, they can tell you everything you want to know about the M and MX speakers, etc. Sometimes, the cheapest price is not the best value. Having someone with actual product knowledge to answer questions about wiring, setup and tuning, can offset a cheaper price.

2nd, I prefer the MX 650 over the M. If we are getting up into the M650 price range, the Wet Sounds Revo-6 is far better IMO.

Amp wise, those MX series are what I call pocket amps. IMO, a boat of this size with a true alternator, does not need these compact pocket amps. I would suggest the M400/4 for 2-3 pair of speakers.
 
First let me say, if you purchase your JL from an authorized credible outlet, they can tell you everything you want to know about the M and MX speakers, etc. Sometimes, the cheapest price is not the best value. Having someone with actual product knowledge to answer questions about wiring, setup and tuning, can offset a cheaper price.

2nd, I prefer the MX 650 over the M. If we are getting up into the M650 price range, the Wet Sounds Revo-6 is far better IMO.

Amp wise, those MX series are what I call pocket amps. IMO, a boat of this size with a true alternator, does not need these compact pocket amps. I would suggest the M400/4 for 2-3 pair of speakers.


Great feed back and I completely agree, i would rather buy from my local guys and get their assistance instead of online!!!
Thank you for the feedback on the amps - i will lean that way - i was digging into my project today and surprised that there are only 3 - 6.5 oem speakers in the cockpit of my 420 plus the 10" sub, am i missing something?
Trying to figure out how to run the 110v line over to behind the captains chair to power the TV and then where to place the OTA tuner to Hdmi to run to the curved monitor is becoming a challenge.
Thanks for the help.
chris
 
Great feed back and I completely agree, i would rather buy from my local guys and get their assistance instead of online!!!
Thank you for the feedback on the amps - i will lean that way - i was digging into my project today and surprised that there are only 3 - 6.5 oem speakers in the cockpit of my 420 plus the 10" sub, am i missing something?
Trying to figure out how to run the 110v line over to behind the captains chair to power the TV and then where to place the OTA tuner to Hdmi to run to the curved monitor is becoming a challenge.
Thanks for the help.
chris

I would. Be surprised if there was only 3-6.5 speakers in the cockpit, it just doesn't make sense, there almost has to be a 4th you are overlooking (hidden.

Where are the 3 you have counted
 
I would. Be surprised if there was only 3-6.5 speakers in the cockpit, it just doesn't make sense, there almost has to be a 4th you are overlooking (hidden.

Where are the 3 you have counted

yeah i agree really odd, two in the arch and one behind the capt chair and sub facing port under copolit bench?? There are four below, 2 in the salon and tow in the forward berth! Just odd???
 
IMG_0153.PNG
View attachment 67122
IMG_0153.PNG
Looking at boattrader for 2005 420 DA, looks like a fourth speaker came factory port side near the bell, by the door

The 2005 brochure says 8 speakers were stock

I found a couple that showed it

2005-sea-ray-420-sundancer-103363311
 

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