Easiest way to add/amplify music at the helm

[fraserjr]

OK, so as the title suggests, I am looking at the easiest way to actually be able to hear music while cruising at the helm in my 2016 242 LSE? I have young kids so I don't need the whole system to be louder, nor do I need multiple zones (yet). I am just trying to find an easy upgrade for now -(Tower sound bar, tweeter upgrade, additional 6" speaker by the throttles, etc.) Any thoughts or ideas that would give the most bang for the buck and not cause me to rewire the whole boat would be appreciated!

 

[Julian]

I have the 242X and was wondering the same thing. I had planned on adding a couple of 6.5" JL speakers to both sides of the helm seats, but the dealer said there wasn't enough room between the fiberglass where the garbage can goes and the outer hull on the passenger side (I still want to check this myself by removing the USB port and measuring).

So what I ended up doing for now was just turning the X's sound bar around so it faces forward....this works great, but I'm still going to see if I can get those 6.5" speakers in as I have them and another amp already.....and I like the idea of 12 speakers and 1500 watts LOL.

I'll be curious to see what others come up with....

 

[MattFX4]

Adding two additional speakers to the helm is one of the best ways to achieve what you want. I installed two additional JL 6.5's (One down below throttle, and one beside passenger captain chair) and it made a huge difference. If I were you, I would add the two speakers, and install an amp.

 

[Mainah]

@Julian - I can confirm that it is rather unlikely there is enough room behind the black inset panels.

The starboard side is easy and plently of room in the lower right corner under the controls or under the tray/cup holders. For non x model the port side under the cupholders is perfect but that does not work for the x model because of the stock sub. I played around with the idea of using a pre fab fiberglass speaker box on the bottom of trash can area. Someone out there does make a fiberglass 6x9 enclosure that would fit pretty good but I don't remeber who.

A bold option would be to drill the hole for the speaker in the trash can area and fab up a spacer to give it the depth and contour the spacer so it does not look silly. Something would also be needed between the outer hull the the black panel to reduce deflection of the black panel as well as support for the mounting.

@fraserjr - I agree with what @MattFX4 said above.

 

[Bruce]

Can you use the sound bar to focus on that area?

 

[fraserjr]

Can you use the sound bar to focus on that area?

Yup, if the limited S E-Series came with a sound bar But I am not opposed to installing one if it would achieve the best results and would be relatively easy to do.

 

[fraserjr]

@Julian - I can confirm that it is rather unlikely there is enough room behind the black inset panels.

The starboard side is easy and plently of room in the lower right corner under the controls or under the tray/cup holders. For non x model the port side under the cupholders is perfect but that does not work for the x model because of the stock sub. I played around with the idea of using a pre fab fiberglass speaker box on the bottom of trash can area. Someone out there does make a fiberglass 6x9 enclosure that would fit pretty good but I don't remeber who.

A bold option would be to drill the hole for the speaker in the trash can area and fab up a spacer to give it the depth and contour the spacer so it does not look silly. Something would also be needed between the outer hull the the black panel to reduce deflection of the black panel as well as support for the mounting.

@fraserjr - I agree with what @MattFX4 said above.

But to your point @Mainah and @MattFX4 , is there a place to install a speaker on the port side?

 

[Julian]

But to your point @Mainah and @MattFX4 , is there a place to install a speaker on the port side?

You could put it where they put the sub in the X - not ideal, but better than nothing. The Starboard side is easy and that is the captains side...so more important...right? LOL

I had wondered about putting it in the top surface under the windshield, but installing there wouldn't be easy and it might look strange to have a speaker there.

Adding the sound bar would be cool, but not sure if the non-x model's tower has the bracket mount location that the X does.

 

[FloJet]

Oooo Stereo talk. IMO, I think you might want to switch out all the interior speakers for Wet Sounds 6x5. Get a good amp to push it and you will have all the cabin noise to please you and your guests. One reason I could not justify Limited or X purchase was the stereo systems. They tout how good it is but many seemed to not be pleased with it. I would love to hear a 242x system one day tho. That will help me see how everything to help me have better input for the forum. But a good WS 6x5 speakers and amp pushing nothing less than 100 watts to each will be a great setup for cabin and helm fun!

 

[Mainah]

But to your point @Mainah and @MattFX4 , is there a place to install a speaker on the port side?

I agree with Julian. Right where the subwoofer is on the x. Under the beer holders next to the co-captains chair. You have about 5 inches of depth and a hollow cavity there except for the cup holders (it fits a 10 inch sub). Consider adding drain tubes to the cup holders so that they don't drip directly on the speaker.

 

[Julian]

My 6.5" JLs are only 2 13/16" deep. There are a tons of inexpensive 1" speaker spacers out there on EBAY...and I'm pretty certain there would be more than 2" of depth behind that panel as I was in there once and it seemed to me like it was more like 3". @Mainah did you actually measure the distance back there to save me doing it?

@FloJet I'm pretty happy with the X's sound, but as I've pointed out here...I'd prefer to have the sound bar pointing backwards and put in a couple of helm speakers.....beyond that, you are correct that the Polks it comes with are only middle of the line speakers, but not hard or too expensive to upgrade them.

 

[Bruce]

@Julian, how well does the sound bar work for this?

 

[MattFX4]

here are holes I cut for my additional speakers. Probably went a little lower than some on the driver side, but it sounds great.

 

[Julian]

@Julian, how well does the sound bar work for this?

It works GREAT, but since I have Polks in the 2 tower cans I prefer to have the sound bar pointing backwards to fill in the Polks. What I may end up doing if I can't figure out the helm speakers is just put the 2 JL speakers into the cans (which I might do anyway-and put the polks from the tower cans at the helm spots if that works).

 

[MattFX4]

Or you could install a pair of these, and aim them down towards your head. I think you would be able to hear the music then for sure!

 

[Julian]

Or you could install a pair of these, and aim them down towards your head. I think you would be able to hear the music then for sure!

View attachment 49317

Heck...throw 4 of those on the tower....2 forward and down slightly, and 2 rearward.....ho ho ho

 

[MattFX4]

Heck...throw 4 of those on the tower....2 forward and down slightly, and 2 rearward.....ho ho ho

Do you want to go deaf?!

 

[fraserjr]

 

[txav8r]

If you can use a bezel (the 1" spacer you refer to), that is an easy way to reduce the depth required @Julian . That can be needed on earlier boats too on both sides at the helm seats depending on placement. A bezel is easy to make and solves the issue. You get a much broader spectrum and more balanced sound doing that than directing overhead sound downward. And while this may be a desire to hear at speed for the driver, without zone control, it will be difficult to achieve without some sort of zone control. The 6.5" JL offers some of the best range and music quality in the price range vs any other 6.5" speaker. Yank out the polks or wet sounds and put in the JL's...and if properly powered, your set to go!

 

[robert843]

My next audio upgrade is putting speakers in the same general area that @MattFX4 did I think this will really improve the ability to hear under way as those speakers will also be protected from the wind. The rear speaker location on the 2010-14 240 models is terrible they put them in the most popular spots to sit on the boat so while under way there is almost always someone sitting covering them up so you are basically operating with only the 2 front speakers while under way.