2017 230 JLAudio Amp Configuration Information

[charlesml3]

Gang,

I finally got around to seeing how my the factory setup my stereo in my 230. Before we get into that, I basically picked every stereo option I could get in this boat. All the cabin speakers, 4 on the tower, subwoofer, transom remote, XM Radio, etc. I put as much into it as I could get.

The system comes with two JL Audio amps. A 600/6 and a 400/4. Owners manual: http://mediacdn.jlaudio.com/media/mf...pdf?1305758648

Here are the factory configurations for these amps:

400/4
- Drives the speakers on the tower
- Input Mode: 2 channel. Fed from "Rear" RCA from head unit
- Filter Mode: HP
- Filter Frequency: 80Hz

In this configuration, the tower speakers are not getting a full-range signal. They are getting everything from 80Hz up. Everything below 80Hz is filtered out.

600/6
- Drives the cabin speakers and subwoofer
- Input Mode: 2 channel. Fed from "Front" RCA from head unit
- Channels 1-4 Filter Mode: HP
- Channels 5,6 Filter Mode: LP (Bridged)
- Filter Frequency: 80Hz

In this configuration, the cabin speakers are not getting a full-range signal. They are getting everything from 80Hz up. Everything below 80Hz is filtered out.
The subwoofer is getting everything from 80Hz down.


Proposed changes:

- I'm going to make one change at a time and see how I like it. As it comes from the factory, I'm wasn't wild about the sound I was getting from the tower speakers. It was all highs and when you're back there surfing, you can't really hear the subwoofer anyway. The tower speakers always sounded way too thin for me.

- For my first experiment, I'm going to set the Filter Mode on the 400/4 to "Off." This is a simple switch that I can always change back at any time. In the meantime, this will send a full-range signal to the tower speakers. I'm hoping this will give them a fuller sound for the surfer.

I'll reply back here with results.

-Charles

[David Analog]

It is a complete waste of time running your tower speakers fullrange....unless you take a placebo pill 20 minutes before the change.

You can't produce bass from a tower speaker. The pod isn't large enough. And you don't have enough surface area. All you will accomplish at fullrange is adding unnecessary stress to the speaker and wasting amplifier power.

[charlesml3]

It is a complete waste of time running your tower speakers fullrange....unless you take a placebo pill 20 minutes before the change.

You can't produce bass from a tower speaker. The pod isn't large enough. And you don't have enough surface area. All you will accomplish at fullrange is adding unnecessary stress to the speaker and wasting amplifier power.

It takes 2 minutes to crawl under and flip the switch. Have you actually tried this or are you just speculating?

-Charles

[David Analog]

It takes 2 minutes to crawl under and flip the switch. Have you actually tried this or are you just speculating?

-Charles

Actually tried it on every size of tower speaker from 6.5" to 10".

[xlair]

Yeah I would never run a tower speaker on "full"


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[charlesml3]

Does anyone here have anything at all constructive around this topic, or are you all here just to fling poo?

[moczygemba9395]

I'll be positive for you Charles! I think it's awesome that you did this and love your factory sound system! There are engineers at Nautique that surely love you right now!

I think, most in the group might be fans of a few after market set ups. I think it's pretty clear though you really like the factory equipment across the board.

I agree that you can utilize your factory equipment. We did the same thing on our 230. However, at a certain point your push the factory system to the limits and an upgrade is required.


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[charlesml3]

However, at a certain point your push the factory system to the limits and an upgrade is required.


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Fair enough and I recognize that I may have to go that route at some point. In the meantime, I'm going to see what I can and can't do. I just did a little "dock test." I faded the head unit so only the tower speakers were going and started a song with a strong bass line. I didn't touch the volume and switched the 400/4 from HP to Off, back and forth several times.

There's clearly more mid-bass with it off. No, they don't "thump" but I didn't expect that. I'm trying to see if I get a fuller sound from the tower speakers with this configuration because that's mostly what a surfer can hear. The dock test showed good results. I'll know more later this afternoon when we're out surfing.

-Charles

[David Analog]

A very good quality 10-inch subwoofer in a rock solid sealed enclosure is already at 1/2 power at or above 50 Hz. A tower speaker is already at 1/20th power or less at 80 Hz with no crossover engaged. All you will accomplish with a fullrange setting is a) sacrificing maximum clean output, and b) increased odds of a product failure. It's not flinging poo when you are given the truth for your own benefit.

[charlesml3]

All you will accomplish with a fullrange setting is a) sacrificing maximum clean output, and b) increased odds of a product failure. It's not flinging poo when you are given the truth for your own benefit.

I don't need maximum output. We don't blast the stereo that loud. Increasing the odd of what product failing? The amp or the speakers? I checked the specs on the speakers and they are listed as capable of accepting a full-range signal. Again, I'm not expecting these speakers to go down to 50Hz or below. I know that's impossible.

If this configuration seems to be driving the amp to clipping, I'll re-engage the HP filter and then experiment with lowering the crossover point to 70Hz, 60Hz, and 50Hz one step at a time until I reach a happy medium. I believe I can get more of what I need out of this system.

-Charles

[David Analog]

To get a true perspective, you should be making your listening tests at surf distance with someone else at the amplifier control. The speaker specs are immaterial because JL Audio doesn't alter the specs once they load the speaker into a pod, plus the frequency response specs are at an extremely low power and output level....and not at a level equal to what is needed at surf range with competing noise. It's not just my opinion. Every marine audio pro in the know will tell you to highpass your tower speakers at 80 Hz or higher.

[MLA]

It takes 2 minutes to crawl under and flip the switch. Have you actually tried this or are you just speculating?

-Charles

Just my little pile of poo. Ive listened to countless system, both in-boats and tower, where they were set to full pass. In almost all of the cases, there was an issue or symptom that the owners were trying to resolve. Over heating amps, blown speakers, etc. Root cause, full pass. So, no speculation, no theory, just experience.

You will likely hear a slight difference in a static environment, such as the driveway or garage. However, when driven hard enough to head at surf distance, competing with engine, wind and water noise, you may not hear the distortion of over driving the speakers excursion due to the F/P selection.

[Flyindutchman]

Hi Charles - I love this post!

I literally did EXACTLY what you did just two nights ago in my 210 with the same setup other than only 2 tower speakers. I put my inquiry in to Roswell when I couldn't find the specs for my Roswell 6x9 Focal tower speakers.

This is what Colin at Roswell sent me:

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your question. The term 'full range speaker' is in most cases more of a marketing term than an accurate statement of a speakers performance, unless you are looking at floor-standing speakers used in home audio that usually use several different-sized speakers to genuinely achieve full-range sound.

Just about any marine speaker could probably be called 'full-range', but in every case you will be able to get better performance from that speaker by using the hi-pass setting on the amplifier.

Using the hi-pass filters for both the in-boat and tower speakers is basically trading some of the low-end response in exchange for achieving a higher overall output. In other words, if the 6x9's were running off the amp switched in Full Range mode, the gain setting on the amp would likely need to be reduced to avoid damage to the speaker from the extra power.

Let me know if you have any other questions or if you want to adjust the amp settings and need any advice.

I did wonder about better performance if I added another pair of Roswell Focal tower speakers but if you're looking for an improvement, maybe that tells me otherwise?

[mcosub]

I too have been looking into this same subject. I have 2017 210 with the same set up but only 2 tower speakers. Trying to decide if adding two more speakers will help out the system I have. Looks like everything is prewired so hoping I can buy 2 more JL audio tower speakers and connect the wires on both ends.


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[MLA]

Trying to decide if adding two more speakers will help out the system I have.

Depends on the what help you think it needs. Adding more speakers will certainly increase the tower volume. If it sounds good but want louder, then more speaker will do it.