Speaker covers

[Gopher1]

I am looking to replace the mesh covering on my speakers. They are worn and tattered. Does anyone have a source for them? The speakers themselves still work good.

The are about 5" diameter, on my '99 SNOB.

Thanks!

[Mikeski]

Check with Jim from speakersox.com, see if he can send you some material, if you really want to go that route. You are in for quite a chore, it's quite an upholstery job to make it look stock. Do yourself a favor, just replace the speakers with something that it is front loaded. It will update the boat, sound much better, and be much easier to implement.

Do your existing speaker covers look like this.

[Gopher1]

Mikeski, They do look like that (except they are worn to the point that you can see through them). Thanks for the leads, I may check with my local Audio Plus guy and see what he may have for me in the way of replacement speakers.

[jaybird]

I had the same thing, they were the stock Clarion with the cloth covers, quite frankly junk speakers. I agree, replace them with POLK MMC6500 or the MMC650 if you dont want to drill another hole for the tweeter. I have a 226 and replaced all four rear speakers with the MMC6500 and put two MMC650 in the front. The sound is 10 times better, but I did replace my amps and added a new sub. Best upgrade I ever made.

[Proud2BeCC]

Considering replacing the speakers in my boat as well (02 Sport). Are the stock speakers 5 1/4" or 6 1/2"?

Thanks

[jaybird]

My 2003 had 6-1/2" clarions. I replaced then with 6-1/2" POLK's but did have to use a spacer in my speaker pods so the POLK terminals would clear. Not sure if this is an issue on the sport or not, but its not a big deal.

[Mikeski]

I would recommend the Polk db series, they are cheaper, sound just as good, and you don't have to deal with the outboard crossover box. The wet sounds speakers are nice too but some of us are not big fans of the cross grills.

The big sound difference is usually due to the speakers improved mounting configuration when you move them to the front of the panel.

[jaybird]

I used 2 of the Polk db series in an older boat and they are great speakers when compared to the Clarions but side by side with the MMC series they sound a bit smaller or metallic when turned up loud. But granted the MMC's are more expensive and more time consuming to install. My last boat had the Db series in the open bow and MMC's in the main cabin thus I was able to compare them.

Its all relative. Both very good speakers.

Regardlesss of which speaker series or maker you will need an amp if you expect to get clear crisp sound quality. If your trying to drive them from the head unit your money would be better spent on a amp with the old speakers.

[jaybird]

Speaker Upgrade

I had the fabric covers over the clarions and replaced them with POLK MM. Due to the way the speaker pod is molded the POLK requires a spacer behind the mounting flange. I used the POLK MM6500 so had add tweeters and a crossover but the speaker pod is apparently designed for it so all I had to do is drill the extra mounting hole. I increased sound quality is well worth the effort. I also installed a 10" Sub in front the driver’s side panel. Out of sight and does not take away from any storage compartments. New, 1000-Watt 4 channel amps and 600-Watt Sub Amp. Second battery with charger isolator.

[jaybird]

CMD2 replaced with Alpine

During this upgrade I replaced the CDM with the new Alpine. I can play CD's, data CD's, Sirius, IPOD, and can even plug in a USB memory stickh for even more tunes. I installed the Alpine RF remote and have three waterproof/floating remotes through out the boat but the main reason I got them was so we could have complete control form the dock. I POD connect is on the right and USB plug is on the left, the Sirus is mounted out of sigh since it is controled directly from the head unit no need to have access to it..

[Socbum]

RE: CMD2 replaced with Alpine

Jaybird

Nice install! Do you have any pix of the amp install? Where did you put them?

[jaybird]

Amp Install

Socbum,

Boat is a 2003 Air 226

Put the amps in storage compartment on passenger side. Only regret is I could not find matching carpet for my mounting board. Also mounted extra battery, battery switch and battery combiner/isolator.

4-channel amps power four rear speakers on rear 1&2 channels and front 2 + 2 tower speakers on front 3&4 channels. Plus sub amp.

Even after installing the amps and battery I still retained most of the storage space under the seat.

[jaybird]

Battery switch

Battery isolator,

I ran #2 wire from the main battery to the front to keep the 2nd battery charged. Isolator/combiner keeps battery’s combined when a charge is available and disconnects when no charge is present thus if the engine is off audio system amps only run off the 2nd battery to prevent draining the main starter battery. It’s just a good idea if you let you boat sit and run the audio system like we do. If for some reason I have a problem with my starter battery I can combine it with the extra battery for emergency starts. I like having the peace of mind of a 2 battery system.

[jaybird]

Storage Area

Overall shot

[jaybird]

Power distrubution and fuse block

POWER