Audio: Two Amp System, Individual control of in-boat vs tower speakers

[jmboater]

I'm looking to replace my existing audio amplifier and get controllability between which speakers are playing (in-boat, tower, and both).

Current setup: 4 channel amplifier (blown) powering 4 in-boat speakers and 2 tower speakers

Future setup decisions:

1. A 6-channel amplifier wiring each of the speakers, in-boat and tower
2. A 4-channel amp for in-boat speaker and a 2 channel amp for tower speakers

What I am trying to understand is (without using the head-unit) what is the best way to select between :

1. In-boat speakers only
2. Tower speakers only
3. All the speakers

...and do I use speaker wire volume controls, RCA input controls, or something entirely different to accomplish this. My forum searches so far have not come across this but it could be my inability to search the right keywords.

 

[AZMark]

I used these. There are more expensive equalizers and things that will do it too.

Dual Zone Volume Control

Each sold separately Tired of taking your eyes off the water to dig through poorly-designed head unit menus just to adjust the balance between your in-boat marine speakers and tower speakers? So are we. That’s why we created the Dual Zone Volume Control. With this elegant analog solution, you...

store.roswellmarine.com

Edit: There are cheaper rca level controls out there too but these Roswell ones are pretty nice and I liked that there are two adjusters per unit, more compact.

 

[jmboater]

I used these. There are more expensive equalizers and things that will do it too.

Dual Zone Volume Control

Each sold separately Tired of taking your eyes off the water to dig through poorly-designed head unit menus just to adjust the balance between your in-boat marine speakers and tower speakers? So are we. That’s why we created the Dual Zone Volume Control. With this elegant analog solution, you...

store.roswellmarine.com

Edit: There are cheaper rca level controls out there too but these Roswell ones are pretty nice and I liked that there are two adjusters per unit, more compact.

Awesome, so you take the one input from your headunit and dual outputs (one to each of the amps) and thats it? Seems like the perfect solution.

 

[AZMark]

Yes. My head unit has 4 rca outputs that I’ve split into 8 (4 zones of R/L) with two of these controls.

I wasn’t sure how it would work with the signals split but the sound quality seems to be just as good as before without them.

 

[kgower]

The new X series boats have 4 zones, Tower, Cabin, Sub and transom. I have 2 amps on my 24 222SE but still only have 2 zones, tower and cabin, All harnesses no RCA's, Professional installation. Can anyone with knowledge or an X series boat explain and or share photos of your wiring with the 4 zones.

 

[BlueBulls]

I've got my head unit and main six-channel amplifier on the main house circuit running eight speakers inside the boat and the stock subwoofer.

On a separate circuit with its own battery connection and switch the second (larger) six-channel amp runs the two tower speakers and the second (larger) subwoofer.

Wired this way I just flip the second cutoff on or off depending on if we need volume and bass or are wanting to be a little quieter in the marina or crowded anchorage. It would be easy to put both amps on their own power switches (while leaving the head unit on the main house circuit) and you would be able to select interior, tower, or both zones. I don't think it gets any easier than that - audio settings and volumes can stay the same and it just takes a few seconds of 'boot' time for the second circuit to come online.

 

[Cambo]

Two RCA outputs from the head unit one to each EQ this allows 6 channels

Top EQ Runs the cabin speakers with the ability to fade front to rear and has one subwoofer hooked up

Bottom eq runs tower speakers with the ability to adjust the different speakers on the tower and one larger powerful sub woofer

Each eq has its own volume control this allows full operation with quick analog knob adjustments some songs are loaded with bass and you can quickly adjust

Hanging at the sand bar turn the cabin speakers down and tower up

maybe someone doesn't enjoy loud music I turn the bow down