Questions for the Nautique Factory JL Audio Experts

[JSnipes]

My 2020 G-21 came with the Elite Package and the Tower Prep Kit for JL M Series Studio which includes a 2nd MV800/8i amp (so 2 total amps). It came with just one pair of 8.8 tower speakers.

I’m adding a 2nd pair of 8.8’s that I bought used (but had to buy 2 pairs of 8.8’s).

So with 2 x 8ch amps I have 16 total output channels. 6 speakers in the boat + 1 sub + 2 tower speakers = 9 channels used right now. Adding 2 more tower speakers = 11 channels used.

So my questions are:
1) Are any of the speakers bridged and therefore using more than just one output channel each?
2) The tower is prewired for the 2nd pair of speakers … I just have to add the connectors and mount/connect the speakers. Can anyone confirm that the amp side is pre-wired as the build sheet suggests?
3) If the amps are prewired, what else is needed to make the 2nd pair of tower speakers functional?

Thanks!

JS

[bturner]

Not familiar with the stock amp wiring but typically each speak with be on a single channel and they'll bridge the sub so that total would actually be 10 not 9. If they bridged the towers you'd lose another 2 and be at 12 channels. It's not typical for any company to leave this much extra capacity (6 open channels) so if you indeed have 2 - 8 channel amps they may have bridged additional channels. No clue if they actually did something like this but it would make more sense than the company leaving 6 channels open. Only one smart way to find out, get under there and verify the components and how they're connected. That's the only way to know for sure what you have unless someone else here can do that. Even then when it comes to doing upgrades and spending money like this I like to verify for myself.

On the tower speakers wiring. Again not familiar with your boat but manufactures don't like to spend money on things they're not getting paid for (yes, even for 2 - 10' speaker wire runs). If your 2020 is like my 2016 the tower will be wired down to the gunnel on the passenger side. You'll need to run speaker wires from the tower base to the amps. Another way to check though would be to get to the amps and look for the wiring there. The wires should be marked. Or pull the access panel at the base of the tower, look for the wires and see what's connected. Mine were not.

If the speakers are pre-wired to the amps (doubtful as this would also mean that they're sending 75 watts of power to two dead circuit with the potential to short somehow), then all you would need to do splice in the connectors (if you choose to use connectors versus direct wiring them), mount the tower speakers, and connect the wires to the speakers.

[JSnipes]

Thanks for the reply!

The tower is definitely pre-wired … I verified that. Wires for speakers and down lights. The amps appear to be pre-wired as the option suggests … just wondering if anyone knows how they are wired. Once I get the speakers I’ll start doing a deep dive.

Not familiar with the stock amp wiring but typically each speak with be on a single channel and they'll bridge the sub so that total would actually be 10 not 9. If they bridged the towers you'd lose another 2 and be at 12 channels. It's not typical for any company to leave this much extra capacity (6 open channels) so if you indeed have 2 - 8 channel amps they may have bridged additional channels. No clue if they actually did something like this but it would make more sense than the company leaving 6 channels open. Only one smart way to find out, get under there and verify the components and how they're connected. That's the only way to know for sure what you have unless someone else here can do that. Even then when it comes to doing upgrades and spending money like this I like to verify for myself.

On the tower speakers wiring. Again not familiar with your boat but manufactures don't like to spend money on things they're not getting paid for (yes, even for 2 - 10' speaker wire runs). If your 2020 is like my 2016 the tower will be wired down to the gunnel on the passenger side. You'll need to run speaker wires from the tower base to the amps. Another way to check though would be to get to the amps and look for the wiring there. The wires should be marked. Or pull the access panel at the base of the tower, look for the wires and see what's connected. Mine were not.

If the speakers are pre-wired to the amps (doubtful as this would also mean that they're sending 75 watts of power to two dead circuit with the potential to short somehow), then all you would need to do splice in the connectors (if you choose to use connectors versus direct wiring them), mount the tower speakers, and connect the wires to the speakers.

[MLA]

Im not 100% sure, so lets call 95%. 3 pair of in-boats and one woofer take up all 8 chnls on one amp.

Your existing pair of tower speaker will be bridged on the 2nd 8 chnl, consuming 4 of the 8 chnls. This should leave the other 4 chnls to bridge the new pair of tower speakers.

[JSnipes]

This is kinda what I’m thinking as well. Thanks!
JS

Im not 100% sure, so lets call 95%. 3 pair of in-boats and one woofer take up all 8 chnls on one amp.

Your existing pair of tower speaker will be bridged on the 2nd 8 chnl, consuming 4 of the 8 chnls. This should leave the other 4 chnls to bridge the new pair of tower speakers.

[distinguishedmotorsports]

Im not 100% sure, so lets call 95%. 3 pair of in-boats and one woofer take up all 8 chnls on one amp.

Your existing pair of tower speaker will be bridged on the 2nd 8 chnl, consuming 4 of the 8 chnls. This should leave the other 4 chnls to bridge the new pair of tower speakers.

This is how its set up.

the second 8 channel is bridged to 4 ohm mono on each of the 4 speakers. all 8 channels are used for the four tower speakers. the amp will produce about 180 watts when the boat is off, so set your gains properly.

[JSnipes]

Thanks for the info!!! That will be helpful as I go to install and get them setup/tuned.

My speakers … well 1 pair of them … arrived today. They look like new … lets hope they sound like it! (I’m sure they will.)

When the 2nd pair arrives tomorrow I’ll be listing them for sale. I had a very hard time trying to find these so hopefully I’ll be able to help someone else out.

JS

This is how its set up.

the second 8 channel is bridged to 4 ohm mono on each of the 4 speakers. all 8 channels are used for the four tower speakers. the amp will produce about 180 watts when the boat is off, so set your gains properly.

[distinguishedmotorsports]

you went with ETXv2-M6-880x-S-GmTi-i or not -i? bascially RGB or no? Should be able to spin just about any pair of 880s ETX so long as they are not classic grills

[JSnipes]

Factory Nautique 8.8’s. No RGB but does have down lights. Pre-wired to tower so I plan to wire them up this weekend and see if I can get them working via dealer settings. Hoping dealer settings code for 2020 Nautique is 9191. If not then thats my next hurdle.

JS

you went with ETXv2-M6-880x-S-GmTi-i or not -i? bascially RGB or no? Should be able to spin just about any pair of 880s ETX so long as they are not classic grills

[Pbilt024]

Factory Nautique 8.8’s. No RGB but does have down lights. Pre-wired to tower so I plan to wire them up this weekend and see if I can get them working via dealer settings. Hoping dealer settings code for 2020 Nautique is 9191. If not then thats my next hurdle.

JS

Did the dealer code work? Also do you have the other set of 8.8’s available to sell yet?

[JSnipes]

After installing the speakers I went into dealer settings and changed from 2 to 4 tower speakers. (Dealer code was 9191.) That made the speakers start working … they seem to be all good. However, Nautique says to go into the dealer settings DSP menu and then tell it to reload amp settings to factory default or something similar to that. Haven’t done that yet and don’t really know what that does … anything at all? Optimize amp settings for 4 speakers? I will do that this weekend and see. Hope it does not mess things up! LOL!

I think this process may only be for 2020+ year models … not sure. There is integration of the amps/DSP with the Linc system in mine for sure.

The down lights were working prior to doing the dealer settings since I already had downlights on the other two speakers. Otherwise, there is an option in dealer settings to set whether you have them or not.

Sorry … i sold the other pair of speakers already.

JS

[LawnDarter]

I'm about to get a second pair of 8.8's for my 2019 G23 (M6-880ETXv3-Sb-S-GmTi). What did you get for mounting clamps?

[JSnipes]

if you get the correct speakers the mounts are built in for the G’s with FCT. See pics.

Also, my cans were a gunmetal gray color which is a special color only available through Nautique. At least that’s my understanding.

Lastly, if you want the downlights you’ll have to buy the end caps with lights and install it on the speaker model you listed.

I’m sure you can swap the mounts if you disassemble the can but you’d probably have to get the mount custom made. I was not able to find them aftermarket. Perhaps a dealer could help you but maybe not since they want you to buy overpriced speakers through them. LOL!

[LawnDarter]

Thanks. I decided I didn't care about the color matching or the down lights. So I ordered a pair with the Nautique specific mounting hardware from Crutchfield. I've seen conflicting info as to whether that hardware will work with the newer towers. Guess I'll find out and post an update. Crutchfield is really good in my experience with returns and customer service so we'll see! Looking back more closely I misunderstood and you are installing a used set of factory speakers. Definitely hard to come by. If anybody out there has a spare set, lmk.

[JSnipes]

Yes … it took me a while to find a set used but I got lucky and they were straight off a new boat that original owner wanted to swap for wetsounds

I think the style below fits GS series but not 100 percent sure. Definitely does not fit G series. A ring style mount would not work on my tower.