Is there an audio guide for total newbies?

[Agent Boost]

self admittedly - i know nothing about stereos. I'm happy to write the check for parts and materials, i'm happy to do the install...i just have no idea what i'm doing when it comes to designing a stereo upgrade for the late model Yamaha AR boats.

do we have anything like that on the forums? Goals would be to add two waketower speakers, an amp and replace the factor onboard speakers?

if i consult with a local car stereo shop, i also would like to have some power of knowledge so i dont get fleeced by the salesman.

 

[212s]

No guide that I know of, but lots of people here can help. You can google car stereo upgrades and get a good idea of how it goes for a boat. Just remember to use marine rated speakers and amps, and you get what you pay for in stereo gear.

Recently added a JL Audio amp and rewired the six Polk speakers in my boat properly (stern and cockpit wired in series so it was very weak) and it made a huge improvement to the sound quality and output. I'm not into excessive bass so no need for a sub, and these speakers pump pretty good now. Down the road I may upgrade to JL Audio 6.5" speakers to replace the cockpit and bow speakers, but no rush. I'm happy with the Polks for now.

 

[Ogtbagger]

No guide that I know of, but lots of people here can help. You can google car stereo upgrades and get a good idea of how it goes for a boat. Just remember to use marine rated speakers and amps, and you get what you pay for in stereo gear.

Recently added a JL Audio amp and rewired the six Polk speakers in my boat properly (stern and cockpit wired in series so it was very weak) and it made a huge improvement to the sound quality and output. I'm not into excessive bass so no need for a sub, and these speakers pump pretty good now. Down the road I may upgrade to JL Audio 6.5" speakers to replace the cockpit and bow speakers, but no rush. I'm happy with the Polks for now.

Do you have more info/pictures of rewiring your existing speakers?

 

[ctyke]

Ask your questions here.
Open up your wallet.
Set a budget.
Open up your wallet more.
Reach out to @Earmark Marine contact Odin He will help you pick out what works the best together.
Open up your wallet even more.
Order and install.

 

[Drift Away]

What i will tell you is plan your system out based on:
1. Budget
2. How loud do you want to be
3. Are you willing to cut new holes

Get good stuff first. You can get in the stero game with "cheap" stuff, but you will regret it and end up spending more on quality stuff.

 

[212s]

Do you have more info/pictures of rewiring your existing speakers?

@Ogtbagger No pics but all I did was buy good quality shrouded 14ga wire (easier to fish) to future proof my wiring if I upgrade the speakers, then remove each speaker and take off the stock wiring leads, taped them up out of the way, then added my own connectors to the wires. Connected the speakers and put the speaker back in, fished the wires through the boat from each speaker back to the amp in the battery compartment and connected it all up. Used plenty of black zip ties to keep everything tidy and out of the way. I also ran RCA cables from the Fusion head unit in the stern to the amp, along with a remote wire to feed the amp. Tuned the amp sensitivity and we're rockin!

And since the rule is "pics or it didn't happen" Here's a pic of the amp with the battery charger I just installed today:



I used some old shelving boards, cut to size, used heavy duty velcro stips to hold the boards in place (works surprisingly well) and screwed the amp and charger to the boards. This way I can remove the amp or charger without having to remove the boards and no need to drill and screw into the floor of the compartment in case there's something under there I don't want to hit. Charger works great and went to maintenance mode before I closed her all up for the night. I bundled the battery wires up for now top right and will route them under the battery cover properly tomorrow after work to hide them. The only semi-loose wire will be the AC cord for the charger which I'm going to run under the cover too, and zip tie it off near the battery switches so nothing is bouncing around.

 

[Drift Away]

@Ogtbagger No pics but all I did was buy good quality shrouded 14ga wire (easier to fish) to future proof my wiring if I upgrade the speakers, then remove each speaker and take off the stock wiring leads, taped them up out of the way, then added my own connectors to the wires. Connected the speakers and put the speaker back in, fished the wires through the boat from each speaker back to the amp in the battery compartment and connected it all up. Used plenty of black zip ties to keep everything tidy and out of the way. I also ran RCA cables from the Fusion head unit in the stern to the amp, along with a remote wire to feed the amp. Tuned the amp sensitivity and we're rockin!

And since the rule is "pics or it didn't happen" Here's a pic of the amp with the battery charger I just installed today:

View attachment 126006

I used some old shelving boards, cut to size, used heavy duty velcro stips to hold the boards in place (works surprisingly well) and screwed the amp and charger to the boards. This way I can remove the amp or charger without having to remove the boards and no need to drill and screw into the floor of the compartment in case there's something under there I don't want to hit. Charger works great and went to maintenance mode before I closed her all up for the night. I bundled the battery wires up for now top right and will route them under the battery cover properly tomorrow after work to hide them. The only semi-loose wire will be the AC cord for the charger which I'm going to run under the cover too, and zip tie it off near the battery switches so nothing is bouncing around.

You cleaner then mine! Dont mind the tree trimmers, i did not use that to cut the wires.