New Sound System for 2000 Pro Air

[kentsmith12]

I'm getting a new sound system in my boat and want to run this buy you guys to see if I'm missing anything. Any comments?

The sytem is being put in by Autosound in Lewisville, Texas; anybody had any work done by them? I hear they do really good work. Below is the quote.

Clarion M455 $200.00
Clarion Remotes Stainless and Black (2) 218.00
Clarion Marine extension cable 45.00
Tower Speaker Pods (4) 850.00
Alpine 6.5” SPS17C2 (4) 180.00
Orion 7005 700w 5CH w/xover 500.00
Ported 10” Subwoofer box 165.00
10” 400w single 4OHM subwoofer 75.00
4 AWG Black 1’ wire 27.00
4 AWG Red 1’ wire 27.00
16 AWG spkr wire blue 1ft 49.50
12 AWG spkr wire blue 1ft 9.60
VB series 3 meter RCA 24.00
Remote Level Control 35.00
VB series 1 meter RCA 12.00
_____________
$2419.00

Labor Full System 575.00
10% of Labor for supplies 58.00
Add Second Battery Perko 350.00

Sub Total 3402.00
Tax 272.16
Total $3674.16


Comments much appreciated...

[onenautiqueone]

You might want to check out ebay because they have a Clarion M455 buy it now for $119.00. Sounds like way to much for what you are getting, if you do your research you can find a better deal. Always the do-it-yourself is the best if you have the time. I just completed my instal on a 2001 pro air and I only spent $2000.00 (1200.00 was the tower speakers) but did the instal myself.

[Mikeski]

Seems reasonable. Can the store provide a reference for other boat systems they have done? Boats are quite different than cars, huge mistakes are often made by installers that are not familiar with boat systems.

[MHayes]

Can't agree more with Mikeski's comment....I've done many cars, but am currently putting a system in our boat. There is a lot more considerations that must be made with a boat, especially equipment placing (please, please be careful when drilling and mounting amps, etc.) and waterproofing . It definitely takes a lot longer given these additional things to consider, especially if you want to do it right. I just don't think I'd trust my boat with a stereo shop unless they have some good references. Do your research and find a good one.

As for equipment price, the main thing that caught my eye was the price of the wire. You have some pretty hefty prices there for the power, ground, and speaker wire......that can't be the prices for a foot of each???????

[kentsmith12]

Thanks for the comments. Autosound does most of the boats in my area - they are currently working on 8. My Nautique dealer recommended them.

The wire is a total price for all the footage used; could you imagine... The hardware costs seem reasonable and the labor; well, I don't have time to do it myself - I used to be into doing all my own stereo stuff but a wife, two boys, you know the rest...

I will still have the stock speakers in the boat unless they need to be replaced; therefore, this quote does not include replacements; I can always do that myself.

Thanks again for the comments

[kentsmith12]

I wonder if I should simply have two towers speakers Alpine SPS17c2 instead of 4 which I can use the savings of $515.00 to replace the stock speakers in the boat. Labor will be $150 to pull the panels and change the speakers. Do I really need 4 tower speakers? Any thoughts?

[Andrew]

what kinda box is that for the 10". seems to be double the price for ur average ported enclosure

[kentsmith12]

It's coded as Malbox110 and description is ported 10" bx malibu carpeted. I think it's some custom job that fits right behind the driver's side helm.

[kentsmith12]

I'm thinking that I should go with only two tower speakers instead of four; I guess I can always add two cans next year if I want.

[ZachR]

My idea would be to try and buy the parts cheaper somewhere else, now that you know what you need. Then just have the place do the installation. That might save you some money.

[mfloski]

I can tell you that the 350.00 for the perko switch is almost to the penny what i just paid to have installed by my dealer...I agree with most, do it yourself and you know what your getting, but if they do lots of boats and they can provide a couple refferences and money is no object, go for it!

[ag4ever]

You can save a few pennies by buying the equipment elsewhere, but the quality of the install and guarantee would be better if you just let them do it all turn key. (Fair profit is fair profit, and comparing retail store prices to e-bay prices is not really fair)

[kentsmith12]

I went to check out my new sound system a few weeks ago.

Clarion M455
Alpine 6.5” SPS17C2 (8) 4 tower, 4 interior
Orion 7005 700w 5CH w/xover
Ported 10” Subwoofer box
10” 400w single 4OHM subwoofer

The above list includes the new equipment. First thing I noticed was there was some serious distortion from the tower and interior speakers when I cranked it up. Next I noticed that the speakers were not what I ordered (above) yet they were Alpine SPS 170a's. I went back to the installer and asked him to switch to the SPS17c2's, which he did.

I went back yesterday to listen to the system and the tower speakers sounded unbelievable - like they should; however, the boat speakers (same brand and type because I pulled a few cans to make sure) and they sounded totally different when I isolated the interior speakers and shut off the towers. The installer said he was running the interiors off of channel 1 and 2, the towers off of ch 3 and 4 and the sub off of ch 5 on the orion 7005.

I will go back to the installer tomorrow (the boat is currently at my dealer getting some ballast work) and tell him he needs to make the interiors sound better but does anyone know why the interiors would sound so different from the towers? I do know the original speaker wires were used for the interiors - would this make a difference or do you think it is the amp config. Nothing is running from the head unit, which is a 4X200w. Should I add another amp for the interior speakers?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. I am so thrilled with the towers but the interior speakers sound like junk when cranked.

Help...

Thanks!