2017 AR210 - Swim deck speakers

[mattschepker]

I would just save the money. Instead of modifying your cushions adding speakers to the rear swim deck and apply it to Tower speakers. Well worth the investment

 

[Jaylex]

I agree....having a tower with no tower speakers is almost as bad as me having a tower and not using it for any water activities, I thought the main purpose of tower was to hang speakers anyways lol

Those cans look like a win-win...JL also makes some MX tower speakers that are nice as well, MX770s should be a nice win and give you increased projection over just having transom speakers, especially if you put them down low.

 

[Paul Edwards]

jeff_s - where did you end up landing your 6.5” speakers? I have a 2018 ar210 and am wanting speakers on the swim deck like you have mocked up in your images previously shown in this thread.

 

[jeff_s]

I bought a set of tower cans and plan on installing them on the tower.

I couldn’t see cutting those holes in the swim deck.

 

[Drift Away]

I bought a set of tower cans and plan on installing them on the tower.

I couldn’t see cutting those holes in the swim deck.

Give it time. If i think i can fit a speaker some place i am cutting lol.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

Anybody ever end up doing this? I have a 212 limited s and want to upgrade the speakers but have come to find that neither JL or wet sounds currently make a replacement 5.25” speaker. I’m worried that a 6.5” won’t fit because of that molded in curve in the fiberglass.

 

[Trevor Shipman]

I’m big on keeping things looking factory. We tried to put them behind the cushion hoping the sound would squeak out but it just didn’t so we decided to start cutting. I’m happy with the turnout, not sure if it looks factory but I’m happy.

 

[Paul Edwards]

Bacchus_fl - on my 2018 AR210 I ended up being the Guinea pig. You are correct, 6.5” speakers will not work without some fab work. I tried explaining this to my local audio shop, they told me no big deal until they got the hole cut. They ended up fabbing some plastic to make it all work. I had an upholstery shop modify the cushions. There was a screw hole left over from the cushion section that had to be removed. I filled the hole and bought some Yamaha stickers on eBay, done and done. These are the new JL M6’s. I had all 4 interior speakers replaced, added the two swim deck, two towers with the additional LED light caps wired to the courtesy light switch, 12”sub, head unit, swim deck remote head unit, 2 additional batteries, and two amps to push it all. LOUD and clear. It’s been a process, but fun none the less.

 

[Bacchus_fl]

@Paul Edwards That is badass!! I can tell you hate money as much as I do.

 

[Paul Edwards]

Yeah, the invoice hurt a little. But come summertime.....nothing but good times hopefully.

 

[Paul Edwards]

Got out on the water yesterday and had the audio cranked all day. It plays as loud as I had hoped. I can hear music while cruising across the lake, before the engines and wind noise would just drowned out the factory audio.

 

[Brent Markham]

Did I read that correct? you have 3 total batteries? @Paul Edwards

 

[Paul Edwards]

That is correct. 3 total batteries.

 

[Brent Markham]

Do the speakers and amps drain your batteries that much? Or is this extra precaution?

 

[Paul Edwards]

Definitely just precaution. We will anchor down for hours and don’t ever want to get stranded. The last thing I’m trying to do when having fun is worry about my batteries. It’s a two bank setup. I run the 2 battery bank all day. I have the second 1 battery bank there just as a precaution in the event I need to switch to it to get back to the dock.

 

[Brent Markham]

That is what I thought. Do you have the 2 batteries setup together on the "house" switch and the single one for the "start" switch. Just curious because I want to add quite a bit to mine and was thinking of having another battery installed for when I am at the sandbar or anchored out at a reef.

 

[Paul Edwards]

Exactly correct. I’ll have the boat out this weekend and snap a couple pics of my setup and post. I was told that the alternator to charge these deep cell batteries may not be sufficient enough and that I should buy a charger to charge the battieries while out of the water, haven’t done so and haven’t had any issues thus far.

 

[jnelson]

Exactly correct. I’ll have the boat out this weekend and snap a couple pics of my setup and post. I was told that the alternator to charge these deep cell batteries may not be sufficient enough and that I should buy a charger to charge the battieries while out of the water, haven’t done so and haven’t had any issues thus far.

Awesome stereo and install! I really like your sub location. Is that a JL m6 12? I didn't know a 12" would fit there. Did your shop have to do any modifying to get it to fit there like the speakers on the rear swim platform? I guess I always thought there wasn't enough depth there. Do you have any regrets with putting it there versus anywhere else on the boat?

 

[Paul Edwards]

The sub is a 10” M3-10IB-S-Gm-i-4. The location is perfect and sounds fantastic within the boat. The base doesn’t protrude out into the water like I’d like it to, but in the boat is all good. If I could make a mod it would be to add a second 10” sub directly on the opposite side (port side). The Yamaha deck speakers that come with the higher end models are Polk 5 1/4’s. These JL deck speakers are 6 1/2, JL doesn’t make a 5 1/4 marine. Yes, the speaker shop had to mod a spacer to fit the curvature of the deck wall. If I had to do it all over again, I may have looked at some polks everywhere so the deck wouldn’t have to be mod’ed and would have been able to add some additional subs for probably way less than I spent on the JL system. Not to take anything away from the JL’s, they’re just very pricey.

 

[spankybeanz]

Bacchus_fl - on my 2018 AR210 I ended up being the Guinea pig. You are correct, 6.5” speakers will not work without some fab work. I tried explaining this to my local audio shop, they told me no big deal until they got the hole cut. They ended up fabbing some plastic to make it all work. I had an upholstery shop modify the cushions. There was a screw hole left over from the cushion section that had to be removed. I filled the hole and bought some Yamaha stickers on eBay, done and done. These are the new JL M6’s. I had all 4 interior speakers replaced, added the two swim deck, two towers with the additional LED light caps wired to the courtesy light switch, 12”sub, head unit, swim deck remote head unit, 2 additional batteries, and two amps to push it all. LOUD and clear. It’s been a process, but fun none the less.

Do you have any photos of the third battery location? Also, how did you secure The battery to the boat? My 2021 212s has two batteries but I was considering a third and thought about mounting it on the opposite side of the boat