JL Slampak Questions

[dnicholas47]

Bought a boat that already had JL Audio interior and tower Slampaks installed, along with 2 JL MX650 6.5 speakers near captain and passenger seat. But even with all that I can’t hear a thing when we are underway unless I am at max volume. Is this normal? Could it be how the amp is tuned? Does anyone with this boat/setup have access to the panel that could put a picture on here of how you are tuned so I could compare?

I’m not trying to be the loudest boat on the lake by any imagination, but I wouldn’t mind being able to at least hear a song when cruising. Also there is a knob on the dash that either increase the tower or the sub. Not sure if that matters. Also, here is the thread for some of the install on the boat if that helps.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/conn...to-house-battery-or-dual-battery-switch.5065/

 

[Jaylex]

I would have said it wasnt uncommon to experience this, BUT those 2 extra cabin speakers should def help the sound, which makes me think it's the amps or how it wired maybe...underpowered.

I personally am not a fan of the slampacks since you get what they give you vs getting what you need....I doubt anyone would sacrifice the sound over convenience but it happens. Plus their not all that cheaper than what Odin can sell them to you for.

How many inboats do you have 6 or 8, assume MX650s? , and what amp is pushing them. I had 8 of the JL MX650s on a 800/8 and it was plenty loud by most account's, still a lil lacking when underway but certainly can hear it.

The towers should be giving you more, but I believe those slampacks only come with MX line speakers/towers. Great speakers but if not properly powered you might be longing for more.

Do you have pics or additional info on the setup so others can chime in.

And yes there are knobs available for the JL amps that can turn them up or down...I have them on amps for subs and towers and they come in handy...although they are rarely off...but nice to have that feature. I have mine mounted above the throttles.

 

[dnicholas47]

I will try and get more pictures later today. These pictures are from the previous owner. There are 6 MX 650 cabin speakers, 2 towers and 1 10” sub. 2 amps, a 600/6 and 200/2.

 

[Drift Away]

Might need to check the gains or the frequency

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Ahh... while the problem is the gains... it might be that rats nest of wires lol.

 

[Drift Away]

Ahh... while the problem is the gains... it might be that rats nest of wires lol.

Hard to see the gains but looks like it might be like 50%. Missing out on alot of power

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Hard to see the gains but looks like it might be like 50%. Missing out on alot of power

If they are at 50%... this might be a pain to trouble shoot. My next best guess would be input signal.

 

[Drift Away]

If they are at 50%... this might be a pain to trouble shoot. My next best guess would be input signal.

Well look at the 4 channel. I dont think anything is even hooked up other thanpower, ground and remote

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Well look at the 4 channel. I dont think anything is even hooked up other thanpower, ground and remote

Good catch. 800 looks like it is powering 4 speakers and a sub.

 

[dnicholas47]

The pictures are old. I think he took them while working on the install. I will get down to the boat later today and take a few more detailed pictures. Thank you guys for helping me with this!

 

[Drift Away]

The pictures are old. I think he took them while working on the install. I will get down to the boat later today and take a few more detailed pictures. Thank you guys for helping me with this!

Take a good one of the gain and other settings

 

[Jaylex]

Im not sure how the gain works exactly, I know turning it up can be good and bad...but out on the water making the amp work harder isnt a good thing

I personally think those speakers are just under powered...big time.

No way that 600 can power all those speakers sufficiently, not if you want it to be crystal clear.

I would suggest selling that 200 and swapping it out for a 700/5, that would power the sub and give you 4 extra channels to run the towers and then each of the inboat will be getting max power as well. You would be doubling the power and will notice the diff imho.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

In a nutshell - the gain is used to find maximum clean amplifier output based on input voltage. This is why a higher input voltage yields a lower gain setting. Or you can view it as the gain controls the level of amplification.

 

[Jaylex]

correct, I got that part....my thing was that gain can only account for so much before the lack of power comes into play, especially with that many speakers on those amp...he can easily add more power and adj the gains and see a major improvement....??

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

75 watts is more than enough power to hear some speakers underway. There are a lot of red flags here though. From the picture only four speakers and a subwoofer are hooked up. The 200/2 is not powering anything. He also mentions a tower, but not other details on that. Based on what we see, I would assume the only the 4 factory locations speakers are powered and the speakers by the helm are not powered, which is the primary issue for him right now. Also his level controls are all the way down - I am not sure what is powering the tower but if that was turned up that would help significantly.

However I would agree he needs more power. He should probably have a 800/8 to power the 6 interior speakers and the last two bridged to the sub, and then it depends on his towers for the M200/2. If they are 6.5 powers, probably fine, but if 8.8s a 400/4 would be better. (Bridged)

 

[Drift Away]

I agree. He has what he needs to be loud. Just needs to set those 6.5 at about 120 hrtz and 3/4 gains

 

[dnicholas47]

It’s raining like 7,000 cattle peeing on a flat rock here right now. Will get those pictures ASAP. Don’t read too much into what pictures I posted before, because I think those were his pictures during the install, but not the finished product.

 

[dnicholas47]

Hopefully this helps. The 2 dials on the dash are turned all the way up and control the sub and tower speakers. I turned it on while I was there and you can’t hear much until it’s at 20-25 volume and only if it’s on the “Rock” equalizer setting.

 

[Drift Away]

Hopefully this helps. The 2 dials on the dash are turned all the way up and control the sub and tower speakers. I turned it on while I was there and you can’t hear much until it’s at 20-25 volume and only if it’s on the “Rock” equalizer setting.

There are a ton of things wrong with the settings on your amps no wounder its not very loud.
1. Set all your 6.5s at 120 hertz
2. Set your sub at 80 and on low pass.
3. Turn your gains over to about 3/4. So tje should look like -- that.

That should kick it up alot. If you start hearing distortion through your speakers back the gains down a little bit

 

[dnicholas47]

Thank you so much! I will change it next time I go out. Just so I’m clear, the gains screw should be at 3:00-9:00?