Speaker/Amp Recommendations

[212s]

Here’s a good deal on Wet Sounds Revo 6s for $350 a pair

Wet Sounds REVO 6 XS-S 6.5-inch Marine Coaxial Speakers - Silver XS

Make a statement with one of the best performing marine coaxial speakers on the market, the REVO Series features a high power design to deliver incredible sound! Not only that, like with all REVO series speakers, you can go even further with the included RGB backlighting. Sold as a pair.

www.atlanticrt.com

That sounds like a good deal...WS sells them for about $500 a pair?

as far as amps you cant beat NVX amps from sonic electronics for the price.

Actually NVX is just like Rockville (probably same chinese factory) with over-rated output claims, so you can expect about half the output from them. They'll work just fine, but don't expect to actually get the numbers they're suggesting.

Make sure to get OFC wiring for your system and not some cheap CCA from Amazon.

CCA has more resistance, so copper is better for signal transfer. But OFC wire is a marketing gimmick to sell at higher prices...it does nothing to increase performance or power transfer - regular copper and OFC perform the same. OFC was created for those with clear jackets so you could see your copper wire was still "shiny", but outside the jacket at the connectors OFC will still tarnish just like regular copper even if you can't see it. It doesn't affect performance at all though, but it doesn't look "pretty". As far as electron flow is conerned, it's all the same - there's no magic here. The only reason stranded copper wire was chosen for speakers is that it's more flexible over solid copper wires. If I was wiring up a speaker system inside house walls, I'd use regular 12/2 electrical wire to the boxes - works great, easy to pull, meets in-wall code, and is typically cheaper than basic copper "speaker wire". Outside the wall, I'd run basic copper speaker wire to the actual speaker locations.

If you have an issue with corrosion in a saltwater environment, you might want to buy tinned copper speaker wire. Beyond that, just buy regular copper speaker wire at Home Depot or wherever it's sold at a reasonable price.

 

[KCAR250]

That sounds like a good deal...WS sells them for about $500 a pair?

Actually NVX is just like Rockville (probably same chinese factory) with over-rated output claims, so you can expect about half the output from them. They'll work just fine, but don't expect to actually get the numbers they're suggesting.

CCA has more resistance, so copper is better for signal transfer. But OFC wire is a marketing gimmick to sell at higher prices...it does nothing to increase performance or power transfer - regular copper and OFC perform the same. OFC was created for those with clear jackets so you could see your copper wire was still "shiny", but outside the jacket at the connectors OFC will still tarnish just like regular copper even if you can't see it. It doesn't affect performance at all though, but it doesn't look "pretty". As far as electron flow is conerned, it's all the same - there's no magic here. The only reason stranded copper wire was chosen for speakers is that it's more flexible over solid copper wires. If I was wiring up a speaker system inside house walls, I'd use regular 12/2 electrical wire to the boxes - works great, easy to pull, meets in-wall code, and is typically cheaper than basic copper "speaker wire". Outside the wall, I'd run basic copper speaker wire to the actual speaker locations.

If you have an issue with corrosion in a saltwater environment, you might want to buy tinned copper speaker wire. Beyond that, just buy regular copper speaker wire at Home Depot or wherever it's sold at a reasonable price.

NVX has been dyno tested by several independent testers to show they produce 100% of what they advertise. 50% is just not true.

CCA isn’t copper! It’s aluminum with copper coating! OFC is pure copper. I completely disagree with it just being a marketing gimmick.

 

[ripler]

Knukonceptz is a good place to buy power wire.

Power Wire

www.knukonceptz.com

 

[ellj]

Is this a decent mid range amp?

Rockville RXM8BTW 1500w Peak/750w Dyno-Certified RMS Marine 8 Channel Digital Class D Power Amplifier with Bluetooth Wireless Integration

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DQYMDBU/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_6ZS6WZ50T6VX4YGZ3K57

Going to pair it with

Fusion Entertainment MS-RA70 Marine Entertainment System with Bluetooth

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BKF1GGU/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_K39PZX0H03GME3JHYMJQ

 

[HangOutdoors]

Here is what I am doing. In my cart just waiting for Admiral's approval.

6 of these
Kicker OEM Replacement Charcoal 6.5" 4-Ohm Coaxial Marine Speakers (Pair) - Creative Audio

1 Subwoofer
JL Audio MX10IB3-SG-TLD-B 10-inch Marine Subwoofer Driver, Titanium Sport Grille with Blue LED With RGB LED Speaker Ring - Creative Audio

1 amp
Fusion SG-DA51600 Signature Series 5 Channel Marine Amplifier - Creative Audio

 

[Danielmailin]

Is this a decent mid range amp?

Rockville RXM8BTW 1500w Peak/750w Dyno-Certified RMS Marine 8 Channel Digital Class D Power Amplifier with Bluetooth Wireless Integration

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DQYMDBU/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_6ZS6WZ50T6VX4YGZ3K57

Going to pair it with

Fusion Entertainment MS-RA70 Marine Entertainment System with Bluetooth

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BKF1GGU/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_K39PZX0H03GME3JHYMJQ

Here is my experience in saltwater environment:
I bought this amp about 3 years ago, within 2 years one channel stopped working, and by the 3rd year all all outside connectors were corroded.
Sound wise, it was not bad, not the greatest.
You get what you pay for but don't expect to last more then 3 years.
I replaced it a Fusion Signature Series 5 channel.
Great amp, great sound, made for saltwater environment.

 

[212s]

NVX has been dyno tested by several independent testers to show they produce 100% of what they advertise. 50% is just not true.

Sorry I was thinking of another brand...so I went and watched a few dyno tests and what I've seen is that some of them fall short of their claims on RMS and some exceed. But nowhere near their peak claims which is usually double the RMS rating. Tests show their dynamic power is just above their actual RMS output. So yeah, they perform ok. My biggest concern is the mediocre construction and shortcuts they use. I wouldn't expect them to last in a saltwater environment.

CCA isn’t copper! It’s aluminum with copper coating!

Yes it is...that's why I mentioned the resistance. If you up the size you can overcome the resistance and get equal performance to copper. But since they're priced about the same for the same level of performance, might as well use copper. But there's nothing inherently wrong with CCA.

OFC is pure copper. I completely disagree with it just being a marketing gimmick.

Google OFC and gimmick and you'll find blind tests show no difference. It's a way to charge more money for nothing. It's like the BS marketing of companies like Monster Cables...$5 cables for $50 because the packaging is "awesome". They don't work any better than decent quality cables from Home Depot or Best Buy.

Here is my experience in saltwater environment:
I bought this amp about 3 years ago, within 2 years one channel stopped working, and by the 3rd year all all outside connectors were corroded.

Exactly what I mentioned above. Marine quality varies and the good stuff lasts longer because it's made better, but it costs more to get the good stuff.

Knukonceptz is a good place to buy power wire.

Their prices seem reasonable. But they need to update their website to secure connections (HTTPS).[/QUOTE]

 

[212s]

Here is what I am doing. In my cart just waiting for Admiral's approval.

That should work fine...don't tell the Admiral, surprise her with it.

 

[212s]

Is this a decent mid range amp?
Rockville RXM8BTW 1500w Peak/750w Dyno-Certified RMS Marine 8 Channel Digital Class D Power Amplifier with Bluetooth Wireless Integration
Going to pair it with
Fusion Entertainment MS-RA70 Marine Entertainment System with Bluetooth

It should work fine...but perhaps it depends on what speakers you will be using?

 

[ripler]

Their prices seem reasonable. But they need to update their website to secure connections (HTTPS).

[/QUOTE]

I buy from their Ebay store.

 

[redthumper9]

In my last boat, I originally used CCA 1/0 gauge thinking that since everything was high and dry, I could get away with it. One day the music just stopped. I got home and started to trace everything and here is what I found. Mind you, this was in the underseat compartment where the batteries were. No contact with water at all. Just good ole salt air. Needless to say, I ordered OFC to replace and have never touched CCA since.

 

[212s]

In my last boat, I originally used CCA 1/0 gauge thinking that since everything was high and dry, I could get away with it. One day the music just stopped. I got home and started to trace everything and here is what I found. Mind you, this was in the underseat compartment where the batteries were. No contact with water at all. Just good ole salt air. Needless to say, I ordered OFC to replace and have never touched CCA since.

That looks like galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals - the stainless steel and aluminum reacting. That's why tinned copper is the best for salty environments - it resists galvanic effects and has the same conductivity as copper.

 

[ellj]

It should work fine...but perhaps it depends on what speakers you will be using?

Kicker 41km604w. Four of them (for now)

 

[KCAR250]

That looks like galvanic corrosion from dissimilar metals - the stainless steel and aluminum reacting. That's why tinned copper is the best for salty environments - it resists galvanic effects and has the same conductivity as copper.

But I thought it was just a gimmick?

 

[drober30]

yes but for the price, I could replace the amp a few times.

Equipment also has to do with sound quality not just volume/loudness. JL Audio is top notch but expensive.

 

[212s]

Kicker 41km604w. Four of them (for now)

That'll work fine. Are you planning to add more speakers later?

 

[212s]

But I thought it was just a gimmick?

Tinned copper is corrosion resistant.

 

[KCAR250]

Tinned copper is corrosion resistant.

Right, but when I suggested pure copper over CCA you stated it was just a gimmick. So I’m confused?

 

[212s]

Right, but when I suggested pure copper over CCA you stated it was just a gimmick. So I’m confused?

You mis-read my comments. OFC is a gimmick. CCA works fine but it doesn't really cost less than properly sized copper so might as well use copper.

 

[adrianp89]

You mis-read my comments. OFC is a gimmick. CCA works fine but it doesn't really cost less than properly sized copper so might as well use copper.

OFC in salt will last much longer than CCA. Also any decent wire is already OFC. I would spend more money for a nice flexible and easy to work with power wire.

You have a lot of comments that mix your home audio knowledge and 12v knowledge and it isn't just apples to apples, and seems to create some confusion/mis-information on here. OFC for better sound quality is a gimmick (in general). Also this applies for speaker/signal wire not power. As with most cables in home theater, they are mostly hype with not much benefit. Back in my sales days, it was an easy sale to a $300 AudioQuest HDMI for that $5000 TV. I ran testing in my down time and could not see or hear any difference to a similarly rated $20 cable.