Bluetooth Amp?

formulax · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:02 am

http://www.jbl.com/car-amplifiers/GTR-7535_.html?dwvar_GTR-7535___color=Black#start=1
I'm looking into adding a sub, 4 new speakers and an amp to my 05 230. It has the stock clarion head unit. I had been looking at new head units that would accept Bluetooth when I came across this amp. I assume if I ran this amp I could keep the stock head unit. I know it is not a marine amp but I plan to install it on the backside of the helm storage. I don't think moisture would be an issue there. Boat is fresh water only and garage kept.

What do you think? Good deal or go with a marine amp and just swap the head unit? What would I need to replace the Clarion head unit? I looks like it is 1.5 DIN? Any direct placements or will I have to custom fit somehow?

Thanks!

Jdpber · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 9:48 am

me personally I would spend the $100 on a nicer HU with the features incuding powered 4v RCA out, dedicated SUb out channel. cheaper amp than listed. And you will end up with a better overall setup. PERSONALLY that is what i would do. BUT yes this amp would allow you to stream music from your phone to the amp and use your stock HU to control volume. But as for controls to the streaming device your controls are only on the music device. AKA if you hit next on the HU it will do nothing. Me i toss the phone in the glove box and i can control it fully via the HU and answer phone calls if i desire.

formulax · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:23 am

Yeah, I think I have already decided against it... and did not even think about the stock unit not having a sub out, etc. I know you have the Polk MM speakers. Looking at amp there seems to be a big price difference in amps that run 50-60W rms vs 100rms that the MMS are rated to. What are you pushing them with? Do you think 50-60W is enough?

Jdpber · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:45 am

i have 2 amps. both are boss 1600. they make 150W x 4 @ 4ohms and they push the Polks nice. $99 they do the job, price point that when they die i am not butt hurt to replace them. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_109001_Boss-RGF1600.html and i have the amp at about 3/4 power and the speakers are crystal clear at blast mode hurting my ears. And i attend multiple concerts a year so they are not weak ears. These speakers get loud and clear if you feed them the RMS. i have not measured but im guessing i have 125w to each

formulax · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:11 pm

Good to know they run well on low power :lol:

Unless Boss has changed over the years I would doubt you are getting even half of the claimed RMS out of the amp. I've seen several bench test on Boss and similar brands where the actual output is much much less. But like you said for the price and they fact they are pushing them loud enough than it is a good deal. Sounds like they will run nice off of 50W or so.

I keep going back and forth, but we are not the park and party type, so I am just looking something that will sound decent a moderate levels. I may just go with the cheaper polk DB651. I can get 4 for about $130, then feed them about 50W each.

Thanks again for the advice!

Jdpber · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 2:04 pm

50w vs 125w is a different animal. i would feed any speaker you buy the RMS rating at that ohms output for the best results.

formulax · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 2:57 pm

Yes, the cheaper polks are 60rms. Have you tested the output of your amps? I would suspect they are only outputting around 50-60 RMS at 4ohm. What are they fused at? Not trying to say anything bad about your amps, just based off past Boss history they output much lower than claimed, even their RMS specs, when tested with real data. The increased cost of the MMs plus the cost of an amp that would push out a true 100+ RMS is likely much more than I want to spend on the mains right now. I think the budget DB651 amped will be night and day from my current setup.

Wylie_Tunes · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:21 am **Posts:** 176

What clarion head unit model is there currently? If it has a rear AUX input, you can add a universal BT receiver to it.

Dont get too wrapped up on the RMS specs of an in-boat speaker and am amp, unless you intent to push them to their limits. In a boat with 2-3 pair of 6.5 in-boats, 50W rms to each at just 50% head unit volume is Pretty dang loud. Any of the polk, as well as a Rockford, Kicker, JL and Wet Sounds, is going to perform just fine on any 50W rms amp thats actually delivering. Some like to use numbers made up by the marketing dept, and are unrealistic. They likely deliver 1/4th of that advertised spec. Yes, BOSS is one of them. Cheap amps also tend to sound tinny and lack dynamic range.

I would not the lack of a dedicated sub RCA output be a deal breaker when shopping head units. I rather prefer a full-range output and let the amp's active cross-over and filter do it thang. The only real advantage to a sub output, his having the ability to adjust the sub level. However, this is often times buried on sub menus and hard to get to quickly. Songs over by time you navigate to it.

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:08 pm

The DB's are fine, even off 50Wrms.
I wired mine in parallel to give my Clarion a 2Ohm load, which was >100Wrms.
Midbass was great & they sounded good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMSP-WbdHX8

FYI, look for amp RMS ratings at 12v, not 14.4, as that's sneaky trick they often play. :wink:

Wylie_Tunes · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:21 am **Posts:** 176

Quote:

I wired mine in parallel to give my Clarion a 2Ohm load, which was >100Wrms

Netting 50W to each speaker

Quote:

FYI, look for amp RMS ratings at 12v, not 14.4, as that's sneaky trick they often play

Or just deduct the 25% drop when at static battery.

deafwish · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:31 pm

Yes, closer to 60Wrms. :wink:

Plenty loud enough!

Wylie_Tunes · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:21 am **Posts:** 176

That was my point above. Clean honest wattage from a quality amp, and in-boats can be plenty loud without driving them to the ragged edge. You have to just about double the wattage to make an audible difference. You would get more mileage out of adding another pair of speakers, then trying to increase volume through wattage.

Jdpber · **Posted:** Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:56 am

they are much closer tot he rating than the lower models and past models. still plenty of power to the speakers.

www.iFourWinns.com

Bluetooth Amp?

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