clarion stock 1998 w/ 6 disk changer need IPOD input and more Power!

[temptress]

Howdy gang,

I have a 1998 270 with a stock head unit with casset AM/FM and six disk changer. there is also an a ampliphier in a nearby locker that says 30X4 i am sure this is stock as well. I am in no way a stereo or electronics guy but I would like to be able to use an IPOD with controls topside and increase the sound quality topside. The interier sounds fine with the two stock clairion speakers mounted on the back side of the anchor locker, but the cockpit speakers could use some help.

I have four speakers total in the cockpit 2 foward at the helm and two rear near the transom. the two speakers forward are louder than the two rear and the head unit does not allow any fading to increase the volume to front or back. I assume there needs to be more power to the rear speakers???

I am looking for a failry simple and economical solution to allow me to have an IPOD input with remote control, better sound quality in the cockpit, and finally the ability to fade the sound in the cockpit and off in the cabin so the kids can watch movies while mom and i listen to toons on the foredeck.

I would appreciate your ideas! thanks!!:smt001

 

[Mr Salt]

It all depends on how much money you want to spend. To do it on the cheap, have you tried operating your iPod though the cigarette lighter? You have to control the iPod from itself but it is just fine on my boat. I also found that the plastic cones in my 2001 speakers had disintagrated and so the only thing that was working were the tweeters.

 

[Groucho]

One of the problems is the stock "amp" if thats is what it is called...haha. It is weak, and no matter what speakers you put in it won't sound very good. Get a decent replacement amp for a hundred or so, then replace all 4 with decent 2 ways. Then if your budget allows get a sub woofer. The Ipod transmitter that goes in the lighter is better than nothing but loses some quality, as it is a radio wave to the FM side of the unit.

 

[searay24]

I just replaced my stock clarion am/fm cass with a clarion M475. Has everything your looking for. 50x4 power with CD/ mp3. Input for Ipod , input for CD changer.Includes wireless remote and Works with wired remote at helm. look on e bay. good luck.

 

[400sedanbridge]

Hi,

do you still have the replaced Clarion M1000R? if so, please let me know.

If not, was the replacement with a M475 easy? did you need to change the wires?

Please let me know.

Kind regards.

Roy

 

[EarmarkMarine]

The old 'M' series cd changer is not going to function with a new CeNet HU.
If you replace the HU with a contemporary model the old remotes and cables will need replacement.
A wireless FM modulator is a 1 on a quality scale of 1 to 10. Very poor. A better quality hardwired FM modulator (provided you get a good one) is a 5 on the 1 to 10 scale. If the system isn't terribly sophisticated this can be a good option. You can use an IS-Simple adapter into the hardwired FM modulator that will power, charge and deliver the ipod's true preout signal (from the bottom plug) so that you can move the ipod freely between the helm or cabin (if you install twin jacks) and maintain the ipod display and operation on the ipod menu.
You can also expand this basic scheme to allow the video soundtrack to play through the more powerful stereo.

David
Earmark Marine

 

[jamesgang]

If you go with the M475, the "mute" on the current helm remote won't work but everyting else will. We changed out the old head unit, cd changer, amp & speakers, with all newer Clarion components as we wanted to have mp3 capability also. A savy dock neighbor tweaked it all for us. Sounds great!

 

[Kay Lee]

If your head unit is a Clarion model M5470, you do have a front/rear fader control. The problem that I found with mine was that Searay wired the cabin speakers to the front outputs of the head unit, the external amp was connected to the front line level outputs which drove the forward cockpit speakers and the rear outputs of the head unit were wired to the aft cockpit speakers. The M5470 has both front and rear line level outputs. I wanted the fader to fade between the cabin and the cockpit. I wanted to be able to listen to music in the cabin and I really didn't want to subject everyone else (especially in a marina) to the music coming from a set of cockpit speakers. I just simply moved the external amp input connectors from the front line level outputs jacks over to the rear line level output jacks. Problem solved. I'm just using an MP3 player connected through a cassette adapter. Cheap & simple and works for me. Now if I could only find where my starboard rear cockpit speaker wire is broken... If anyone can help, please see my post (#52) on the following forum http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/1786-Late-90-s-270-Sundancer-Thread

Larry