www.iFourWinns.com

What happened to the Polk Momo love?

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I agree with St. Louis Dave re the Polk situation.

I had never heard of JL Audio before joining this forum, and tragically no one in New Zealand seems to stock their products. The specs look pure and I'm sure they are the business.

However the Polk's are available down here and IMO they certainly "look" the best of the marine range of speakers in terms of styling.

Can't comment on the performance as I haven't heard a pair in full cry.

The current rage in NZ is Fusion Car/Marine Audio http://www.fusioncaraudio.com they have developed a headunit which can swallow (literally) an entire iPod nano/classic/touch with full control integration. Not sure if this is getting any interest in the USA.

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'07 H190 4.3lt MPI Merc
'06 HSV Clubsport 6.0lt LS2 Manual
Wife and 2 kids

You can try http://www.soundwavesmi.com (586-716-9457) Talked to them at the Detroit boat show. They have a very good local reputation, and appeared they would deal on their prices. At least 10 %. The exchange rate maybe the deal killer. Considering adding JL to H240 also. They were very high on Menphis amps over the JL amp. Let me know how you make out with prices.

I preface my below thoughts by saying these are my opinion. I have no stated facts other than what my ears have proven to me. I also know several people who have done the same comparisons with the same result - so I am not alone.



Memphis, Fusion, WetSounds, Polk, and even some Infinity speakers are all great speakers. Nobody should ever say anything less.

However... they just don't compare to the JL Audio marine line.

Those who've had the JLs will go back 8 times out of 10. The one's who don't go back fall into 2 buckets.

1) They are willing to make a small sacrifice for the dollar savings JL is significantly more expensive. Polks can be had for around 100/pair. JL you are looking at 250-300.

2) Performance aside, bang for your buck is where it counts. (I even sit in this bucket 99% of the time - especially as I get older and have to check with the wife)

If a dealer tries to sell you a memphis amp over a JL audio amp - he's trying to make more profit. He's smokin' pole.

Many of us have had JL stuff in our cars for years. Many of us have had Polk, memphis, and other brands as well.

Some didn't mind making the sacrifice and going with something like wetsounds, fusion, polk, memphis, etc.

Note - none of them offer a 7.7'' speaker. There's no replacement for displacement.

I can get KILLER deals on Kicker thanks to an accommodation program at Microsoft. However - the wife said to pay the extra. She loved the JLs. She was thrilled with what the 240 sounded like. She also loved the white speakers.

Maybe I drank the koolaid. I don't mind spending a couple hundred bucks to have what sounds to me like night and day.

When I did the stereo in my 240 I compared the major brands -- JL, Polk, Infinity, MB Quart, Wetsounds, and even Fusion. To MY ears - in a sound room, with the same head unit and amp - the JLs just sang to me.

On a side note - my father falls into bucket 1. He was working on a project and compared the Polks to the JLs. He said "yep, the JLs sound better. But, do they sound $150/pair better. nope."

Perfectly fine to sit on that side of the fence. It's ridiculous to think about spending so much. But - boating is a ridiculous luxury anyways.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Agreed, and the same logic would apply to engines. I have the 5.7 EFI 300HP in a 19'8" boat. I love it. You only spend the money once. You have to live with your decision for the life of the boat. I'm getting the JL's, the few hundred extra dollars would just end up in my beer fridge or someplace else anyway...

Has anyone bought anything from this Dealer Cost Car Audio before? Is it new stuff? not factory re-furbs or something like that?

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2008 H200SS
5.7 EFI Volvo Penta
Black graphics
2004 Toyota 4Runner

Probably not refurb units, but that site doesn't resonate as an "authorized dealer".

If you buy from a non-authorized dealer, you will get zero warranty support from JL if you have any issues one year down the road.

Not a deal breaker, but something to consider.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I'd call them and ask if they are an authorized distributer for JL Audio, or turn it around and call JL Audio and ask them about Dealer Cost Car Audio. They do carry 185 diferent JL Audio products. I also see that they have a 4/5 star Consumer rating over at PriceGrabber.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

Internet Sales policy from JL:

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/jlaudio_pages.php?page_id=111

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Brick and mortar or no warranty? No way am I going to subsidize a company that sacrifices the end user in favor of system for protecting profits for an out moded distribution channel. Some of the best customer service I've ever had was from internet based retailers. Hello, 2009 calling, and it ain't using a phone with a dial. Snootty price fixers! Just seems un-American, what ever happened to competition and free enterprise? Heck, I'd think it'd be hard to find a b&m store that wasn't also peddling goods over the web.

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2007 Horizon 200
4.3L GXi/ SX 225 HP

There are supported online sites for selling JL.

There are also B&M stores that sell through online and other distribution channels.

BOE marine is a dealer and honors the warranty.

So yes - there are internet routes.

But some sites are obviously gray market gear and you should be aware that you could be subject to the warranty possible.

As for not supporting a product line with strict warranty standards - there are lots of options out there.

Nobody is saying not to buy from another online site - buyer's just need to be aware of what "could happen".

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA