2005 200 SEL Stereo Upgrade

[commstar]

Greetings all,
Been lurking for awhile, really enjoy the site.

2005 200 SEL bowrider, an am considering replacing the stereo.

Wifey bought a Kenwood KMR-700U head unit for my birthday. Seems to be ok to poor unit
but looking for opinions over the XMD3. Is it event worth swapping these out?

No operational issues with the XMD, I think it will be fine with a good amp and
quality speakers+sub.

The Kenwood can be returned without wrecking our marriage for refund.

That brings the question as to how that helm remote control cable is routed
and how to access this routing- to change out with a Kenwood remote and
add another on the transom.

Regardless of swapping these units or not, am going to make a quality investment
in speakers and amp- ditching the stock Panasonics.

Like the JL audio sound so prolly headed for component 7" 's there. No decision on the
amp or sub.

Have been trolling here for awhile and reading general stereo upgrade threads. I am not
afraid of this project- it is more a question of effort vs. reward- so is this swap worth doing
or just amp and speaker up and go from there?

Any comments appreciated, particularly any personal experience with the Kenwood KMR-700u.

Thanks,
Mike

BTW: I completed the transom remote trim switch last week as well as a thru hull SIRIUS
antenna install based upon the information on this board! Thanks to all! Cutting fiberglass
is white knuckle experience the first time one does it.

 

[all about fun]

PM sent

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[JimG]

Can't help with the the radio, but welcome to CSR!

 

[The machine]

I just this past weekend swapped out my Xmd3 for a cmd6. Once I figured out what wires were hot with ignition switch on ( installed a removable Serius reciever) it was not dificult to hook everything up. Getting the wire for the remote threaded through was a bit of a headache but once I figured out the technique on the starboard side it was a piece of cake on the port side into the head. (270 sundeck....the radio is in the head in the cabinet for the sink) The technique was simply feed a coat hanger that has been streightened out through the spot I wanted to feed the cable through, than find it on the other side where I was feeding the cable from. On the 270 Sd the cable runs from the helm toward the starboard side under the floor, into the ski locker, around the ski locker and under the floor again into the cabinet in the head. Gaining access to the back of the helm requires removing the panel in the small cubby. After removing that panel I had to remove all the other panels to gain access to under the floor and to the amp. New system works really well and sounded great. I wanted to use a removable serius reciever because this particular reciever has a lifetime subscription, which is no longer offered. Also when the boat is in the boat house reception is spotty, so now I just remove the reciever and plug it into the system for the boat house which has an antena on the roof.

 

[sellnit]

Anything from Fusion! I love the 700 Series from them.