HLCD question

[perry386]

This is a bit of a silly question but if I have just regular, non-HLCD, coaxial speakers on the tower, is there any way that I can make it to where I can here the music while riding (without deafening the people in the boat)? I don't have the WS420 either so I know my chances are pretty slim; but it would be nice if it was possible.

[EarmarkMarine]

Perry,
Here are the unavoidable facts. In order to reach the rider at wake range the speakers must be played extremely loud. That means that they are substantially louder at near field, in fact, around 30 dB or more louder to the rear cockpit occupants as compared to the rider in consideration of the distance and competing exhaust noise.
Can you minimize this? Yes. But only to a degree.
The tower speakers should be in the highest available location and mounted to the rear most tube. This way the tower speaker radiation is more off-axis with the rear cockpit occupants.
You can tilt some tower speakers upward slightly so that the speakers are parallel to the water when the boat is squatted and pulling.
You can turn off the in-boat coaxial speakers since you are getting so much residual radiation from the tower speakers.
There are a number of reasons that the in-boat occupants can be annoyed by the tower speaker radiation. One is the volume level which you cannot control IF you want to reach the rider. Another is the quality of sound which can be distorted or strident (screeching treble) as the speakers and amplifier are over-driven into compression and clipping. Sometimes the poor quality creates more discomfort than the volume level. Conventional speakers are intended for near field listening only and are not up to the tower task. So with the correct amplifier/tower speaker combo this equipment can run more conservatively and cleaner. It also helps to get a larger speaker that is warmer and more balanced so they are not so strident.
A modified exhaust can significantly reduce the power needed to reach the rider with a degree of intelligibilty which in turn greatly reduces the radiation level in the boat.

David

[perry386]

Thanks David, By the way you are always great to respond to audio questions and I appreciate that. It sounds as though I will not be able to hear the music then . I am not exactly an audiophile but I'm EXTREMELY picky about the way speakers/headphones sound; so 'screeching treble' is not going to be OK. I guess I will have to look around for a good deal on some HLCD speakers but for this summer I will probably just have to sing a song in my head while I ride .

[Clibka]

Could these be modified to fit your tower?

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...from-SANTE-230

[vision]

If you wear a helmet, water proof head phones and either a water proof MPS player or FM transmitter, so you can listen to what they are playing in the boat, works well.

I bought a cheap pair of FM stereo head phones, removed the FM reciever and small headphone amp from the head phones and placed them in a small water proof case that I strapped to my vest. The transmitter was 12V DC so I just wired it to the boat electrical system and using a splitter I sent the signal from the iPod in the boat to both the transmitter and the boat stereo.

Worked well, but without an helmet with ear flaps, no way the head phones would stay in my ears. Sound quality better than listening at 70 feet to the tower speakers, depending on the quality of your head phones.

David, anyone make an official transmitter/receiver system for riders? They should make one built into a vest.

[perry386]

If you wear a helmet, water proof head phones and either a water proof MPS player or FM transmitter, so you can listen to what they are playing in the boat, works well.

I bought a cheap pair of FM stereo head phones, removed the FM reciever and small headphone amp from the head phones and placed them in a small water proof case that I strapped to my vest. The transmitter was 12V DC so I just wired it to the boat electrical system and using a splitter I sent the signal from the iPod in the boat to both the transmitter and the boat stereo.

Worked well, but without an helmet with ear flaps, no way the head phones would stay in my ears. Sound quality better than listening at 70 feet to the tower speakers, depending on the quality of your head phones.

David, anyone make an official transmitter/receiver system for riders? They should make one built into a vest.

How much did that setup cost minus the helmet (after playing golf for a LONG time I have figured out methods to keep earbuds in no matter what)?

[vision]

The stereo fm head phones were around 40. I used a small water proof Pelican case to hold the receiver and battery and clipped it ro my vest. Amazing how much better even cheap headphones sound compared to tower speakers at 22 mph.