Speakers for in cabin

I agree, nice system.... what I did was install 4 speakers... two in the front and two in the rear... I just glued them up with 5200....but a nicer application would have been to glue up a piece of starboard...and screw the speakers to the starboard....(wonderful stuff)

I just used West Marine speakers...the volume does not ever come up much as the cabin is so small they sound like a professional unit...awsome.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
This is an old topic, but I thought I'd mention that I just had a Poly-Planar ME-50 amplifier and 2 Poly-Planar MA-850 speakers installed by EQ. This setup requires no head unit and allows for an iPod/portable satellite radio/laptop to play through the speakers. Pictures are in my album. I haven't heard it yet, but I think it will be adequate and it's cheap.
 
Chris, I'll post again once I've tried the system for myself. Unfortunately that won't be for at least a couple more months since I won't be back on the boat until mid March at the earliest, perhaps mid May.
 
marc,

I was actually looking for those speakers from Boston Acoustics when I was deciding on speakers and I couldn't find them. They look great and the mounting abilities including the colors are great.

Instead, I opted for the Boss. I went around forever on deciding if I wanted to mount speakers on the overhead shelf, or the walls or where; and, finally decided to build them into the cabinetry.

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I pretty much took the long road, but love the sound.
 
Norm, I thought the Boss was busy with the Superbowl! I am a aging musician and was a prehistoric [late 70s!]audio engineering student [still play a little ,Bass and Guitar] but appreciate systems . A quality multi range speaker mounted in a cabinet is always good as the larger backing [air] space can be better for bass .I am still a big fan of 6X9s for limited spaces .
With the advent of sub woofers [that you need for clear audio] and component speakers the quality audio world is a blank canvas thanks to those crazy car audio guys. I really think the systems for computers are the most cost effective way to make great sound for few dollars . And I am particularly fond of Klipsch systems .But there are many others that are top notch as well .Some are core driven at 12 V. Look at the transformer and see. I have seen some decent ones at 12vdc.
Its a lot of fun to play with the sound ! And look outside the "Marine" box
Marc
 
I have a couple strats at the house here I plug into my ever dependable vintage Booger (MESA MarkII), and another countrified Ibanez 6-string acoustic (when I'm drinking swill from the bottom of the bottle). I'll bet you also have one of those original Klipsch wooden enclosure beasts don't you marc? You know the one - that huge mega-death box about 6'x8' in size. I love Klipsch. The drummer I occasionally play with has one of the originals he's had since the 70's when he inherited from his father (he's about 10 years younger than me and I think he's listened to it at far too close of a range!) - he's nearly deaf. :mrgreen:
 
I bought a powered Klipsch 2.1 system I use as my living room system. Subwoofer and two speakers designed for a computer. The sound is awesome and the cost was about $250 including some stands to get the midrange/tweeters off the floor. I have a set of Bose waterproof speakers for the boat but haven't gotten around to installing them yet. I have a similar set in my shower at home and love them (yes I rock out while I wash my hair).
 
I mounted some "frequency rated" West Marine 6x9's facing forward in the two front seat boxes, they have very good bass (due to the enclosed air-space behind them), mid and high freq response. People remark right away how great the system sounds (I don't tell them how little it cost :-). I have the Jenson receiver with 160 Watts (4 x 40W -- peak not RMS power). I also installed some decent box speakers at the upper rear corners of the cabin for the rears.

I've been looking at sub-woofer systems and amps to get the 'rest of the sound' from songs and DVDs. I too have determined that a good computer speaker system should fit the bill. I found a Logitech system with a 10" woofer, push-pull I believe because it is ported, including a couple of satellite speakers and a 400W amp. $129 at Fry's Electronics. There's also a similar Altec-Lansing system but with an 8" woofer. I'd remove the speaker and mount it in the boat in an existing enclosed space with the proper porting and output considerations (rear closet should work).

Has anyone measured the current draw on these high-wattage amps? Most are MOSFET technology. It looks like I'll have to buy the system to do the measurements, I'm hoping for less than 2-3amps draw at low volume levels -- is that reasonable?

I think it runs on 110V, but hopefully through an AC-DC transformer that I can work into my 12V system. I really don't want to run a generator so I can enjoy some music or a good movie!
 
It sounds like you enjoy your music. While I don't know about the amp that you want to purchase, I know that I have left my stereo on in my classic truck for nearly a week and the group 27 battery still fired it the big block 521 Ford up just fine. I have the Rockford Fosgate Punch 400 in it. It costs about double than the one you are looking at (unless you find one on sale) and is EXTREMEMLY powerful. Looking back, a punch 200 would have been just fine and not much more than your price range. Rockford Fosgate amps are known all over because they are hard hitting, clean, and can tolerate low ohm loads. I have had a number of amps and they make the best one when compared with others dollar per dollar.
 
Norm, I am down to my trusty '59 P Bass and a Japanese 5 string acoustic/electric Bass and an inexpensive Alvararez acoustic guitar. Have a small newer non surround Klipsch system in the living room and the 4.1 computer systems in both offices . Do love the legacy stuff though.
Marc
 
Thanks for the info T.R. Those Rockford Fosgate Punch amps sound like they are good quality, I'll see what I can find. My home stereo system is 100W, which was one of the highest wattage system you could get at the time (hope I'm not dating myself too much...but I know I am), and it sounds just fine. I really wonder, at low/decent volumes, if you can tell the difference between a 100W and 500W system? I doubt it, at least for my 'old' ears...!

I'll report what I find and/or measure, might help others looking to do the same thing.
 
Anyone know of a reputable dealer that does installs of marine radios and speakers in the Portland area? I'm choose not to be all that electronically talented. :smilep Leave wiring and what not to the pros. I think this would be a great addition to My Heaven this year, some good sounds in the cabin. :thup
 
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