Stereo issue on 2004 340SDA - cockpit speaker only.

KevinC

KevinC

Well-Known Member
Feb 25, 2011
3,813
Long Island, NY
Boat Info
2004 340 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 8.1 V-drives
So we just splashed the boat this week and went to play some music off the stereo. I have a stock Clarion setup.

In the cockpit my sound is all muffled - no high end only muffled bass. Sounds almost like a blown speaker but it is on all three in the cockpit - two arch and one by the helm. Stereo sounds fine down in the cabin though.

I am pretty sure these are separate amps but outside of a failed amp does anyone have any input. I am going to dig in this weekend and see about swapping the amp outputs to see it makes a difference. Just trying to make sure I am not overlooking something simple.

Replacing the stereo was not on my todo list this year so I want to try to keep in simple as I have way too much already planned.

-Kevin
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
Make sure the "rear" RCA outputs are not default back to "sub". They need to be set to "rear" or "full-range", depending on the head unit's terminology.
Click to expand...

Thank you - is this a setting/switch?

Also, maybe I should have also explained that the stereo worked fine before storing it for the winter. Now the muffled bass is all I am getting. Hopefully will have some time to dig into it this weekend.

While I doubt all the speakers went out it would not be completely out of reason. Just gonna check the amp first then move outwards. Just real strange that all the mid and high ranges are gone. Completely possible that something went poof in the amp just have not spent much time thinking about that system.

-Kevin
 
Wylie is right, I have to reset mine at the start of every season. The headset rolls back to default when I disconnect the battery for the winter.
 
Yes, its a setting in the head unit menu. Very common feature when you have a head unit with outputs that can be full range rear or low pass sub, for them to default back to sub when there is a loss of power to the head.
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
Yes, its a setting in the head unit menu. Very common feature when you have a head unit with outputs that can be full range rear or low pass sub, for them to default back to sub when there is a loss of power to the head.
Click to expand...

I have the stock Clarion XMD3 unit and could not find a setting and I have the user interface.

I swapped the RCA off the two amps (cabin and cockpit) and the sound in the cockpit was normal. So based on this I can eliminate the speakers themselves.

If anyone knows of a setting on the unit let me know. Otherwise I am going under the assumption that it is the amp.

-Kevin
 
Same "schizo" head unit as mine, very difficult to navigate. This bulletin should get you going.

Service Advisory # 2003.JULY.SA-005
Condition: Clarion has continued to upgrade product and has done so with the stereo equipment for the 2004 model year. Technicians were not aware of a "programming change" necessary for boats equipped with tower speakers and/or subwoofers. This simple adjustment is made utilizing the button on the stereo unit face to the far right (top button).

Procedure: The following will restore the programming of the rear RCA pre-amp outputs to full frequency range.

1) Press and hold "Title/ADJ" button for two seconds
2) Use "SEARCH" button to scroll through the menu until the display reads "SW LPF".
3) Press the "VOL UP/DOWN" button to engage "REAR" full frequency range audio signal.
4) Once the desired adjustments are completed, press "TITLE/ADJ" button to exit program menu.

WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT IF THE BATTERY SOURCE IS DISCONNECTED FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS, THE RE-PROGRAMMING IS LOST.

IF A BATTERY IS REMOVED FOR WINTER STORAGE, THE RE-PROGRAMMING WILL BE NECESSARY AGAIN IN THE SPRING."
 
dlvwill said:
Same "schizo" head unit as mine, very difficult to navigate. This bulletin should get you going.

Service Advisory # 2003.JULY.SA-005
...."
Click to expand...

Wow - That's quite obvious now isn't it? Could not find anything about that in the documentation. I will check it out later today if possible. Only question is would this affect only the cockpit and leave the cabin ok (each on their own amps)?

For the time being I switch the leads to feed the cockpit from the other amp since we do not listen to music as much in the cabin.

-Kevin
 
So the problem moved with the RCA to another amp? This eliminates the amp also, but leaves the RCA cables and head unit. Next step would be to swap the RCA at the head unit and see if the issue stays or moves
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
So the problem moved with the RCA to another amp? This eliminates the amp also, but leaves the RCA cables and head unit. Next step would be to swap the RCA at the head unit and see if the issue stays or moves
Click to expand...

These amps are the Marine Audio. They have a Molex type connector and RCAs when I swapped the RCAs the problem went from Muffled in the Cockpit to Muffled in the Cabin - and the Cockpit sounded normal. I was guessing the harness connection was from the pre-amp inputs and the RCAs was the output to the speakers. I could not see to well in there if they were labeled and the bundle off the Head Unit is giant mess wrapped together.

-Kevin
 
Ok, come to think about it more - I did not switch the harness connector so it could still be the Head Unit. I only eliminated the speakers this way. Duh.

Also need to try what @dlvwill suggested.

-Kevin
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
You also eliminated the amp as the issue. Problem is upstream, likely the head unit setting.
Click to expand...

Ok will try that next. So you are saying the RCAs are the inputs on these and not the outputs ? I since I did not switch the harness I thought I did not necessarily eliminate the AMP. If I would have moved inputs and outputs together than I would have been certain.

-Kevin
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
RCA's are outputs on the head unit and inputs on the amp.
So its a mater of perspective.
Click to expand...

Ok, I was referring to the Amps so the RCAs are the inputs and the harness is the output. Then it makes sense that its the head unit setting as when I switched the RCAs the problem followed through both Amps. Thanks.

-Kevin
 
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