I have a 38' Fountain with full staggers which leaves a smaller cockpit.

My current configuration is:
1 pair up high of 770s in front (passenger and driver location) and 1 pair 770's down low.
1 pair up high of 770's in rear, not using the speakers down low (the old Alpine that came with the boat).
2 10" JL subs in the rear bench
JL M1000/5v2 amp

Wiring:
Up front I have the top 770's wired down to the lower 770's then to the amp
Rear are wired directly to the amp
Subs wired to the amp.

I think the sound is "thin".. which is the best word I can describe. The subs in the bench are pounding nicely, but in the cockpit, I think I may be missing mid bass or something like that.

Here is what I am thinking:
Adding 880's to the front low location and moving the 770's to the rear (option 1)
*or*
Adding 880's to the front low and 880's to rear low. And then seeing if my local dealer will give me credit on the 770's which were just installed a month ago. (option)

In either case, adding another amp.

In option 2, I am not sure if 880's in the rear will be of great benefit since they are so close to subs in the rear bench. So possibly Option 1 may be a better choice. Thoughts?

Amps: I could put my current amp in bridge mode and send 200x 2 to the front low 880's. Then get another like like the JL 800/8 and put 200 watts to each of the fronts and 200 to the rear highs and lows???

Or am I overpowering this system on the amp side, just need suggestions.
Need suggestions on amps and wiring.. thoughts?

This is not my boat but extremely similar setup:

https://www.facebook.com/DavidWadeMa...67337573284277

Call elite auto image in Indianapolis, He has what seems to be about 50 JL's stuffed in his staggered 38, 317-241-0900

Ive seen the blue and white Fountain a couple times this year in person. Nice boat. I assumed its owned by Elite as a show boat for stereos.
Hoping to get advice from the community. I dont think Im going overboard. I kinda looked at what Cigarette was doing with JL having high low in front and rear although Cigs also have 4 subs int he bench vs. 2.
Fountains are unique in sound quality. They seem to sound better than other boats with similar equipment installed.

I've noticed the higher up you get more highs the better, but under the windshield speakers kinda take away from the rest of the system when your in the front bolsters.

Im thinking about putting 4 880's down low and 4 770's up high. Or just putting 1 pair of 880's up front (down low) and 6 770's in the other locations.
Not sure which way to go.
also on wiring.. Im thinking about using the M1000/5 in bridge mode at 200 x 2 in 2 ohm. That would be the 770's wired down to the 880's then out to the amp on both sides. What are the plusses and minuses of this?
The 800/8 amp gives me 4 channels at 200 watts for the front 4 speakers.

I don't think there is such a thing as over-powering a system if your buying quality stuff which you are. The more power you have the lower the gains can be set which makes for a better overall system. It's been my experience M880s will totally drown out the M770s when they placed next to each other. If you think your audio sounds thin I think you're on the right track with adding some midbass. Those 880's play low and are a massive upgrade over the 770's (which are still great) but since you already own the 770's this is a tough decision. I also agree with the best sound coming from mounting your 770's up high and the 880's down low.

I have a fairly small system in my fully staggered 35 Lightning which is four JL M880's and two JL M8IB5 free air subs powered by a JL 900HD/5 amp. One pair of 880's are in the rear bench with the subs and the other pair is up front in the stock location about 8" off the floor. The larger tweeter really shines and the highs are full and clear even with them mounted low. It certainly doesn't have the crushing bass of two ported or sealed 12's but it is far from thin.

Im thinking about this:

770's up high in front and rear
880's in front low location, Use the 770's down low in rear. So only 1 pair of 880's. The reason I say this an I need your opinions is because of the location of the 880's in the rear are right next to the 10" subs. How much gain am I really going to get from floor level 880's next to subs?

Use the 1000 5v2 in 75 RMS x 4 channel Mode to power the back high 770's and low 770s
Buy a 800 8v2 and run it in 200 RMS x 4 channel mode to power the front high 770's and the low 880's

Thoughts on this configuration?

Another thought in the rear speakers is to not use the low location at all and use the 1000 5v2 in 200 RMS x 2 channel going to the 770's on top. (the only problem is I already purchased the 770s)

So another idea is to put a pair of 880's in the bench, in between the 2 subs already there.. hmm. And maybe use another pair 880's in the front lows. (amp at 200 x 4) Run 770's up high in front and back using the amp in 75 x 4 ..then maybe try to sell the 770's.

Wont the 880's down low at 200RMS drown the 770's at 75 RMS? I understand the 880's are a lot lower

Here is a picture of the back bench..only 1 I could find. As you can see, the subs are mounted out to the sides, so there is plenty of room in the middle to put 2 880's. and have them shoot up the middle of the boat. The only problem is they are also low on the ground. This also shows where the low rear side speakers are:

https://goo.gl/photos/GGzcYU53B23anJnZ7
https://goo.gl/photos/9NBwbH2ddwGXV5L29

(Note: These pictures were taken before I added the front 770's up high)

I'd put them under the bench, they make a difference down there. Just not like they would up high. You're just limited on where you can put them in the boat with out cutting holes all over it.