Wakeboard Speakers and Stereo, etc

[B Frank]

Just purchased a 2008 Yamaha AR210. Looking for advice on affordable stereo, waketower speakers, etc. Boat still has factory stereo and speakers.

I have done some searching online but figured why not learn from others success or mistakes.

Hopefully I can get them from Santa!

Brian

 

[jocolo21]

Just get a waterproof radio and you won’t have to worry about it getting wet. Fusion makes some affordable ones.

 

[tdonoughue]

IMHO... (and keep in mind I have a '12, details in the sig block, so your mileage may vary):
1) Very first thing should be to replace stock 6.5" speakers with ones from Polk Audio. I have DB651's. Never regretted it. Fit right in the hole and relatively inexpensive.
2) Very second thing would be an amp. I picked up a used JL that is really sweet. There are many good options, though. Makes a huge difference.
3) Third, subwoofer (very important, but until you have the amp, you won't have the juice to run it). I have a JL. Again, offloading the bass from the 6.5" to a sub makes a huge difference.
4) From there, upgrade the head unit at your leisure.... I went with a Fusion. Very, very nice.

 

[B Frank]

Thanks for the input. I will research those items this weekend. So, when you upgrade the head unit does the remote pad on the swim platform still work okay? Do you have tower speakers as well?

 

[BlkGS]

All depends on budget. You can spend big bucks and go with JL ot wet sounds, or you can go inexpensive with rockville and boss.

Personally, in an 08 i would expect it to have aftermarket speakers already. I would start by adding an amp, and the wakeboard speakers. I was going to go rockville until I found some good prices on rockford fosgate, which I had a lot of experience with from my car audio days in college.

 

[redthumper9]

First you have to ask yourself what your goals are? Do you just want good quality sound at decent levels? ....do you want to hear (with clarity) your tower speakers when tubing/boarding?... Or do you want to be "that guy" on your lake or waterway. On a budget, go with tee Polk DB651 interior and add a pair mid cabin. Add simple IB subwoofer cut into one of your compartments. A decent amp or pair of amps and maybe some Rockford tower speakers. If you want to hear your towers with clarity while doing water sports, you'll need to budget for some HLCD tower speakers like Wetsounds REV series or Exile Audio XM series and a rather large amp for them as they require a good bit of power. If this is your goal..... Bite the bullet right off the bat and go with the nicer towers. I recommend Fusion head units, but your stock will work for the time being. I have been through several systems with my boat and have used a combination of several different manufacturers. JL Audio and Wetsounds are the top of the food chain, but are priced accordingly.

 

[tdonoughue]

Thanks for the input. I will research those items this weekend. So, when you upgrade the head unit does the remote pad on the swim platform still work okay? Do you have tower speakers as well?

I don't have towers, but then again I don't wakeboard (I drive). Would like to put speakers on the back deck someday. That will be next. If you are wakeboarding (and as others have observed above), tower speakers might be in order. But I would do those Polks and the amp first...

As to the remote, no, it won't work any more. I got myself a new remote for the Fusion. Heaven. It actually works (the JBL one kept getting shorted out by getting wet, then would make the stereo go crazy--not fun).

 

[B Frank]

First you have to ask yourself what your goals are? Do you just want good quality sound at decent levels? ....do you want to hear (with clarity) your tower speakers when tubing/boarding?... Or do you want to be "that guy" on your lake or waterway. On a budget, go with tee Polk DB651 interior and add a pair mid cabin. Add simple IB subwoofer cut into one of your compartments. A decent amp or pair of amps and maybe some Rockford tower speakers. If you want to hear your towers with clarity while doing water sports, you'll need to budget for some HLCD tower speakers like Wetsounds REV series or Exile Audio XM series and a rather large amp for them as they require a good bit of power. If this is your goal..... Bite the bullet right off the bat and go with the nicer towers. I recommend Fusion head units, but your stock will work for the time being. I have been through several systems with my boat and have used a combination of several different manufacturers. JL Audio and Wetsounds are the top of the food chain, but are priced accordingly.

Definitely on a budget and I am all about sound clarity for me..not to worried about what others think. Sounds like getting new speakers and a sub are the first priority...followed by an amp, tower speakers and lastly head unit.

Thanks for your advice or it is much appreciated!!

 

[B Frank]

All depends on budget. You can spend big bucks and go with JL ot wet sounds, or you can go inexpensive with rockville and boss.

Personally, in an 08 i would expect it to have aftermarket speakers already. I would start by adding an amp, and the wakeboard speakers. I was going to go rockville until I found some good prices on rockford fosgate, which I had a lot of experience with from my car audio days in college.

Yea I would think so but everything is still stock JBL speakers and head unit...remote still works fine now.

I will start by looking for new speakers, amp, sub, tower speakers and see what I can afford.

Thanks for input! Can't wait til summer.

 

[brownjjst]

Be sure to check the classified ads here! There is always some good deals floating around.... Welcome to the club!

 

[B Frank]

Thanks to all who provided advice. So, after some research and talking to Crutchfield the following is what I have come up with
1. Speakers - 4 Polk DB652(651's are being discontinued and I am not so high on the gold cone) - $120 for 4
2. Amp - Kenwood KAC - M8005 Class D 5 channel - $215
3. Sub - Polk MM1 Series 10" - $120
4. Head Unit - Kenwood KMR325BT - $120
5. Remote - Kenwood KCA-RC55MR - $100

Thoughts, please tell me what you think. I thought about buying a more high output head unit and just get the 4 speakers as I have no confidence whatsoever in installing an amp. Concerned about rear remote as well. Current JBL is rectangular and has small center hole cut with a screw hole on either side. I don't think the Kenwood remote will cover those holes as it is round. Suppose I could put some sort of black round plastic ring under the Kenwood remote? Also concerned about cutting a 10 inch hole for sub....I just got this boat .

Thoughts, input ideas?

 

[John Mcpartland]

Thanks to all who provided advice. So, after some research and talking to Crutchfield the following is what I have come up with
1. Speakers - 4 Polk DB652(651's are being discontinued and I am not so high on the gold cone) - $120 for 4
2. Amp - Kenwood KAC - M8005 Class D 5 channel - $215
3. Sub - Polk MM1 Series 10" - $120
4. Head Unit - Kenwood KMR325BT - $120
5. Remote - Kenwood KCA-RC55MR - $100

Thoughts, please tell me what you think. I thought about buying a more high output head unit and just get the 4 speakers as I have no confidence whatsoever in installing an amp. Concerned about rear remote as well. Current JBL is rectangular and has small center hole cut with a screw hole on either side. I don't think the Kenwood remote will cover those holes as it is round. Suppose I could put some sort of black round plastic ring under the Kenwood remote? Also concerned about cutting a 10 inch hole for sub....I just got this boat .

Thoughts, input ideas?

I believe the polk MM1 will need a box, the jl 10in IB( infinite baffle) doesn't need a box and sounds great. I was going round and round with the IB sub vs sub and box. I actually bought a sub and box and it took up to much room for me so I took it back and got the jl ib 10in. I was pleasantly surprised how good it sounded. If the stock stereo has rca outputs why get a new hu, unless you want bluetooth or something. For me good amps are the most important for sq

 

[B Frank]

So, the box means I would have to mount the MM1 in an actual box vs. others such as the JL IB can be mounted by putting old in fiberglass? My current hu is JBL and does not have ability for blue tooth, not sure if I can wire aux cord to back of radio but definitely no outlet in front. How about the amp above?

 

[John Mcpartland]

So, the box means I would have to mount the MM1 in an actual box vs. others such as the JL IB can be mounted by putting old in fiberglass? My current hu is JBL and does not have ability for blue tooth, not sure if I can wire aux cord to back of radio but definitely no outlet in front. How about the amp above?

Correct. The MM1 would need to be in a sub box. For the jl I just cut a hole in the fiberglass under the bench seat behind the captain seat. Not sure about that amp. I used a alpine pdx-v9 for my towers and sub, sounds great.

 

[Wesley Cobb]

Just purchased a 2008 Yamaha AR210. Looking for advice on affordable stereo, waketower speakers, etc. Boat still has factory stereo and speakers.

I have done some searching online but figured why not learn from others success or mistakes.

Hopefully I can get them from Santa!

Brian

I just removed the JL Audio tower speakers from my 2017 242 Limited. Great powerful sound but didn't like the install location (purchased the boat used) nor are they really for me and my family. I can take pics if you want. Not sure of the model but can research. Make me an offer and they are yours.

 

[B Frank]

Hey Wesley, sorry haven't been on for days due to travel, etc. Please send me a pic if you don't mind. Merry Christmas

Brian

 

[Bearsar240]

I just removed the JL Audio tower speakers from my 2017 242 Limited. Great powerful sound but didn't like the install location (purchased the boat used) nor are they really for me and my family. I can take pics if you want. Not sure of the model but can research. Make me an offer and they are yours.

I would be interested in purchasing them if B Frank doesnt. Let me know.

 

[B Frank]

Update on my sound system to all who provided feedback. Ended up changing everything up and biting the "JL" bullet. Thanks to Wesley Cobb for hooking me up with a great set of JL tower speakers to swing things the JL way. Also, if you are in KY or surrounding states highly recommend Extreme Audio/Video in Somerset, KY near Lake Cumberland. Great price and a great job on the install. Creative sounds also pitched in on the MX650's and they are super people to deal with, especially James Taylor.

Final List....and a few pics
2- JL MX770 Tower Speakers
4- JL MX650's
1 - JL M10IB5 Sub
1 - JL M700/5 Amp
1 - Kenwood M325BT Head Unit
1 - Kenwood KCA-RC-35R

Thanks to everyone for their advice. System sounds awesome in the drive!! Can't wait to hear it on the water. Seats removed for the winter in these pics.

 

[BlkGS]

Very nice! Where is the sub installed?

 

[B Frank]

Behind drivers seat actually facing toward the seat...that was the preference of the installer