Replacement ideas for clarion stereo

mskpharmd

hey guys I am considering upgrading my stereo system on my 1999 330. I know the clarion speakers are tired and would like to know what others have done to replace those but I'm also considering changing out the stereo deck itself for something with Bluetooth or aux cord to hook in my music from my iPhone . Any thoughts?
thanks
Mike

LaRea

If your stereo has an aux input, you can easily add Bluetooth for about $40.  No need to replace the deck.  

http://rinkerboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/2170/added-bluetooth-interface-for-playing-music-from-cell-phone

Cableguy Greg

There are many replacement speakers out there. I replaced mine with Alpines and they sound great. I have heard good things about the Polks.

I am planning on adding the Bluetooth device above this spring. It should be an easy, inexpensive upgrade.

mattie

Replaced all 8 Clarion speakers & sub on our 2008. Used Kicker Marine speakers. Not long after the deck started acting weird. Shutting off intermittently. Replaced with a new Clarion deck with Bluetooth, etc,etc.
Amazing sound difference. The factory speakers were absolutely toast. Cones dried out and so on. The amps are the only thing left on the boat - but seem to be working fine.
Good luck with your choice.

jme097

The first thing I did when I got my 280 is rip out the entire Clarion system. Head unit, CD changer, speakers etc. Clarion is TERRIBLE. put in 4 6.5's and 2 6x9's on the deck with a 5 channel class D amp with a 10 inch shallow mount sub with a new Kenwood head unit. Guess the system isn't a big deal to some people but myself (28 years old and having parties in the bay everyweek) that was one thing that had to be done haha. Best investment lol

summerx

If you aren't looking to an exotic, big money stereo, then look no further than these infinity M612's.  I replaced all of the topside 6.5s with these, and was amazed at the difference they made.  In my opinion, for the money they are really hard to beat, unless you are willing to spend a few hundred per set.
http://www.amazon.com/Infinity-Reference-612m-High-Performance-Loudspeaker/dp/B00292XT2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455563650&sr=8-2&keywords=612+speakers

jme097

@summerx thats exactly what I replaced my 6.5's with and couldnt be happier. They're power by a 5 channel Alpine Class D amp. Sound great

mskpharmd

So you replaced the original amp? What is a class d amp? How about the stereo deck?

jme097

@mskpharmd amps are rated in classes depending on the amps efficiency. Which results in a lighter and smaller amp and far less heat being generated. The more efficient the less distortion the amp has which means cleaner and more powerful sound. Classes are ranked as follows: A, B, A/B, G and H, and D. 

I replaced everything. Removed the Clarion head unit, CD changer (didn't replace), Clarion 2 channel amp and the 4 6.5's on the deck. Installed a Kenwood head unit, 4 6.5's Infiniti's and also cut in 2 additional 6x9's (Infiniti's as well), 10 inch shallow mount sub and everything is powered through my Alpine PDX-V9 5 channel amp. Front channels are powering my 4 6.5's and the rear is power my 6x9's and then sub channel is powering my sub. I have enough power left on the rear channel to power to 7.7 inch JL's which are going to be installed on my radar arch in the spring. 


Basically in the end, depends how serious you are about your sound system. If you enjoy some background noise and don't have a need for good, clean and powerful sound then any class A or B amp will do just fine. Just depends how serious you want to get and what fits your needs. Regardless, I would still run an amp just because it will improve your sound quality tenfold over the headunit alone. 

mskpharmd

Jm, thanks for the detail, I love good clean sound, im gonna mimic your set up. Any issues with wire harness? Lessons learned?

jme097

Only point of advice is to run a separate power wire to the new head unit. I reused the factory harness to try to keep the install clean and I got a buzzing sound out of my speakers when I turned my navigation lights on, shielded of course. I don't know how anyone still has the Clarion speakers still in their boat. Went to the boat show yesterday here in Detroit and noticed they now install Sony speakers from the factory. Decent step up from the Clarion but way under powered and still a lot better speakers on the market for not that much more money. 

mskpharmd

You've convinced me! I'm headed down to the boat next weekend and I'm gonna order my components this week! Thanks for the input!

jme097

Atta boy! haha

partlowr

I just purchased a JVC marine receiver and JVC wired remote, the receiver I went with was the JVC KD-X31MBS, it has Bluetooth, iPod and Android interface, XM/Sirius Satelite ready and a USB port. You can find the receiver on ebay or amazon for under $100 if you shop around and the wired remote costs under $30. I am getting ready to install the receiver, the satellite radio antenna, 2 8 in marine Bazooka tubes and 6 new marine 6.5" speakers, two in the cuddy(pyle PLRMX63 LED) and four in the cockpit area(Kenwood KFC-1653MRW).

Mike_G

For you guys replacing speakers... are you adding a sub as well? I get nervous about cutting large holes in the boat, and the best place to put the sub and amp.  Also.. running wires, power, etc. through the boat seems like it might be a PITA.. but I have a hard time trusting that other people will do the work the "right" way.

I have the same Sony Head unit/speakers combo in my boat that they are installing in the 2016s.  It sounds surprisingly good in my boat, but I would really like a sub.    -=Mike G.

partlowr

Mike_G said:

For you guys replacing speakers... are you adding a sub as well? I get nervous about cutting large holes in the boat, and the best place to put the sub and amp.  Also.. running wires, power, etc. through the boat seems like it might be a PITA.. but I have a hard time trusting that other people will do the work the "right" way.

I have the same Sony Head unit/speakers combo in my boat that they are installing in the 2016s.  It sounds surprisingly good in my boat, but I would really like a sub.    -=Mike G.

I went with Bazooka tubes. My brother in-law used to be a professional high end(like $10,000 car set-ups) car and home theater stereo system designer and installer back in the day. Last fall we experimented with some different set ups on my boat to give me some ideas of what I need to buy for the winter or spring install. We experimented with sub enclosures with 10 and 12 inch subs as well as Bazooka tubes. The bazooka tubes had by far the best sound and bass, it was tight and crisp which is hard to get on a big open air boat. Keep in mind most subs are designed for enclosures and need proper air volume and porting. Simply dropping a sub into a fiberglass or wood area that you just happen to have room for on your boat does not guarantee it will sound good. Subs that are marketed as "enclosureless" or not needing a custom enclosure sometimes do the job but sound like **** compared to a custom enclosure or Bazooka tube.  A Bazooka tube has already been engineered for proper volume and porting so you can stick one or two just about anywhere and have good tight bass sound. Another benefit of the Bazooka is they can easily be removed or even moved. I am installing two of them under my cockpit bench seat but we also are wiring my cuddy cabin so that I can unplug one of the tubes up on the cockpit deck and install it in my cabin should I want some more intense sound in the cabin.

One other thing to keep in mind, if you plan on installing additional amps and subs you will need to make sure the Sony receiver that you are using has enough RCA output jacks to accommodate the additional speakers. My boat had a fairly nice Alpine unit in it but only had two outputs so I had to buy a new receiver.  

Michael T

RE:  too few amp RCA OUTPUTS? -  I have used high end (gold wire,  no impedance loss)  Y  splitters  to turn each RCA output into two or even four line "outs".  If done correctly which,  IMO,  is not difficult you have no signal loss  no impedence change and no signal quality degradation. 

partlowr

Michael T said:

RE:  too frequently amp RCA OUTPUTS -  I have used high end (gold wire,  no impedance loss)  Y  splitters  to turn each RCA output into two or even four line "outs".  If done correctly which,  IMO,  is not difficult you have no signal loss  no impedence change and no signal quality degradation. 

Yes, but they are still just operating on two channels, no way to adjust for bass and treble output using splitters, you will be sending highs to your subs and sending deep bass to your 6.5 inch speakers and tweeters. The proper way to do it is with seprate channel RCA outs so that you can send bass to subs and highs and mids to the regular speakers.

Mike_G

The Sony head unit they use has 4RCA outputs.. a Full Range L/R for front and a switchable full range/sub out for the rears.  Since I want to be able to fade everything, I like Michael T's idea of the Y-splitters.

Where did you put the amps for the Bazooka tubes?  I'd have to find somewhere to put one or two of them, but I like the idea of not cutting any holes.  There's another thread I found where someone put a Pioneer shallow enclosure under the rear facing seat behind the drivers seat on a 280.  That might work too.  I had a set of Bazooka tubes in a SUV back in the 90's and they were awesome then.  I think they sell self-amplified ones now too... hmmmm......  -=Mike G

partlowr

Yes, they make amplified and non-amplified Bazooka Tubes. I went with 2 non-amplified for my boat.

jme097

I have a 10 inch sub in an enclosure with 4 6.5 inch and 2 6x9 speakers on the deck. @Mike_G I put the shallow mount sub in lol

Michael T

Geez jme097, they'll hear you in Detroit with that set-up LOL! 

jme097

Hahaha. MT...and see me as well with the new lights!

dropout

I went with a Kenwood deck mostly because I liked their wired remotes the best, basically has all the radio functions on it plus the white back light isn't too blinding at night. Also I wanted to match the deck lighting to the red control panel lighting where it's located. The Kenwood deck has all the latest technology, btooth, Sirius xm, pandora, iheart, etc. +1 on the Bazooka Tube, I got the 12" 250 watts and it's awesome! I didn't want to cut any holes and it's built in amp is a bonus. Replaced the 6.5's with Rockford Fosgates hooked up with the existing Sony amp. I went with these because of the chrome grills, I didn't  want bright white speakers like the only color made, it wouldn't look good with Rinker's sand white color gel.

Lifes Good

http://www.fusionentertainment.com/marine/products/650-series/ms-ud650

Nmea 2000 connectivity! 
Plus app for complete remote control on you apple or android. Play music, channel / band, bluetooth sound from your dock chair!  So cool!

Love mine!

jme097

@Lifes Good and @dropoutlove seeing all the system upgrades. I still have the head unit down below where the OEM deck was. Problem with the bluetooth is that when you're toward the back of the boat, the connection is off and on. So I bought a bluetooth connector that plugs into the Aux connection on the head unit. Bought a 15 foot aux cable and ran it from the deck along the starboard side and fished it. Now I can be in the water about 15 ft away and change the volume and song from my iPad mini which has a Nuud waterproof float able case on it. Best idea on my part yet haha. @dropout how do you like the rockfords? I am looking at scooping a pair of their wakeboard tower speakers because they can be mounted to a flat surface (radar arch). 

dropout

jme097 said:

@Lifes Good and @dropoutlove seeing all the system upgrades. I still have the head unit down below where the OEM deck was. Problem with the bluetooth is that when you're toward the back of the boat, the connection is off and on. So I bought a bluetooth connector that plugs into the Aux connection on the head unit. Bought a 15 foot aux cable and ran it from the deck along the starboard side and fished it. Now I can be in the water about 15 ft away and change the volume and song from my iPad mini which has a Nuud waterproof float able case on it. Best idea on my part yet haha. @dropout how do you like the rockfords? I am looking at scooping a pair of their wakeboard tower speakers because they can be mounted to a flat surface (radar arch). 

I like the Rockfords, clean sound and solid construction, really happy with them.