New stereo and sub does not seem to hit very hard any recommendations?

[Chucksx190]

I purchased a 2020 sx240 a few weeks ago and first thing I did was install 4 JL M3 650 speakers with a JL MX500-4 Amp. This set up is plenty loud for me but lacks bass. I set them up so at 3/4 volume all settings flat it had 16.5v as required for setup. So I purchased a JL M3 10IB sub package that included a JL MX300-1 Amp. All the components were matching. I installed the sub next to the captains chair and then set up the Amp. I did the same set up and set the voltage output to 25.2v. The bass is very low with this setup I had to turn the voltage down on the MX500 Amp to hear any bass over how loud the 4 main speakers are. If I turn the power off to the MX500 and just run the MX300 bass is okay just not great. I'm not looking to rattle the boat apart but would like it to sound closer to my Nissan Titan with the factory stereo in it. Am i just expecting to much from the MX300 Amp and JL M3 10IB sub?

 

[captainhook]

Sounds like something is definitely wrong. I have 4 MX650s driven by an M400 (among other things) but at medium to high volume you might think I have a small sub. The only time I lacked bass is when my house battery was low and the amp wasn’t getting enough juice.

 

[shar]

I noticed the same exact thing after installing my sub (JL 10” M3) as well. I had to turn the sub level to max output on the Fusion head unit. I also had to turn the bass all the way to max output on the head unit. Then from the amp, I had to set the gain pretty high - about 3/4. After doing so it hits pretty hard, and hard enough to rattle everything at high volume (18/24 on fusion app). I need to play around with everything to dial it in, but i was surprised at how much effort it took to get decent bass.

 

[Chucksx190]

I noticed the same exact thing after installing my sub (JL 10” M3) as well. I had to turn the sub level to max output on the Fusion head unit. I also had to turn the bass all the way to max output on the head unit. Then from the amp, I had to set the gain pretty high - about 3/4. After doing so it hits pretty hard, and hard enough to rattle everything at high volume (18/24 on fusion app). I need to play around with everything to dial it in, but i was surprised at how much effort it took to get decent bass.

This sounds like the same issue I'm having. If I turn off the highs and just run the sub I have to get it to 3/4 volume or more to have good bass. I have the family on the boat so I can't crank it that loud. If it was just me I'd be okay with 3/4 volume or more.

 

[mark_m]

Take a look at the JL amps 8-step tuning process in the manual. It outlines how to set the gain and crossovers to balance the system. Use a 0db reference tone to tune it. I used an attenuated tone thru Bluetooth and haven’t yet gotten around to putting it on usb and doing it right myself.

 

[mark_m]

You can also try to tap into @Earmark Marine if you purchased your gear from Odin, he’s outstanding for support during and after the sale, install.

 

[Chucksx190]

Take a look at the JL amps 8-step tuning process in the manual. It outlines how to set the gain and crossovers to balance the system. Use a 0db reference tone to tune it. I used an attenuated tone thru Bluetooth and haven’t yet gotten around to putting it on usb and doing it right myself.

I did follow all the steps in setting up the amp that the manual states to do. That's where I got the output voltages that I set the amp to. I used the 50hz for the sub and the 1khz for the 4 main speakers.

 

[Chucksx190]

You can also try to tap into @Earmark Marine if you purchased your gear from Odin, he’s outstanding for support during and after the sale, install.

I purchased the sub and amp from West Marine as they had the best price I could find it was $150 off list. I checked the classified ads here and did not find what I was looking for. I was not aware some one on this group sold JL.

 

[Cambo]

The problem with the boat is the open air environment . All these components are based on car audio equipment where the low frequency gets naturally amplified by the car interior and 6“ two way speakers work perfect . One 10” subwoofer in a car hits very hard take that same system put it in a boat and it needs 3x the power and size to create the same response . This is why you see multi amp and multi sub systems . One of the best sounding boat systems I heard at a raft up was a compact pa / dj system it was one speaker on a stand running from a small generator I think it had a sub at the base . It didnt sound over bearing up close but also projected the sound very far . If pa companies made boat systems they would work much better

 

[Chucksx190]

The problem with the boat is the open air environment . All these components are based on car audio equipment where the low frequency gets naturally amplified by the car interior and 6“ two way speakers work perfect . One 10” subwoofer in a car hits very hard take that same system put it in a boat and it needs 3x the power and size to create the same response . This is why you see multi amp and multi sub systems . One of the best sounding boat systems I heard at a raft up was a compact pa / dj system it was one speaker on a stand running from a small generator I think it had a sub at the base . It didnt sound over bearing up close but also projected the sound very far . If pa companies made boat systems they would work much better

This is what I was kind of thinking. I know in a car this system would be more then I need. I may just add another sub and amp on the other side of the boat.

 

[ripler]

Are you wiring like this, with the exception of wiring 2 more speakers in parallel with the 2 shown here?



Use this website to help with the tune, you can download a tone generator app to help.

https://learn.sonicelectronix.com/how-to-adjust-amplifier-gains-using-a-digital-multi-meter/

I have 4 interior speakers and a 10" IB sub running off of a 4 channel 600 watt amp and I can definitely feel and hear the sub.

 

[Chucksx190]

Are you wiring like this, with the exception of wiring 2 more speakers in parallel with the 2 shown here?

View attachment 125385

Use this website to help with the tune, you can download a tone generator app to help.

https://learn.sonicelectronix.com/how-to-adjust-amplifier-gains-using-a-digital-multi-meter/

I have 4 interior speakers and a 10" IB sub running off of a 4 channel 600 watt amp and I can definitely feel and hear the sub.

I have 2 amps so my wiring is different. one amp is a JL mx500 4 channel for the main speakers, and a JL mx300 just for the sub. the front and rear rca cables from the head unit go to the mx500 and the sub rca cables go to the mx300. I did set the output voltage to the specs in the manual and I did use a tone generator. 50hz for sub and 1k hz for the other 4.

 

[212s]

Am i just expecting to much from the MX300 Amp and JL M3 10IB sub?

I don't think so...it sounds like a configuration issue...I have the same MX500 and it rocks, so the MX300 should pump the sub nicely. Check that the head unit doesn't have the sub output turned down - it should be at max and the overall volume will control output. Also make sure the filter in the Fusion head unit is set to filter out below 55hz for the main speakers, and the sub output is set too, and then make sure the MX300 has the Low Pass filter set to max or about 100hz+ so all the bass gets pushed through the amp. If it's turned down, you will lose bass output. Don't turn the filter off as it will send full range to the sub which wastes power.

 

[Hoyt]

Basic question here, but do you have sub level turned all the way up inside the Fusion head unit? Also is the head unit set to 55hz for sub?

This is assuming you used the sub level rca outputs from the Fusion deck

 

[Chucksx190]

I don't think so...it sounds like a configuration issue...I have the same MX500 and it rocks, so the MX300 should pump the sub nicely. Check that the head unit doesn't have the sub output turned down - it should be at max and the overall volume will control output. Also make sure the filter in the Fusion head unit is set to filter out below 55hz for the main speakers, and the sub output is set too, and then make sure the MX300 has the Low Pass filter set to max or about 100hz+ so all the bass gets pushed through the amp. If it's turned down, you will lose bass output. Don't turn the filter off as it will send full range to the sub which wastes power.

I have the sub output at max 24. I have the filters set to cancel sound under 35hz and max out at 160hz for the sub. Then I have the main speakers set to play 160hx and up.

 

[Chucksx190]

Basic question here, but do you have sub level turned all the way up inside the Fusion head unit? Also is the head unit set to 55hz for sub?

This is assuming you used the sub level rca outputs from the Fusion deck

I have the sub level maxed out at 24 on the head unit. and I set the sup to play from 35hz to 160hz. the main speakers do the rest.

 

[212s]

I have the sub level maxed out at 24 on the head unit. and I set the sup to play from 35hz to 160hz. the main speakers do the rest.

Unless the amp or speaker is defective (doubtful) I still think it's a config issue. Just to be sure...you can't set filters for both 35 and 160hz on the same amp or channel group - it's either OFF, LP or HP.
You can set the LP to 160hz on the sub amp and HP to 35hz on the main amp. Also are you sure you didn't leave the filters set to default which is OFF? You need to slide the little switch just right of the set screw to enable the filters.

 

[Chucksx190]

Unless the amp or speaker is defective (doubtful) I still think it's a config issue. Just to be sure...you can't set filters for both 35 and 160hz on the same amp or channel group - it's either OFF, LP or HP.
You can set the LP to 160hz on the sub amp and HP to 35hz on the main amp. Also are you sure you didn't leave the filters set to default which is OFF? You need to slide the little switch just right of the set screw to enable the filters.

This amp you can set min and max on the same channel. Here are my settings. The infrasonic is how low you want the sub to go and the lp filter is how high you want the sub to play.

 

[212s]

This amp you can set min and max on the same channel. Here are my settings. The infrasonic is how low you want the sub to go and the lp filter is how high you want the sub to play.

Oh right, forgot it was a sub amp. Sounds like you're right then. Have you tried flipping the polarity to 180? The sub might be out of phase with the main speakers?

 

[Chucksx190]

Oh right, forgot it was a sub amp. Sounds like you're right then. Have you tried flipping the polarity to 180? The sub might be out of phase with the main speakers?

Tried that also. I may contact jl and see there suggestion. The mx500 and speakers way over powers this sub and amp setup and I was lead to believe they were a matched set.