2014 AR240 Clarion, change speakers?

[TN888]

My boat came with the basic Clarion & 4 speakers and I'd like to get more volume out of them. Will changing the speakers help, or do I need to add some kind of amplifier? I'm not looking to spend much, just get a little more crisp volume.

My knowledge on radio's/sound systems is weak, any advise helps.

 

[Master-Spud]

Any way you do it I would say a new Amp for sure, the CMD8 deck that comes with the boat is rated at 4x18watts RMS, with a max of 4x45watts. The Polk speakers(as long as I have the right ones) are rated at 60w RMS and 180w peak. So adding some more power to these should help drive them a little better. I am debating the same thing on my boat which is even worse considering the 212x is running 6 speakers off the deck. Going to be doing a stereo upgrade in the off season and think I'll try keeping the stock speakers and just add an amp, tower speakers, dual battery and possibly a sub. If the speakers don't perform I'll switch to better speakers after which I should easily be able to do myself.

 

[farrelltravis]

I started with stock speakers and the stock head unit. I replaced the stock speakers with WetSounds. There was no doubt a difference. The Wetsounds - with no amp - did sound better. However, I have now added an amp and a 10" subwoofer. The difference is night and day with the amp and sub.

 

[octavio3311]

I believe the AR240 was equipped with the Seaworthy speakers (not completely sure) - those are pure junk - replace them. If your boat was equipped with the Polks like the 212's and the 242L - then just and an amp. Those Polks sounds amazing with some power behind them.

 

[Master-Spud]

I would still suggest adding an amp first that would power the stock speakers and as a backup plan be powerfull enough to push whatever you think you might like to upgrade to. Then if you are still unhappy with the stock speakers replace them after. That way you aren't wasting money replacing the stock speakers if adding the amp is enough for you. All depends just how crazy you want to get. Personally I think adding more power to the highly underpowered speakers should make a fairly big difference, but of course that is just a guess until I try it out.

 

[Master-Spud]

Ahhh didn't realize the polk was limited to certain models, yes I'm with @octavio3311 if it came wih the seaworthy ones ditch them and also add an amp!

 

[octavio3311]

@Master-Spud I see you're in a 212x as well.
I added 2 WetSounds amps - a HT6 powering the 6 inboats and a HT4 powering 2 tower speakers and a WetSounds sub. I'd can honestly say - the biggest improvement was I added 2 more speakers to the cockpit - 1 underneath the throttles and another directly opposite. With the stock configuration - the 2 in the bow was for peeps hanging out up there, and the 2 in the rear are projecting directly into peoples backs. The mid cabin area was missing sound. Those 2 extra speakers transformed the sound quality and fill the cabin with sound. It sounds AMAZING! I highly recommend it.

 

[Master-Spud]

Thanks for the tip, I was considering adding some mid cabin and this kind of reinforces that thought. If you don't mind me asking, what did the setup cost you? did you do it yourself or get it installed?

 

[TN888]

Thanks for the replies, so I'm only looking to gain little more sound and will have dealer add the amplifier.....which amplifier brand/model for the 4 stock speakers? Eventually I will change the speakers to better quality.

Not looking to spend big bucks, something decent.... ??

 

[octavio3311]

If you don't mind me asking, what did the setup cost you? did you do it yourself or get it installed?

Ha - it wasn't cheap. I had the dealer install it so everything was covered under warranty. Components, parts and labor and some other misc stuff I had done, (like the independent zone volume control) was in the neighborhood of $3k.
I certainly could've gone a cheaper route - but I've always liked the WetSounds stuff so decided "why not". And we've been very happy with the results.

 

[Master-Spud]

Well that's not as bad as I thought it might be. I have a feeling I am going to get dinged a little more for the work up here in Canada, nature of the beast up here, everything costs more. (one of the reasons I bought the boat in the US)

 

[Martin Reagan]

On my old 2009 ar 230 I just added 2 digital amps alpine replaced the speakers myself very simple the had 2 tower speakers installed amazing sound the stock deck is fine it's the amps and speakers that make all the difference

 

[txav8r]

Just to help separate where the real money goes...the tower speakers, if they are meant to project out behind the boat, will cost you about the same amount for the couple of speakers and the power behind them, as the entire boat cost to change and add speakers, amp, and sub to. There is a huge difference between horns and coaxials in terms of what they will do and cost. You can get decent speakers such as the stock Polk 651's but those are also an entry level speaker. The wet sounds, JL's, and the like are a much different, much more capable coaxial speaker. But Polk also makes a comparable line, called the MM651UM. The difference is dramatic, but hearing is believing. You can get a good audio upgrade in the $1500-2000 range if you do the work. Buy quality and from a reputable "authorized" dealer, that will provide you with not only support, but gain you access to the factory warranty that an "online non authorized" seller can't. Earmark Marine Online Store is a perfect example of a dealer that is backed by the manufacturer and can put packages together at near "online store" prices, and give you not only full warranty, but also help you through your install. Nothing you do will give you the system you really want, until you add an amp and subwoofer...provided you already have a half way decent speaker...and seaworthy isn't a decent speaker.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Sorry to hijack such an old thread...

I'm looking to replace the stock Clarion head unit (edit: CMD6) (and probably all the speakers, add an amp) on my 2014 242 LS. I noticed the RMS output is rated at 4x21W. However, there are 6 speakers, plus the 2 tweeters in the tower. Is there something else in there powering these speakers (small amp?) or did they just run 2 sets of speakers in parallel on each output? Looking at the CMD6 manual looks like it's only rated for 4-8 ohms, so these speakers if they are 4ohm speakers would have to be wired in series. If they've got 2 speakers on each output @ 21W, that's being split to ~10W. No wonder they sound so awful.

I'm going to dig in to the wiring this weekend and see what's what, but wanted to see if anyone had details first so I'm not just guessing.

 

[n_ikkon]

Sorry to hijack such an old thread...

I'm looking to replace the stock Clarion head unit (edit: CMD6) (and probably all the speakers, add an amp) on my 2014 242 LS. I noticed the RMS output is rated at 4x21W. However, there are 6 speakers, plus the 2 tweeters in the tower. Is there something else in there powering these speakers (small amp?) or did they just run 2 sets of speakers in parallel on each output? Looking at the CMD6 manual looks like it's only rated for 4-8 ohms, so these speakers if they are 4ohm speakers would have to be wired in series. If they've got 2 speakers on each output @ 21W, that's being split to ~10W. No wonder they sound so awful.

I'm going to dig in to the wiring this weekend and see what's what, but wanted to see if anyone had details first so I'm not just guessing.

Hello.... what did you find out with the speaker wiring?

 

[FLJetBoater]

Hello.... what did you find out with the speaker wiring?

didn’t get a chance last weekend. Everything has been ordered. Replacing the speakers straight out for wetsounds revo6 6.5s when they arrive Thursday and will figure out all the wiring then. Then batteries, amp and revo8s for captain area after that.

 

[n_ikkon]

didn’t get a chance last weekend. Everything has been ordered. Replacing the speakers straight out for wetsounds revo6 6.5s when they arrive Thursday and will figure out all the wiring then. Then batteries, amp and revo8s for captain area after that.

Okay... Keep me posted. Looks like we are close to each other. I go to bird island every other weekend. I would love to see the work. I already did the speaker upgrades. I went with the DS-18 NXL-6M/BK. It made a world of difference from the factory speakers. Now I want to add an amp.

 

[FLJetBoater]

Okay... Keep me posted. Looks like we are close to each other. I go to bird island every other weekend. I would love to see the work. I already did the speaker upgrades. I went with the DS-18 NXL-6M/BK. It made a world of difference from the factory speakers. Now I want to add an amp.

Oh yeah that's awesome....we go once in a while as well. Probably not every other weekend as we head out to the coast most weekends, but sometimes we do stay local. I'll let you know once I get it sorted.