Ready for an upgrade, cheap tower speakers?

[I_squared_r]

I have an AR192 currently with a cheap 5 channel amp, kenwood speakers, and a Kicker 8" subwoofer tube. Bass is good, but the volume on speakers isn't great. I'm looking to upgrade the amp, change the stereo (its doing weird things. I lost BT functionality and it started working shortly after I hit it), and put coaxial tower speakers (I don't wakeboard a lot, just want audio behind the boat). My concern is security because my boat stays on a trailer in a marina. I wouldn't trust leaving $1000+ speakers on there. Here's my shopping list:

Clarion M505 $120
Kicker KMA450.6 (6 channel amp) $430
Kicker KMTC65 (refurbished) $400

I'll put all the speakers on the 6 channel amp and leave the subwoofer on the old amp. Any recommendations? Maybe there are cheaper coaxials that I can put on the tower?

 

[I_squared_r]

I just noticed that the kicker amp has 75W @ 2ohm.


and the jl audio lists their power output @ certain voltages and it's better than the kicker. Should I spend more on the JL?

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

You can get cheaper speakers/cans if you don’t need the swivel functionality. I got a package deal from Rockville for amp, KM8s, cans, and wiring package for $420.

I think a had the gain turned up to much and blew a speaker. 2 new KM8s $150 on amazon, I think you can get non swivel cans for less than $100.

 

[I_squared_r]

You can get cheaper speakers/cans if you don’t need the swivel functionality. I got a package deal from Rockville for amp, KM8s, cans, and wiring package for $420.

I think a had the gain turned up to much and blew a speaker. 2 new KM8s $150 on amazon, I think you can get non swivel cans for less than $100.

That is really cheap. Were the KM8s put in non-kicker cans?

I have a Clarion M502 and a Rockville RXF-F5 and I think there's problems with both of them.
The stereo's USB doesn't work and will temporarily lose BT functionality if someone plugs into the USB.
With gain all the way up, the speakers don't come close to their maximum output.
One day I lost subwoofer output, came back after a while, and has worked since.
One day I turned on the battery switch and I had to use fade -6 to get sound output on the rear speakers. Next week it was fine.

There's just so much going on that i'm ready for a full upgrade. I feel trapped with Clarion because I already have an MW1 remote. But I dont think i'll buy another rockville amp.

 

[2kwik4u]

I was going to suggest a sound bar like mine. Comes amplified, just have to add power and signal to it.

Got mine as a refurbished unit from Creative Audio for ~$550. Not as cheap as cans/amp, but it's certainly simpler.

 

[I_squared_r]

I decided that I won't use the existing rockville amp for subwoofer because I will be pissed if I lose that subwoofer output. I'm tired of these little problems with BT connectivity and randomly losing audio so i'm looking to replace everything. I just ordered a Clarion M505.

I already have a Kicker 8" subwoofer tube. With this amp, is it a good idea to splice rear output to the tower speakers?

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

That is really cheap. Were the KM8s put in non-kicker cans?

I have a Clarion M502 and a Rockville RXF-F5 and I think there's problems with both of them.
The stereo's USB doesn't work and will temporarily lose BT functionality if someone plugs into the USB.
With gain all the way up, the speakers don't come close to their maximum output.
One day I lost subwoofer output, came back after a while, and has worked since.
One day I turned on the battery switch and I had to use fade -6 to get sound output on the rear speakers. Next week it was fine.

There's just so much going on that i'm ready for a full upgrade. I feel trapped with Clarion because I already have an MW1 remote. But I dont think i'll buy another rockville amp.

Ya Rockville cans, they have a couple pre drilled holes for different screw patterns, KM8s fit in there like a glove. They are decently loud as well, not as loud as that dude with several grand in wet sounds you can hear from miles away.

 

[I_squared_r]

Ya Rockville cans, they have a couple pre drilled holes for different screw patterns, KM8s fit in there like a glove. They are decently loud as well, not as loud as that dude with several grand in wet sounds you can hear from miles away.

I found them, but they're all out of stock. The only ones available are 6x9. If the 8" cans were available then I could've put KM8+cans for $330. You don't have problems with yours? I saw some harsh reviews on eBay like splitting cases and stuff.

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

I found them, but they're all out of stock. The only ones available are 6x9. If the 8" cans were available then I could've put KM8+cans for $330. You don't have problems with yours? I saw some harsh reviews on eBay like splitting cases and stuff.

No problems after a couple months

 

[I_squared_r]

Ok final cost was $1200. I was able to save some money on tax from creativeaudio and get a refurbished amp. Crutchfield has a sale on the clarion speakers, neoprene covers are 50% off.

JL M700/5 refurbished
JL 6 gauge marine amp wiring kit
Clarion M505
Clarion CM1624TPC with neoprene covers
50ft JL marine speaker wire

I'm keeping the existing kicker 8" tube and 4x kenwood speakers. This should be a noticeable improvement!
Does anyone know if the bass remote from my rockville amp will work with the JL amp? They both use RJ11 connector

 

[I_squared_r]

I already finished this project before the weekend. The new JL amp is incredibly loud compared to the crap amplifier I had before, but it also drained the battery fast compared to the crap amp.

I went to the bay Saturday and Sunday with female friends. and it was loud and wild. I thought people would be annoyed by the loud spanish music, but we had our neighbors watching and laughing. I'm already in love with how the speakers changed the vibes. Guys driving by were trying to watch the girls on the bow without getting caught by their wives. Their wives jumped on theirs bow to shake their asses. Jet skis were stopping by to say whats up. Police were driving around and I had the girls shake their ass in support for the police (they smiled and gave us the thumbs up). So after 2 seasons, finally I found a name for my boat. "Locuras" in spanish is "Crazy things"

So the final build is

Clarion M508
JL M700/5
Clarion CM1624TPC with covers
Kenwood Marine speakers
Kicker 8" tube

I still need to wire the RGB lights to my existing RGB system. I also need to play with the crossovers a little and then order the bass remote. I have 1 bass remote from my old amp, but I think the JL amp has a proprietary connection. Either that or i'm a dope and couldn't fit the square into the square lol

 

[crazy4life]

I was going to suggest a sound bar like mine. Comes amplified, just have to add power and signal to it.

Got mine as a refurbished unit from Creative Audio for ~$550. Not as cheap as cans/amp, but it's certainly simpler.

Do you have to run wire from head unit to sond bar or can you just tie into wire going to other speaker?

 

[mkbcaptain]

I just did a complete audio overhaul on my 21FSH.
I replaced all the factor Jensens with Kickers, and added two 8” kicker pods to my t-top, and then wired everything to an 8 channel 1500 watt amp. Replaced the Jensen radio/head unit with the JBL-PRV275.
All in I think it was about $1000.
And it’s sounds good. Very good. Bass is decent, but I may add the kicker 10” Marine amped tube at some point.
But dang is it loud now. One of the loudest boats at the sand bar for sure!

 

[2kwik4u]

Do you have to run wire from head unit to sond bar or can you just tie into wire going to other speaker?

Had to run power and ground to the batter, then a 3.5mm Audio from head unit to sound bar input.

 

[I_squared_r]

I just did a complete audio overhaul on my 21FSH.
I replaced all the factor Jensens with Kickers, and added two 8” kicker pods to my t-top, and then wired everything to an 8 channel 1500 watt amp. Replaced the Jensen radio/head unit with the JBL-PRV275.
All in I think it was about $1000.
And it’s sounds good. Very good. Bass is decent, but I may add the kicker 10” Marine amped tube at some point.
But dang is it loud now. One of the loudest boats at the sand bar for sure!

I didn't have luck with the rockville amp. Even with gain and volume all the way, it wasn't anywhere close to driving the speakers to their max. JL has a clever way of setting gain. It involves measuring AC voltage at the speaker outputs with a 1000hz tone (speaker output) and 40hz tone (sub output). Their chart suggests 17.4v for 4ohm and 14.6v for 2 ohm. (or vice versa, I cant remember) I wired the 4 front speakers in parallel to the front channel and that changes resistance to 2 ohms. Tower speakers is to the rear channel so I have fader control.

Those kicker tubes are great. Last I looked, they increased in price a lot since I bought mine last year.

 

[mkbcaptain]

I didn't have luck with the rockville amp. Even with gain and volume all the way, it wasn't anywhere close to driving the speakers to their max. JL has a clever way of setting gain. It involves measuring AC voltage at the speaker outputs with a 1000hz tone (speaker output) and 40hz tone (sub output). Their chart suggests 17.4v for 4ohm and 14.6v for 2 ohm. (or vice versa, I cant remember) I wired the 4 front speakers in parallel to the front channel and that changes resistance to 2 ohms. Tower speakers is to the rear channel so I have fader control.

Those kicker tubes are great. Last I looked, they increased in price a lot since I bought mine last year.

Hmm. Yea I have the front 4 speakers wired in series 1-4 and then the two 8” pods are bridged 5-7. The amp seems to drive the speakers just fine. I couldn’t imagine them being any louder and I have yet to push them to max volume.

KICKER 46CWTB102 TB 10" 800w Marine Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure+Passive Radiator | Audio Savings

<p style="text-align: center;"><font size="5"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><span style="font-size: 24px;">Authorized Kicker Dealer!:</span></strong></span></font></p><p><font size="5"><span style="font-family: Arial; colo

www.audiosavings.com

 

[I_squared_r]

Hmm. Yea I have the front 4 speakers wired in series 1-4 and then the two 8” pods are bridged 5-7. The amp seems to drive the speakers just fine. I couldn’t imagine them being any louder and I have yet to push them to max volume.

KICKER 46CWTB102 TB 10" 800w Marine Loaded Subwoofer Enclosure+Passive Radiator | Audio Savings

<p style="text-align: center;"><font size="5"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong><span style="font-size: 24px;">Authorized Kicker Dealer!:</span></strong></span></font></p><p><font size="5"><span style="font-family: Arial; colo

www.audiosavings.com

I definitely push mine to max volume lol at max volume (46) its almost loud as a night club and there's too much lows getting pushed to the speakers. So I definitely need to set the crossover. 40 seems to be the sweet spot when the girls want to dance..

I have the 8" kicker and I love it. It fits under the bench of my AR192 and I could put another. I paid $180 for mine last year and now they're $260!

 

[I_squared_r]

Kicker 45CWTB84

Weather-proof sealed tube enclosure with one 8" 4-ohm subwoofer

www.crutchfield.com

I used the vertical mounting plate and screwed it into the vertical wall under the bench seat and then 3D printed a bracket to wedge underneath and support the weight.

 

[I_squared_r]

I am draining batteries! I have a group 24 starting and a group 24 deep cycle. We usually stay about 9 hours with the volume at or near full. I found a Promariner Prosport 12 on amazon warehouse for $110 and I ordered a 50' marineco extension cord. I keep my boat on a trailer at a marina and they only have shorepower at the docks. I have to back the boat near the water, and run an extension cord w/ adapter to shorepower. Another step to my day, but that's boating

 

[mark_m]

I am draining batteries! I have a group 24 starting and a group 24 deep cycle. We usually stay about 9 hours with the volume at or near full. I found a Promariner Prosport 12 on amazon warehouse for $110 and I ordered a 50' marineco extension cord. I keep my boat on a trailer at a marina and they only have shorepower at the docks. I have to back the boat near the water, and run an extension cord w/ adapter to shorepower. Another step to my day, but that's boating

Go for golf cart batteries in series!