Cafe racer stereo.

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

02-15-2025 | 07:03 PM

#61

Diamond Dave

Registered

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 866

Likes: 253

From: Portland, OR

Hard to tell but your throttles may limit you with any size to putting the fronts down low where there is plenty of room. May interfere with throttling. On my last boat they were down low. Pro's of this location is it is easy to upgrade to larger sizes if you did not initially do so. Con would be the lower they are the harder they to hear from outside the boat. That's another reason I ended up with 8.8's powered to the moon lol. My old boat had great imaging from the fronts set up this way but it was not a Cig which may be different.

The rears you may need to check the depth the upper mounting location may be too shallow?

Last edited by Diamond Dave; 02-15-2025 at 07:52 PM.

02-16-2025 | 08:09 AM

#62

hogie roll

Registered

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,865

Likes: 793

From: St. Pete Beach, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICDEDPPL

^^^ 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.

What kind of space do you have to work with for the subwoofer(s)

Last edited by hogie roll; 02-16-2025 at 08:28 AM.

02-16-2025 | 08:14 AM

#63

hogie roll

Registered

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,865

Likes: 793

From: St. Pete Beach, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisistank

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

I agree. When I shop for subs I’m just looking for a rubber surround and a plastic cone.

Im struggling to recall a subwoofer only meant for a ported enclosure. But my first box build was a ported enclosure for cerwin vegas, and compared to the small sealed box i originally had, you’d have though they weren’t even on before the ported box.

02-16-2025 | 08:27 AM

#64

hogie roll

Registered

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,865

Likes: 793

From: St. Pete Beach, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87CigCafe

what’s your thoughts on this package with the 1,000 watt 5 channel?
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

Will it work and sound good inside the cockpit of a Cafe at rest? Yes

Will it sound good while running? Maybe

Will it make any sound outside of your cockpit? No

Is it the most money you could possibly spend for the least performance? Yes

That speaker setup on your $1000! amplifier would only be making 600 watts rms at 12.5 volts, and 700 watts rms at 14.4 volts. Ironically the subwoofer would be quite a bit over its rated power at up to 400 watts. But I think JL tends to be very conservative with ratings.

02-16-2025 | 08:31 AM

#65

hogie roll

Registered

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,865

Likes: 793

From: St. Pete Beach, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diamond Dave

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

Building a stereo completely overkill is preferable. You only do it once, it sounds better because you aren’t pushing anything in to clipping, and it lasts longer because you aren’t running anything at max. It took me 3 iterations to get mine right. Granted it’s a center console which is a taller task.

02-16-2025 | 08:34 AM

#66

hogie roll

Registered

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,865

Likes: 793

From: St. Pete Beach, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87CigCafe

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!

If you’re on a budget you’re doing it way wrong. And $3k is plenty to do it right imo. Just no point in using JL on a budget. The only scenario where I’d say it isn’t a waste of money is if you have a really high dollar center console where you are worried about resale and the buyers only know one brand.

02-16-2025 | 08:37 AM

#67

hogie roll

Registered

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 3,865

Likes: 793

From: St. Pete Beach, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by 87CigCafe

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!

Put a ruler in those pics for us.

02-16-2025 | 08:53 AM

#68

offshoredrillin

VIP Member

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 12,314

Likes: 1,556

From: Maryland

mine are here if it helps, also the 2 round black speakers are in the helms. I was also told the higher up would give a cleaner crisper sound and help carry it from the boat when your not in it...