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These Kenwood Amps are a fantastic value..

zipper

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So I know many of you have received these by now for those who have installed what is the first impression of them?
I'll bite...coming from the factory JBL head unit and speakers, I like the upgrade. I ditched the JBL last season with its remote. I now have a Kenwood KMR-765-BT, KCA-RC55MR remote, KAC-M3004 amp amd (4) Polk MM-651-UM speakers for the cockpit. I have no intensions to be the loudest on the lake. The amp did improve top end clarity, I just wired it in today, and had little time to test/adjust. I like it so far. Got a chance to test with a Ted Nugent tune on the radio.20170501_174212_001.jpg 20170501_174337_001.jpg 20170501_174128.jpg 20170501_174303_001.jpgSounds way better than this20170428_114420_003.jpg
 

GTBRMC

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Ran cables this afternoon, but it got me wondering how did other folks crimp the connectors on the wire for the large gauge wire? Not sure I can get a good crimp from my Motorola crimpers on this 4 gauge.
I bought and used something like this (but not from this source):

https://www.delcity.net/store/Heavy!Duty-Hammer-Crimper/p_10383.h_54606.r_IF1003?mkwid=sc9nzWzMA&crid=38094426869&mp_kw=&mp_mt=&gclid=Cj0KEQjwuZvIBRD-8Z6B2M2Sy68BEiQAtjYS3G87H-J2GjECxYU2hpGBTDJSAkXpbwS3_4B_7qYjN_UaAhSb8P8HAQ

Like your dad used to say, the right tool for the job makes it 100x easier.
 

kthrash

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So I know many of you have received these by now for those who have installed what is the first impression of them?
I finally got my boat ready for the water yesterday, (oil changed, cleaned etc..) and will say, running 2 of these Amps with all my speakers.. I don't have to turn it all the way up to hear it at WOT.. its super clean all the way to the max and I only need it 1/2 of the way up to cleanly hear it running 50MPH... I love them.
 

WildCatFan54

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It was on sale for about a week or so. Most likely will be back to $65 soon. Just keep an eye on it.
 

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I'm a complete newbie to DIY sound upgrades. Bought 2 of these amps to power 6 stock speakers. Did you run new speaker wire or just use stock speaker wire? Any real benefit from using a higher-end speaker wire?
 

zipper

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I'm a complete newbie to DIY sound upgrades. Bought 2 of these amps to power 6 stock speakers. Did you run new speaker wire or just use stock speaker wire? Any real benefit from using a higher-end speaker wire?
I did not change out the factory wire, as I only replaced the 4 cockpit speakers. If I were to add speakers/wire to other places, I probably would have changed it all. It still sounds plenty loud in the cockpit for us with factory wire. I replaced old 100w speakers for new 100w speakers.
 
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swatski

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I'm a complete newbie to DIY sound upgrades. Bought 2 of these amps to power 6 stock speakers. Did you run new speaker wire or just use stock speaker wire? Any real benefit from using a higher-end speaker wire?
I would absolutely keep the existing factory wiring, the speakers are Polk DB651s right? There is no way you could possibly tell a difference with that amp and speakers, and it is quite a bit of work to replace the wiring all around.
Definitely not worth it, IMO, I wouldn't even consider it.

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WildCatFan54

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OK , after watching all the you tube videos I could find on the subject , doing way too much comparison of the Clarion vs. Kenwood and bugging the heck out of all you guys , I have decided to tackle this project !! Please keep me (and more importantly my boat) it your thoughts and prayers.Just a couple more quick questions :
1) I plan to use existing speaker wiring for the current 4 cockpit speakers. I will obviously run new wires for the pair of Polk MM651UMs that I'm installing on the swim deck. Should I run the cockpit 4 on 2 channels at 2 ohm and run the new swim deck pair on the other 2 channels at 4 ohm or vice versa ?
2) Does the Yamaha Connex OE head unit include RCA outputs for connecting the amp ?
3) If the answer to #2 is YES , then the way I read the Kenwood install manual is that a separate "power on" wire is not required ?? I believe it has signal sensing power on capability thru the RCA leads ? One end of the Kenwood has 3 screw down ring terminal connectors. One for the positive 10 gauge wire to the battery positive. One for the ground wire to the battery negative and the other labeled "P.Con" which hopefully I will not use ?

Its about a 2 hour drive for me to get to the boat and just wanted to confirm the RCA output thing before headed down that way later today with needed supplies. Weather is terrible and forecast for next few days is no better !! Figure I can knock out a big part of this during that time. Thanks again for all the help.
 

Bruce

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Should I run the cockpit 4 on 2 channels at 2 ohm and run the new swim deck pair on the other 2 channels at 4 ohm or vice versa ?
Whichever speaker pair that you put on a single channel we will be louder than the others. Which pair would like to be the loudest?
 

swatski

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OK , after watching all the you tube videos I could find on the subject , doing way too much comparison of the Clarion vs. Kenwood and bugging the heck out of all you guys , I have decided to tackle this project !! Please keep me (and more importantly my boat) it your thoughts and prayers.Just a couple more quick questions :
1) I plan to use existing speaker wiring for the current 4 cockpit speakers. I will obviously run new wires for the pair of Polk MM651UMs that I'm installing on the swim deck. Should I run the cockpit 4 on 2 channels at 2 ohm and run the new swim deck pair on the other 2 channels at 4 ohm or vice versa ?
2) Does the Yamaha Connex OE head unit include RCA outputs for connecting the amp ?
3) If the answer to #2 is YES , then the way I read the Kenwood install manual is that a separate "power on" wire is not required ?? I believe it has signal sensing power on capability thru the RCA leads ? One end of the Kenwood has 3 screw down ring terminal connectors. One for the positive 10 gauge wire to the battery positive. One for the ground wire to the battery negative and the other labeled "P.Con" which hopefully I will not use ?

Its about a 2 hour drive for me to get to the boat and just wanted to confirm the RCA output thing before headed down that way later today with needed supplies. Weather is terrible and forecast for next few days is no better !! Figure I can knock out a big part of this during that time. Thanks again for all the help.
HU has two pairs of RCA outputs - front and rear L/R, you may need to split those. If using speaker level outputs - check out @Majorsmackdown tips on how to use the plug, or just tap into individual wires identified by color and stripes - solder or splice taps.
https://jetboaters.net/threads/2016-ar240-budget-stereo-upgrade.7719/#post-152952

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firecap797

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I changed out all the speaker wiring to 12 gauge last night. What a chore. I ended up running around the front or the boat back to the helm compartment. Hopefully I'll have the two new speakers and the amps completed today.

I was planning on leaving the crossovers for the tower tweeters on the stock h/u.
 

firecap797

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Partly finished. I need to add the 2 new speakers mid cabin, and I'm still waiting on that powered sub from Sonix Electronics.

I had a little trouble getting that 8 gauge wire under the terminals for the amps. I'll have to try and find some spade connectors and re do it, but it sound fabulous in my driveway and from 50 feet away.

IMG_0637.JPG IMG_0661.JPG IMG_0663.JPG IMG_0666.JPG
 

renrab

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beating a dead horse but these amps are beauty lol, almost half my install done, the chore of pulling new speaker wires is 90% complete, only tower remaining.
 
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ToddW850

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Okay, so I have a quick question. I am currently running a Kicker 5 Channel amp. It has a designated Sub Woofer channel. Amp seems to be having issues (got wet I believe). If I replace it, do I have to go with another 5 Channel amp? Or will this Kenwood 4 channel work? Or would I need 2 Kenwoods?
 

renrab

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Okay, so I have a quick question. I am currently running a Kicker 5 Channel amp. It has a designated Sub Woofer channel. Amp seems to be having issues (got wet I believe). If I replace it, do I have to go with another 5 Channel amp? Or will this Kenwood 4 channel work? Or would I need 2 Kenwoods?
What size subwoofer/make? Depends what wattage you want to provide the speaker with.
 

ToddW850

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What size subwoofer/make? Depends what wattage you want to provide the speaker with.
It's a JL Audio subwoofer. 10 in I believe. Was installed by previous owner. Not sure it's max. I can check
 

swatski

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It's a JL Audio subwoofer. 10 in I believe. Was installed by previous owner. Not sure it's max. I can check
I'm not an expert, but if those Kenwoods are bridgeable I think you would need a couple for that baby alone, to give it enough juice, lol.

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ToddW850

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I'm not an expert, but if those Kenwoods are bridgeable I think you would need a couple for that baby alone, to give it enough juice, lol.

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Roger that. Yeah I've installed stereo systems in my cars growing up. Been a while and this current set up is a bit different than I'm used to. At least from what I remember.
 
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