Adding a sub

[automaticj5]

Hey guys - new here just looking for recommendations on adding a sub to my 6 speaker system...

1. Are powered subs worth it or should I do the traditional?

2. How hard is the wiring and mounting?

3. Are there usually guys near marinas that do this stuff in the docks?

Thanks for your help!

I have a 2003 maxum 2400sr by the way! Learning daily!

 

[NWJeff]

Re: Adding a sub

Definitely put a sub, if not a couple in there and make your music WAAAYYYY better!!! It's a must have in my opinion if you like loud clean music on the boat! Wiring is super simple, only question I would look into is whether or not your charging system would be able to keep up with the amp you'll run! I would recommend a second battery and maybe even a capacitor to take the load off the battery? Other than that it's 5 wires: Power, ground, remote, pre-amp from the head unit and your speaker wire.

 

[automaticj5]

Re: Adding a sub

So I should be easy to do my self... Do you think two powered subs would do the job? Where to mount though?

Thanks!

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Adding a sub

So I should be easy to do my self... Do you think two powered subs would do the job? Where to mount though?

Thanks!

i think over kill, i have one 8" bass tube in my bow, it can really shake the boat. adds that bottom end to the sound, once you have it you will think it sounded tinny and carpy before.

 

[automaticj5]

Re: Adding a sub

Do you guys have any pics of your finished product?

 

[NWJeff]

Re: Adding a sub

It's really pretty simple to do, I added one 10" sub in a ported box underneath the dash on the port side of my Maxum. Sounds super clean and there is still plenty of leg room over there, but my floor goes up and in toward the bow so there was plenty of wasted space there to mount everything. Plus my deck is in the glove box right above it so all the wires, besides power from the battery, were a super short run. My suggestion is either put a switch on the power wire from the battery to manually turn it off and on or just dont forget to wire the blue remote wire from the head unit to the amp to turn it on and off with the stereo. Piece of cake dude! Let me know if you need any help with anything.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Adding a sub

Do you guys have any pics of your finished product?

I don't have a picture and the boat is covered until next time I have a day off with good weather, but its not really installed it just lays in the v behind the bow eye, out of the way and sounds great in the enclosed bow makes a wonderfull resonance chamber, bass travels differently than treble which has to be pointed at you, the sub can be mounted anywhere on the boat and the low levels will travel throughout. also I have no stereo, just a amplifier I plug my mp3 player or phone into

 

[carey965]

Re: Adding a sub

always add a sub, i just yanked a sony 10 out of my car and put it in a ported box, it hammers, the only problem i am finding is when i have it cranked the whole things cuts out, i dont think my starting battery is up to the challenge so i suggest adding a 2nd one i know i will be soon

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Adding a sub

the rear speakers 2 horns in the dash, the amp below the wheel, the bass tube is behind all those life vests. thats all i need to rock my boat:drum:

 

[automaticj5]

Re: Adding a sub

Awesome thanks - so if I decided to just go with a powered sub for ease for the summer how hard is it to get the head unit out of an 03 maxum 2400sr? Also if I put it in the little toilet area would the sub do well in there?

 

[Slide]

Re: Adding a sub

I had a Maxum 2300SC, it is a similar layout to your boat. I would put it in the cockpit somewhere - my boat had the dual back-to-back passenger seating, and we made a sub box out of the seat box so that it fired upward under the seats. If you put it in the cuddy, I would try to set it up so that it either fires downwards somewhere in the center of the boat, or rearwards directly toward the cuddy door. It would do OK in the port-a-potty area. Try that first and see how you like it.

The HU should be simple to get out, just use two of those little fork tools that come with any HU. They slide into the sides of the HU from the front and release the clips that hold it in.

As far as powered - that just means it comes premade with box and amplifier in one kit. It needs an amp to run either way. I highly recommend Polk equipment, I run it almost exclusively in everything I buy.

 

[automaticj5]

Re: Adding a sub

Ok... so what do you think the best spot for the sub would be? I have the head unit in the cockpit, in front of that is the porta potty then in front of that is storage under the seats... which would make the most sense?

Would I have to drill a hole to get the wire from the sub to the HU?

 

[Slide]

Re: Adding a sub

Try putting the sub box in your porta potty area. Run it and see if you like the sound. If you don't then try moving it.

Wires from your sub will go to your amplifier (wherever you decide to put it, I mounted it to the bulkhead in the porta potty area) then from the amplifier to the HU. You shouldn't need to drill holes unless there is no way around or under the bulkheads to get to the HU. In my boat there was space between the bulkhead and the hull that I could run wires through.