Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

I just bought a 1995 Talari and the head unit that was once in the boat is missing. It still has two 6.5" speakers under the port and starboard consoles. I'd like to install a new head unit, but I'm unsure where to start with the wiring. There is a mess of wires going into the fuse box, but nothing is labeled. Does anyone have experience with this or a wiring diagram?

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Have you checked for the stereo wiring harness down inside where the stereo is mounted? Mariah always labeled their wiring so unless someone cut it off it should be there.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Ahh, I guess I just needed to look harder. So I take it that if I buy a new stereo, it will come with a different wiring harness and I'll have to cut the old one off and match up all of the wires?

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Buy a Kenwood , Alpine , or Pioneer head unit and it is plug and play. :)

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

That's an awesome tip, thanks guys

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

So I took your advice, an bought a new Kenwood marine stereo. Installation was super easy, the harness was plug and play as promised. The problem is that even with the volume all the way up, the speakers sound super quiet. I wasn't expecting home theater level sound quality, but you can barely hear the audio with the volume cranked up to max.

I'm using the original speakers that came with the boat, so they could very well be bad. Does this sound like a problem with the speakers or something wrong with the stereo installation? I already played around with the Fade/Balance settings and couldn't make it sound any better.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

I'd say speakers too , but did you make sure the wiring for the speakers (+ & -) are connected right?
Just a thought........does the deck have mute? Maybe it is on.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Don't think there is any mute setting on. Could this type of problem be caused by a bad ground?

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Check for an amp somewhere. I had that problem and found a bad amp.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Shouldn't I just be able to bypass the amp, and run the speakers right off the head unit? The one I have is the KMR-308 and it's rated for 22W RMS x 4. Should be plenty to power a couple of small 5" speakers.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

You are just going to have to trace wires and ensure that each connection is clean, secure and correct as it definitely sounds like a wiring issue You could also check to see if you have a speaker A-B switch that's in the wrong position. One other thing you could try is to disconnect each speaker one at a time to see if there is a short in one of them but trace the wires first.

And yes to your query about the amp but if you are using the plug & play method & there is an amp, you have to connect the blue wire to it or run new wiring to each speaker.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

The 308 has a bunch of options for the audio end of the unit. Have you gone thru the manual well?
Only other option is to start checking connections from head unit back.:(

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Nothing worse than electrical ghosts!!! :mad:

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Had this same issue with mine. I gave up. Started from scratch and ran my own wiring, upgraded speakers, head unit, added subs and amps. Done. It's a good day project but you get to design it your way... Good Luck

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Yup, I did the same thing. I used a Kenwood head unit, Memphis Audio 6.5 speakers and sub and JL audio amp. It was a good day project and well worth it in the long run... :wink_thumbup:

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Thanks for all the help guys, sounds like running my own wiring is the way to go. Is there a trick for the easiest ways to run the wires between the consoles?

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

Buy lots of Band-Aides!:yes_grin:

But seriously, invest in a electrical fish tape if you don't own one already to help pull wires around the boat. You can pick one up fairly reasonable at Harbor Freight or your local big box home improvement store.

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

So I am wanting to install an amp in my 2000 z212 Shabah but I'm not sure how to go about running the wires. How did you install your amp and how did you run the wires?

Re: Help with Stereo Install on '95 Talari 180
 

I installed my amp in my '96 Talari inside the locker on the driver's helm. The back side of the kick panel is a good place to mount it. I ran all my own wiring and wasn't very difficult. I even ran wiring for a remote stereo control over to the passenger helm. All the wires for the remote and the speakers run along the inside of the bow. There are other wires there, I simply ran my new wires along the existing ones and zip-tied them together. I've had it installed for going on two years now with no problems ever