Lets build me an audio set up from scratch- 210 Super Air Nautique.

[brock.higdon]

Pretty much starting from a blank slate. Not wanting to go cheap, but can't afford wet sounds either. Currently, their is no headunit in the boat. I don't know if I really need one-most of what I listen to is over the phone. Maybe a bluetooth module to plug into an amp?

Currently, I think the boat has 3 places for in-boat speakers (which seems odd to me). One by drivers foot, one on pass side in bow, and another behind driver. I wouldn't mind adding a 4th. Either power by amp and some sort of bluetooth connection, or power by a headunit with bluetooth.

Tower speakers. Currently, there are 2 decent sounding 6.5's in homemade PVC enclosures. Ill prob want to replace them all together with something else.

Sub. I would like to run a 12" in a box under the passenger dash. No idea what sub/amp combo I should shoot for.


Any advice?

[MLA]

What year 210?

There should be holes for 2 pair of in-boats in the main cabin and a spot in the bow was typically an option, so the holes my not be cut.

For 2 pair of in-boats, a pair of tower pods and a sub, you are looking at 2 amps minimum. Unless, you install a head-unit and drive the 4 main cabin off it, which i dont recommend.

Depending on the boats design and layout, I would rather not locate the sub in the enclosed port locker.

Whats your tower speaker goal, wake-board range or surf/party cove listening?

[brock.higdon]

Boat is a 2001. I will look tomorrow for the current speaker layout. Mainly be used for hanging out/surfing.

[Dandy21]

Brock- MLA is your guy. He really knows boats, has great service, good pricing and a lot of options at different price ranges for stereo and ballast. He helped us with a fairly on depth ballast upgrade in our last boat...I realize it wasn't stereo gear but he can provide a lot of assistance and service via phone and email if you are not near him.

[brock.higdon]

Brock- MLA is your guy. He really knows boats, has great service, good pricing and a lot of options at different price ranges for stereo and ballast. He helped us with a fairly on depth ballast upgrade in our last boat...I realize it wasn't stereo gear but he can provide a lot of assistance and service via phone and email if you are not near him.

Hopefully he will drop on by this thread.

[Dandy21]

Hopefully he will drop on by this thread.

He did, a couple posts up with a few questions for you

[brock.higdon]

He did, a couple posts up with a few questions for you

Anddddddd I'm an idiot.

[a0128]

You're options as to sub location are limited. You can either locate it under the passenger's observers seat or use an IB (infinite baffle) woofer design and locate it under the helm. If you have a heater this location may not be ideal as you would probably have some duct work there.

If you don't want a head unit the Wet Sounds WS-420BT will let you use your iPhone and stream via BT. I think there are other options as well.

I recently upgraded my 1999 Pro Air with the following:

(4) JL Audio MX650 for the in-boats
(1) JL Audio CS110G-TW3 subwoofer
(2) Wet Sounds REV8 for the tower
(1) JL Audio XD400/4v2 powering the in-boats (@ 75 watts per speaker)
(1) JL Audio XD700/5v2 powering the tower speakers (@ 200 watts per speaker). This amp also powers the sub @ 300 watts.

For me this system rocks. The REV8's throw clear, solid sound out 70' but also fill out the in-boat speakers when you are sitting in the rear of the boat. We tie off and hang out once we are done wakeboarding and this system provides great sound and definition when you are floating off the rear of the boat.

The JL MX650 provide a full range of sound that is warm yet has clean highs that are not ear shattering bright. The sub provides tight clean bass in a package that fits under the flip up seat, yet still lets you store stuff under there. I have a Sony head unit so I don't have the WS-420BT.

Good luck with your build. I had fun putting mine together and did all the work myself.

[MLA]

"Currently, I think the boat has 3 places for in-boat speakers (which seems odd to me). One by drivers foot, one on pass side in bow, and another behind driver. I wouldn't mind adding a 4th"

I would look to do 3 pair total. New one on the starboard side bow, opposite the existing. One that opposite the captains chair and the final one opposite the existing starboard aft speaker. This is going to require some work, but will really bring some balance to the your current setup.

For a solid marine speaker, I like the Kicker KM654. There are tons of good marine speakers, so go with what you like the looks, sound and price of.

Does you under helm area look similar? Is there a false wall that removable and a cavity behind it? This is a 99 or 2000 DD, so not quite a 2001 210. There is a 12" sub in a 1.2 ft3 sealed enclosure behind that wall. I would do my best to not have the sub located in a closed locker.

For 2-3 pairs of in-boats and a 10 or 12 inch sub, I would suggest a 5 chnl amp like the kicker KXM800.5.



"Mainly be used for hanging out/surfing"

I would suggest either the Kicker KMT67 on the Kicker KXM400.2 or a single pair of Wet Sounds Icon-8 bridged on a Kicker KXM400.4. This is going to give you plenty of output to compete with the engine noise while surfing.

If you do not have a dual battery setup, I would work that into the plan. A simple manual dual battery switch and deep-cycle house battery gives you some engine off play time with out fear of running down the main cranking battery.

The JVC KD-X31MBS is a decent head-unit with built in BT. My only complaint is its front AUX and USB. if the boat has a folding armrest cover or protective door, those sockets take a beating when in use.

[brock.higdon]

"Currently, I think the boat has 3 places for in-boat speakers (which seems odd to me). One by drivers foot, one on pass side in bow, and another behind driver. I wouldn't mind adding a 4th"

I would look to do 3 pair total. New one on the starboard side bow, opposite the existing. One that opposite the captains chair and the final one opposite the existing starboard aft speaker. This is going to require some work, but will really bring some balance to the your current setup.

For a solid marine speaker, I like the Kicker KM654. There are tons of good marine speakers, so go with what you like the looks, sound and price of.

Does you under helm area look similar? Is there a false wall that removable and a cavity behind it? This is a 99 or 2000 DD, so not quite a 2001 210. There is a 12" sub in a 1.2 ft3 sealed enclosure behind that wall. I would do my best to not have the sub located in a closed locker.

For 2-3 pairs of in-boats and a 10 or 12 inch sub, I would suggest a 5 chnl amp like the kicker KXM800.5.



"Mainly be used for hanging out/surfing"

I would suggest either the Kicker KMT67 on the Kicker KXM400.2 or a single pair of Wet Sounds Icon-8 bridged on a Kicker KXM400.4. This is going to give you plenty of output to compete with the engine noise while surfing.

If you do not have a dual battery setup, I would work that into the plan. A simple manual dual battery switch and deep-cycle house battery gives you some engine off play time with out fear of running down the main cranking battery.

The JVC KD-X31MBS is a decent head-unit with built in BT. My only complaint is its front AUX and USB. if the boat has a folding armrest cover or protective door, those sockets take a beating when in use.

My under-helm does look like that. Decent bit of room behind it, also. Those kicker in-boats seem to be in my price range.

I hate to let a few parts I bought recently for another project go to use. I just purchased two of these and ended up not using. If I was set on using them, would you stick them in the bow and run the 4 kickers behind bow, or just run 6 of the polks?

http://www.polkaudio.com/db651/d/1100C2679

I also bought this amp. Not sure where I could use it.

http://www.polkaudio.com/pa-d20002/d/1160C2799

[MLA]

I would get 2 more pair of the DB's, rather then mixing brands in the cabin.

That Polk 2 chnl would do perfect for either tower option ive suggested, or any other tower coaxial setup.

[brock.higdon]

Awesome. PM or email me a price on 4 of the DB's. What amp would you recommend to push the 6 DB's and a sub?

email is Brock@Auburn.edu

[brock.higdon]

For use in a boat, should I be looking for a sealed sub box?

[a0128]

For use in a boat, should I be looking for a sealed sub box?

Sealed as in water-proof or sealed as in sealed vs. ported? The sealed vs. ported argument largely depends on your listening style and what you listen to. A sealed box sub is generally going to produce smoother even bass as compared to a ported box which will be boomy and have more punch (hit harder). A sealed box will generally be smaller than a ported box for the same size driver.

A ported box (because it is more efficient in moving the air) will generally require less power to generate the same volume levels as compared to a sealed box.

[brock.higdon]

I was referring to sealed vs. ported. I knew that was how it would work in a vehicle, but didn't know if a open air environment (like a boat) would make it any different.