Audio System for the Frugal JetBoater

[TimW451]

After hemming, hawling, solutioning, researching, and quizzing my fellow jetboaters I opened the wallet in January and February and actually bought something. I’ll be close to a grand, more than my preferred $500-600, but the sub kit was a good deal to me (so don’t tell me if I’m wrong.) And I’m not counting little bits I need, and had from prior purchases, like tools and connectors. Wiring wise it will be final design dependent, but all wiring is factored in.

So, what I got is a Fusion MA-R210, in a kit with two 6.5” XS speakers, I bought 2 more of the speakers, and a JL Audio sub kit with a 10” M3 sub, an MX300 monoblock sub, and (in theory) all the wiring, fuses, and connectors, including the remote amp gain knob. I got the Fusion kit as a open box from Crutchfield, additional speakers as an open box from an Amazon vendor, and the sub kit from Creative Audio.

This post will be my reflection on the journey, serve as my notes for in 3 years time when I say “WTF did I do that?”, and hopefully help a fellow jetboater along the way.

 

[HawaiiBreeze]

Every journey starts with one step or pulling out that wallet! Good Luck and stay with the thread.

 

[TimW451]

I’m not an audiophile, I’ve never touched/tuned an equalizer on any stereo I’ve ever had. Having a subwoofer is advanced as I’ve ever gotten. Therefore I wasn’t going to spend $2k on an audio system. I really needed a hard limit ~$1k and wanted start as close to $500-600 as possible. I had though about buying a $99 Boss receiver & 4 speaker package from Crutchfield, but knew it wouldn’t be worth my install time and I would surely be disowned by this forum.

I knew I wanted a HU with sufficient amp to drive 4 speakers without an external amp, but still able to move up to an external amp w/o hassle. I learned to get a class D amp for efficiency, and I wanted something XM capable as I have weak cell service and few radio stations. Remote control was a big criteria also, I mostly only looked at devices with wired remotes. One unfortunate problem here was that I saw a lot of HUs that could use remotes, but the remotes were discontinued or difficult to find. Since the boat has a DIN HU already there was no need or advantage in getting a headless, gauge, or compact unit.

I had wanted a Fusion, but found them to be expensive, the 70 model without XM is a good price, but I thought the premium for XM was too high (it comes with N2k too, but I don’t need it). I found a great Sony HU that I believe was 40W RMS right before COVID but then the price went up 50% followed by being out of stock for over a year. This all brought me back to looking at Fusions and I think the 210 was new. It is similar to a 670/770, nice color screen, 25W RMS, checked all the other boxes, and I could use the factory power line. (The 670/770 are definitely better units and what you should get if going external amp on day one and want 3+ zones.)

 

[Gap22]

I'll just leave this here:

 

[zipper]

I'll just leave this here:

View attachment 200336

Our Bose, "Soundlink", stopped charging after a couple of season's on the boat.



Wife bought a replacement Bluetooth speaker for a cockpit with no speakers. The frugal jet/sailboater in her bought a JBL Flip 5 | Portable Waterproof Speaker instead of my suggestion for cockpit speakers fed from the cabin stereo.

 

[TimW451]

I’ve been using a Super LifeJacket Bluetooth speaker for the past four years. (Recommended by @Ronnie.) Great purchase. Here it is under sea trials: