Speakers

Limey Linda · 30 December 2007, 04:21

Hi all
I need to design the music system for my RIB. I have got it all figured out , I think, with the exception of the speakers. System will comprise of an MP3/iPod classic, motorcycle 50+50 Amp. My inclination is to place the speakers as far forward as I can. I have space in the anchor locker but will have to build in some protection. Yes, I can get the wiring to the locker. I am an old Hi-Fi buff so I am picky about sound quality. Any ideas on speaker set up?
Thanks. T.

enwulff · 30 December 2007, 05:49

There are only a handful of marine speakers to choose from. A lot depends on how you mount the speakers and on what enclosure to get the right sound. Why don't you just get a weather resistant stereo that comes with speakers. Most of them now have I Pod connections so everything will work well together. Your amp is probably not sealed and will soon short out due to moisture getting into it.

Andy Moore · 30 December 2007, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Any ideas on speaker set up?
Thanks. T.

If your budget will stretch to it, these are the mutts nuts:

http://www.bose.co.uk/GB/en/home-ent.../131/index.jsp

Tim M · 30 December 2007, 11:46

I have Boss Marine audio speakers installed. I got them off ebay about 9 months ago - they weren't that expensive. I also ordered a cd player from them, which turned out to be crap. The cd wouldnt play while you were going along, so you could only use the FM radio. After a few weeks the unit got moisture inside and blew up. Anyway. I treated my self to an early Christmas present last week and bought a Sony Marine CD/FM/MP3 which is fantastic. It's hooked up to the old Boss speakers, and it really does sound great. I recon for the price I paid (which wasnt a huge amount) these speakers are pretty good - they are quie solid and even sound half decent when they get wet.

jwalker · 30 December 2007, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

.... I am an old Hi-Fi buff so I am picky about sound quality.

And you're playing MP3's....

Limey Linda · 30 December 2007, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

And you're playing MP3's....

JW
I know what you mean but I have to compromise somewear if I do not want to use a player with moving parts. Do you have any other ideas. I just hate buzzy tinny speakers.

jwalker · 30 December 2007, 16:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

...I know what you mean but I have to compromise somewear if I do not want to use a player with moving parts.

I know, just winding you up a wee bit...

Rogue Wave · 30 December 2007, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

And you're playing MP3's....

They are a wonderful compromise on the move! 192 KBS lets the music come through enough to overcome the compression. If that fails you can always follow Frank Zappa's Method 'A couple of quarts of beer fixed it so the intonation would not offend the ear!'

The ears and rock and roll owe a great debt to James Bullough Lansing and if I lived in the states then I'd not stray far from JBL loudspeakers. But those Bose look interesting It looks like thay come with there own DaLine also Infinity are also good

http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/ This forum might help you answer some questions.

When you mount your speakers remember that bass is unidirectional so you could mount a sub and have smaller satelite speakers which may be easier to mount in a convenient place. Make sure the amp is banging out real watts take the power measurement at 8 ohms RMS and also the sensitivity of the speakers makes a difference in amp choice. Amplitude doubles every 3db. but you need a lot more than double the watts to gain that increase. So more speakers with more sensitivity (efficiency) needs less power. However having a amp more powerful than your loudspeakers will do a lot less damage to the speakers than having an underpowered amp clipping the signal into powerful speakers. Its quite common to see a pro audio rig having an amp driving voice coils rated for less power. The amp aint being overworked and the speaker is gettin a very clean signal so the coil is staying cool

Distortion is caused by many factors so try and eliminate them in the installation. Mount your Hard drive/MP£ in a way that avoids Jarring. To me that's in a foam filled enclosure like a small tupperware box. The shock absobtion will prollong the life of the MP3.

Put the amp on some form of cushined mounting This will stop the connections being jarred too much and the circuitry geting stress cracks thus avoiding intermittent connections. The transients are a killer to speakers.

When mounting the speakers make sure you put a baffle board behind the speaker mount as this will reduce sympathetic resonances and harmonics

Limey Linda · 30 December 2007, 17:39

Thanks
I have a set of JBL speakers and they are excellent. I will need to brush up a little more on the latest tech.

Andy Moore · 30 December 2007, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

I am an old Hi-Fi buff so I am picky about sound quality.

So am I. But, the sound quality you can expect on a RIB is going to be shoddy at best. You just want to aim at a stylish installation and a good waterproof housing for the head unit.

I don't know if I would bother with audio again. We have hardly used it. I would prefer to listen to the Optimax!

Rogue Wave · 30 December 2007, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

We have hardly used it. I would prefer to listen to the Optimax!

good man

Biggles · 30 December 2007, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

So am I. But, the sound quality you can expect on a RIB is going to be shoddy at best. You just want to aim at a stylish installation and a good waterproof housing for the head unit.

I don't know if I would bother with audio again. We have hardly used it. I would prefer to listen to the Optimax!

Agreed. Unless you get some wakeboard speakers you ain't going to hear much on the move. I tend to use my system when I'm fishing or lazing about.

These seem a good price.

http://www.superideals.info/1400-wat...4855393-1.html

Would be nice to try them out first though. They are pretty large as well. Like small paper bins.

Limey Linda · 30 December 2007, 22:48

Thanks for all the inputs. I think I know have plan. I piece of kit specifically for boats for around 200 bucks. That does not include the iPod of course and of course the good lady wants a 80gig Classic.

These guys have a good selection:http://www.rocktheboataudio.com/

jwalker · 31 December 2007, 01:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

amplitude doubles every 3db. but you need a lot more than double the watts to gain that increase.

Double the power gives you a 3dB increase. Listening to a 3dB increase is a bit like raising your voice a little so double the power gives you feck all increase in volume.

Me, I'd use a good cd player and a pair of phones.

Andy Moore · 31 December 2007, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limey Linda

Thanks for all the inputs. I think I know have plan. I piece of kit specifically for boats for around 200 bucks. That does not include the iPod of course and of course the good lady wants a 80gig Classic.

These guys have a good selection:http://www.rocktheboataudio.com/

Why not buy a head unit that can play MP3s? That way, you can burn hundreds of tracks onto one CD that can be played on board.

No need for an iPod....

Hightower · 31 December 2007, 10:14

Are there any Marine Head units on the market that offer solid state MP3 Via memory cards and Radio without the CD?

Andy Moore · 31 December 2007, 10:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Are there any Marine Head units on the market that offer solid state MP3 Via memory cards and Radio without the CD?

Not come across any.

Hightower · 31 December 2007, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

Not come across any.

Neither have I and wondered if any existed. Would be a best seller in the small boat world as they would be so reliable and still offer radio and your own tunes.

Biggles · 31 December 2007, 12:36

This is the bit of kit I use. It has MP3 input. I have an extension outlet hard wired in to the dash and I just plug in a very old MP3 player. The MP3 player is velcroed to the dash.

http://www.marine-audio.com/Products...MP3-Player.htm

Looks like its gone up over a hundred quid in a year.

http://www.marine-audio.com/Products...ut-Adapter.htm

Above is a link to the lead.

More details below.

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?...highlight=pimp

Limey Linda · 01 January 2008, 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Neither have I and wondered if any existed. Would be a best seller in the small boat world as they would be so reliable and still offer radio and your own tunes.

They are available for cars. Have a usb port on the front and you load up a ,say 2 gig, thumbdrive with MP3 files and plug it in. Control the play with the head unit controls. 2 gig of MP3 files is about 700 tunes.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...DC-MP435U.html

Also made by Clarion, and JVC. all about $160.00

Stll looking for a marine one.