2004 Ski Nautique 206 Tower speakers, amp, wet sounds 420 Install!

[dski]

Here was my upgrade path.

1. My first upgrade when I bought the boat were some Kenwood 6.5 speakers (like the KFC-1653MRW. Not that exact model because it was some time ago but very similar in price and spec. It was a nice upgrade along with an older car amp 4x50W that I had lying around.
2. I then added the Kicker SKM10 Marine Subwoofer for the dog house with another small amp. That then turned into the kicker amp so that I consolidate. I ran that setup for 6 or 7 years until the rest of the upgrades that I outlined above. Having the sub inside the dog house gives it a ton of extra boom, like creating a larger enclosure.

On the sub, I was skeptical on the move to an infinite baffle sub. Let me tell you that it goes MUCH louder that I will ever run it. It shakes the boat. Really nice to get the space back under there without needing an enclosure.

[SilentSeven]

Yeah...I think I'm going to toss in a 4 channel 50 to 75 wpc amp and see what that gets me.

If I don't like it, I'll junk the chinesium speakers and put in some better brand names. A sub... well...we'll just have to see on that.

[SilentSeven]

OK. Did some real poking around and have decent sense why stuff sucks. Here's what I seem to have.

1) Amp that is installed appears to only be driving two of the four speakers. How did I reach the conclusion? Basically from only seeing two RCA cables going into the amp and 4 speaker wires connected. The head unit fader does work. Sooo...that says to me head unit is driving two, amp is driving 2. I have no idea what two.

2) The amp itself is...deficient. I can't find anything online about the amp (pictured) but I think the 5 amp fuse tells you what you need to know - very low power- maybe 20 per channel max with RMS power even lower. I will give whom ever installed the amp kudos for a really nice wiring job! Looks like a shop did it.

Sooooo....I think a 50 or 60 wpc 4 channel amp should be a good starting point.

Current amp

Connections to current amp

[dski]

Same amp that was in my boat.

[SilentSeven]

Interesting. Must have been part of the factory sound system package that was with the boat.

That might also explain why there is no information available on the amp. Guessing it's a clarion product as that's the head unit supplier...but who knows for sure.

[MLA]

Its a Marine Audio brand amp. They were pretty much an OEM supplier, not aftermarket retail. So this is likely why the lack of info found. Though the name lives on, the original family owned Marine Audio company was bought up by ASA about 6 or so years ago.

[SilentSeven]

Ok. Step 1 - add amp. Class d seems to be the current 'best in class'. Any reason to consider a class a/b?

Posted via phone. Sorry for the tpyos.

[MLA]

Ok. Any reason to consider a class a/b?

Ive got a Motorola bag phone, if interested?

[SilentSeven]

Ive got a Motorola bag phone, if interested?

...aaand....roger that.

Posted via phone. Sorry for the tpyos.

[SilentSeven]

OK. The little Kenwood KAC-M3004 looks interesting and price effective @ $125

Kenwood

https://www.amazon.com/Kenwood-KAC-M...id=1584461716& amp;sr=8-1

Youtube test - this is pretty funny to watch actually

[SilentSeven]

OK. So made some nice progress. The Kenwood amp arrived yesterday and I stuffed it in today.

Interesting factory wiring setup....the head unit drives the rear speakers and the two channel amp drives the front speakers. Chucked all that and now have the 4 channel amp driving all 4 speakers. WOW....what a difference....system is much clearer and even has a little pop to it.

So the current config is:

- Factory XDM2 Clarion head unit
- JL Audio bluetooth adapter feeding the aux port
- Chinesium Pyle Hydra 2 way speakers
- Kenwood KAC-MAC3004 4 channel amp (50 wpc)

Pretty darn happy with this setup. Not bumpin' uglies across the lake but clear and snappy enough for now. Maybe if I get motivated I'll chuck the Hydra speakers and put in some of these....they look pretty decent. And a sub...who knows...maybe later this season if I get motivated.

Thanks for all the advice...really helpful!

[SilentSeven]

I decided to open up the Marine Audio amp to see what's inside. Pretty basic stuff....however the thing is built like a tank. I swear the metal for the baseplate is thick enough to stop a bullet!

If there any preservationists out there, I'd be happy to donate this; just pay the shipping.

[dski]

Had some questions around the sub install. Here are a couple of pictures.

I used a dremel to cut through the fiberglass after removing the vinyl piece. I then removed the mesh pocket panel. I removed the mesh pocket and the sub fit perfectly in there and you can put the panel back on, I taped the whole area that I would be cutting with painters tape first.

It is plenty sturdy there and I don't get any rattling. I was going to reinforce it but it was fine. If I remember correctly, the top was really thick fiberglass for the hole and the bottom was thinner.

[SilentSeven]

That looks nice. Out of curiosity...did you do the 2 or 4 ohm sub. And why?

[dski]

2ohm. I tried both the 4 and 2 and I got more response from the 2ohm