Stereo technology input
 

So on my Checkmate Convincor 253 the stereo is mounted in the cabin obviously. While I dont mind that I do mind the connectivity issues I have with my bluetooth. Seems it has to be in the cabin to work properly and it has issues connecting most times which Im sure is the head unit. Its a Sony DSX M80. Im not a fan of Sony and never really have been tbh. Ive always been a Pioneer guy. Im about to add more 6.5 speakers and a couple amps so was wondering what everyone is doing for head units nowadays. Ideally Id like a single din head unit (doesnt HAVE to be Pioneer) that has 4v+ preouts and somehow I can get a wired remote (small) I can put on the dash and a wireless remote I can use while swimming out back if thats even a thing. The other thing I havent figured out is Im doing (8) 6.5 speakers (already have 4 now running off deck and adding 4 more different brand. All will be on (2) different amps as 4 now require slightly less watts and you cant hear em that much anyways due to placement as 2 are in cabin) and will have (2) amps for them. Each amp being a 4 channel. I will eventually add subs but prolly not this year. Can I "Y" the front and rear RCA's and go into each amp or will that mess the preout voltage?

Ive got all my trucks amped and speakers and this boat is confusing me for some reason....lol. No real good spots to add speakers so thinking at least 1 pair angled off dash toward passengers and maybe the other pair as well. Idk yet.

I would suggest the fusion radio MS RA-210. It’s a single din type. I just installed it in my cabin of my older formula 311 last year. That receiver probably has one of the best Bluetooth capability.

The other day while cleaning the boat, I walked probably 100 feet away and was adjusting the volume on my phone to the stereo.

I ended up doing a a remote display on my passenger dash so my wife can adjust the station. Ms-nrx300 was the model. The connections are via a NMEA 2000 cable. You can hook multiple remotes up.

would highly suggest the fusion.

I too have difficulty with speaker locations. Have 4 6.5 in my cockpit and 10” subs in cockpit. This year I just added 2 12” shallow subs from wet sounds inside a small narrow elongated box that fits in my gunnel…. And WOW what a big difference…. More distinct base.


yes you can y split the amp outputs from radio to multiple amps and all works fine.

hope that helps.

Chris

I was going to suggest a Fusion head unit for single DIN also. They also have wireless remotes you can place in different areas of the boat.

I've done the splitting of the RCA cables and never had any ill effects. But I have read it's not good to do that. It's better to get something like an equalizer that has numerous outputs. If you get the Wet Sounds unit, it has controls for different zones on the boat. So you can crank just the cabin, the cockpit, the swim platform, or all of them.

Not sure if you're aware, but there are blue tooth receivers that may even work better for you if that's all you use. You may not even need to buy a single DIN radio.

https://shop.wetsounds.com/WS-220-BT/

https://shop.wetsounds.com/WS-420-BT/

https://shop.wetsounds.com/WW-BT-UR/

Now thats what I was looking for! I find it amazing all the technology for boats. Im a car guy specifically high performance so this boat electronics is all new to me. I also find it hard to search for anything powerboat related on google as not much pops up for stereo stuff. I am looking into the Fusion head unit more as I really really like the wireless remote idea for the swim platform and the wired one for the helm.

So here my list so far..... I am good friends with a guy who is sponsored by DC Audio in comps around the region so I get all my stuff from him for unreal price so most of the stuff is that.

- (4) Dc Audio Pro Coaxial
- (4) Skar Audio SK65MB (Already installed when I bought boat)
- (2) Dc Audio PS1200x4 amps
- Fusion head unit. Which one I dont know yet
- (3) Marine batteries with selector switch. 2 on stereo 1 on starter. Have two batteries now and will add another when I do this.

Obviously all the fuses and wires, ect as well. Do you see any reason why I couldnt run 6.5" "pods" off the dash area? Seems that would produce the best sound toward the people on the boat. Just cant figure out if I want to do 2 pods are all 4? Nowhere really else to run em on this boat.

Chris

I think that sounds like a good plan. The question is do you have room for 4 6.5” speaker pods and not obstruct your view while navigating…. That would be my only concern.

in my boat I have a 6.5 by my feet and passenger feet, then I have another 2 at the back bench. I also have 2 10” subs at back bench and frankly that sounded great in the cockpit. But I also have seen some put them in the dash area to get the sound to project more to the rear when out in the water, etc. I have considered something like that as well, yet have yet to do so in my dash.

it’s more difficult to get that deep base sound in a boat vs a car. Check out this sub, as I found it to fit in tight space.

Wet sounds Sub to check out

Another option would be to get a stand alone Bluetooth receiver. I spliced one into my home stereo system so i can play my XM radio from my phone on the outdoor speakers. Had to get a 12v transformer to supply the juice but it worked great. :)

Hell my windshield is so small and bolsters so tall Im not even sure what the purpose of having it at all is...lol. Think its just looks. Honestly been contemplating lowering the bolster 2" or so anyways. Either way Im always looking over the windshield anyways and Im about to wrap it the color of the graphics on the boat so its a mute point at this point.

My only thing now is I like the look of the slightly angled lower profile 6.5" pods better than the tower looking 90* pods. I cant post pics or URLs yet it appears or I would. Im just wondering how well the lower profile ones would project off the windshield? If pretty good Id like to go that route more so than the big ugly ones.

As for the subs Im not worried about building a box as Ive built plenty in my days and Im planning on going sealed anyways so should fit real nice under my bench area as I have the room (just got to find another place for the anchor). I prolly only do (2) or maybe even (3). Either in 10s or 8s. Thats a next year project though. Ive got another truck of mine that has all of its audio **** waiting here on my workbench once it gets back from getting some paint work done. Trying to do boat in the meantime but Im sure they both will happen at same time like always....

Im not into the big deep bass anymore honestly. The older I get the more I want clarity over some hoodrat sounding honda trunk rattling POS. Thats why Im usually a Hertz speaker guy but figured in a boat its not as important or going to sound anything like a truck so just going for louder as I think with the right combo setup properly it should sound pretty decent. I just hate distortion and thats why my buddy has all these fancy gadgets to check voltages and everything else. Waaay over my head. I just install and tune it and he fine tunes it all.

Chris

Keep this thread going so I can get my 10 posts so I can read my 11 private messages...lol. And post pics! :D

Just make some short posts.

post a photo of the dash.

either way, you sound like you got it all figured out. Just a good receiver will be key for you then.

Damnit. I cant post the pic of dash yet. Time to get post count up. Be right back...

Just make a couple 1 word posts to get your count up. Then post a pic of what you're working with. I'm sure someone will chime in with a great idea for you.

2 more after this

1 more

And 10

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...1e7adf054d.jpg

I hear you about the bass. I just installed a simple and easy head unit and speakers. No more loud bass for me. Rather my music be clear. Not into the thumping

Guess I need to do some measuring. They sure didnt think about any stereo stuff in this boat when they designed it thats for sure. Shallow mounts arent gonna work as they are like 8"+ at the base and doesnt appear I have anywhere close to that. Bout to just buy some dam headphones and call it good.

496BB,

I was able to shoehorn an8" Bazooka into the side pocket of our PQ280.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2e1fcb07f.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...67f9cbbf7.jpeg

They are relatively inexpensive, self-contained, compact and sound great. I think they make a 6" version, too. Something to chew on.

Thanks. Brad.

I've had a pair of Bazooka Tubes in my old Camaro since the 80's. lol.. They're still going.

I like how that's working in a side pocket. It's hard to get good bass in a boat without taking up valuable storage space.

I just settled for a pair of 7" coaxial JL's mounted fairly high where the Fountain logo is normally. One very clean class-B 200W RMS amp and a decent head unit. Sounds great up to a volume where you can no longer talk over it.

No extra batts. I do carry a jump starter, but never had to use it.

Getting good sound off the back while floating is tough. I've seen transom mounted speakers facing backwards but I can't do that.

ZZ28ZZ,

Yup. I had a 10” in my ElCamino, tucked into the unused spare tire well behind the driver seat, that would turn the zeros on the head unit into eights. You literally couldn’t focus on anything.

The trick with the setup in my boat is the cradle I made that you can’t see. It was a PITA to get it up in there, but it’s nestled up into an unused space under the gunwale, so it costs nothing, as far as storage space.

The trick is to not have the speaker projecting into any contained airspace. I initially had it strapped to the floor in the engine well. That didn’t work out so well. It rattled literally everything.

Personally, I think they are a great option when space is at a premium. Are there better sounding options out there? Absolutely. But we inboard performance boat people usually have to contend with space issues that take them off the table. Bazookas work great, sound great, and are relatively cost effective.

Thanks. Brad.

You guys really showing ur age talking about Bazookas 🤣. Im right there with ya but not admitting to any of it....haha.

Im goona start a new thread wanting to see some amp rack locations and designs.

Thanks for all the help! I ordered all the speakers and amps today and will order the Fusion hu and new DSP tomorrow.

Chris

That's a clean boat. Looks a lot tighter than I envisioned. I had seen someone made some angled fiberglass mounts and had 6.5" speakers sitting just under the windshield.

It might be something worth looking into?