tower speaker decision

[Zerps]

i'm looking at adding a new set of tower speakers to my naked Z1 tower.
I personally like the exile's for their quick release capabilities (also so the bimini can be used).
I surf a lot behind my boat, but the kids wakeboard, so i could use a speaker that would work for both.
any thots on which speaker would be the best choice? (i'm not looking to be "the" guy on the lake, just good, clean music)

[ChrisBarnes05-12-84]

It would be hard for me to recommend any speaker besides something from wetsounds having recently purchased some rev 8's. Such a clean sounding speaker. I have also heard their icon 8's are supposed to be great for surfing.

[hyphen79]

I have 2 pair of the exile SXTs on my 20v, and I absolutely love them. Majestic has the XM7 hybrid on his 22ve and he LOVES his as well. Basically, it comes down to what you want. Do you like Wetsounds and the way they will look on your boat, or do you like Exile and the way they will look. These aren't your only options.

This can become a very heated debate. Hit up my stereo upgrade thread, and you can see where it got high jacked.

[skippabcool]

Kicker is another option. You can look at some of Chpthril's threads.

A lot of this will come down to your budget and your preference. Another key component is what amp you will use to drive them. If you get your dream speaker but then do not get a decent amp they will not sound good and you will not be happy.

[chpthril]

i'm looking at adding a new set of tower speakers to my naked Z1 tower.
I personally like the exile's for their quick release capabilities (also so the bimini can be used).
I surf a lot behind my boat, but the kids wakeboard, so i could use a speaker that would work for both.
any thoughts on which speaker would be the best choice? (i'm not looking to be "the" guy on the lake, just good, clean music)

For wake-boarding, you want to go with an HLCD (Horn Loaded Compression Driver) Pro-Axial speaker. For an HLCD with good near-field characteristics, you need to go with a larger speaker. The added surface area improves the mid-bass, which balances the strenght of the horn. I would recommend demoing the 8" and 10" HLCD's on the market. Both Wet Sounds and Exile offer a swivel/release clamp, both offer speaker covers with handles for easy carrying. The Rev-8 is an 8" speaker in a pod thats the size of the older 6.5" Pro-60 and the Rev-10 is a 10" in the older Pro-80 pod. This allows one to maximize the speaker size to fit between the bimini and tower. For those with lower towers, it allows them to go with a larger speaker without sacrificing head room.

Its also worth mentioning a little about amplifier efficiency. Amps that use Class-D or Class-G/H technology are far more efficiant then amps using Class-A/B. This means the high efficiant amp will draw less battery Ah's then the Class-A/B while playing at the same output level. For a boater, this means more time on the water playing the system without having to run the engine. I would also look for an amp that's rated using industry standards. This puts every one on a level playing field so you can choose the amp that WILL deliver the expected power to your speakers. It also means you're getting the power you pay for.

The most important thing is to go demo all the players side by side. Every speaker builder has thier own signature sound, so you need to base your decision off what your ears like.

[Zerps]

thanks for all the input...
i'd like to go with a smaller speaker, so likely the exile xm7 or wet sounds rev-8. what class-d amp would you recommend to run one pair of speakers?

[ChrisBarnes05-12-84]

I have a syn 4 bridged to 2 channels running each pair of my rev 8's. The syn 4 will give you 400w rms to each speaker. The syn 2 would be another option, it runs 350 w rms to each speaker if I understand correctly. A couple of my buddies have the kicker 6.5 hlcd's and they sound pretty good to. Your looking at around 1500 for a pair of rev 8's and a syn 2 or 4. It really just comes down to how much you want to spend.

[chpthril]

thanks for all the input...
i'd like to go with a smaller speaker, so likely the exile xm7 or wet sounds rev-8. what class-d amp would you recommend to run one pair of speakers?

In terms of mid-bass, that would not be an apples to apples comparison, same as comparing the Pro60 to the Rev-8. So I strongly suggest listening to both. A small 6.5" HLCD is loud when fed the right power, but due to its nature, is somewhat unpleasant for surfing and party-cove as compared to a larger HLCD. Also, on your 08, the speakers typically get mounted on the forward hoop. This puts them under the Bimini when its deployed. This projects a fair amount of sound down at the rear seated passengers.

If you want to explore a pod with a fixed clamp (non-swivel/non release) but is solid setup that will reach the rider at wakeboard length, yet has a smooth near-field, then demo the Kicker KM6500.2 HLCD Component set. The horn is a separate, leaving the mid-bass with a continuous surface area. Add an extra set of the KM6500 mid-bass drivers for what I call the "^-Pack, and the mid-bass is exceptional.

All the major players in the market offer high efficiant amps: Wet Sounds, Kicker, JL, Alpine, Rockford, just to name a few. The key is to choose one thats going to deliver a watts RMS that best matches the speaker manufacturer's recommendation. For a tower HLCD, we are typically going to see 150W rms per speaker and higher. In most cases, shooting for a little higher then the RMS is a good thing, as it adds some headroom. Just a little under ok, as well.

[majestic]

Well this thread seems to be going the usual direction You are in a great spot if you have to choose between Exile Wetsounds and Kicker. Good luck with your choice if you ask for opinions on the internet regarding brands you will certainly get them but it may not be what is in your best interest.

It will come down to what is pleasant to you eyes, ears and budget. It sounds like removing the speakers is important to you and for that you can acheive with both the Exile and Wetsounds and between both of those brands the sound difference is NOT night and day.

For the record I do have a full Exile system but have friends with similar set-ups with the Wetsounds and they are both great products. I just spent 4 days in a boat with a pair of Rev 10's and they sounded great.

[Timmy!]

Don't forget NVS!
http://www.nvs1.net/tower_speakers.html

[Bruizza]

It sounds like Exile's hybrid set up might be your best option. I am pretty sure you can run the entire set up off 1 harpoon amp.

[hyphen79]

It sounds like Exile's hybrid set up might be your best option. I am pretty sure you can run the entire set up off 1 harpoon amp.

Yep, you sure can! Majestic is running his hybrid off of one harpoon.

[chpthril]

It sounds like Exile's hybrid set up might be your best option. I am pretty sure you can run the entire set up off 1 harpoon amp.

As an independent installer, I have found some considerable issues with this this single amp setup, so for those reasons, I would not recommend it to any of my customers.

1) The Harpoon amp is not stable below 2 ohm. 4 SXT65 and 2 pair of XM7 comes out to be 1.33 ohm. This stresses the amp and leads to thermal shut down.

2) The Harpoon comes in at about 350W RMS x 2 @ 2 ohm. With 6 pods, that leaves all of them powered below thier potential.

3) Because this setup needs to be powered with two amps, per the manufacturer himself, it runs the cost well above two pair of the XM9 and the Harpoon. And thats factoring in the SXT65 with the fixed clamps and not the SXT65Q.

2 pair SXT65, XM7, Harpoon and Xi800 (recommended setup per the manufacturer) = $3250 per MSRP. 2 pair XM9 and Harpoon = $2900.00. This is a single amp setup that will produce better mid-bass, due to the larger pods, and still project for the rider.

Bottom line, two pairs of the larger pods will give you lower mid-bass then then the 6 smaller pods, yet you have 2x the horns. The 4 larger pods and single amp is a far better option all the way around. And with the height if the Tige E series tower, head-room should not be an issue unless you are 7ft tall.

[Bruizza]

I always wondered how people got away with running 6 speakers off the 1 amp.

[majestic]

Yep, you sure can! Majestic is running his hybrid off of one harpoon.

Yes I am and so many others as well. Would it be better with two Harpoons?.....yes. Is it absolutely needed?....no. Will people experience thermal shutdown?..... Maybe in warmer climates but I have never had it happen even in Eastern Washington where it can get to 100 degrees everyday.

The two pair of XM-9's would be the best set-up but they were not on the market at the time I purchased but fast forward I wouldnt have done anything different because the 9's would make my Bimini un-usable.

My Hybrid system may be (considered by a few) underpowered and unstable but it is loud, clean and more than enough for surfing, wake boarding or being "that guy" over 99% of all boats on the lake.