Cafe racer stereo.
02-14-2025 | 09:16 AM
#31
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,531
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From: Lake Ozark, MO USA
I like the Kicker products you picked. Save yourself the headache of coming up with a box and speaker sub. Call Justin at Waves and Wheels and get 1 or 2 of his prepackaged subs. They are pricey, but they work, they are waterproof and they won't swell up like wood boxes. Also find out what amp will drive them. This guy is smart and knows what does and does not work. I have a homemade sub box under my rear bench it is a square kicker been there for years. It is plenty loud for me and I can't hear very well anymore. The wood has swollen, and it will have to be cut out. I will be replacing it with a WW Bluave
02-14-2025 | 09:40 AM
#32
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,315
Likes: 1,557
From: Maryland
I like the Kicker products you picked. Save yourself the headache of coming up with a box and speaker sub. Call Justin at Waves and Wheels and get 1 or 2 of his prepackaged subs. They are pricey, but they work, they are waterproof and they won't swell up like wood boxes. Also find out what amp will drive them. This guy is smart and knows what does and does not work. I have a homemade sub box under my rear bench it is a square kicker been there for years. It is plenty loud for me and I can't hear very well anymore. The wood has swollen, and it will have to be cut out. I will be replacing it with a WW Bluave
02-14-2025 | 09:52 AM
#33
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Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 3,533
Likes: 2,142
From: SW Ohio
I actually had it typed out for using a Dremel, but I figured most on the forum would rather use a palm router instead. The Dremel works just as well, even if a bit slower, due to the 1/8" bit. I actually have the router base for my Dremel, and have used it for this sort of thing a lot. I used my Dremel to cut the holes for newer, slightly bigger speakers in the PQ when I updated the stereo right after buying it.
About the bit... Do yourself a favor.... Go to mscdirect.com and order a 3 flute carbide end mill (1/8" for a Dremel or similar, 1/4" for a router). They will last far longer and do a much better job than the high speed steel RotoZip bits. for just wood, you can get away with a 2 flute, but the 3 flutes work much faster and have almost as much clip clearance. Their AccuPro house brand are fantastic and very affordable.
Accupro - Square End Mill: 1/8" Dia, 3/4" LOC, 3 Flute, Solid Carbide | MSC Direct
Accupro - Square End Mill: 1/4" Dia, 3/4" LOC, 3 Flute, Solid Carbide | MSC Direct
.... For example.
Thanks. Brad.
Last edited by Brad Christy; 02-14-2025 at 11:21 AM.
02-14-2025 | 10:17 AM
#34
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 870
Likes: 259
From: Portland, OR
phoenix gold is good stuff!!! Agree on all your points. Specifically with the 8.8s and running appropriate power to them. I did not know about the MB Quart and German Maestro connection. But makes sense because got dayum the pricing on the GM high end stuff mirrors MB Quart high end pricing. Frankly Id never heard of GM until I was buying RWTD and was told about the crazy money the owner spent on the stereo. Ive been out of the stereo game for a while so I looked em up. Good stuff.
ive actually not had the opportunity to
really crank the GMs or even fine tune the system. Mostly because Im not a fan of the older Sony head unit it has. Not impressed. Im changing it out this season. Id like to get a JL MM105 head unit. lol then plan on putting a smaller garmin unit in the dash above the cabin where the current remote is. So stupid its there.
speaking of good stuff, I always liked Focal too. Crisp, clean LOUD sound.
ive actually not had the opportunity to
really crank the GMs or even fine tune the system. Mostly because Im not a fan of the older Sony head unit it has. Not impressed. Im changing it out this season. Id like to get a JL MM105 head unit. lol then plan on putting a smaller garmin unit in the dash above the cabin where the current remote is. So stupid its there.
speaking of good stuff, I always liked Focal too. Crisp, clean LOUD sound.
You should seriously look at the Fusion RA series heads that have the "wifi streaming". Supposedly it's a game changer for SQ, which knowing what equipment you have would be shame to not take advantage of the added clarity. They also integrate seamlessly with Garmin MFD's and especially now that Garmin owns Fusion.
02-14-2025 | 10:40 AM
#35
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,633
Likes: 4,622
From: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
Phoenix was the $hit back in the day and being local to me in Portland was a no brainer. I still have a custom one it's on the "registry" : Other (1st pic on the left of the upside down one). Definitely beasts when you look at the internal construction of them.
You should seriously look at the Fusion RA series heads that have the "wifi streaming". Supposedly it's a game changer for SQ, which knowing what equipment you have would be shame to not take advantage of the added clarity. They also integrate seamlessly with Garmin MFD's and especially now that Garmin owns Fusion.
You should seriously look at the Fusion RA series heads that have the "wifi streaming". Supposedly it's a game changer for SQ, which knowing what equipment you have would be shame to not take advantage of the added clarity. They also integrate seamlessly with Garmin MFD's and especially now that Garmin owns Fusion.
can you recommend what model? Ill check it out.
02-14-2025 | 11:01 AM
#36
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 870
Likes: 259
From: Portland, OR
Garmin FusionŽ Apollo MS-RA770 Marine Stereo | Head Unit
If you know someone that is a Garmin dealer you should be able to get a deal?
If you know someone that is a Garmin dealer you should be able to get a deal?
02-14-2025 | 12:33 PM
#37
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,989
Likes: 6,484
From: Chicago
number one tip - pay a professional! lol
I don’t trust myself doing that stuff. No way!
Where are you going to mount the subs? Under the rear seat? If you’re just going to slap them in there and not have them in boxes, you should purchase free air subs. Other options is have small sub boxes built behind the area you mount them under the rear bench. Enclosed boxes always sound better and have more of a bass sound or harder crisper thump. Open air is less “solid” bass. They mounted my 12” free air subs in the gunnels under the bolsters in our cafe. I wasn’t a fan. Rattled a bit and lost the deep bass. Our old gun had free air subs under the rear bench that sounded ok. Best sound is gonna be from an enclosed sub box. Our current hub has them. Nice deep bass. Hard punch.
I don’t trust myself doing that stuff. No way!
Where are you going to mount the subs? Under the rear seat? If you’re just going to slap them in there and not have them in boxes, you should purchase free air subs. Other options is have small sub boxes built behind the area you mount them under the rear bench. Enclosed boxes always sound better and have more of a bass sound or harder crisper thump. Open air is less “solid” bass. They mounted my 12” free air subs in the gunnels under the bolsters in our cafe. I wasn’t a fan. Rattled a bit and lost the deep bass. Our old gun had free air subs under the rear bench that sounded ok. Best sound is gonna be from an enclosed sub box. Our current hub has them. Nice deep bass. Hard punch.
Tank,
3 subs under the seats or 2 in the enclosures in the gunnel?
(each seat is basically an enclosure , all 3 are seperate)
02-14-2025 | 02:04 PM
#38
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,633
Likes: 4,622
From: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
Garmin FusionŽ Apollo™ MS-RA770 Marine Stereo | Head Unit
If you know someone that is a Garmin dealer you should be able to get a deal?
If you know someone that is a Garmin dealer you should be able to get a deal?
thanks brother.
edit: read up on it. I’m ordering it. Done.
thanks for the tip. Bad azz unit. I love how you can make your phone the remote which is so cool while standing around the dock chillin, or beaches up or whatever. Can control the stereo 100% from wherever you are. and it’s totally compatible with the GPS unit not to mention the wifi angle. Super nice unit.
Last edited by thisistank; 02-14-2025 at 02:25 PM.
02-14-2025 | 02:06 PM
#39
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,633
Likes: 4,622
From: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
you could do 3. That was JL’s original claim to fame was running 3 subs in series. I’ve always just run two subs. Separate enclosures. I wish I hade a pic of the current boat. The speakers are in hard case (fiberglass maybe) angled boxes.
if you were able to use your rear seat area as induvidual boxes and run 3 subs in series that would be pretty bad ass. Only problem is cubic feet of air is pretty sensitive with speakers and then some speakers are ported and some are sealed boxes and it’s a science to get the best sound.
Last edited by thisistank; 02-14-2025 at 02:08 PM.
02-14-2025 | 03:27 PM
#40
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Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 32
Likes: 13
From: St. Louis / Lake of the Ozarks
Phoenix was the $hit back in the day and being local to me in Portland was a no brainer. I still have a custom one it's on the "registry" : Other (1st pic on the left of the upside down one). Definitely beasts when you look at the internal construction of them.
You should seriously look at the Fusion RA series heads that have the "wifi streaming". Supposedly it's a game changer for SQ, which knowing what equipment you have would be shame to not take advantage of the added clarity. They also integrate seamlessly with Garmin MFD's and especially now that Garmin owns Fusion.
You should seriously look at the Fusion RA series heads that have the "wifi streaming". Supposedly it's a game changer for SQ, which knowing what equipment you have would be shame to not take advantage of the added clarity. They also integrate seamlessly with Garmin MFD's and especially now that Garmin owns Fusion.
Last edited by jwill; 02-14-2025 at 03:36 PM.
