Amp questions?

[Marvin willis]

First where did you mount it and did you amp everything or just additional speakers? I'm pretty happy with my current setup but I did notice if I try and blast my stereo with the added rear speakers it will put the stereo in safe mode and I'm considering adding another two speakers to the bow. Obviously I would need a amp for 8 speakers. The only reason I haven't amped my setup before now is because I don't want wires running everywhere. Thanks. Pics appreciated if you like your setup

 

[Julian]

You have the same boat as my last one....I bought a 4 channel amp, mounted on the wall above the batteries and ran RCA's up to the head unit in the glove compartment. I'd already put 6x9's in the cabin, and put fusions on the swim deck, so I just ran some more wires so that the amp ran the speakers in the cabin, and the head unit ran the bow and stern speakers. I also eliminated all the Seaworthy speakers and replace with Polk DB series speakers. When I did a side by side comparison with them my wife even noticed the difference (which is truely amazing as she usually just rolls her eyes when I talk stereo/tv stuff)! The hardest part of all of this was cutting holes and pulling wires....not hard, just time consuming!

Hit me up if you have any questions!

There are photos below of the amp and speakers:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/replace-your-stock-seaworthy-speakers-i-put-in-polks.2373/

 

[2nazt]

I'm trying to figure out the same thing should I get an 8 channel for all speakers or just a 4 channel for the cabin and run the other 4 off HU?

 

[jawsf16]

You can always use a strong 4 channel amp and run two speakers per...

 

[Marvin willis]

No way I'm getting a 8 channel. Hell I've never seen it. I use to be big into car stereo systems but grew out of that faze. The cabin is plenty loud. If I amp anything it will b out facing speakers. Thanks Julian for the pics. That was perfect. Were you able to run wires up the port side of the boat?

 

[robert843]

I'm trying to figure out the same thing should I get an 8 channel for all speakers or just a 4 channel for the cabin and run the other 4 off HU?

You could also get a four channel amp that is capable of being stable at 2 ohms. If you did this you could run two speakers in line to each channel and only have to run four wires back to the amp.

 

[redthumper9]

.....or a six channel running all 8 speakers in a 2 ohm load off channels 1,2,3,4 leaving 5 and 6 bridgeable for a sub later?

 

[mark_m]

First where did you mount it and did you amp everything or just additional speakers? I'm pretty happy with my current setup but I did notice if I try and blast my stereo with the added rear speakers it will put the stereo in safe mode and I'm considering adding another two speakers to the bow. Obviously I would need a amp for 8 speakers. The only reason I haven't amped my setup before now is because I don't want wires running everywhere. Thanks. Pics appreciated if you like your setup

I run 800/8. 4 6.5" Coaxial's in the tub, 2 on the rear swim deck. I used tinned duplex 12 ga wire from tinnedmarinewire.com. I put the amp forward of the helm compartment, mounted on the wall opposite the starboard bow seatback.

I know you don't want to run wires everywhere, you might be able to get away re-using stock speaker wire. I thought about it and just decided to pull new. It's not that bad, get a fish rod like this to make it easy to pull wire:

http://www.all-spec.com/Catalog/Han.../56109-28725?gclid=CJ6IgJOs1c4CFQuNaQod-yILPw

 

[2nazt]

You could also get a four channel amp that is capable of being stable at 2 ohms. If you did this you could run two speakers in line to each channel and only have to run four wires back to the amp.

So for hypothetical purposes what would 2ohm mean? Like if someone didn't understand stuff (don't shun me lol) and said person would use the db651 is that a 2 ohm speaker?

 

[Mainah]

A speakers nominal impedance (resistance) measured in ohms does not change. When running two 4 ohm speakers in parallel they are still both 4 ohms each but the total impedence against the amps is 2 ohms. Now put those two same speakers in series and the impedance against the amp is 8 ohms.

An amps nominal impedence rating is where it is most effecient. Can you run two 4 ohm speakers in paralell on a amp nominal rated for 4 ohms but also specified as 2 ohm stable? Yes. It does however compromise the amps efficiency and the acoustics somewhat as well. If you have plenty of wattage to spare on the amp then not a huge deal. If you are running at the edge of the specs then you would be more likely to enter protection mode when running more than one impedance matched speaker per channel.

Why spend hundreds of dollars but save a few as well only to have the amp cut out when you are blasting your favorite song? In the case of low quality amps you may end up smoking them. Best case is less effecient drawing more power that gets wasted as heat.

My opinion is spend the money and match the amp to the load channel for channel at nominal ratings.

 

[2nazt]

Thanks @Mainah