Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

[jonfo]

Looking for something to replace my Titan Series II which you can't hear well while surfing, and not at all wakeboarding. I have a separate amp powering them. I know wet sounds are supposed to be the best but not looking to spend that much. I also could not find the weight listed on either of these, but the Kickers look lighter.

Infinity 6000M - $390
http://www.hookedontronics.com/show_....jsp?cid=46366

Kicker KMT6 - $240
http://www.hookedontronics.com/show_....jsp?cid=48896

[EarmarkMarine]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

jonfo,

If you can't hear them at surfing distance, I'm questioning the power and not just the speakers.

Do you currently have the Titan Alpha II series with 6" x 9"s?
One or two pair?
Which amplifier and how many channels are presently running the tower speakers?

Need to know more about your existing setup before making a recommendation.

David
Earmark Marine

[jonfo]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

I know the brand and the channels, but I am not sure of the models and wattage until i get home and look. Here is what i remember:
2007 Nautique 220
JL Audio Marine 600W 6 channel amp runs the 6 interior Polk speakers
JL Audio Marine 300W 2 channel amp runs the JL Audio 8" sub
JL Audio Non-Marine 300W 4 channel amp runs the two Titan Series II MBQ speakers.

The stereo sounds good and it can be heard from the water when sufing, but it has to be turned up quite lound so then it is too loud in the interior.

[tazz3069]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

As a matter of fact, i was going to do almost the exact setup with the amp. My main concern is the JL Audio Amp. How Are they in performance? I have Kicker in my current boat and want to try something different. I am very happy with my system and the way it sounds. I plan on keeping the polks in the cabin and the MB in the tower. That is what I have current. The sound is awesome. I am thinking of changing the sub to a Boston Acoustic G3 sub. Just not sure if the space where the current sub is in is enough space for a box.
My plan is to purchase a new 2010 230 over the winter and completely redo the entire stereo. I will be burning Dave's ear for a recommendation on the sub enclosure. I do not like or believe in the free air sub.

[SCAutosound]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

I would recommend wetsounds. If they fit, they will out perform the kicker and infinity's. They are more expensive, but when you hear them, its worth it!

http://www.caraudionow.com/Tower-Speakers_c41.htm

[tazz3069]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

I know that I am going to get a lot of crap for saying this. I am not a big fan for the Wetsounds Speakers. My buddy has them on his boat and I do not like the way they sound. I talked the Earmarkaudio about the problem and they told me that it might be the amp. Not sure if he wants to purchase a new amp for the tower speakers. He is running a 1200watt Cadence amp. I have never heard of that amp before. Earmarkaudio told me to have him purchase a Alpine PDX amp or the Boston Acoustic GT series amp. They said that these amps are enough power for the Wetsounds pro80 speakers.

[TravisFling]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

I haven't heard the infinity's but I have the Kicker KMT6's in my boat and I love them. I think they make a great sound and they get loud. I don't have any problems hearing them at all, and I have been really happy with the purchase. But then again, I have never heard Wetsounds, or NVS's, which I'm sure are much better.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

The best choice would be the HLCD Kickers but since you already own some speakers

talk to earmark because I'd be surprised if you get much better performance
from something new (Infinity or Kicker) versus what you have - you may just need to power what you have correctly and that
would allow you to save for NVS or Wetsounds

If then you decide to do something - look at selling what you have on ebay to offset the cost - I sold my tower speakers to a guy that
really wanted the factory setup - $900 for the older style twin can speakers. I think you'd be surprised at what you can get if they
are in good condition.

[EarmarkMarine]

RE: Towler speakers: Infinity 6000M Vs Kicker KMT6

While the Kicker KMT6 does have a horn loaded tweeter, it does not utilize the large compression driver found in a true HLCD speaker. And, the dual 6 1/2" Kicker midbass drivers are really just conventional speakers. So, I wouldn't consider the KMT6 to be competitive with true HLCDs. But, the Kickers are still much louder and brighter than four regular car stereo 6 1/2" speakers that are so often times used as tower speakers.

50 percent of all musical fundamentals fall between 200 and 600 Hz which is the sole domain of the midbass cones. So, while the Kickers are brighter, four correctly powered 6" x 9"s with the added surface area should easily be the equal of the Kickers in overall output. I suspect there is an amplifier issue that if left unresolved will plague any replacement or upgrade speakers.

IMO, the Infinity is not in the game.

I know that one pair of properly powered HLCDs will outperform the Kickers.

I'm going to hold off on my final recommendation until we know the exact configureation of the existing tower amplification. It would be a costly mistake to upgrade the wrong component.

David
Earmark Marine

[jonfo]

I know exactly what I have now:

2007 Nautique 220
JL Audio 6450 6 channel Marine Amplifier runs the 6 interior Polk speakers
JL Audio 1400 Monoblock Subwoofer Marine Amplifier amp runs the JL Audio 10" sub
JL Audio 300/2 channel non marine amp runs the two Titan Series II MBQ speakers.

.pdfs for each component
6450 - http://marine.jlaudio.com/pdfs/M_Ser.../M6450_MAN.pdf
1400 - http://marine.jlaudio.com/pdfs/M_Ser.../M1400_MAN.pdf
300/2 - http://mobile.jlaudio.com/pdfs/Slash_amps/300_2_MAN.pdf

Sub - http://marine.jlaudio.com/products_s....php?page_id=7
Not sure of sub model, but it is 10" JL Audio

(edited from 8" to 10" sub)

[jonfo]

One more correction, the tower speaker amp was wrong:
JL Audio G2250 2 channel non marine amp runs the two Titan Series II MBQ speakers.

G2250 - http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=478

[EarmarkMarine]

jonfo,

Thanks for the update. I finally get it.

You've got a single pair of 6 x 9s. Into a 4-ohm load the JL G2250 is 80 x 2 @ 14-volts. That's kinda light for any tower system which is why your 6 x 9s are coming up short.

Typically we're running four tower speakers (two in parallel per channel) for a 2-ohm load off of a stereo 2-channel amplifier. This would produce a more substantial 2 x 125 watts from the same amplifier. For two tower speakers we usually bridge a small 4-channel amplifier in order to derive the higher power from a 4-ohm load.

The 4-ohm Kicker KMT6 would ideally like 150 watts per channel so 2 x 80 will fall short just like it does with your 6 x 9s. You'll get a marginal increase in average output from the KMT6s.

I would save up for one pair of 7 or 8-inch true HLCDs and add a second G2250 amplifier. With a bridged G2250 per speaker you'll have 2 x 250 watts and a permanent solution.

It looks like you're set in every other respect.

David
Earmark Marine

[jonfo]

Hi David,
Thanks for your advice. I will either 1) get another 2250, or 2) Get a 4 channel amp and ditch the 2. I would like to stick with JL since my other components are JL, so if you have advice on which one to get let me know.

Also, so much for Car Toys (a local retailer in WA) advice on getting the JL 2250. I told them exactly what speakers I had and that is what they recommended. At the time I didnt know I could get such good advice on here, but now I have learned!

Thanks again for your input, Jon

[EarmarkMarine]

jon,

I am totally pro JL Audio amplifiers and agree that you should stay in the family. Its only the application that's in question.

Definitely get another G2250 so that you won't have to ditch anything. Its no more than a small 4-channel plus you'll have enough collective power that you can select and drive any single pair of tower speakers in the future, no matter how demanding.

David
Earmark Marine

[jonfo]

Few more questions about configuration, I am not up on all the audio lingo but I think bridged means you combine two channels into a single channel which doubles the power.

With my current system I have it wired like the attached picture.

1. With my current 2ch amp and 2 tower speakers is there a better way to wire it? If so what would it look like?

2. If I get a 2nd 2ch amp and still have the same two speakers how would the wiring look? Would I "bridge" each 2ch amp to 1ch, then have each amp power 1 spkr?