Four Winns switch to JL Audio

DirtyHabit · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2013 11:01 am

Has anyone heard any of the premium audio uprgrades on the new 2013's with the JL Audio speakers yet? I just wondered how they stack up to the previous years and how they sound. What speaker and amp models theyre using....etc.

afw200 · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2013 11:41 am

Have not heard or seen one in a new 2013 model. JL Audio is excellent however, but some of the speaker locations
in the new FW boats are not well designed for such a nice speaker. So you may just have the high quality stereo that
does not have the capability by design to sound much better than a standard system. We will see I guess.

http://www.facebook.com/jlaudio?v=feed& ... 9743065522

ric · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2013 11:45 am

JL speakers rank right up there with Dual, Pyle, and Bazooka. I think their "best" 6.5 speaker is only 89db of sensitivity. Their head units (coming from personal experience) belong in the dumpster.

Polk and Infinity rule the roost as far as marine speakers go. Headunits? Sony, Fusion, Kenwood. Too bad Alpine doesn't make a marine head.

Words of wisdom? Never buy an "upgraded" audio system in a new boat. It's still garbage. Order the base model stereo and upgrade it yourself.

SundayDinner · **Posted:** Fri May 03, 2013 4:58 pm

I have to respectfully disagree. I've heard JL compared to Polk and others and JLs stuff is unbelievable in comparison. I wouldn't buy it from the factory (because you'd be getting screwed), but I'd definitely choose it over any other speaker if you have the money.

greg5891 · **Joined:** Thu May 03, 2012 2:00 pm **Posts:** 85

Ric, again you ARE WRONG... ALPINE does make a marine head and it's awesome!!!!! Had it in my sl262.... I've already told you the model and the specs in a previous post. Again,
ALPINE AI NET MARINE CD/USB/SAT RECEIVER - CDA118M

Jdpber · **Posted:** Fri May 17, 2013 10:44 am

POLK mm651um

Yjad27 · **Posted:** Fri May 17, 2013 6:24 pm

JL Audio marine speakers and amps are the best. IMHO...Period end of discussion. You will pay the premium for it but never regret it.I've upgraded all my boats to JL from Sony, Clarion, Kenwood, Pioneer. All blown away by the JLs.

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Sat May 18, 2013 8:15 am

When it comes to sound equipment, everyone hears differently. What is pleasant to one person, sound like garbage to another. If someone has had an actual problem with a brand, blown up or corrosion, etc. then I would avoid those. I prefer the Infinity's which I put in the cabin. But, my 1992 JL Audio's (four of them), in the cockpit with a Kenwood 1000 watt amp, rock pretty hard and still sound good with more graceful music as well.
Now the JL Audio one's come in at around 4 times the price and I have extra pairs of Infinity's brand new in the box on reserve just itching to get jolted by that amp.

wkearney99 · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2013 9:15 am

ric wrote:

Words of wisdom? Never buy an "upgraded" audio system in a new boat.

Given the harsh environment and the utter lack of controllable acoustic conditions it's pretty much pointless to bother spending much on any of the audio components in a boat. You're just not going to get a 'better enough' sound to make it worth the money. The people that have fallen prey to spending more money on this sort of thing will, of course, argue until they're blue in the face about this. Think about it, who would want to admit (to themselves even) that they'd spent all that money and really not gotten much for it. Certainly nothing they could 'prove' or that anyone else hearing it would ever be able to discern. But fools and money will always be parted.

You really have to ask yourself what's more cost effective since both ends of the market are going to have to be replaced just as often. Do you really want to spend a lot more money and convince yourself it was worthwhile? Or just go with the basic stuff and spend your money elsewhere?

DirtyHabit · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2013 9:47 am

Bill....I mostly share your same opinion on that. Being well versed in pro audio (concert PA systems and such) I feel like auto and marine audio isnt about sound quality at all. I dont really feel pro audio is either. Its about performing and lasting under the conditions in which they are used. So I look for high power handling (headroom)....resistance to outdoor conditions. S/N ratio doesnt matter much to me....I want a big fat magnet and a beefy voice coil....something that moves plenty of air to push sound through the cockpit. The only thing that will move air outdoors is lots of power and beefy speakers. I am digging the class D amps though....I have several in my PA system...they stay cool and deliver a ton of clean power with low amp draw.

I still am wondering though...if anyone has heard the new systems in the 2013 Four Winns yet. The boat I have coming was already ordered...and included the stereo upgrade package already. Im sure I will tweak it some...if it needs it. I really just was curious how it compared to the previous years "premium" stereo upgrade package....which I have heard. JL Audio was new just as I was getting out of competition car stereos way back in the day...and hadnt really proven themselves yet. The big dogs back then were Orion, Fosgate, Quart, Lanzar, Pheonix Gold.

deafwish · **Posted:** Tue May 21, 2013 4:42 pm

DirtyHabit wrote:

Orion, Fosgate, Quart, Lanzar, Pheonix Gold.

Oh - the good old days!

DirtyHabit · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 8:33 am

Good ole days indeed.....I used to have (2) Orion HCCA "50 watt" amps that powered my car system. I could compete in the 100 watt class....but running the amp at a 1/2 ohm...they were actually cranking out around 1000 watts each amp. Dont see too many 1/2 ohm stable amps around anymore...or 100 watt amps that are 2 1/2 feet long each :wink:

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 4:34 pm

How computer nerds have poisoned the industry...

I used to cruise around with Soundstream Rubicon's and even had an Alpine MRV-F1507!

ric · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 5:05 pm

My opinion on a boat its best to go with the most efficient system possible. Speakers that are 92db or better sensitivity. Class D amps. With really good high sensitivity speakers you can make your ears bleed with 200 watts compared to 600 with 89db speakers. That's a bunch of power savings!

jvthundercat · **Posted:** Wed May 22, 2013 7:15 pm

deafwish wrote:

How computer nerds have poisoned the industry...

I used to cruise around with Soundstream Rubicon's and even had an Alpine MRV-F1507!

Well I cruised around with an 8 track player and dual cone speakers. Those awesome days. :mrgreen:

www.iFourWinns.com

Four Winns switch to JL Audio

Who is online