18R7 Tower Speaker Install & Question

[Soonerfan]

Hey all,

I finally got around to getting tower speakers added to my R7. I ordered it with the upgraded sound system without tower speakers planning on adding my own. I ordered WS Rev 10's, light rings, swivel clamps, WS Sinister Six amp, and WS 220BT zone controller from Creative Audio. The install went great and I picked it up yesterday.

During the demonstration the zone controller worked as it should and the dedicated sub +- button on the remote units worked as it should for the sub volume. The controls on both remotes worked as a master volume as well. I did notice that when adjusting the sub with the dedicated button it was listed as zone 3 but I didn't think about it.

So I get home and am garage boating and I notice the sub +- button isn't adjusting the sub. The master volume on the remotes would work it but with the expense of adjusting all zones in the boat so if I turn the volume up on the remote and then turn down the volume on the controller the sub is still going at full blast. Looking closer when I use the sub +- on the remotes it says it is adjusting Zone 1 Subwoofer. I could hard press the volume button and go to zone 3 and turn down the sub that way which is a pain.

A few background notes from the installer. The 2 subs are Y'd into one set of RCA's which are plugged into the Zone 3 sub out on the hide away head unit. Boat was prewired for speakers and light rings and also for power for the 3rd amp to power the tower speakers.

Does anyone know how to change the sub+- button from Zone 1 to Zone 3 which I would think is the easiest fix. If not should I access the head unit and unplug the Sub RCA's from Zone 3 Sub Output and plug them back into Zone 1 Sub output. Would this be a long term fix or would the sub +- button change to another zone?

Here is a pic of the speakers and yes I know my boat is a mess due to the install. They were going to clean after the install and I told them not to worry about it as I know I would just be out there redoing it anyway to my standards.

R7 Tower Speakers.jpg

[Big Block Power]

Looks great. I would have no idea what you could switch without actually looking at it and seeing it. I have not done any installs on new stuff like this with multiple zone heads and prewire that comes from Cobalt which is another story in itself.

[AsLan7]

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Hey all,

I finally got around to getting tower speakers added to my R7. I ordered it with the upgraded sound system without tower speakers planning on adding my own. I ordered WS Rev 10's, light rings, swivel clamps, WS Sinister Six amp, and WS 220BT zone controller from Creative Audio. The install went great and I picked it up yesterday.

Hey SF. Congrats on a beautiful looking system. Those WS REV 10's will rock the lake brutha.

During the demonstration the zone controller worked as it should and the dedicated sub +- button on the remote units worked as it should for the sub volume. The controls on both remotes worked as a master volume as well. I did notice that when adjusting the sub with the dedicated button it was listed as zone 3 but I didn't think about it.

So I get home and am garage boating and I notice the sub +- button isn't adjusting the sub. The master volume on the remotes would work it but with the expense of adjusting all zones in the boat so if I turn the volume up on the remote and then turn down the volume on the controller the sub is still going at full blast. Looking closer when I use the sub +- on the remotes it says it is adjusting Zone 1 Subwoofer. I could hard press the volume button and go to zone 3 and turn down the sub that way which is a pain.

Now this is tough to diagnose without seeing the install.


My guess is your R7 is using an RF PMX-2 or 3 Marine radio receiver which has only ONE zone output. The installer added the Wet Sounds 220BT controller allowing for four zones of control.

My guess without seeing your setup....
Zone 1. Tower Speakers (which allows for hand mike/PA interruption control on your towers (only possible on zone 1))
Zone 2. Main Speakers
Zone 3. Subwoofer as per your post
Zone 4. Unused?

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1 WS 220BT.jpg

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Your PMX-2/3 Marine receiver has two RCA combo line outputs on the rear. One combo for front L+R speakers and one combo for rear L+R speakers (see below). The rear control can also double as the subwoofer out.


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1 RF pmx3 receiver.jpg

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If you observed this system working correctly during your boat demo (Zone 3 on the display while pressing dedicated sub volume buttons) but now see Zone 1 pop up on the receiver while pressing the sub buttons during your garage boating, I'm curious if you switched your settings on the Rear/Sub line-out RCA accidentally? If the rear RCA is no longer a dedicated subwoofer out but instead a line out, this may change how your subwoofer controls work. Maybe go into your Marine Receiver menu and check. See highlighted section below....

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1 RF sub out.jpg

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Again, it is difficult to diagnose without seeing pics or how it is installed but this is a start.
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[Soonerfan]

Thanks! My R7 came with a PMX-8BB hide away head unit that is located under floor forward of the head. It has two remote units PMX-2's that are connected by a 13Din cable?? The zones on the WS-220BT are Zone 1=Tower Zone 2=Cabin Zone 3=Bow Zone 4=Transom.

The head unit has 4 zone out wires that accept RCA inputs. Each zone output wire has RCA jack for Line out L&R and Sub W out 1 and 2. If I understood the installer the single Y'd RCA jacks that come from both Subs is plugged into Zone 3 Sub W out 1 and 2.

I am wondering why when he was demonstrating the system and I would push the Sub+- button it said it was Zone 3 and it controlled the Subs. Then when I got home and pushed the Sub+- button it displayed Zone 1 on the remote and did not control the Sub. Tonight I am going to unplug the Sub from the Zone 3 Sub out and plug it into the Zone 1 Sub out and see if the Sub +- button on the remote will then control the Subs. I have no idea how to change the zone when pressing the Sub=- buttons and have not been able to figure it out.

20200514_143859.tif

[Soonerfan]

And Oh Boy, they are clear and loud. They complement the factory system very well and the easy adjustment of the individual zone will be a big plus for the people in different areas of the boat!

[AsLan7]

Thanks! My R7 came with a PMX-8BB hide away head unit that is located under floor forward of the head. It has two remote units PMX-2's that are connected by a 13Din cable?? The zones on the WS-220BT are Zone 1=Tower Zone 2=Cabin Zone 3=Bow Zone 4=Transom.

The head unit has 4 zone out wires that accept RCA inputs. Each zone output wire has RCA jack for Line out L&R and Sub W out 1 and 2. If I understood the installer the single Y'd RCA jacks that come from both Subs is plugged into Zone 3 Sub W out 1 and 2.

I am wondering why when he was demonstrating the system and I would push the Sub+- button it said it was Zone 3 and it controlled the Subs. Then when I got home and pushed the Sub+- button it displayed Zone 1 on the remote and did not control the Sub. Tonight I am going to unplug the Sub from the Zone 3 Sub out and plug it into the Zone 1 Sub out and see if the Sub +- button on the remote will then control the Subs. I have no idea how to change the zone when pressing the Sub=- buttons and have not been able to figure it out.

20200514_143859.tif

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Well that would have been nice to know SF. ....so basically you have two 4 zone controllers. A WS-220BT and a Rockford PMX8-BB. Do you have the PMX8-DH as well which is the head unit that works with the PMX8-BB media receiver zone controller?
I'm curious how the installer is connecting the WS-220BT to your system?

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1 RF pmx8bb.jpg

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Again, check the RF AUDIO settings and make sure the RCA outputs are selected correctly with subwoofer toggled on for RCA output 3

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1 pmx8bb rear rca.jpg

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AND what is a TIF file? It's not showing.

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[Chrispval]

My input, take it for what its worth, is put the transom and tower on 1 zone (for water sports or hanging at the sandbar). Zone 2 for bow, zone 3 for cockpit.

[Soonerfan]

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Well that would have been nice to know SF. ....so basically you have two 4 zone controllers. A WS-220BT and a Rockford PMX8-BB. Do you have the PMX8-DH as well which is the head unit that works with the PMX8-BB media receiver zone controller?
I'm curious how the installer is connecting the WS-220BT to your system?

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1 RF pmx8bb.jpg
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Again, check the RF AUDIO settings and make sure the RCA outputs are selected correctly with subwoofer toggled on for RCA output 3

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1 pmx8bb rear rca.jpg
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AND what is a TIF file? It's not showing.

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I will check the settings tonight and also get the model of the 2 remote units that are connected to it.

Haha, a tiff is a picture and it shows up for me but it was basically the same picture you provided of the PMS-8BB.

[Soonerfan]

My input, take it for what its worth, is put the transom and tower on 1 zone (for water sports or hanging at the sandbar). Zone 2 for bow, zone 3 for cockpit.

How would I do that? Would I have to get some type of Y conector for the RCA's to connect them to a single set of RCA's to plug them both into Zone 1 on the controller? I am a stereo novice for sure!

[AsLan7]

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Well that would have been nice to know SF. ....so basically you have two 4 zone controllers. A WS-220BT and a Rockford PMX8-BB. Do you have the PMX8-DH as well which is the head unit that works with the PMX8-BB media receiver zone controller?
I'm curious how the installer is connecting the WS-220BT to your system?

.
1 RF pmx8bb.jpg
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Again, check the RF AUDIO settings and make sure the RCA outputs are selected correctly with subwoofer toggled on for RCA output 3

.
1 pmx8bb rear rca.jpg
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AND what is a TIF file? It's not showing.

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I will check the settings tonight and also get the model of the 2 remote units that are connected to it.

Haha, a tiff is a picture and it shows up for me but it was basically the same picture you provided of the PMS-8BB.

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Roger that SF.

During the demonstration the zone controller worked as it should and the dedicated sub +- button on the remote units worked as it should for the sub volume.

If your stereo all tested perfectly at the shop and then something changed after you garage boated, I'm thinking settings. You never changed any wiring after you left correct?



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[Soonerfan]

Thanks, for all the replies. The remote models are just PMX-1R's that pair up with the hide away unit. I ended up unplugging the Sub RCA from the Zone 3 Sub out and plugged it into the Zone 1 Sub out and it worked. As stated a setting must have changed but I don't know how and I was unable to figure out how to change the Sub+- button to control Zone 3. I don't know and likely never will have to try to figure it out again.

Loving the zone controller for the speakers and the ability to adjust the Sub simply by pushing a button effectively gives me 5 zones of control with the push of a button or the turn of a knob. Very simple and will be nice as we do a lot of water sports and I am constantly adjusting the volume up and down. Headed out Sunday to the lake for a week and it will be the first time this year to put the boat in the water!

[Big Block Power]

Do you have pictures of where they mounted the zone controller. I was going to add one but I didn't want to drill holes and mount it under the helm. So I did my own in the glove box. And used brass washers just for A7 on 1 of them.
I guess if it's BT it van be hid. And I was too Cheap to spend $450.00 on one.

[AsLan7]

Thanks, for all the replies. The remote models are just PMX-1R's that pair up with the hide away unit. I ended up unplugging the Sub RCA from the Zone 3 Sub out and plugged it into the Zone 1 Sub out and it worked. As stated a setting must have changed but I don't know how and I was unable to figure out how to change the Sub+- button to control Zone 3. I don't know and likely never will have to try to figure it out again.

Loving the zone controller for the speakers and the ability to adjust the Sub simply by pushing a button effectively gives me 5 zones of control with the push of a button or the turn of a knob. Very simple and will be nice as we do a lot of water sports and I am constantly adjusting the volume up and down. Headed out Sunday to the lake for a week and it will be the first time this year to put the boat in the water!

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Glad it all worked out for you SF.
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