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Boat / Marine Audio
Posted on 4/11/21 at 8:31 pm
Posted on 4/11/21 at 8:31 pm
Posted this on the Tech boat, but feel like this is probably the better board.
Hope this gets some attention here, I think I have it figured out, but not quite.
New boat on the way and I want to add a simple, but reliable sound system. Boat is only an 18' Aluminum v.
Headunit: Something by Fusion
Speakers: (4) KM84 8" marine speakers. 150RMS 300W max
Amp: Something that is 4 channel and is 150RMS per channel.
I am looking at NVX marine amps. They are priced great and have great reviews. But, they are budget line for sure. Should I roll the dice with a budget amp or spend the money on something a bit better, but not JL or Wetsounds money?
NVX Amp
Fusion Amp
Hope this gets some attention here, I think I have it figured out, but not quite.
New boat on the way and I want to add a simple, but reliable sound system. Boat is only an 18' Aluminum v.
Headunit: Something by Fusion
Speakers: (4) KM84 8" marine speakers. 150RMS 300W max
Amp: Something that is 4 channel and is 150RMS per channel.
I am looking at NVX marine amps. They are priced great and have great reviews. But, they are budget line for sure. Should I roll the dice with a budget amp or spend the money on something a bit better, but not JL or Wetsounds money?
NVX Amp
Fusion Amp
13
Posted on 4/11/21 at 8:45 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
No idea on boat amps but I’ve installed many a car amp and I can say they are not equal. Definitely get what you pay for. Budget Amps never performed or sounded as good as Amps with the same rms that are a better quality. Just my .02.
Posted on 4/11/21 at 9:13 pm to magicman534
You are correct. The NVX amp is SonicElectronics house brand. They have been around for a while and have always tested well. The Fusion is probably entry level into the top marine audio brands.
Posted on 4/11/21 at 10:12 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Get you a good car amp and mount it where it won’t get wet on a wall on a cabinet. It will last longer and sound better that the cheaper
Posted on 4/11/21 at 10:22 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I have 2 Kenwood Marine and they are fantastic. Highly suggest you get a subwoofer, will need in a boat environment.
Kenwood 5 ch Marine Amp
Kenwood 5 ch Marine Amp
This post was edited on 4/12/21 at 6:42 am
Posted on 4/12/21 at 6:26 am to Ice Cream Sammich
quote:
I want to add a simple, but reliable sound system.
Iphone and waterproof bluetooth speaker
Posted on 4/12/21 at 6:43 am to Wtodd
quote:This. I am done with installed systems. Speakers are never in an ideal place, and the install damages the boat for life.
waterproof bluetooth speaker
If you must, get the Kenwood Bluetooth amp so you don't actually have to install it.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 6:46 am to Ice Cream Sammich
JBL Bluetooth speaker. Fits in cup holder real nice Clark
Posted on 4/12/21 at 6:48 am to Ice Cream Sammich
I have the kicker 8"'s in my bay boat. Kicker gauge style head unit and just an off brand amp. The setup plays clear and loud. The off brand amp starts to distort at very high volumes, but that is my only complaint.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 6:58 am to Ice Cream Sammich
I have the Infinity PRV 315.2 Head Unit and 2 Infinity 6.5's (one on either side of the console) in my 21' Frontier. This replaced a Boss Gauge radio and 2 Boss 6.5's that the previous owner had. With no amp, they are loud enough and clear enough to hear when running at like 50-60% volume. I thought I would end up having to add two more speakers but have been very pleased with just the 2.
Only drawback to the infinity radio is the BT range. If i have my phone in my pocket and I'm fishing on the front deck facing away from the console, it will cut out occasionally. Usually leave the phone in the glove box on charge while playing music now.
In regards to a bluetooth speaker, one of my coworkers has a JBL boombox and has put that thing through hell. Waterproof, plays forever, and gets super loud.
Only drawback to the infinity radio is the BT range. If i have my phone in my pocket and I'm fishing on the front deck facing away from the console, it will cut out occasionally. Usually leave the phone in the glove box on charge while playing music now.
In regards to a bluetooth speaker, one of my coworkers has a JBL boombox and has put that thing through hell. Waterproof, plays forever, and gets super loud.
This post was edited on 4/12/21 at 7:02 am
Posted on 4/12/21 at 7:12 am to Ice Cream Sammich
I have mine set up with no head unit. Just a kenwood marine bluetooth amp and a pair of 6x9's. No need for a head unit when all you're ever going to use is Bluetooth IMO.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 7:28 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
Clarion head unit, Ken wood amp, 4 Ken wood 6.5’s under $500.00. Will add another amp and sub this summer.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 7:30 am to KemoSabe65
Something that might play into someone's decision: the JBL marine speakers are handmade in Florida
Posted on 4/12/21 at 7:48 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
the JBL marine speakers are handmade in Florida
Got mine about a month ago Flip 4 I think. Thing puts out like a Vice President
Posted on 4/12/21 at 8:41 am to Ice Cream Sammich
JL makes a Bluetooth dongle to attach to any amp. It like $35 and you don’t have to cut anything for a headunit. Put the amp in the driest place possible. Just connect your phone and control everything from there
Posted on 4/12/21 at 8:59 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:These things are awesome.
kenwood bluetooth amp
Posted on 4/12/21 at 11:50 am to Ice Cream Sammich
I’m in some FB group for marine audio that I skim on occasion. They seem to like Skar brand amps. Don’t know their price but I get the impression they are cheaper than JL and good/decent quality. No personal experience though.
I hate to come off as a JL fanboy, but after going through a bunch of other cheaper brands I probably won’t use anything other than JL speakers/amp + Fusion headunit in the future. Had nothing but issues or bad quality from the cheaper brands. And wet sounds are WAY overpriced and not that great of quality IMO.
I agree in your case that it probably doesn’t make sense to load out your 18ft aluminum boat with $1500 in JL equipment. Just thought it was worth saying. If you don’t need the full 150W x 4 RMS and can deal with like 70Wx4 RMS (@2-ohm)...Alpine and JL make a “Power Pack” compact 4 channel amp. JL one is like $280 and I think Alpine one is a little cheaper but not a marine amp. Been a while since I’ve looked at those. I’ve used the JL one in a bay boat and it’s pretty good. Not as good as the M400/4 JL amp ($500), but good enough for the price.
I hate to come off as a JL fanboy, but after going through a bunch of other cheaper brands I probably won’t use anything other than JL speakers/amp + Fusion headunit in the future. Had nothing but issues or bad quality from the cheaper brands. And wet sounds are WAY overpriced and not that great of quality IMO.
I agree in your case that it probably doesn’t make sense to load out your 18ft aluminum boat with $1500 in JL equipment. Just thought it was worth saying. If you don’t need the full 150W x 4 RMS and can deal with like 70Wx4 RMS (@2-ohm)...Alpine and JL make a “Power Pack” compact 4 channel amp. JL one is like $280 and I think Alpine one is a little cheaper but not a marine amp. Been a while since I’ve looked at those. I’ve used the JL one in a bay boat and it’s pretty good. Not as good as the M400/4 JL amp ($500), but good enough for the price.
Posted on 4/12/21 at 1:47 pm to CP3
I just put a system in my boat. Got a Rockville gauge mount am/fm/bluetooth radio, Skar 500w 4 channel amp and 4 Wet Sounds SW808 8" speakers. Didn't know anything about marine equipment but a couple of friends that are big into it.
I was told JL probably has the best speakers out there, with Wet Sounds coming in second. Started looking on eBay and found the Wet Sounds from two separate sellers...one a business and the other a personal seller. Got one pair for 175 and the other for 190.
The amp was fairly inexpensive at 170 bucks but I think had ~90 reviews and a 4.5 star rating so we decided to try it out. I'm very happy with it. It's ridiculously loud and I only have the gains at about 60% and the radio volume about the same. I play in a band as a hobby and one of my uncles in a sound engineer for PM Productions so we both know all about clarity and frequencies and all. He said for 170 bucks he was very surprised at the sound quality. Granted, it's not a Crown amp and Focal speakers but for a boat, it's awesome.
I just wanted to have something that when I'm running 50mph, I can hear the music easily. And I definitely can. Obviously can't speak to longevity yet but the reviews say not to worry.
The speakers are pretty dang good too. I have to back a little bottom end out and maybe some 250 and 2k on the EQ at louder volumes but I definitely don't need to add a sub. Very happy with what I ended up with for ~700 bucks.
I was told JL probably has the best speakers out there, with Wet Sounds coming in second. Started looking on eBay and found the Wet Sounds from two separate sellers...one a business and the other a personal seller. Got one pair for 175 and the other for 190.
The amp was fairly inexpensive at 170 bucks but I think had ~90 reviews and a 4.5 star rating so we decided to try it out. I'm very happy with it. It's ridiculously loud and I only have the gains at about 60% and the radio volume about the same. I play in a band as a hobby and one of my uncles in a sound engineer for PM Productions so we both know all about clarity and frequencies and all. He said for 170 bucks he was very surprised at the sound quality. Granted, it's not a Crown amp and Focal speakers but for a boat, it's awesome.
I just wanted to have something that when I'm running 50mph, I can hear the music easily. And I definitely can. Obviously can't speak to longevity yet but the reviews say not to worry.
The speakers are pretty dang good too. I have to back a little bottom end out and maybe some 250 and 2k on the EQ at louder volumes but I definitely don't need to add a sub. Very happy with what I ended up with for ~700 bucks.
This post was edited on 4/12/21 at 1:49 pm
Posted on 4/12/21 at 1:55 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
Just use a shivr cooler for a drink box and a sound system. Has a 200 watt wet sounds bar in it. Sound quality blows away any other blue tooth speaker I have used and it’s water proof
Posted on 4/12/21 at 2:07 pm to Ice Cream Sammich
I'd personally go with the Fusion. Quality amp but not spending JL/Wetsounds money like you said. I have a Fusion amp in my boat connected to 2 pairs RF M1-65s and 1 pair of RF M1-8. Those 8s will sound great.
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