Replacing my radio - looking for input

[IndySX190]

My radio has died, kind of. It is only playing at volume on the right bow speaker. The others are really quiet. It worked fine for the whole summer, then just quit one day. My assumption is the amp is fried. All of the speaker wires have the correct polarity and none of them are blown.

Since we've only had the boat since June, I should be able to get a warranty claim approved and a free replacement. However, I never liked that radio. It got moisture behind the display rather quickly (something I've heard others say as well). Also, the amp was not powerful enough to hear any music while the engine was running at speed.

Any recommendations on a new head unit? I don't want to go into the wild world of amps, subs, etc.

So far I am looking at this one...

Amazon.com: Kicker 46KMC2 Weather-Resistant Marine Grade Gauge Mount Media Center Receiver with Bluetooth Capability: Electronics

Buy Kicker 46KMC2 Weather-Resistant Marine Grade Gauge Mount Media Center Receiver with Bluetooth Capability: Marine Stereos - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I really like the volume KNOB! If anyone has a similar setup, can you hear it at speed? If not, I may just go with a warranty replacement.

Thanks!

 

[biffdotorg]

I'm not one to go nuts on big stereo's either. I was fortunate enough to have the previous owners of our boat be that nut.

That being said, finding the issue is important before putting a ton of money into a new head unit. The kicker you have posted is very popular in the SXS community. As they are small, do everything they want, and at 200w is considered "high powered" for a head unit. That being said, for that money, you could add a small amp to your stock setup after a warranty replacement to your stocker.

If you could not hear it at speed, there is a chance that your radio was flakey from day one. it would be wise to consult your dealer and ask, and see what the timeline for a replacement may be, and they have the ability to troubleshoot what the real issue is and replace just that component.

Now once they get it up and running, adding an amp could bump it up and the install is not overly tough. I get the idea of a volume knob, as I like that as well. But take advantage of the warranty to troubleshoot it. And if it still sucks, then come back and let's talk about what you may want to replace it with. I just replaced our stock head unit a month ago. But never had a need to replace it up until it finally died. But all the good stuff that makes it put 6 digit wake boats to shame is from the amp out. The head unit is just a source switcher in my eyes.

Again, that being said, the new Fusion head unit I put in, did come with some nice features that made it a fun upgrade.

Good luck!

 

[SamN44]

My radio has died, kind of. It is only playing at volume on the right bow speaker. The others are really quiet. It worked fine for the whole summer, then just quit one day. My assumption is the amp is fried. All of the speaker wires have the correct polarity and none of them are blown.

Since we've only had the boat since June, I should be able to get a warranty claim approved and a free replacement. However, I never liked that radio. It got moisture behind the display rather quickly (something I've heard others say as well). Also, the amp was not powerful enough to hear any music while the engine was running at speed.

Any recommendations on a new head unit? I don't want to go into the wild world of amps, subs, etc.

So far I am looking at this one...

Amazon.com: Kicker 46KMC2 Weather-Resistant Marine Grade Gauge Mount Media Center Receiver with Bluetooth Capability: Electronics

Buy Kicker 46KMC2 Weather-Resistant Marine Grade Gauge Mount Media Center Receiver with Bluetooth Capability: Marine Stereos - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I really like the volume KNOB! If anyone has a similar setup, can you hear it at speed? If not, I may just go with a warranty replacement.

Thanks!

I have the same head unit as you do and mine died this weekend. Started making an awful high pitch squealing noise out of the speakers after it rained on us. I'm looking at the Wet Sounds WS-MC2, but the Kicker looks nice too. I have a small Kenwood amp 80% wired in, but need to replace the head unit now.

Let us know what you decide on. I don't want to wait around for the warranty work either.

 

[tdonoughue]

Two thoughts (to add to what @biffdotorg put so well):
1) Yes, if you are going to replace, go Fusion for the HU. Love mine. Period.
b) The other option if you can't hear the radio when running is to add some noise reduction material. I got surprisingly good results from just shoving egg crate on the side walls of the engine compartment (those go right through to the area under the seats). Others have reported noise-reducing material on the gas tank hatch cover also had good effect.

 

[IndySX190]

b) The other option if you can't hear the radio when running is to add some noise reduction material. I got surprisingly good results from just shoving egg crate on the side walls of the engine compartment (those go right through to the area under the seats). Others have reported noise-reducing material on the gas tank hatch cover also had good effect.

This is probably the first real "mod" I want to pull off. The SX190 is LOUD when cruising. Usually my daughter and a friend are in the bow. That leaves the adults sitting quietly in the back until we've stopped. The loud, white noise does put my son to sleep though.

I found a website, that does sound insulation kits for inboards. It's an involved process and looks like it would work. Take a look at their pictures...

Boat Engine Compartment Insulation Kit

Boat soundproofing is a breeze with Second Skin engine compartment insulation material. Boat insulation will put an end to frustrating, loud engine noise.

www.secondskinaudio.com

But back to your comment, I'll checkout that head unit and I totally agree about the sound deadening.

 

[tdonoughue]

Looks like that kit is basically the soundproofing material. I am betting you need to cut it yourself, etc. I got some soundproofing material on eBay (have yet to install it--it is on the todo list). Then had the egg crate left over from the son's physics project...

Yes, soundproofing is a lot of work. On our boats you need to be strategic on where you do it, tho. Some have spent a lot of time doing it and reported weak results. Others report a good improvement.

And the boy can be put to sleep with a little white noise box, in case you soundproof the engine.

 

[Zizzou 192]

Often a press on connector will come off the input tab on the back of the speaker to cut out a channel. But 3 channels?

Also in previous years of the 19ft boats there was a prewired connector coming out of the clarion radio harness where you could plug a clarion amp in without touching a wire.

Basically to hear music over the engine at full throttle you are going to need a minimum of 60w RMS per speaker from the head unit and or amp, and of coourse speakers that will handle that.

As for soundproofing, the engine noise seems to be especially loud when the storage is empty under the rear seats. the empty under seat compartments amplify the engine noise like a hollow bodied string instrument. This is true especially of the port rear under seat compartment. We noticed one day after stuffing large filled coolers in the rear under seat compartments we were able to carry on a conversation between captain’s chairs at fulll throttle without yelling.

 

[IndySX190]

Nice! We keep life jackets in the rear-starboard area. The long one, port side is less full. It has my battery, table/leg, and a few plano boxes. I may try to soundproof the engine side of those areas, to your point.

As to the connectors, i've checked each one and even unplugged and replugged everything in. I'm trying to hold off on the warranty call until we are mostly done with the boat for the year.

 

[IndySX190]

Replace the head unit with Aquatics AV GP1

Amazon.com: Aquatic AV GP1 Gauge Size Waterproof Marine Stereo : Electronics

Buy Aquatic AV GP1 Gauge Size Waterproof Marine Stereo: Car Stereo Receivers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

This seems to be of better quality. However, it did not fix the speaker issue. Still only getting decent sound from one speaker. I'm going to move that speaker around and see if the others are just blown. I did an Ohm test across each channel and they all returned ~4ohms. So i think something else is going on.

More to come...

 

[SamN44]

Replace the head unit with Aquatics AV GP1

Amazon.com: Aquatic AV GP1 Gauge Size Waterproof Marine Stereo : Electronics

Buy Aquatic AV GP1 Gauge Size Waterproof Marine Stereo: Car Stereo Receivers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

This seems to be of better quality. However, it did not fix the speaker issue. Still only getting decent sound from one speaker. I'm going to move that speaker around and see if the others are just blown. I did an Ohm test across each channel and they all returned ~4ohms. So i think something else is going on.

More to come...

Definitely sounds like a speaker or wiring issue. When my stock head unit died, I also lost one of my speakers. Not much to the stock system, so think simple solutions first. When my speaker failed, the glue holding the cone separated from the body of the speaker. Could hear sound, but it was really muffled and no bass. An ohm reading would have still said it was fine. I would lean towards blown speakers versus bad wiring.

By the way, I ended up installing the Kicker head unit you mentioned and the knob rocks.

 

[IndySX190]

By the way, I ended up installing the Kicker head unit you mentioned and the knob rocks.

Yeah - knobs are the way to go. I'll get a picture of the Aquatics AV unit posted. Looks like I'll have a back-up in the stock Jensen it dies.

Hoping to move that good speaker around today. Also - got slightly better sound out of the "bad" speakers when I zoomed in on each one with bal/fade. Wondering if i caused something to arc a bit and reconnect in a way.

If they're blown - I'll grab the Polk DB652's everyone raves about.

Next job is some sound deadening...