2016 AR240 JL Audio upgrade

[Emilio22]

upgrading the stock speakers and adding 2 mid-cabin - JL MX650 blue LED
adding JL M800/8V2 amp and JL 10IB sub
still have speaker cables and a few other odds and ends on the way
this will be a slow project for me

 

[Mmmd5]

upgrading the stock speakers and adding 2 mid-cabin - JL MX650 blue LED
adding JL M800/8V2 amp and JL 10IB sub
still have speaker cables and a few other odds and ends on the way
this will be a slow project for me
View attachment 38111

Good luck! I just did the exact same upgrade. Fun project and sounds great

 

[MattFX4]

You will be very happy with how it sounds when done. I'm upgrading my stereo right now also and so far have 8 of the mx650's and a m800/8v2 amp. Hopefully I will get the m10ib5 sub and amp installed this week. Have you started yet?

 

[Emilio22]

no yet. she is at the marina about 45 minutes from home and have spent her first 2 weekends out on the water. taking it for the 10 hour check-up this week so might keep her at home to try to get started. waiting on a few more items to come in. hoping to get the amp in and swap out the original speaker first. phase 2 will be cutting holes for the 2 additional cabin speakers and sub and getting them in. this is the scarier part.

 

[MattFX4]

Oh ok. Holes for the additional 6.5"s aren't bad. I used a 5" hole saw and it cut the holes perfectly. Trying to figure out how I want to cut the hole for sub now. Either I pay someone to do it, it tackle myself with a jigsaw.

 

[Mmmd5]

I ended up using a jig saw for the sub. It wasn't that bad other than messy, the vacuum only does so much

 

[Emilio22]

@Mmmd5 thanks for the pics. were those cables back there when you started or are those from the install? don't want to cause myself problems.
@MattFX4 thanks for the advice

 

[Mmmd5]

@Mmmd5 thanks for the pics. were those cables back there when you started or are those from the install? don't want to cause myself problems.
@MattFX4 thanks for the advice

There are some cables you'll need to make sure are pulled back when you cut. You can access them from the compartment behind the drivers seat. You'll have to remove a panel (one screw if a remember) to see what you have to do.

 

[Derek Fosbury]

@MattFX4 & @Emilio22 - you both went with the MX speakers, but the M sub. May I ask why? I'm looking at adding a sub (or two ) as well, but am not convinced (yet) of the premium price for the M version of the JL 10" sub. Your input would be appreciated .

I went with the 800/8 JL amp as well (non-Marine version), but opted for the Polk MM651UM instead of the JL's. Probably more to do with the deal I got and accessibility of JL speakers at reasonable prices where I live than anything else. I'm targeting this weekend to do everything (except the subs - will just prewire for them).

thanks,
Derek

 

[MattFX4]

@Derek Fosbury I dealt with Odin at Earmark Audio for my gear, and he recommended the M version of the sub as being the better out of the two IB sub's. I took his word, and ordered the M. I wanted the best possible sub since a boat is open air, and not like a car where the music is contained. The M650's are $200 more a pair. That would of been $800 more for me since I went with 4 pairs. From all the reviews I have read the mx650's sound great, and couldn't justify an additional $800. Reach out to @Earmark Marine and Odin can tell you the differences between the two subs.

 

[Mmmd5]

@MattFX4 & @Emilio22 - you both went with the MX speakers, but the M sub. May I ask why? I'm looking at adding a sub (or two ) as well, but am not convinced (yet) of the premium price for the M version of the JL 10" sub. Your input would be appreciated .

I went with the 800/8 JL amp as well (non-Marine version), but opted for the Polk MM651UM instead of the JL's. Probably more to do with the deal I got and accessibility of JL speakers at reasonable prices where I live than anything else. I'm targeting this weekend to do everything (except the subs - will just prewire for them).

thanks,
Derek

Great question - I had a budget and that's what Odin from Earmark recommended, and that's how I ended up with this equipment. I think the thought was the MX650's were pretty decent and the 10" M series would fill in the low end nicely. I had originally thought about four MX7.7's and the sub, but after talking with Odin on the mid cabin speakers, I went with six 6.5" speakers and sub for a bit more. I am very happy with the mid cabin speakers. I set the bow speakers a little lower so people don't go deaf while laying up in the front.

 

[Derek Fosbury]

Thanks guys! I PM'd David, so will see what he thinks .

Derek

 

[mark_m]

Oh ok. Holes for the additional 6.5"s aren't bad. I used a 5" hole saw and it cut the holes perfectly. Trying to figure out how I want to cut the hole for sub now. Either I pay someone to do it, it tackle myself with a jigsaw.

@MattFX4 i used this for my sub

http://m.harborfreight.com/high-speed-metal-saw-91753.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided

Highly recommend it with the shopvac on the other side

 

[MattFX4]

@MattFX4 i used this for my sub

http://m.harborfreight.com/high-speed-metal-saw-91753.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided

Highly recommend it with the shopvac on the other side

Did you use blade that came with it? Or have to buy a special blade?

 

[mark_m]

Did you use blade that came with it? Or have to buy a special blade?

I bought (jigsaw) metal blades, fine cut, high number of teeth count. The larger blade had a shank that was too long to fit into the saw.

This is actually better, imho, because the shorter blade had me keep the saw closer to the fiberglass/gelcoat. You don't want to have the blade jump out and bark up your gel coat.

I finished off the cut using an air powered die grinder.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/2007-sx-230-stereo-upgrade.8206/

 

[Emilio22]

@Derek Fosbury also went with Odin's advice. sub would fill in the for the difference between the 650 and 770. save on the speakers and splurge on the sub.

 

[MattFX4]

Can anyone here tell me if their m10ib5 sub came with a mounting template? I thought it did, but somehow managed to lose it if so.

 

[Mmmd5]

Thanks guys! I PM'd David, so will see what he thinks .

Derek

Can anyone here tell me if their m10ib5 sub came with a mounting template? I thought it did, but somehow managed to lose it if so.

Mine definitely did, but I misplaced mine as well. I just cut to under 9" and marked the screw holes with a sharpie

 

[mark_m]

Can anyone here tell me if their m10ib5 sub came with a mounting template? I thought it did, but somehow managed to lose it if so.

I lost mine too.. I used welding wire at 1/2 diameter of the drill hole and drew it that way

 

[MattFX4]

Ha ok. I guess they are easy to lose.