[wcso909]

The boat I puchased has 8 speakers installed. It looks like the previous owner used two amplifiers to power the speakers. I am curious If anyone has a better way to do this? I am wondering about the power it takes to run two amps while the boat is not running. Can I use one amp (four channel) for four speakers and then run the other four speakers off the head unit? If I need two amps (or if this is the best way to do it), do I need to run the output from one amp to the input of the other?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Brewfixer]

I am not much of an audiophile but if it sounds good just leave it. Add a second battery with an isolater that way you only run down the accessory battery. That is what I did in mine which also came with a big boom machine.

[wcso909]

I wish I could just leave it. Unfortuately, the previous owner left the speakers and took the head unit and amps. I am just trying to figure out the best way to wire it.

[Brewfixer]

Woops! Sorry missed the part that the previous owners scavenged the system. From the little bit I do know, if you are going to run 4 speakers off an amp that has far greater power than your est ~50W head unit, you will only drown out the speakers attached to the head unit or you will not fully utilize the power from the amp(s).

There are lots of ways to wire up a system and the more wires you introduce the more complicated it can become.

With 8 speakers (assuming 2 of them are BASE) I would dedicate 1 amp to the base and get a 6 channel amp for the rest. You will need an active crossover if you only have 2 pre-amp outputs from the head unit (common).

You would still need a second battery with isolator otherwise you will be rowing home.

Do a google on "Car Stereo System Designs". There are plenty of illustrations out there that show exactly how this is done.

[Oregondunes]

Originally Posted by wcso909

The boat I puchased has 8 speakers installed. It looks like the previous owner used two amplifiers to power the speakers. I am curious If anyone has a better way to do this? I am wondering about the power it takes to run two amps while the boat is not running. Can I use one amp (four channel) for four speakers and then run the other four speakers off the head unit? If I need two amps (or if this is the best way to do it), do I need to run the output from one amp to the input of the other?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

are all 8 speakers small or are 1 or 2 subwoofers ?

[wcso909]

Sorry! I thought I put that in there. There are 6 6.5" inch speakers and two 6x9s.

[Brewfixer]

So no BOOM? Well that is a little on the odd side but maybe different or do you have a cabin? What type boat? Do you have pictures of where these are located? My son would like to see and perhaps advise on a setup. First thought is that you would split them between front and rear with 2x4 channel amps. Can you convert 2 of the speakers to subwoofers?

[Oregondunes]

Originally Posted by wcso909

Sorry! I thought I put that in there. There are 6 6.5" inch speakers and two 6x9s.

can you give us pics and where each pair is located ?

If the 6x9's are low, you could replace with some subs. they make em in that size. not real strong but better then nothing.

Im thinking that you might be able to run this whole setup with a 6ch amp and the right kind of head unit.

Ill wait to suggest til after I hear more from you about locations

[wcso909]

I'll work on the pics. For now, maybe this will help with the speaker location. There are two 6'' in the bow. Two more 6'' under the console which I believe is one of the factory locations. Two 6'' on each side of the rear seat and the 6x9s are located under the rear seat facing the bow.

Hope this helps.

[Oregondunes]

Originally Posted by wcso909

I'll work on the pics. For now, maybe this will help with the speaker location. There are two 6'' in the bow. Two more 6'' under the console which I believe is one of the factory locations. Two 6'' on each side of the rear seat and the 6x9s are located under the rear seat facing the bow.

Hope this helps.

perfect.

first, youll need a true 4 ch head unit that has 4 RCA preouts and a subwoofer RCA preout

then youll need just a 6ch amp. (look at ebay under "marine amplifier"

youll replace the 6x9's with some like size subs (look at ebay under 6x9 subwoofer)

If it was me id tie the front (bow) pair with the pair under your dash (as you probably dont get a lot of sound from them anyways) off the front channels. Now if you want to do correctly, youll run them in series. To do that youll run from the + side of the amp to the + side of the first speaker under the dash on the the right side of the boat. Then from the - side of that speaker to the + side of the right speaker in the bow, then from the - side of that speaker back to the - of the amp. Do the same for the left side. This will double the oHms load on the amp, making the amp think there are only a pair of weak speakers and not tax it so hard when you crank it up.

Then run the 2nd channel to the upper rear pair of speakers on both sides of the rear bench.

This will allow you to fade from the front to the rear of the boat.

Then youll take that sub out from the deck to the 5/6th ch on the amp, mono bridge it and run em to the 6x9 subs.

I personally like bought a Fusion IP500 (deck) this winter and just love it. Your iPod actually docks inside the head unit instead of tethered by a cord. your can find them also on eBay under Fusion Marine

Good luck and let us know how it comes out.