www.iFourWinns.com

Looking to upgrade my speakers, and also add two more under the stern bench seat. I have the standard Sony system in the boat now and I think I would have to add an amp to handle the 2 new speakers. Asking for suggestions from some of you that have already done this. Pics would be great to see as well.

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2009, H210, 5.7Gi

What is your budget?

First thing off the bat I would ditch your head unit. The Sony units are budget units and sound pretty crappy. Then replace your four existing speakers - look into the polks on crutchfield. After that I would listen to it and see if you really need those 2 extra speakers, or if it was just the existing system.

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

I agree the Sony head units sound terrible! I replaced mine with a fusion IP700 and it sounds amazing! I am running 8 JL Audio 6.5" marine speakers as well as 2 10" JL Audio marine subs. All 10 speaker are running off of a JL Audio 700/5 marine amp and it rocks! I am going to add 2 JL 7.7" tower speakers this winter to finish it off[img][IMG]http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag287/John_Mcglothlin/newboat1_zps5f6ae37f.jpg[/img][img][IMG]http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag287/John_Mcglothlin/newboat2_zpsed6fa094.jpg[/img][img][IMG]http://i1371.photobucket.com/albums/ag287/John_Mcglothlin/newboat3_zps4da9c35d.jpg[/img]

I'm not sure of the budget yet as I haven't shopped around, trying to get some ideas first. I have no problem with spending a few extra bucks and getting something that is more than enough, rather than trying to save a few bucks and ending up with something that is the same as what I have now just newer. If I'm going to spend the money to upgrade the speakers and add two more, and an amp, I might as well put a few more hundred to it and replace the head unit from what you guys are saying. I figured I would put the two speakers in the back for more of a surround sound effect. I'm not looking to annoy everyone at the sandbar with my loud music, the problem I'm having is I can't hear the music without a lot of distortion when I have the boat WOT (sry, should have stated this in my original post).

Johnny, have you run your boat WOT and turned up the volume? Can you hear the music without hearing a bunch of distortion? Or is this just going to be a problem with a sound system in a fiberglass box going 60mph.

Thanks for the replies guys.

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2009, H210, 5.7Gi

That says it all right there. It is kinda unrealistic to expect good sound in an open box going WOT (or even slower). Unless you invest in a system used for outdoor concerts.

Asking for stereo advice here is like asking what oil and/or sparkplugs you should use. You will get a bunch of different opinions, brand loyalties, and prob a few arguments. I have an Alpine head unit and 4 Infinity's. They do what I want. Can I hear them well going fast? Nope. But then again, I don't often go WOT. I'm a cruiser, 25 knots is just fine with me, or at anchor. Does it sound good then? Yep.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I agree. Opinions are like... Well - you know what they are like. I doubt you will ever get "great" sound - just "good enough" sound.

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

Upgrade your head unit, 4x coaxial speakers (Infinity/ Polk/ JL) and fit a 4 channel amp (80+ Wrms at 4ohm).
You should get much better control and output out of the new speakers & they'll go MUCH louder without distorting.
With an even larger 4 channel amp (2ohm stable with 200+ Wrms bridged), you could easily accommodate a 10", 4ohm sub in to the mix.

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Do a search for "Stereo Upgrade" and you will find a thread on what I did with my 210 a few years ago. Sorry I don't know how to copy and paste the actual thread.

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http://youtu.be/-4ckF7u1iNk
2003 PowerQuest 260 Legend SX
2014 Lund WC 14

2007 H210 Volvo 5.7 Gi/SX (sold in 2012)
2007 H180 Volvo 3.0 (sold in 2009)

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=8785&p=84274#p84274

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2008 Four Winns h180 Bowrider
3.0 Volvo Penta

2013 Dodge Durango HEMI

Thanks for all of the posts. I was in the boat again on the weekend and after listening to a lot of the wind noise at WOT, I don't think I would be able to hear any systems with clarity. We are on a lot of interconnecting lakes separated by a multitude of lock systems. If we plan a day trip on the water between the different lakes, we usually have to go WOT just to make sure we get back in time to catch the lock on our lake before it closes for the night. I think I'm going to replace the head unit as suggested, put in an amp, and some nice upgraded speakers. Basically get a nice sounding systems without going nuts, as I don't think I will get the benefit that I'm looking for. Thanks again for the posts as it was very helpful and exactly the information that I was looking for.

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2009, H210, 5.7Gi

Something along the lines of this setup, with the option of a sub, will work exceptionally well:

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Thanks deafwish, that's probably what I'm going to do as it seems like the recommended fix.

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2009, H210, 5.7Gi

I just had all new JL Audio speakers put in my 220 with a JL 5 channel 700 watt amp. It sounds awesome! I have one 10 inch sub by the drivers knee and upsized the bow speakers. Also put in a new Kenwood head unit with a controller for the driver as well. They tried to talk me into a puck at the back of the boat but I decided against that. I highly recommend the JL stuff. It sounds awesome !

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2006 Four Winn's H220 5.7 Volvo 280hp
Tow vehicles- 02 ford f250 powerstroke crew cab 4x4
04 Toyota 4runner sport 4x4
http://images.craigslist.org/00H0H_nYvq ... 00x450.jpg

I have to disagree that good sound quality in a boat, cannot be achieved, even under way.

1) You absolutely need external amplification. A typical head-unit is roughly 15-18W rms. No where near what a speaker needs to compete with wind, water and engine noise in an open environment.

2) more speakers is an easy way to increase output. It also brings the sound stage closer to all the seating areas. I would suggest 2 pair for the main cabin. If the current pair is behind the captains chair, then look to locate the new pair forward, rather then further back in the bench seat base.

3) upgrade the in-boats to a coaxial with a .75" or 1" dome tweeter if the current in-boats have a ,5 or "W" system tweeter. Much better sound quality, especially at the upper volume levels.

If your head-unit works and has the functions you need, then keep it and put the budget towards an amp and speakers. If the budget permits, install at least a mild 10" sub woofer with a couple hundred watts RMS. Huge difference when you fill in those lower notes.

For 2-3 pair of in-boats, go with a 4 chnl class-D amp Like the Kicker KXM400.4. If a sub is part of the scheme, go with a class-D 5 or 6 chnl amp Like the Kicker KXM800.5 or Wet Sounds HT-6. Many of these are no larger in footprint, than older class-A/B 4 chnls, so space would not be too much of a concern.