Wetsounds WS 420 EQ

[perry386]

So, I was doing a little research on the Wetsounds website about the WS 420 and I was jut thinking about how cool that thing is and how much I want one. I love that with this I could finally hear the music while I ride without deafening those in the boat. And I was wondering is it hard to install on a boat that already has a custom system in it? Would I be able to do it by myself? And, What do you do about the volume control scenario when you can control the stereo volume AND the WS 420 volume? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[EarmarkMarine]

perry,
Yes, it is very simple. Power, ground, and remote turn-on (3-wire hook-up) which are all derived in common with or from the source unit harness.
One RCA set from the source unit to EQ.
One RCA set from the EQ to each amplifier.
That's it.
The Wetsounds WS420 EQ comes with basic instructions. We also have instructions that show the EQ in the context of the entire system plus mounting instructions to cover four different scenarios. All in the box when shipped upon request.

While the EQ has separate in-boat and tower zone controls you can adjust them independently or as one master control or continue to use the source unit volume or remote control as the master control.

David

[ski4evr]

David,

What do you think about the Exile ZLD using the fader approach versus individual volume levels for tower and cockpit controls?

[EarmarkMarine]

David,

What do you think about the Exile ZLD using the fader approach versus individual volume levels for tower and cockpit controls?

With the Wetsounds concentric controls it is easy enough to do the same. Because the Wetsounds has so many relevant features they needed to condense the real estate a bit.
The ZLD has four line outs with two split into four with a fader where as the WS420 has six true discrete channels out.
The ZLD has a redundant lowpass filter with the amplifier's lowpass filter where as the WS420 has a paragraphic bass eq control.
The ZLD uses an old car stereo platform shared by a many, which explains the lowpass filter from a time before amplifiers had built-in crossovers, where as the WS420 was custom designed for wake boats.
The Wetsounds also has vastly superior build quality in sealed pots, chassis-mounted RCA jacks and more.
Add in the Wetsounds PA.

David

[MLA]

One other feature the WS-420 offers over a traditional automotive based EQ is the dual EQ's in one chassis. This allows for the separate adjustments to the tower speaker and in-boats. This is a huge advantage when you have larger drivers on the tower and smaller in-boats. With a traditional automotive style EQ with front/rear fade like the ZLD, what even EQ adjustments you dial in for your tower speakers, is also applying to the smaller in-boats.

[ski4evr]

Thanks guys decision made, sorry to jack thread.

[Txpilot83]

My alpine head unit has 3 RCA outputs but the WS-420 only has 1 RCA input. Whats the best way to connect the head unit to the WS-420 in this case? Also, I read somewhere that you want all your stereo components power and grounds to come from the same place. Is this true? If so, any problems with tapping into the power/ground distribution blocks I'll be using for my amps to power my head unit and WS-420? Thanks.

[MLA]

Tx,

You can use any of those RCA outputs, providing one is not a dedicated sub, which is common on the Alpine. If thats the case, then use either the front or rear. If the 3rd is a non-fade and not low-pass/sub specific, then make sure the sensitivity is no on the lowest or highest setting.

Yes, all stereo components needs to share a common battery source. Coming off the distribution block is fine, just use a fuse for the EQ's B+ lead.

[Txpilot83]

Thanks MLA. I should have asked this earlier but what about from the WS-420 to the amp for the in-boats? Only 1 RCA output on the WS-420 for the in-boats speakers and 2 on the amp. Same situation for the tower speaker amp.

[EarmarkMarine]

Thanks MLA. I should have asked this earlier but what about from the WS-420 to the amp for the in-boats? Only 1 RCA output on the WS-420 for the in-boats speakers and 2 on the amp. Same situation for the tower speaker amp.

Either use the RCA pass-through outputs on the amplifiers (if available on your models) or use RCA 'Y' adapters to divide the signal. Since the WS420 has six discrete outputs, there is enough capacity to split the signal without a loss of gain.


David

[EarmarkMarine]

Disregard what I wrote above as that applies to dividing the signal into more than one amplifier.

If you have a four-channel amplifier with two stereo inputs, then you should find the amplifier to have an input selector between '2-Chnl' & '4-Chnl'. In the '2-Chnl' mode the front inputs will feed all channels. In the '4-chnl' mode you will use RCA 'Y's and occupy all four inputs.

David

[MLA]

One other option depending on your amps. Some have the ability to pass through to all chnls with only a single set of RCA cables connected to "Amp-1".