Cafe racer stereo.
#51
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Chicago
^^^ What size sub is best for hard crisp bass at lower levels?
I`d like to design a system that is very clear and crisp. Last time I had little tweeters in places, they helped.
So far I have 4 of these speakers.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206KM6...omnews=5020980
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646K...er-46KMC2.html
I have collected these used. (I have 2 amps)



open to all suggestions on subs and what else I would need for a tight crisp sound at lower volume levels.
I`d like to design a system that is very clear and crisp. Last time I had little tweeters in places, they helped.
So far I have 4 of these speakers.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_206KM6...omnews=5020980
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646K...er-46KMC2.html
I have collected these used. (I have 2 amps)



open to all suggestions on subs and what else I would need for a tight crisp sound at lower volume levels.
Last edited by ICDEDPPL; 02-15-2025 at 11:53 AM.
#52
To avoid the JL premium I’ve had great luck with Kicker. They have a marine series too. I wouldn’t go any cheaper than that.
Fusion is also somewhat cheaper than JL and attempting mimic the JL lineup as much as possible. But fusion has been raising prices too.
I hate free air subwoofers. They cant take any power. Make the effort to build an enclosure for your sub(s) and you’ll be able to run up to 1000 watts per sub depending on your setup. This can clean things up as well, not needing nearly as many to get the job done.
Ive been running a $400 non marine kicker 1200 watt d class amp in my boat for years now. But its hooked to two solo baric L7s ($$$) in marine board enclosures.
The rest of my setup is a fusion 4 channel and 6 fusion speakers, 2 in pods. Speakers in pods are the biggest rip off if you can avoid them.
If you’re just making noise in your cockpit, and not outside of it, your stereo can be much more reasonable.
Fusion is also somewhat cheaper than JL and attempting mimic the JL lineup as much as possible. But fusion has been raising prices too.
I hate free air subwoofers. They cant take any power. Make the effort to build an enclosure for your sub(s) and you’ll be able to run up to 1000 watts per sub depending on your setup. This can clean things up as well, not needing nearly as many to get the job done.
Ive been running a $400 non marine kicker 1200 watt d class amp in my boat for years now. But its hooked to two solo baric L7s ($$$) in marine board enclosures.
The rest of my setup is a fusion 4 channel and 6 fusion speakers, 2 in pods. Speakers in pods are the biggest rip off if you can avoid them.
If you’re just making noise in your cockpit, and not outside of it, your stereo can be much more reasonable.
funny, everyone thinks they need to buy marine grade stuff. I’ve run non marine stuff in my boats for years. Not currently, but historically. My whole system in my first gun was for a story in powerboat and it was all
clarion (non marine) local shop got clarion to donate the equipment for the story.
something to think about. Unless you’re planning on the stuff getting soaked, you can save a few bucks by not going with marine grade stuff.
and regarding free air to chambered subs, I agree, as stated in my first couple posts. The free airs won’t give that hard crisp bass. But they will
be easier to install and your rear seat will give somewhat of a “ported box” condition. If you’re just looking for “decent” sound inside the cockpit, this’ll work. Other option if you want to avoid building boxes, is buy some subs meant to be ported and see how that sounds. I had some kickers in my Baja under the seat, no box but were designed to be ported. They hit hard.
take homie roll up on figuring out the cubic feet design for a box. Boxes aren’t hard to build actually. Just need to do the math for maximum performance.
Dan, grab 3 JL 10’s, run them
in series and you get a tighter crisper bass. Grab 2 12” subs and keep the center storage free and you get that loud hard deep bass. Run enough power to it and seal the space and it’ll probably be more bass than you want lol
#53
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From: Tullahoma Tennessee
LOL. just get a couple free air subs. JL AUDIO makes a 10” and a 12” marine application free air subwoofer. They’ll sound great if you put enough power to them. Dedicate one amp for just your subs. Then grab a t least two sets of JL M series mids/highs by way of coaxle speakers. You just have to decide if you want 10” subs or 12” subs and if you want 6.5 7.7 or 8.8 “ coaxle. Get another amp to run the mids/highs. You’ll notice the wattage and output jumps up significantly as you jump up in size of speakers. So does price. Then all you have to do is figure out what amps you want. JL, Kicker, Fosgate are all main stream. The others mentioned PPI, Phoenix Gold, Zapco, etc are custom competition grade stuff. Doesn’t sound like You need to go that route.
I know I recommended building your own system via various companies but the more I read what you’re doing it’d be good just to go all one brand. Keep it clean and easy.
sorry I went all “SQUIRREL!!!” On stereo ****. lol. Keep it simple. I personally like JL the best. Kicker is right there. They both make complete systems (subs, mids/highs, amps, head units).
I know I recommended building your own system via various companies but the more I read what you’re doing it’d be good just to go all one brand. Keep it clean and easy.
sorry I went all “SQUIRREL!!!” On stereo ****. lol. Keep it simple. I personally like JL the best. Kicker is right there. They both make complete systems (subs, mids/highs, amps, head units).
I’m fine with one sub under the back seat instead of two. The one in this package is called a JL M6 10” for “ infinite baffle “
talk to me goose lol

#54
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 866
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From: Portland, OR
You are going to want 2 of those subs I'm telling ya.... and after that you will wish you had 4 or done something else lol
#55
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From: Tullahoma Tennessee
#57
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From: Tullahoma Tennessee
I may could add one later. Sorta have a budget on doing this anyhow. I think that would get me by for the time being.
Now how many beers it gonna take for you come install LOL!
#59
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 866
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From: Portland, OR
If you are looking at M3's based off price I would possibly look to other brands from what I've read, they are meh.
I know everyone reading this is probably thinking holy hell the 8.8's and appropriate amplification (I had 300 each running to them which is far beyond what they are rated for and they screamed let me tell you) is a **** ton of money but on my last boat I picked out what I wanted and kept my eye out for used versions of it all. In the end I paid way less than what that package you listed cost and had FAR superior everything. There is no shame in getting nice **** on the cheap and there are deals out there I see all the time on the FB groups. Something to think about anyways.
My current boat has the "M" series of that same amp in your package in it. It all came with the boat but was completely wired incorrectly but that's another story. In going over the basic specs it looks like the only difference is the color (the part number listed in that ad brings up the black version so if you order that I would double check). Mine I have the 4 channels bridged to run two of my 6 total 7.7's and I have and the sub channel I have running two JL marine 10's in sealed boxes. It does a stellar job for what I'm using it for I don't think you would be disappointed. Agree with Tank however it's always best to have separate amps for mid/high and subs for flexibility down the road.
#60
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From: Tullahoma Tennessee
Ok so here’s what I’m thinking or working with on the interior of my Cafe.
tell me your thoughts and creative negativities.
please don’t mind how nasty she is right now. Been having to do some gel coat re finishing etc in my shop on another boat im redoing for my wife so it is embarrassingly dirty. Sorry!









tell me your thoughts and creative negativities.
please don’t mind how nasty she is right now. Been having to do some gel coat re finishing etc in my shop on another boat im redoing for my wife so it is embarrassingly dirty. Sorry!












