Tower speakers or helm

[CraigAR]

2nd time out in the boat and the wife said that the factory speakers suck. That's when I informed her I ordered 4 replacements (WS xs650's). She asked if that would make it better. I told her somewhat that I really need an amp to hook them up. She said order it!! So we were talking and I know an amp will push these 4 new speakers nicely but when I'm driving, I want the sound closer to me. So the question is, do I cut in 2 new speakers at the helm or do I add tower speakers? 1 other question, when installing the amp are the rca and remote wire hookups behind the connext or back at the polk receiver? Also, how are you hooking up the speaker wire?

 

[swatski]

1 other question, when installing the amp are the rca and remote wire hookups behind the connext or back at the polk receiver?

Behind the Connext.

Definitely go with an extra pair midship - use the high up method by @fraserjr.

Tower speakers are kind of a no-brainer. I just got mine after finally getting permission, wish my wife was into this. She liked the looks of ICON8s so that's what I got. They sound great for under way listening, but not exactly mellow.


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[Drift Away]

If you already got the go ahead to get the amp might as well get a 8 Channel so you can run your 6 cabin speakers and still have 2 left to add your towers on later.

 

[David Analog]

For in-the-boat-listening, definitely add flush-mounts forward in the cockpit. A 6.5" in the coaming will sound warmer than an 8" on the tower.

Tower speakers are purposed for the exterior zone. Their best role is directional long distance projection.

 

[swatski]

Tower speakers are purposed for the exterior zone. Their best role is directional long distance projection.

Very true. However, these speakers end up hanging pretty low and pretty far forward when mounted on the front leg of new (forward swept) towers.

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[CraigAR]

I think I'm going to order another set of Wet Sounds xs 650's (giving me 3 sets) and mount them mid cabin and install a 6 channel amp. Now onto the amp install, I know I need to install the hot and ground wires back the the battery with an inline fuse, the blue remote turn on and rca' s behind the connext, what about speaker wire? How are you guys installing that?

 

[robert843]

I think I'm going to order another set of Wet Sounds xs 650's (giving me 3 sets) and mount them mid cabin and install a 6 channel amp. Now onto the amp install, I know I need to install the hot and ground wires back the the battery with an inline fuse, the blue remote turn on and rca' s behind the connext, what about speaker wire? How are you guys installing that?

Many have differing opinions on this it depends how many watts you are going to run to the speakers. If you are running 50 watts or less I would tap right into the current speaker wire at the head unit if you are running 100 watts to each I would probably run new large speaker wire.

 

[CraigAR]

Many have differing opinions on this it depends how many watts you are going to run to the speakers. If you are running 50 watts or less I would tap right into the current speaker wire at the head unit if you are running 100 watts to each I would probably run new large speaker wire.

I will be running 100 watts rms. How hard is it fishing the wires up around the bow and back at the stern. Seems like it would be easy to get to the back of the boat but not sure on the front.

 

[robert843]

I will be running 100 watts rms. How hard is it fishing the wires up around the bow and back at the stern. Seems like it would be easy to get to the back of the boat but not sure on the front.

It should not be hard at all. I have not done it on this one yet but it was easy on my 2011 and the premise looks about the same on this one.

 

[0627Devildog]

Literally had the same discussion with the wife today. . . . . The question for us is WHERE mid cabin should we mount them. Any ideas (read: pictures) on a 14' AR240?