Boat stereo system

[berzerk]

Hello,

I have a 22' boat that i bought recently. it came with a Pioneer head unit...

Specs

current consumption - 10A

power output - 50W X 4

cont. power output - 22W X 4

load imped. - 4ohms

preout max. level output - 2.0V

The boat also came with (4) Maxxima speakers m/n css-6551BX, 15 watts max. power, 8 watts nom power, 4ohms.

So, my question is, i'm thinking of adding two more higher end speakers and an amp to give me a bit better and louder sound. Is there anything i can do here without replacing what i have currently?

 

[SumDumGuy]

Re: Boat stereo system

run the preouts to the amp and power the new speakers via the amp.

 

[h2odick]

Re: Boat stereo system

If the speakers truly are 15 watts max power, then your head unit is already pushing about as much power as you want. I wouldn't recommend an amp _at all_ unless you change out the speakers you currently have, unless you continue to run the existing speakers from the head unit, and maybe power a couple new speakers with a small amp. All depends on what you want to do, and how much you want to spend. A really decent system can be had on the cheap, even installing new speakers (Polk stuff is good price, good product!).

Let us know what you want to do, and we'll figure it out.

:welcome: to iBoats btw!

 

[SumDumGuy]

Re: Boat stereo system

True the "old" speakers are rated way low in power.

If you really want it to sound acceptable you would buy 2 sets of speakers to be run off the HU.
Then send the preout signal to an amp that powers a sub config.

 

[berzerk]

Re: Boat stereo system

So, is my existing HU powerful enough to run higher end speakers? Also, I don't know if it has preouts for the amp.
If it does have preouts, is it possible to leave the existing speakers as they are and just ADD two more higher end speakers and just run them off the amp only? Because, the four existing speakers sound fine as long as i'm in the boat. I'm trying to get bigger sound when i'm outside the boat.

 

[SumDumGuy]

Re: Boat stereo system

Your HU can power higher wattage speakers.

Yes, you could leave the speakers you have and power additional speakers via an amplifier.

 

[berzerk]

Re: Boat stereo system

Great!

Do you know of any good inexpensive marine amps? If so, how about a type and brand of marine speakers to connect to it?

 

[Hermanclick]

Re: Boat stereo system

Hello,

I have a 22' boat that i bought recently. it came with a Pioneer head unit...

Specs

current consumption - 10A

power output - 50W X 4

cont. power output - 22W X 4

load imped. - 4ohms

preout max. level output - 2.0V

The boat also came with (4) Maxxima speakers m/n css-6551BX, 15 watts max. power, 8 watts nom power, 4ohms.

So, my question is, i'm thinking of adding two more higher end speakers and an amp to give me a bit better and louder sound. Is there anything i can do here without replacing what i have currently?

Might want to verify that the head unit is not crossing over the single pre amp out for a sub which some head units do on the lower end with only a single pre out. If it does some can be disabled via the setting menu via the head unit. Don't know the exact model of yours so just throwing that out there as it sounds like you want to use that pre out for a full range application.

With that being said I would not set it up this way as you will most likely end up with 2 speakers amped up and overpowering the 4 other channels 2 being front l/r channels and rear l/r channels. You will not have any control of how it sounds other than volume as its a single channel and not designed to play the others front,rear,left and right. Having all the channels set up correctly will make your music sound like it should. Will it work ? Yes , Will you be able to make it loud enough to hear those 2add on speakers while outside the boat? Yes , Will it sound good ? Most likely not, if all the vocals from one track are coming from the front channels your mono(single channel) pre amp out might just be playing some really loud rear fill for example.

I would replace the 4 6.5 speakers with something better, someone mentioned Polk audio those are a good choice and come in all different price points based on their performance output. It will sound better and is the cheapest way while using the existing head unit IMO. If you must add an amp I would not do it with that head unit it's single pre out and has a low voltage . I would look for a head unit with 3 preouts front,rear, and sub with a minimum of 4 volt out and get a small 4 channel amp to hook up the front and rear channels with your 4 6.5 speakers. It will sound a lot better and will get loud for you while reproducing the music correctly. If you want to and a sub down the road you will have that additional sub output available and will pretty much be plug and play if you went with a smaller amplified separate sub.

Cheers