Wetsounds install

[xrichard]

I want to share my stereo install especially since I got a lot of ideas from posts here. The boat is an 08 210 TE. My main goals were (a) better sound, (b) maximize storage, and (c) clean. There isn't a lot of "bling" to the install...I guess that's good and bad. Personally I go for low key.

To vent the sub, I cut (6) 5" diameter holes in the walkway to the bow and then covered it with foam-backed speaker cloth (I cut matching holes in the foam so it wouldn't interfere with air flow).

The three amps are mounted as high as possible in the passenger console and the sub is placed under that (XS-XXX in a sealed enclosure--I wanted to go ported, but decided extra storage was more important than extra thump).

I decided to skip the XS-650s---the sound is more detailed than the stock Polk/Momo's, but the difference didn't seem big enough to warrant the extra work.

I used KnuKonceptz cables , etc....but you can't see most of it. The only thing left is to figure out a clean way to hook the wires to the speakers at the tower.

I mounted the WS420 where the igition cut-off switch was located and moved that switch to a different location. I also put in one 3.5mm jack so I can easily remove the mic and another to connect an Ipod.

I put Pro80s and MB8s on the tower. I still have the option of switching the P80s for P60s...so I'd love to hear any input on that point.

[bchesley]

RE: Wetsounds install

Nice. Did you use all Syn series amps? If so which ones? Looks clean and I am sure its loud!

[MyWakeIsBigger]

Re: Wetsounds install

I put Pro80s and MB8s on the tower. I still have the option of switching the P80s for P60s...so I'd love to hear any input on that point.

I would say keep the pro 80s..

[xrichard]

RE: Re: Wetsounds install

I put in a Syn 1 for the sub, Syn 4 for the boat speakers and Syn 6 for the towers.

[SuperSquirt]

RE: Re: Wetsounds install

Looks pretty good. I am curious as to why you staggered the placement of the tower speakers? I think it would be more of a nuisance having them so close to the middle of the boat.

[xrichard]

RE: Re: Wetsounds install

The problem I'm having is two fold: 1. the rear of the Titan tower curves down and toward the front of the boat fairly quickly, and 2. interference with the swivel board racks.

Right now there's about 18" of clearance between the speakers...so a decent 'walkway' down the middle of the boat. I'd like it wider.

If I push the speakers outward, they also move down and get angled a little, so they can start looking a little funny. They also interfere with the swivel board racks if I push one pair out instead of staggering. But the fact is the swivel racks aren't much use so I might treat them as fixed.

I want to buy a surfboard rack and am thinking I'll postpone final placement of the speakers until I decide where to mount the new board rack.

I'd love to see other photos...especially on the Titan tower since the curves make speaker location a bit of a challenge.

[xrichard]

Here's another option I tried for the speakers...I angled the mounting of the MB8s. Doing this allowed me to get more room down the middle of the boat and also to push the MB8 closer to the back of the boat.

The problem is the angle of the mounts and the grills both look a little goofy...but it might be worth it to get more room.

Any thoughts?

[SuperSquirt]

You will probably have to leave it the way it is if a pathway is what you want. I think most of us Titan owners have given up on the idea of head clearance.

Here is a pic of Pro 80s and 60s...

[aarond0083]

I've got an 09 210 with the Titan, I traded my Pro 80s for 60s because I like head room in the boat. The 80s were just too large for the tower IMO. I also can't tell much difference in the sound between the two either. The 80s are a little louder but I couldn't hear any less mid bass coming from the 60 as all these horn speakers are bright. I am going to try to add another pair of 60s to the rear bar because I prefer the 4 speaker look.

Very clean and nice install btw.

[xrichard]

I haven't decided 100% between the 60s and 80s though I'm leaning toward the 80s right now even though I can't hear a solid difference between the two when they amps are tuned identically.

Headroom isn't an issue for me...both of them kill headroom. The width of the "walkway" is a big issue and the 60s have the advantage by 2-3 inches. In favor of the 80s is it seems I can set the crossover lower to get the same volume without distortion....that makes things slightly less bright in the boat, but the difference is marginal since I have the MB8s filling things out. I don't think there will be any difference for the rider except the 80s can get louder.

I also like the looks of the P80/MB8 compared to P60/MB8.

[aarond0083]

I agree with you there. If I were using MB-8s I'd keep the 80s. I like all four speakers to match in size. My tower setup will be four 60s powered by a SYN4 when I am done. I wish they made an MB-6 or even sold the 60 housing without the speaker so I could make my own 6.5 inch mid bass speaker. JL makes a 6.5" inch mid bass sub that would probably sound good in an Pro 60 housing.

I am not touching the factory in boat stuff. The 2009s loaded with the Polk amps/speakers/sub sounds great to me.

[xrichard]

Yeah, I think the stock 09 setup looks better than the 08...though I haven't listened to it. The 08 isn't bad if one seals the sub enclosure and vents the passenger compartment.

[gride300]

thats an awesome install. nobody ever looks under there anyways. like the saying goes, "cleanliness is next to godliness." how does the xxx sealed sound?

[xrichard]

I'm happy with the XXX...it provides plenty of thump. I especially like driving it through the WS420 so I can easily adjust the amount of base. My wife doesn't like a huge amount, so when she's in the boat I can turn it down. When she's not, it's easy to crank up the base.

This was my first install...I have new respect for guys like Grant and others who fabricate visible items. It took me forever and I didn't fabricate much that is visible. Besides all the time I spent just planning, I spent a lot of time on details that aren't even seen--keeping all the wire runs hidden, hinging the amp rack so it drops down to access the amps, making a panel for the interior of the passenger compartment to hide the holes I drilled to vent the sub (...just in case anyone crawled around on their knees looking inside that compartment), fabricating a mounting bracket for the WS-420, finding decent looking panel mount 3.5mm jacks, etc.

It took a lot more time than I thought it would.

[gride300]

ya i did my first install today and all i had to do was mount an amp, 2 blocks and power wire. i didn't have to install any speakers or wire them. it was fun though