248 Audio Replacement

mcraigchr · **Posted:** Mon May 17, 2010 2:54 pm

I have been doing some reading and would like to get some feedback from the 248 owners.

The Sony system from the factory is ... ahem ... not good enough.

For the head unit:

Sony CDX-M60UI
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158M60UI/S ... ml?tp=1721

I'd like to go back with 6.5" speakers so that I don't have a big job of cutting, etc. I was thinking of either:

Infinity Full Range Marine 612M
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108612M/In ... ml?tp=3384

OR

JL Audio M650-CCX
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136M ... =N&tp=3384

I would like to add a Sub for some depth. I was thinking of:

JL Audio 10" M10W5
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136M ... tml?tp=972

And finally for an amp I was thinking:

JL Audio M600/6
http://marine.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=469

Any suggestions? Anyone have good/bad luck with JL Audio products? Best place to mount the sub and amp?

Thanks,
Craig C.

powellcrazy · **Posted:** Wed May 19, 2010 10:01 pm

I went with a sony cdx-F50M head unit, along with new same size cabin speakers powered by the head unit. Also ran wired remote to head unit from helm.
Installed a Sony 600 watt amp to run original cockpit rear speakers along with two 6.5" alpine marines speakers added at the helm. Put a powered sub/tube (bazzoka) in aft cabin. Dont care for that location, want to move up in cockpit somewhere, maybe under helm bench? Sub does sound good while in the cabin, but weak when top side and too much if your in the aft trying to stretch out/nap.
AMP located in storage next to cabin step. Until I find somewhere better.
Ran monster wire from AMP to 4 cockpit speakers as well, that alone made a big difference.

This head unit has a rear aux input, you can see the white input cord in the shelf below, for IPOD, satellite radio, MP3, phone, laptop, DVD, ect....

My set up is Far from what some have, but is more than enough for our listening enjoyment, as well as being able to listen while underway on those longer cruises. I only had a few hundred for the budget for this project.

mcraigchr · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 4:44 pm

powellcrazy wrote:

Put a powered sub/tube (bazzoka) in aft cabin. Dont care for that location, want to move up in cockpit somewhere, maybe under helm bench? Sub does sound good while in the cabin, but weak when top side and too much if your in the aft trying to stretch out/nap.

This is exactly why I posted. I completely forgot about Bazookas. Had one in my hot rod growing up ... but simply didn't dawn on me for a boat. In fact, I took a quick look at the bazooka website and they have marine bazookas now. Perfect solution. I think I will mount it under the rear seat opposite of the transom locker.

I also liked your idea of adding two more 6.5" speakers in the cockpit area. Four JL Audio or Infinitys plus the Bazooka and a 5 channel amp will bring the cockpit to life I imagine. I'll run the two cabin speakers off of the radio power.

Great suggestions. Thanks.

Craig C.

powellcrazy · **Posted:** Thu May 20, 2010 8:17 pm

Let us know how it turns out.

captwalt · **Posted:** Fri May 21, 2010 4:43 pm

I did the addition of the 2 6.5" speakers which PC actually gave me the idea for.
I also did a 10 inch sub under the rear seating next to the existing 6.5.
I put the amp in the closet of the aft cabin

Take a look at the following post.....

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2095

and you can see some pictures of how it was done.

mcraigchr · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 3:19 pm

captwalt wrote:

I did the addition of the 2 6.5" speakers which PC actually gave me the idea for.
I also did a 10 inch sub under the rear seating next to the existing 6.5.
I put the amp in the closet of the aft cabin

Take a look at the following post.....

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2095

and you can see some pictures of how it was done.

All looks great!

Question about the Sub you installed: did you install a box / enclosure behind it?

Craig c.

captwalt · **Posted:** Tue May 25, 2010 7:39 pm

mcraigchr wrote:

All looks great!

Question about the Sub you installed: did you install a box / enclosure behind it?

Craig c.

No box or enclosure. I have to tell you I was pleasantly surprised on how well it sounds and the difference it made.

mcraigchr · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 3:17 pm

mcraigchr wrote:

I have been doing some reading and would like to get some feedback from the 248 owners.

The Sony system from the factory is ... ahem ... not good enough.

For the head unit:

Sony CDX-M60UI
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158M60UI/S ... ml?tp=1721

I'd like to go back with 6.5" speakers so that I don't have a big job of cutting, etc. I was thinking of either:

Infinity Full Range Marine 612M
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_108612M/In ... ml?tp=3384

OR

JL Audio M650-CCX
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136M ... =N&tp=3384

I would like to add a Sub for some depth. I was thinking of:

JL Audio 10" M10W5
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136M ... tml?tp=972

And finally for an amp I was thinking:

JL Audio M600/6
http://marine.jlaudio.com/products_amps.php?amp_id=469

Any suggestions? Anyone have good/bad luck with JL Audio products? Best place to mount the sub and amp?

Thanks,
Craig C.

Update:

I finally got the new head unit in this past weekend. I went with the Sony CDX-M60UI. Since I was replacing a Sony, the install was a breeze.

Next up, 4 - JL Audio M650-CCX Speakers for up top (adding two like powellcrazy did). I will leave the cabin speakers unhooked for now until I add the amp. Then I will run the 4 new speakers and sub off of a JL Audio 5 channel amp and the cabin speakers off of radio power.

Will probably add the JL Audio speakers later this summer.

Thanks for all of the great ideas.

Craig C.

EvilZ · **Posted:** Mon May 30, 2011 11:02 pm

My old Sony HU finally gave it up and I replaced it yesterday with a Sony DSX-MS60 (although I considered the M60UI). I was hoping my original remotes would work seamlessly, but it appears that I may have to replace them as the buttons dont control the correct functions on the HU.

Craig - do you know which remotes you have on your boat?

mcraigchr · **Posted:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:38 pm

EvilZ wrote:

My old Sony HU finally gave it up and I replaced it yesterday with a Sony DSX-MS60 (although I considered the M60UI). I was hoping my original remotes would work seamlessly, but it appears that I may have to replace them as the buttons dont control the correct functions on the HU.

Craig - do you know which remotes you have on your boat?

I have the older commander. This one:

http://www.abt.com/product/5900/Sony-RMXM10B.html

Works perfectly with the new unit.

Is it possible to mount more than one? The one I have is at the helm, which I like. But I'd also like one at the swim platform. There is only one input, so how would that work?

Craig C.

EvilZ · **Posted:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:51 pm

Huh...that's the exact remote I have...doesn't work so well on my new MS60...

I have a y-splitter that plugs into the back of the HU which allows for 2 remotes. I also have one at the swim platform.

mcraigchr · **Posted:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 1:56 pm

EvilZ wrote:

Huh...that's the exact remote I have...doesn't work so well on my new MS60...

I have a y-splitter that plugs into the back of the HU which allows for 2 remotes. I also have one at the swim platform.

Great, I was hoping there was a splitter. I'll call up Crutchfield and see if I can get one along with a new commander. Hopefully the new commander and the older commander will work together. I can't imagine why they wouldn't.

Craig C.

EvilZ · **Posted:** Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:54 pm

Cant say for sure, but it looks just like a standard 3.5mm splitter...

EvilZ · **Posted:** Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:20 am

mcraigchr wrote:

EvilZ wrote:

Huh...that's the exact remote I have...doesn't work so well on my new MS60...

I have a y-splitter that plugs into the back of the HU which allows for 2 remotes. I also have one at the swim platform.

Great, I was hoping there was a splitter. I'll call up Crutchfield and see if I can get one along with a new commander. Hopefully the new commander and the older commander will work together. I can't imagine why they wouldn't.

Craig C.

Update: Actually, the RM-XM10 seems to work fine with the new stereo. It is the remote (different model) on the swimstep that was somehow causing the issues.....
I found that out after purchasing the RM-X11M to try swapping out my dash remote and it initially didnt work correctly either. But when I plugged the new remote directly into the back to the stereo it worked fine... Process of elimination, and it seems I have a bad remote on my swim step which I will now replace with the new RM-X11M.

www.iFourWinns.com

248 Audio Replacement

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