New Stereo Upgrade questions

skunkman

skunkman

Active Member
May 27, 2014
452
Longboat Key
Boat Info
2014 330 DA sold
Current boat 2021 Formula 350CBR
Engines
Triple 350 Mercury Verado
I am finally going to pull the plug and upgrade my stereo for my 2014 330DA.
My plan is this:
Replace current speakers with 7.7 JL M series
Add JL amp - 6 or 8 channel
Add 2 contained arch JL 7.7 M series facing to rear
Add 10" JL M-series Sub (bridge 2 channels)

My questions are:
How hard will it be to get power to the Amp
How hard to run wires up to the top of the arch
Should I get 6 or 8 channels for the amp

Where should I place the amp

I am handy but is this something for the pros

Thanks
Keith
 
I have a similar setup with 8 JL 7.7s and the JL 10" sub. I am running the JL M600/6 and M500/3 amps with a preamp. I put one pair of 7.7s in the arch facing inward at about ear level which you might consider instead of the cans. The amps are in the compartment below the cabinet starboard side of the midberth. Sounds amazing.
 
Sorry, can't answer your extended questions, but can say it is an excellent choice to go with JL Audio equipment.
 
Its a TREAT snaking the wires in the arch for sure, but it can be done. I went with Fusion amps because of the extra outputs. But I think your spot on with the JL's. I went with MB Quartz and am very happy. I just had too many projects to go with the JL's for the extra $.

Good luck with the project, and let us know how it goes.
 
JimT said:
I have a similar setup with 8 JL 7.7s and the JL 10" sub. I am running the JL M600/6 and M500/3 amps with a preamp. I put one pair of 7.7s in the arch facing inward at about ear level which you might consider instead of the cans. The amps are in the compartment below the cabinet starboard side of the midberth. Sounds amazing.
Click to expand...

Where did you place your other speakers?
With the 7.7s in the arch at ear level do you get plenty of sound of the stern. As in you were hanging out at a sand bar and off the boat. Are you driving your sub with one channel?
 
I have two pairs in the original holes behind the speaker covers behind the sink and forward of the grill and then facing on the opposite side. One pair up high in the arch and another pair with one speaker in front of the transom door and the other on the opposite side between the bench seats below the table. The sub is in the base of the rear facing bench seat facing the sink.

Six speakers are running off the M600/6 at 100w and two off of the M500/3 at 100w. The sub is running off of the 300w single channel on the M500/3. I get a lot of sound everywhere.
 
I have to say a proven better speaker is the Polk Audio. There was a speaker comparison test and Polk Audio won.
 
Last edited:
DougLas said:
I have to say a proven better speaker is the Polk Audio. There was a speaker comparison test and Polk Audio won.
Click to expand...

Do you have a link? I'd like to see it. I was looking at adding some speakers, I might just swap them all out :)
 
I have new polka for sale if you go with the polks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
skunkman said:
I am finally going to pull the plug and upgrade my stereo for my 2014 330DA.
My plan is this:
Replace current speakers with 7.7 JL M series
Add JL amp - 6 or 8 channel
Add 2 contained arch JL 7.7 M series facing to rear
Add 10" JL M-series Sub (bridge 2 channels)

My questions are:
How hard will it be to get power to the Amp
How hard to run wires up to the top of the arch
Should I get 6 or 8 channels for the amp

Where should I place the amp

I am handy but is this something for the pros

Thanks
Keith
Click to expand...
How many 7.7's will there be total and where will they be located?

How many of those 7.7's will be in the zone with the woofer? a single 10' woofer is going to struggle to keep pace with a bunch or 7.7's if they are powered with solid wattage.

Is that an M-IB woofer or the M designed for an enclosure?

No way on earth that the 6.5" speaker can compare to the 7.7 speaker, stay the course. If you want to reduce the budget, stay with that 8" OD speaker and have some LED bling, consider the Kicker KM8, Only slightly larger then the JL 7.7, but comes with RGB LEDs and a white and charcoal grills. Awesome sounding speaker.
 
JimT said:
This is a test of 6.5" speakers. Polk doesn't make a 7.7" speaker which is what the OP is considering.
Click to expand...

True, but John (who I was replying to) didn't specify a size and he was asking about test results.

Additionally, since the Polks have a greater sensitivity and the same RMS power and greater peak power handling, as well as a lower freq response the 7.7s moving a bit more air may not be worth the investment both in $$$ as well as labor to cut or expand exiting holes. Especially when you consider the OP is looking at adding a sub and will be left with what is still an odd size hole with the 7.7s, should he decide to change or replace down the road. Just a thought.
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
How many 7.7's will there be total and where will they be located?

How many of those 7.7's will be in the zone with the woofer? a single 10' woofer is going to struggle to keep pace with a bunch or 7.7's if they are powered with solid wattage.

Is that an M-IB woofer or the M designed for an enclosure?

No way on earth that the 6.5" speaker can compare to the 7.7 speaker, stay the course. If you want to reduce the budget, stay with that 8" OD speaker and have some LED bling, consider the Kicker KM8, Only slightly larger then the JL 7.7, but comes with RGB LEDs and a white and charcoal grills. Awesome sounding speaker.
Click to expand...

I will replace the 2 cockpit speakers with 7.7s and add 2 more - either in cans facing the stern mounted on the arch or as suggested above at ear level in the arch. The subwoofer will not be enclosed. Do I need more than one sub?
 
skunkman said:
I will replace the 2 cockpit speakers with 7.7s and add 2 more - either in cans facing the stern mounted on the arch or as suggested above at ear level in the arch. The subwoofer will not be enclosed. Do I need more than one sub?
Click to expand...

If you can swing it and find a good spot for it (them) I'd go with 2 subs at least.

Matt


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
skunkman said:
I will replace the 2 cockpit speakers with 7.7s and add 2 more - either in cans facing the stern mounted on the arch or as suggested above at ear level in the arch. The subwoofer will not be enclosed. Do I need more than one sub?
Click to expand...

With 2 pair of 7.7, I would want to push that 10 to its potential and drive it in the 300w range. Two 10's would be thumping pretty good if you could do them side by side and drive them in the 400-500W range. Just make sure you get the "IB" I would also consider the Wet Sounds SW-10AF. Its got more power handling then the JL 10. Not quite a musical, but a solid performer. Its white grill will close match the JL's classic grill.
 
Hifi & Wylie ,
My system is described above. I have an extra JL 10' sub I bought from a member here. Assuming I can find a place to install it what would you recommend to power a single sub?
Thnaks.
 
JimT said:
Hifi & Wylie ,
My system is described above. I have an extra JL 10' sub I bought from a member here. Assuming I can find a place to install it what would you recommend to power a single sub?
Thnaks.
Click to expand...
Jim,

Do you know which JL 10 it is specifically? About a 100W rms difference between the M and MX series as well as between the IB and enclosure woofer.

Im 20 minutes south of you and can help with both the install and amp rec.
 
There was a boat stereo sound off in the marina I’m at and Polk Audio won the sound off with no argument. I have since installed a complete Polk Audio System in my boat and get compliments all the time about how good it sounds.
 
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