Can someone help make me some Speaker spacer rings?

Jim_R · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:53 am

How's about a 6" hole saw, and taking the 1/4" down with a drum sander? The inner ring should be less critical than the outer from an appearance perspective. Heck, maybe even use a speed saw with circle cutter attachment.

cougarcruiser · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:23 pm

Just clamping down the puck and cutting it out with a rotozip or something should be doable.

The only thing that concerns me is the 1/2 inch thickness.

It's thick stuff.

jntwlsn · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:25 am **Posts:** 127

Choices II and Cougar....

I plan on using the info Cougar provided with his past H240 install. However, I am more inclined to go with the JL M650-CCX as Choices II did. Mainly to plug and play with no cutting. One day, or shall I say some day, when I add the tower, I will use the JL 7.7's. Keep it all the same except for the Sony head unit.

Whatya think?

Jim_R · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:24 pm

cougarcruiser wrote:

Just clamping down the puck and cutting it out with a rotozip or something should be doable.

The only thing that concerns me is the 1/2 inch thickness.

It's thick stuff.

Should be no problem, I've cut 3/4" plywood and even countertops with rotozips before. That 18V Ryobi speed saw went through the 3/8" fiberglass like butter.

cougarcruiser · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:30 pm

Going with the 6.5 JLs is a great step! Totally right on target!

If you can swing the 7.7s... The cutting isn't that bad... and you will notice a significant difference between the dynamic range of sound from the 6.5s to 7.7s.

Either way is a great step forward.

As for my spacer rings... good news and bad news.

Good news is that I'll easily be able to tweak them to work for the speakers on the sides of the arch. Bad news is that the the upper part of the arch has the fiberglass molded edge for the speaker that is about 7 inches. I can't go with a 7.7 without some serious overhang I think. That sucks. Good part is that there would have been plenty of depth there - so I wouldn't have needed the trim rings.

I'm going to work on this a big more.

Anyone have any great ideas where to mount 2 speakers around the back of the 318 to make a total of 6? Something so that the passengers on the U bench will get better sound than just the speakers on the arch?

Jim_R · **Posted:** Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:35 pm

impulse wrote:

I think that's an idea worth considering. I like it. Since Steve (aguyindallas) and I both just ran a mother wire around the whole boat this wouldn't be to hard to add on. It would however take me a bit of extra time since adding 4 more cupholders at the end of the year I would now have 10 to do. You've got me thinking about it now Jim.

And you've got me thinking about adding 4 more cupholders!

Paradise · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:14 am

cougar - Heres a link to the topic on my speaker rings. Im trying to remember who made the rings for me but they were made for 6.5's so I know they can cut the inner circle for your 7.7's without a problem. This will also give you an idea on how to mount up some leds'.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1914&hilit=+speaker+rings

Cupholder LEDs - here's the topic on my homemade ones if anyone is interested. they were fairly simple to make, just time consuming

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1763&p=14642&hilit=+led+cupholders#p14642

Choices II · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:18 pm

IMHO I think replacing the factory speakers with the JL is a great move. I had wanted to do this project for a couple years. My problem is I could not hear the stereo while at cruising speed and I was not very happy with that. After doing all the research on it and getting it priced to have somebody do it myself I decided to give it a go. A lot easier than i thought it would be. In the end I replaced the 2 rear speakers with the JL 6.5's (the M series), put in a sub (10 inch JL marine with the infinite baffle system, forget the model number) under the rear seat and added a 5 ch amp. (alpine PDX-5). I had to cut a hole for the sub, and was worried about doing that, but it came out good.

Once I got it all wired up it was an astounding improvement over stock. I also noted how cheap the clarion speakers were compared to the JL once I got them out.

I left the Clarion speakers in the V Berth area. Being enclosed I don't have to have it as loud and adjusted the gain on those so they still sound good, still an improvement with the amp.

I would by lying if I said I did not (and still don't) consider putting the 6.5's I put in the helm area down in the berth and cutting the holes bigger and putting the 7.7's in the helm. I guess that's just the guy in me coming out and wanting to do more, question is do I really need to? I don’t think so, but won't really know until I get out on the water. If I got a great deal on the 7.7's I probably would, but I think I will be satisfied with what I have now.

I recommend this upgrade and if you have any questions about the process let me know.

Optimus Prime · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:39 pm

Cougar:

I have a buddy in Bellevue who is real good with wood working and fab. And has a shop full of equipment that can probably accomodate your speaker rings. If you are still looking to fab the spacers let me know and I cna put you in touch with him..

-Optimus-

cougarcruiser · **Posted:** Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:45 pm

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it!

I thought I had it all planned out - but the 3 sets of JLs aren't panning out. The speakers at the top of the arch just don't have the room with how the arch is molded. So, I may be stuck with 6.5s. And if I'm stuck with 6.5s - do I do them all the same, or do I fit 7.7s where possible and 6.5s where I have to.

hhmmmmm.

www.iFourWinns.com

Can someone help make me some Speaker spacer rings?

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