Sound System - Advice

[Mich Pulse]

I have a 186 Pulse, I currently have a nice head unit, with only 6 1/2's under the bench in back. Sounds alright but was curious as to if anyone has a slick set up. I have amps at my disposal, and was planning on adding another battery. Thanks!

[Mich Pulse]

I have a 186 Pulse, I currently have a nice head unit, with only 6 1/2's under the bench in back. Sounds alright but was curious as to if anyone has a slick set up. I have amps at my disposal, and was planning on adding another battery. Thanks!

[jgreen]

michpulse;

jkeiper has a pretty nice setup in his pulse 185.

[NightHawk]

I like running additional outdoor box speakers from an external amp. With long speaker cables you bring them out on deck or sunpad for raft-ups and parties and they generally sound better to begin with.

Forget the marine head-units. They all suck IMO compared to a good automobile unit. The auto units last long enough anyway as long as they are protected in a good cover.

I just added a Sirrus satellite plug-n-play tuner cradle to the Alpine in my 23 foot Enforcer. That will allow me to use the satellite tuner from my truck in the boat. It's going to be great not having to fumble with CD's or listening to radio commercials at this years raft-ups. The Alpine also has an ipod interface for even more skip-free choices.

[Kevin Russell]

I too would recommend Sirius. Go to their website and buy direct, use promo code 459 and you can get a nice setup cheap. I have the Sportster radio, and enjoy that very much. You can get additional kits and move between car / boat / home.

The sportster car kit and radio is 79.99 with this deal, otherwise it is 149.99.

Kevin

[Mich Pulse]

I currently have a Kenwood flip face car head unit...it says it is satellite ready, can I just plug this in?

[Redboat]

I am running 6"X9" rear speakers,4" round front speakers and an 8" Bazooka subwoofer.Add a subwoofer! Best purchase I made for better sound.I can make small waves on a calm day.JVC auto Head unit and a 12 disc changer.
Redboat

[JW]

I'm currenty running four 6X9's with no additional amplification other than what my high power Alpine puts out. It slams real good, but I dont run it long because the head unit heats up fast. I think I could easily run the 6X9's off the head unit, band-pass the bass away from the 6X9's, and run the sub-out to a sub/amp and have the best setup for my boat.

[Kevin Russell]

The radio you have may be built for a Kenwood Sirius radio tuner and antenna system, and being that your unit is Sirius ready, you don't need a display. I'm not real positive on how those Kenwood units work, but I think that's it. Space-wise, that is a good thing, but you'll still spend the same amount, if not more for the tuner and antenna.

If you end up liking Sirius, you can transport the Sportster radio different places and have no need for a second subscription. The sportster gets 12V from a cigarette lighter and broadcasts the signal over FM. You don't plug anything into the radio. If you have aux in, you can use that instead of broadcasting over FM channel.

If you want to know for sure, let me know the model of your radio and I'll check on that.

Kevin

[Redboat]

JW,
Where do you have your head unit mounted?I need to relocate mine from under the rear seat.
Redboat

[JW]

Redboat, it's mounted low on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. Makes it real easy to access for wiring mods, and also easy to mess with the volume knob and buttons with my right hand, and best of all my wife can't reach it.......... http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif

[Drex]

Redboat,

Are you running an amp?

[Redboat]

Bazooka subwoofer is a powered unit-100 watts,just the JVC amp in the head unit-50 watts per channel.
I don't have room to the right of the steering wheel,all the switches (blower,bildge pump,lights,etc.).
Cant wait for warm weather,snow just disapeared from the yard today,lake is just starting to break-up.
Redboat

[Dwayne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mich Pulse:
I currently have a Kenwood flip face car head unit...it says it is satellite ready, can I just plug this in? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>if you use your kenwood head unit with your sat radio you will have to by a command reciever that will only work with that unit and is not transfeable and is great if that is the only place you want to use it.And if you decide later you want it in your home or auto then you will have to purchase another unit and pay for an additional program. I have XM sat radio because they have the rights to all the nascar races until 2008 i believe I use the Roady 2 that has a built in fm modulator but I have a direct connect (hardwire) for my mate.I have 2 x plod 12's,2 x plod 8 in 3 way speakers and 2 outdoor box speakers with a clarion amp on the highs and a bazooka pushin the lows with a sony x plod reciever which is also sat ready but I dont use that part it sounds tuff plus is very clear you can turn the volume wide open with hardly any distortion.here are some pics.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/Idwaynen/boat%20pics/Picture010.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v730/Idwaynen/boat%20pics/41246e43.jpg

[Mich Pulse]

Thanks everyone, those are some great ideas. I definetly will be adding a sub or two, and want the truck box type speaker for raft parties, but my only fear is them bouncing all over when running. I need to come up with a system where the boxes can be stationary while running the boat. The boat gets bounced around quite a bit.

[Kevin Russell]

That sounds like a good way to go. I would go with one sub, should be plenty for a boat. Let me know how you end up doing the truck boxes, it's a good idea to go with portable speakers like that. If you could so something along the lines of velcro sticking to the carpet, that would be easy to do.

Kevin

[Drex]

Redboat,

Do you have a single battery or dual batteries? I am thinking of putting a powered sub in my boat but currently only have a single battery. I don’t want to run into battery draining issues if I have the stereo on all day. I have a Blaupunkt head unit, 2 - 6 ½ and 2 – 6 X 9 Infinity Kappa series speakers. It sounds good but I think it would sound a lot better if I added a sub. Anyone running a powered sub on a single battery?

[Redboat]

http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif
I did early last summer , then I sat all day in one spot and killed the single batt. 2nd batt. and a batt. switch was installed right away! Nothing worse than a Checkmate being towed behind a jet ski! http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/brickwall.gif
I guarantee you'll be impressed with the subwoofer!
Redboat

[Redboat]

Duane:
Any problems with the X-Plod spkrs and water?I have a set of 8"available and now is the time to change(I'm redoing the interior of my Senator).
Redboat

[boatn70]

michboat......
ive got a sirius tuner and antenae frommy old boat.....sold the head unit with the boat.
if you can find out what you need and if this will work, ill make a great deal!! i loved it in the old boat....havent done anything in the new boat yet....except for amp.

Dwayne....
did you enclose that sub in the side wall like that or is it just free air behind it? my brother built his in with a sealed enclosure....it rocks...hard!!!

kevin

[Dwayne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Redboat:
http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif
I did early last summer , then I sat all day in one spot and killed the single batt. 2nd batt. and a batt. switch was installed right away! Nothing worse than a Checkmate being towed behind a jet ski! http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/brickwall.gif
I guarantee you'll be impressed with the subwoofer! This is the second set's of xplods I have used in boats and have never had a problem I always get the ones that are all poly!!! and the x plods sound really good toooo..
Redboat </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Dwayne]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by boatn70:
michboat......
ive got a sirius tuner and antenae frommy old boat.....sold the head unit with the boat.
if you can find out what you need and if this will work, ill make a great deal!! i loved it in the old boat....havent done anything in the new boat yet....except for amp.That is a set of x plod 12's in eclosure they are right beside the bolster seats on each side I have some better pics but the other day when I was sending that stuff photobucket wasn't working too well..It really thumps sounds really good for a boat but it dont sound as good as the system i custom built and installed for one of my good freinds in his mastercraft you can really make some jam in one of them with all the room in thebow.

Dwayne....
did you enclose that sub in the side wall like that or is it just free air behind it? my brother built his in with a sealed enclosure....it rocks...hard!!!

kevin </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Mich Pulse]

Boatn70 Let me check this weekend if it will work, and yeah I probably will want that.

Thanks!

[jkeiper]

Hey Mich,

My next door neighbor owns Rockin Ronny's. It's a high end audio store. He said the biggest problem with a boat is with it being open all the sound wants to go out and not reverberate. He installed an Eclipse system in my Pulse 185 with a sub under the rear bench seat. All I can say is it sounds awesome. If you would like to see it I can take some pics. for ya.

Jim

[Mich Pulse]

Yes, I'm interested to see it....please post. Thanks

[jkeiper]

Here are a couple.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/fastboat60/thesub.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/fastboat60/theamp.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v454/fastboat60/thedeck.jpg

[Mich Pulse]

Jkpier,

That looks nice!!! Thanks for the idea....Does it sound good??? I was also thinking about a self amped bass tube secured up in the bow (boat is closed deck) thought that might hold the bass. but definetly want to try something similar to yours. Is that a box under the seat, or is the sub using the seat as a box? Is the amp mounted by your feet under the dash on those kick panels?

Thanks!!!!

[Drex]

jkeiper,

Are you running dual batteries?

[jkeiper]

Mich Pulse:

Yes, we built a box and carpeted it for the sub. It is open on the back side. So the sound kinda gets into the stern of the baot and comes around the sides of the bench seat. The chicks like the thump felt in the seat. (if ya know what I mean) http://www.checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/thumb.gif http://checkmate-boats.com/graemlins/xxrotflmao.gif

I think it sounds great! We talked about a bass tube in the bow, but with the open bow I didn't want to loose the storage that I have in the bow. If I had a closed deck I would've gone with the bass tube.

Drex:

I just have the one battery, It is a BIG one, but weighs less than two. When you are looking for every little bit of speed, that was a factor. That is one thing about having a new motor, is that you have a real alternator to get things charged back up fast.

Jim