Marine or Automotive amps/speakers

[light200]

So I have a 2009 22Ve with just the basic speaker (4) setup. i want to upgrade to 6 interiors, 4 towers, and a sub. I have been looking and realizing that "marine" grade amps, speakers, and subs and parts are very expensive compared to "automotive" grade components like amps and speakers. Will i really have any problems by using the automotive grade stuff? I can save some serious cash by going this route. will i have any problems? anyone have firsthand experience?

[chpthril]

Hmmm, if you swapped out the cabin speakers, you would definitely be down-grading, especially if you went with automotive. Just add 3rd pair to what you have, if they are the factory Wet Sounds, you will be hard pressed to find a better speaker....period. Especially since they are marine grade.

There are lot of people, even installers, that will swap out the factory marine grade cabin speakers for automotive grade speakers and call it a custom upgrade. 1-2 seasons later, they look and sound like @$$. I highly recommend marine grade speakers. Both because they are made for the elements and they are tuned for the open area behind the speakers, which is often not found in an automotive application.

Marine grade amps are not always a must for a fresh water trailer boat, but they do have their advantages. Any amp install needs to be located where it will not get direct spray or drips from drains, and the compartment needs to be able to dry out.

Sub are about the same. If located to where they will not get direct water contact or live in a compartment that stays wet all the time, the an automotive is fine.

Tower speakers: Pretty much the same as the cabin speakers. They have the highest chance of contact with water, from either splash or rain. They also take a sun beating, and I doubt many automotive speakers have any UV protectent added.

Ok, gotta go, boat stereo just hit the drive

[kko]

NO way would i put the automotive stuff in the boat. At least with from what I have seen working on these boats for the last 6 yrs. the marine grade stuff just holds up better. And you get what you pay for. I run wet sound speakers but could not afford their amps at the time. I run clarion marine amps. Good amp had them 3yrs, and they look and sound as good as the day I put them in. Now the same sys. with the wetsounds amps sounds better and looks better. I say do your self a favor and save up for the marine stuff. If its Clarion or wetsounds the marine stuff is what you want in your boat.
What tower speaker were you thinkng of? I have not seen and alpha z tower that didnt have wetsounds?? Are there other choices?

[light200]

well it would have to be the wetsounds because they have the special proprietary mounting to the alpha z tower. kind of stinks that tige has cut a deal with a company to provide the speakers, limiting what owners can install. they can charge whatever they want now. i believe they call this a monopoly. prices may never go down on these due to the limited market. the majority of towers out there are tubular, so that created about 20+ manufacturers of a clamp style speaker. that will never happen with the alpha z. you cant be serious with $800/pair for these things can you wetsounds?

[fog_ducker]

Samson makes a set of towers to mount to the Alpha Z. The can be taken off when not in use as well. However, probably as expensive as the Wet Sounds.

[Canyon Lake Tige]

I think the Wet Sounds is worth every penny...Yes they are expensive but you get what you pay for. They sound great and hold up well. I could not be happier with my Wet Sounds speakers. Look at the good side……At least Tige "cut a deal" with a great company that has rocking products instead of some crap speaker company.

[chpthril]

well it would have to be the wetsounds because they have the special proprietary mounting to the alpha z tower. kind of stinks that tige has cut a deal with a company to provide the speakers, limiting what owners can install. they can charge whatever they want now. i believe they call this a monopoly. prices may never go down on these due to the limited market. the majority of towers out there are tubular, so that created about 20+ manufacturers of a clamp style speaker. that will never happen with the alpha z. you cant be serious with $800/pair for these things can you wetsounds?

You may want to do a little homework first, before you blast Tige and Wet Sounds. The Alpha Z (Malibu's version has been the Illusion for years) was made by a company called Metcraft. Wet Sounds was the OEM supplier for Tige before the Alpha Z came along, as well as Wet Sounds was producing a flush-mount for the Bu Illusion. The only thing proprietary between the speaker and the tower is the additional collar that Tige adds for aethstetics.

There are a handful of the top players in the tower speaker arena that make a flush-mount tower enclosure that will mount to Metcraft Illusion and Alpha Z tower.

With a little googling, you will find a set of cheap, open-tooled flush-mount cans for about $150 shipped. They come empty, so you can load them up with your Spark-O-Matic car speakers.

You will also find that other HLCD (Horn Loaded Compression Driver) tower speaker manufacturers, with this type of high performance pro-audio speaker system, are priced very competitive. Please take the opportunity to listen to an HLCD system, especially next to an in-boat, traditional coax type speaker, and you will hear the difference.

[2whlin]

Can someone give me a list of places to purchase marine grade audio equipment? Not like I'm going to find it at Best Buy?

[Ewok]

I found my speakers and amps from crutchfield for my last boat, they have a marine section. If you look at different manufatures websites you can find the model of the marine spec speakers and amps then hit google. Make sure when you order the parts from random websites that you are getting the exact model you want, the marine spec items, most places you will find selling them will sell the automotive spec as well.

I tried sony and jbl in my last boat and the jbl was a way better speaker but my basic 4 speaker wetsounds system in my Tige sounds just as good without a sub. I'm just planning on adding 2 pro 60s on the tower and the sub under the helm to finish off the system. Hate to say it but i can't wait for winter when I'll be upgrading the stereo and ballast.

[Ewok]

well it would have to be the wetsounds because they have the special proprietary mounting to the alpha z tower. kind of stinks that tige has cut a deal with a company to provide the speakers, limiting what owners can install. they can charge whatever they want now. i believe they call this a monopoly. prices may never go down on these due to the limited market. the majority of towers out there are tubular, so that created about 20+ manufacturers of a clamp style speaker. that will never happen with the alpha z. you cant be serious with $800/pair for these things can you wetsounds?

If you don't care about blasting tunes out to the rider, wesounds also sells the xst-650. they are the same speakers already installed in your boat but in the pro 60 enclosure. they are not the horn loaded compression drivers such as the pro 60/80, that is why they are cheaper. If you care, do a google/wiki search on HLCD and it starts to make sense why they are more expensive.

Just as chpthril said, there are many speakers that will fit on the tower. yes they will not look as custom as the wetsounds but there are many choices out there. I spent many hours searching this website and google to find tower speakers for my boat as well and I came to the conclusion that I'll wait until this winter, save up a little and get the wetsounds pro 60s.

[ajholt7]

Can someone give me a list of places to purchase marine grade audio equipment? Not like I'm going to find it at Best Buy?

Buy it all from chpthril.

[skyski_tige]

Can someone give me a list of places to purchase marine grade audio equipment? Not like I'm going to find it at Best Buy?

Steve,
Take your boat to Lakeside Audio (just down the street from Texas Tige'... They will take care of you!

[2whlin]

audio

Thanks Allen, I'll give them a call..