Spend my money! (On a sound system)

[Chasing Rays]

Hello all!
We have a 2013 R5 with the factory RF head, stern remote and 6 Kicker speakers. It's nowhere near good enough! I need some input on the following.
1. New head unit. Ours doesn't have bluetooth, and that blows.
2. New stern remote?
3. 6 or maybe 8 new speakers. Really leaning toward JL Audio. Like the sound. We have 6 speakers now. Wouldn't mind having 2 at the swim deck if I can.
4. 1 sub. Mounted probably in the area below the engine compartment. See pics.
5. AMP!
6. Wiring
6. Budget is around $3K

Please list the model numbers if you can.(Head, speakers, amp) That will help me decide.

I screwed up and didn't pull the speakers to see the actual hole size of the 6.5"? but take a look. Don't really care about LED lights.

Thanks for your input.

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[Big Block Power]

I don't know if 3k is going to do it.
I don't have all the model numbers. There are plenty of threads in here with them.
Just go all jl and at least 2 amps and sub. Do you have a tower? Other guys will chime in. I'm a wet sounds guy so I'll sit back and read.

[Chasing Rays]

Forgot that detail. I do not have a tower. Thoughts on the JL head unit?

[Big Block Power]

Forgot that detail. I do not have a tower. Thoughts on the JL head unit?

I like fuson or wet sounds or the jl. But I would keep everything the same.

[xlint89]

Hate to say it, but BBP is prob right. $3k isn't going to do it most likely. Try contacting James Taylor at Creative Audio and tell him you're a member here, and he will get you a decent discount as well as help you pick stuff out.

I had a basic Fusion head unit on the last boat and it did well. Around $300 and had blue tooth. Nice thing about Fusion is the wireless remotes for about $50 ea. You can place them anywhere you want. They also have a wired version if you want to go that route too.

I presently have the JL Media Master 100 BE. Got it for just under $600. The wired remote for it is $120 and another $25 for the cable to connect it. So far I like it. I needed a lot of RCA inputs for all the amplifiers I'm running for my stereo set up.

JL 6 1/2" M3 speakers are about $200 a set and they sound quite good with decent power sent to them. (75W - 100W).

If you want ease of install get the JL M800/8 to power your 6 1/2" speakers. It can run all 8 if you get the transom speakers, or all 6 and have 2 channels left over to power your subwoofer. Priced around $800

A JL 10" subwoofer will do OK with the 180W-200W the M 800/8 can provide it, but it won't have a ton of bass if that's what you're looking for. About $200 for it. And infinite baffle (free air) speaker will do OK, everyone will recommend an enclosure for the best performance from the 10" sub. Which will be an additional cost. UNLESS, you get the JL 12" sub, which is infinite baffle, but really kicks ass. It costs around $700 and requires a lot of power to run it, Say a 600/1 amplifier at another $500.

You then need to get all the RCS's, speaker wires, plus the battery cables and fuses or breakers for the amp. Depending on where you mount your amp and how far the wires need to be ran can cost anywhere from $200-400 for this stuff.

Finally, you're going to want large batteries to run the stereo and start the boat. These can range from $150 to $300 each depending on what you want.

The next question is, who's doing the installation? If you're doing it, it will save a lot of $$, but will be a lot of work. And hopefully you know how to set up an amplifier. Otherwise, paying someone to do it for you will be prob around $800.

As you can see that $3k price range is really not much for what you're looking to do.

The thing you got going for you is James taylor at Creative Audio with the Cobalt Chat discount, and the JL Audio speakers they are clearing out being sold at good prices.

Good luck and keep us posted please.

[Big Block Power]

Hate to say it, but BBP is prob right. $3k isn't going to do it most likely. Try contacting James Taylor at Creative Audio and tell him you're a member here, and he will get you a decent discount as well as help you pick stuff out.

I had a basic Fusion head unit on the last boat and it did well. Around $300 and had blue tooth. Nice thing about Fusion is the wireless remotes for about $50 ea. You can place them anywhere you want. They also have a wired version if you want to go that route too.

I presently have the JL Media Master 100 BE. Got it for just under $600. The wired remote for it is $120 and another $25 for the cable to connect it. So far I like it. I needed a lot of RCA inputs for all the amplifiers I'm running for my stereo set up.

JL 6 1/2" M3 speakers are about $200 a set and they sound quite good with decent power sent to them. (75W - 100W).

If you want ease of install get the JL M800/8 to power your 6 1/2" speakers. It can run all 8 if you get the transom speakers, or all 6 and have 2 channels left over to power your subwoofer. Priced around $800

A JL 10" subwoofer will do OK with the 180W-200W the M 800/8 can provide it, but it won't have a ton of bass if that's what you're looking for. About $200 for it. And infinite baffle (free air) speaker will do OK, everyone will recommend an enclosure for the best performance from the 10" sub. Which will be an additional cost. UNLESS, you get the JL 12" sub, which is infinite baffle, but really kicks ass. It costs around $700 and requires a lot of power to run it, Say a 600/1 amplifier at another $500.

You then need to get all the RCS's, speaker wires, plus the battery cables and fuses or breakers for the amp. Depending on where you mount your amp and how far the wires need to be ran can cost anywhere from $200-400 for this stuff.

Finally, you're going to want large batteries to run the stereo and start the boat. These can range from $150 to $300 each depending on what you want.

The next question is, who's doing the installation? If you're doing it, it will save a lot of $$, but will be a lot of work. And hopefully you know how to set up an amplifier. Otherwise, paying someone to do it for you will be prob around $800.

As you can see that $3k price range is really not much for what you're looking to do.

The thing you got going for you is James taylor at Creative Audio with the Cobalt Chat discount, and the JL Audio speakers they are clearing out being sold at good prices.

Good luck and keep us posted please.

Dead on. I bought on black Friday and got some great deals from creative as well. James is a great guy

[Chasing Rays]

Hate to say it, but BBP is prob right. $3k isn't going to do it most likely. Try contacting James Taylor at Creative Audio and tell him you're a member here, and he will get you a decent discount as well as help you pick stuff out.

I had a basic Fusion head unit on the last boat and it did well. Around $300 and had blue tooth. Nice thing about Fusion is the wireless remotes for about $50 ea. You can place them anywhere you want. They also have a wired version if you want to go that route too.

I presently have the JL Media Master 100 BE. Got it for just under $600. The wired remote for it is $120 and another $25 for the cable to connect it. So far I like it. I needed a lot of RCA inputs for all the amplifiers I'm running for my stereo set up.

JL 6 1/2" M3 speakers are about $200 a set and they sound quite good with decent power sent to them. (75W - 100W).

If you want ease of install get the JL M800/8 to power your 6 1/2" speakers. It can run all 8 if you get the transom speakers, or all 6 and have 2 channels left over to power your subwoofer. Priced around $800

A JL 10" subwoofer will do OK with the 180W-200W the M 800/8 can provide it, but it won't have a ton of bass if that's what you're looking for. About $200 for it. And infinite baffle (free air) speaker will do OK, everyone will recommend an enclosure for the best performance from the 10" sub. Which will be an additional cost. UNLESS, you get the JL 12" sub, which is infinite baffle, but really kicks ass. It costs around $700 and requires a lot of power to run it, Say a 600/1 amplifier at another $500.

You then need to get all the RCS's, speaker wires, plus the battery cables and fuses or breakers for the amp. Depending on where you mount your amp and how far the wires need to be ran can cost anywhere from $200-400 for this stuff.

Finally, you're going to want large batteries to run the stereo and start the boat. These can range from $150 to $300 each depending on what you want.

The next question is, who's doing the installation? If you're doing it, it will save a lot of $$, but will be a lot of work. And hopefully you know how to set up an amplifier. Otherwise, paying someone to do it for you will be prob around $800.

As you can see that $3k price range is really not much for what you're looking to do.

The thing you got going for you is James taylor at Creative Audio with the Cobalt Chat discount, and the JL Audio speakers they are clearing out being sold at good prices.

Good luck and keep us posted please.

Looks like we will throw some more into it to do it right.
Excellent info! I really appreciate the response.

[jhnmdahl]

I’d think about it in stages then - maybe do the head unit and sub(s) “next year” and do the amps, main speakers, and wiring first.

Note there are some cheap Bluetooth receivers that may tide you over with your head unit, but you may not want to throw money at something you know you’ll replace. See https://creativeaudio.net/mbt-rx/ for example.

John

[Chasing Rays]

I’d think about it in stages then - maybe do the head unit and sub(s) “next year” and do the amps, main speakers, and wiring first.

Note there are some cheap Bluetooth receivers that may tide you over with your head unit, but you may not want to throw money at something you know you’ll replace. See https://creativeaudio.net/mbt-rx/ for example.

John

Not a bad plan. Appreciate the input.

[Pablo]

to do it right your looking at 12-15 easily.............

[Big Block Power]

to do it right your looking at 12-15 easily.............

Yes not sure if he ever put a system in as that was 2 years ago

[Pablo]

15k to do it right.. otherwise i wouldnt.

2 x MV700/5i $1400 each1
4 pairs of x M6-880X-S-GwGw $800 each 3200 total
1 M7-12IB-S-GwGw-4 cut into right side of front transom side- $1200
1 12W6v3-D4 with ported fiberglass waterproofed box - install in engine bay or head. - $900 for sub - $500 for box
$1000 in cables
$500 for new deck
$2-4k for install


thats 13k right there - and prob need 2 new deep cell batteries to run it. ''

done this twice..

[jhnmdahl]

This thread is two years old, but it seems a bit misleading to say an upgrade in speakers, discrete amplification, and/or a more modern head unit won't be of signficant benefit without spending five figures. There are lots of upgrade threads on here ranging from hundreds to several thousand dollars, and each one meets the needs and goals of the boater better than their original configuration did.

For example, Roswell R1 in-boat speakers are $500 or so for the R1 8" and the 6.5" can usually be found for under $400 (and are a nice upgrade from JL Audio). I spent about $600 on an open box JL Audio M600/6 to power the cabin speakers from the factory head unit, found six Roswell speakers for a total price of under $1k due to closeouts, and ordered little cables (heavier gauge speaker cable) from Creative Audio and big cable (second battery, etc) from BOE marine for a couple hundred bucks and made/installed my own cables. Bought the Cobalt factory waterproof speaker connectors from DigiKey for under $100 for the boat, and did the install over a weekend myself.

Huge upgrade in sound quality and power from the factory installation.

[Big Block Power]

I have a retail system for about 5k I think but I have maybe 3k in it with watching specials. Black Friday was my savior. Plus ebay at the time.