Subwoofer installation

[BrianD]

Hey, I have a 2021 Yamaha AR190 and I’m wanting to install a sub in the boat to get some extra bass. Given I’m not very technical with how boat sound systems work, I was wondering how I can make this possible and what possible new hardware, cables and other things I need to set it up.

 

[Cleveland Steamer]

It's actually not too bad. I did mine myself. I used a Dremel with circle hole cutting attachment (can see it in the first photo). Make sure you have additional cutting bits because you will go through them.

 

[Lpennington]

I recently added an amp and replaced the 4 stock speakers with Kickers in our 2018 AR195. I considered a sub but decided to wait n see. Definitely more sound from the speakers. Under the way, it's 75% of the way there IMO. I have concluded that it's not the sub I need by really I should've added a 5th and 6th speakers alongside the captain's chair and across on the port side. Unfortunately, the amp I had installed was a 4-channel so I'll have to see about the cost to add 2 more speakers.

 

[anmut]

My shop recommended putting a bandpass box with a 10" JL, so that's what I did. Hits hard and sounds nice, and no cutting into the fiberglass. They built it to fill the helm floor area on STBD side, and it's about 16" high. So it swallowed some storage, but I'm not super huge on using the space with all the cables and electronics for rapid in/out storage when wives and kids are involved.

That said, I've heard some of the free air subs installed (like the one above) and they do sound nice.

 

[BrianD]

I recently added an amp and replaced the 4 stock speakers with Kickers in our 2018 AR195. I considered a sub but decided to wait n see. Definitely more sound from the speakers. Under the way, it's 75% of the way there IMO. I have concluded that it's not the sub I need by really I should've added a 5th and 6th speakers alongside the captain's chair and across on the port side. Unfortunately, the amp I had installed was a 4-channel so I'll have to see about the cost to add 2 more speakers.

In order to install the amp, did that require replacing the original reciever that came with the boat? Or would I be able to connect the amp to the original reciever and save myself some hastle?

 

[tdonoughue]

I did a IB (infinite baffle) sub, like the one pictured above. Put it farther back, but essentially the same idea. Only substantial difference is I recommend a ring behind the fiberglass. Gives a more solid installation (which can be important when that thing starts shaking).

I also did my sub and amp before doing my other speakers. With the amp's high/low pass filters, I was able to better power the cheap a$$ stock speakers, but take that power-draining bass away from them. Worked pretty well. Then I did the other cabin ones later...

Can't speak to the HU replacement question... mine had a different one for my year.

 

[AZMark]

I recently added an amp and replaced the 4 stock speakers with Kickers in our 2018 AR195. I considered a sub but decided to wait n see. Definitely more sound from the speakers. Under the way, it's 75% of the way there IMO. I have concluded that it's not the sub I need by really I should've added a 5th and 6th speakers alongside the captain's chair and across on the port side. Unfortunately, the amp I had installed was a 4-channel so I'll have to see about the cost to add 2 more speakers.

If your amp is decent you can run two sets of speakers on one set of channels wired in parallels for 2ohms. That will send more power to those 4 speakers than the other two running at 4ohms on the other set of channels. You should be able to balance it out ok.

 

[mattscheuerlein]

My shop recommended putting a bandpass box with a 10" JL, so that's what I did. Hits hard and sounds nice, and no cutting into the fiberglass. They built it to fill the helm floor area on STBD side, and it's about 16" high. So it swallowed some storage, but I'm not super huge on using the space with all the cables and electronics for rapid in/out storage when wives and kids are involved.

That said, I've heard some of the free air subs installed (like the one above) and they do sound nice.

Did it cause your storage door to rattle

 

[anmut]

Did it cause your storage door to rattle

No, but it did cause my dashboard to rattle! There's a pretty large cavity underneath the top part of the dash board - I stuffed an old towel in there to prevent rattling when I'm not hustling cocaine in there from Cuba.

 

[Noko]

Before you cut any holes, take the speaker cover and place it where you want the speaker to go. Some sides aren't perfectly flat and one boater had a gap between the speaker cover and the boat compartment he put the speaker in.

I think my sub is a 10 or 12 in. I have a JL 5 channel amp that has a volume input for just the bass. I have a volume knob on the dash just for the sub and I can easily adjust the sub while I'm sitting at the helm. Works really well.

 

[Noko]

I recently added an amp and replaced the 4 stock speakers with Kickers in our 2018 AR195. I considered a sub but decided to wait n see. Definitely more sound from the speakers. Under the way, it's 75% of the way there IMO. I have concluded that it's not the sub I need by really I should've added a 5th and 6th speakers alongside the captain's chair and across on the port side. Unfortunately, the amp I had installed was a 4-channel so I'll have to see about the cost to add 2 more speakers.

I'm thinking about adding another set of speakers by the captains chair and on the opposite side. I have a 5 channel amp thats powering 4 speakers and a sub. I think that my HU which puts out about 22W/ch should be able to power the additional 2 new speakers with the amp powering the other 4 and the sub. Anyone got any input if the HU will be enough for just 2 speakers without an additional amp? I'm not trying to blast a lot of sound so volume isn't an issue.

 

[jmargo]

I just added 2 bazooka marine tubes. One is powered and the other is powered off the first.

 

[mattscheuerlein]

It's actually not too bad. I did mine myself. I used a Dremel with circle hole cutting attachment (can see it in the first photo). Make sure you have additional cutting bits because you will go through them.

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Did you use any starboard behind your sub install? And does it rattle anything like cup holders or sidewall?

 

[jthackman]

i added a backer behind mine. diff boat (ar240) and diff location (rear starboard seat side wall), but it seemed necessary.

 

[mattscheuerlein]

It's actually not too bad. I did mine myself. I used a Dremel with circle hole cutting attachment (can see it in the first photo). Make sure you have additional cutting bits because you will go through them.

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i added a backer behind mine. diff boat (ar240) and diff location (rear starboard seat side wall), but it seemed necessary.

Thanks bro. I'll just have to cut in and make a decision but more is probably better than not