Surround Sound

[vanburen]

I spent the afternoon watching installers add lots of gear to a Kady Krogen trawler. Very sweet install - a lot like Gary's - stored video, audio, zones, Apple TV etc. 60K bill.

I asked what it would cost to add surround sound to our 420DB - like the bose system or something similar - they quoted about 4-6K.

Just curious - is this insane or in the ballpark? Many thanks and happy 4th!

 

[NateRW21]

4-6K sounds a bit high...

 

[Four Suns]

Well... it seems about right to me but it also depends on the equipment and modifications needed. Sea Ray puts in the Bose Lifestyle systems because they are fairly compact at both the head end and speakers. You will, however, need a place to put the Acoustamass (subwoofer box) and mine was placed under the salon sofa. The Lifestyle systems (go to their website) range in price from 2K-4K. I don't know what dealer programs they have so I don't know what kind of discount, if any, they get.

As I said in my other post, some of the other "gotcha's" are cables and brackets. You are going to want to put in good cables because, at least on my boat, the area where this stuff is mounted is electrical cable central. I tried to get off with a cheap video cable only to have a horizontal line scrolling through the video screen. I tried an RF choke on each end and still had issues so I just went and got the $100 cables. Problem fixed. I think the "really good cables" are a waste of money in a home setting but in a boat they make sense IMO.

On top of cables, if their is any kind of cabinet work to do, complicated wire runs, 110v power outlet installs, bracket making (subwoofer install), video integration, etc. for a couple of people to work on for 3-5 days, you can see how you can get a 2-3K labor bill.

I'm not sure I would run out and buy a Bose Lifestyle system right now. They are discounting them and I think it's because they don't have a Blu-Ray DVD player in them yet which is RIDICULOUS in this time period. I Think Bose was waiting to see who won the HD vs. Blu-Ray war and now that is Blu-Ray, they are scrambling to get that in their system (a guess of mine). I would wait till fall and see what they have available otherwise you'll not have HD on anything unless you add a separate player. The cheaper systems don't have a built in DVD and if you did this now, I would go that route. HOWEVER, you need to look up your TV model and make sure it can display 720p or better. Look at the vertical resolution and make sure it is over 720 pixels.

The Bose Lifestyle also has a rudimentary zoning system such that you can add a second amplifier and speakers to your front stateroom (that's what Sea Ray does). However, you'll also have to add the ability to get video up there. Sea Ray used the composite video output (YUK) and so the sound in the front stateroom was good but the picture sucked.

So... in summery.. The price sounds about right but I would wait until Bose updates their Lifestyle line to Blu-Ray if you want one with a built in DVD. If someone is used to pricing car stereo stuff, this price will seem high. This is not car stereo stuff. I'm not up on the car stereo approaches but you are looking to take digital audio and render it on a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system properly and not just play it as loud as you can.

Home theater systems in general are expensive items and go out of date quickly. A boat complicates that with wanting to add systems in each stateroom and having to route HD video and audio. Even with my install, the TV's will be out of date in about 2 years because of resolution issues. I went for wide viewing angles and sacrificed 720p in the staterooms because I can't stand how an LCD looks when outside it's viewing angle... The salon has 720p now and I bet by next year, we will see 1080p sets down in the sub-30" TVs.

My 2 cents

 

[Four Suns]

Ed,

You should have told the guy spending 60K on his boat that it was a waste of money and real boaters don't have TV's and such on their boat.... boating is about other things.. blah blah blah

 

[NateRW21]

Okay so I withdraw my statement. I wasn't even cosidering all of the extras!!! I automatically thought of it from a home standpoint!

 

[vanburen]

Wow, that was worth more than 2cents so I think I got off cheaply! Thanks a ton, this is starting to look like an upcoming project.

I think that we are going to add surround and an Apple TV unit in the salon this coming year but as you suggest, I can easily wait until the Bose Blu Ray issue is resolved.
Thanks!

 

[vanburen]

A quick update for those interested in AV changes- I can be productive when kids are sleeping - finally figured out how to get behind the TV in the salon - will post pictures later but two screws come out of the stereo area (one on each side) and the TV rotates down exposing its backside. The TV is mounted on a chassis which is attached down on the sides of the stereo section, with two screws each side. The top one acts as a pivot.

There is some room back there for gear but I don't think adding more weight to that flexing rotating chassis is a great idea.

 

[JC3]

Ed, Not to change the subject, but that is an awfully nice looking boat you have there! JC

 

[vanburen]

JC - thanks! Appreciate the kind words.

 

[vanburen]

Here is how the TV comes out for anyone interested.