Best speaker location

[3hr tourguide]

Hi Everyone,

I know many of you have a really nice radio set up on your Mac and I am trying to think of the best place to put my speakers so that I get good sound both in the cockpit (most important) but also when I am below decks.

I bought a marine radio/ 2 speaker set and my first thought was to put the speakers on either side of the companionway. Another option was both speakers on the starboard side (one inside and one outside). I am not sure if this would cause interference with the sound but it sure would make wiring much easier (the radio is above the galley). Option 3 was putting the speakers low in the cockpit possibly 1 against the laz bulkhead and one near the companionway.

What has worked best for you?

Thanks in advance

Greg

 

[Bob McL]

Why don't you wire in a switch to select between inside -or- outside. The PO of my 1976 V25 placed speakers at the rear of the laz just above the port and starboard seats. Easy to remove for access to the inside aft. I don't have them wired so I don't know if mounting them there provides good sound quality.

 

[dparilla]

Most radios have four outputs, I would put two more speakers below in the cabin. We used two bookshelf speakers below deck and put the waterproof ones in the cockpit.

 

[Texrob]

You should be able to use the front and rear speaker connections. Inside it will be to loud so fade the level to the outside to balance to volume. Fade it all the way one way or the other if you only want to hear it inside or out.

 

[finding41]

Who knows what PO's think when they get out the jig saw. I have 4 speakers 2-4" and 2-6x8" as of 2 pm today only one of the 6x8's worked. It is a mess of different wire sizes and color combinations. The stereo and amp (Its Huge! amp=10x12x3) are located kind of under the ladder but to port. Attached to the ceiling in a home made plywood box. (I am surprised the screws aren't coming through the deck.) It is stained a teakish color.
I mentioned until 2 pm.. Well I started replacing the wire that went to the speakers with 16g. All of it the same type too. Oh, and hide it behind the liner not in and out of the liner.
I tested the CD player yesterday and found it works. (Very surprised with the amount of water it took when I was power washing inside a couple mo. ago.) Well today nothing worked... It may be the battery is almost dead. I didn't bring my amp meter and the one on the fuse panel doesn't seem to be hooked up.
Back to the HOLES put in the liner. There right across from the ladder smaller one in the upper liner and the bigger one in the lower liner. Nasty looking. I am afraid I will have to stick with the inner placement but have a speaker box out of my old truck that can be sat and tied on to the top of the hatch if needed.
Picture kind of shows ware the speakers are on starboard side. Oh the fancy wood work was hiding another hole. Now removed.

 

[Justin_NSA]

I have 2 external speakers that clamp to my bimini support. I remove them when we are not using them and stow in the laz so they don't disappear.

I have 2 more mounted in the "wall" below the port and stbd seating. They sound great with the large cavity to boost the bass. Unfortunately one of the grills has been kicked. I need to install tougher covers

I control both pairs with the fader in the radio. My next radio will have a remote for the cockpit and have a WX band

 

[Timo42]

I put 2 6" speakers in the stern, needed holes for access to motor mount and ladder, sounds good in cockpit and reasonable in cabin. I am fabbing mounts for a pair of small speakers from an old surround system for in the cabin.

 

[THECUSCUS]

Best speaker location....................is on someone else's boat! I go sailing to enjoy the peaceful sounds of the wind and water (peaceful most of the time anyway). When music is needed, a disposable, battery powered ipod docking station (with speakers) fits the bill nicely. The added bonus is that there aren't any wires or wiring mess to deal with.

 

[Sumner]

When music is needed, a disposable, battery powered ipod docking station (with speakers) fits the bill nicely. The added bonus is that there aren't any wires or wiring mess to deal with.

Yep we put in speakers (cabin only), but never use them unless we use...

... the radio, far right above, for weather. We have a couple...

...of the small speakers above, arrow, and use them at home, in the car (if there are too many FM stations and we can't use the FM broadcast thing), for my computer speaker and in the boat where we take it to the cockpit or cabin or V-berth. Runs a long time on batteries and the sound is surprisingly good. Good enough for us anyway . $20 at Walmart.

We also go for long periods with no music on the water and such. Mainly like to listen to it first thing in the morning or the evening,

Sum

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[Forrest15112]

Hi Everyone,

I know many of you have a really nice radio set up on your Mac and I am trying to think of the best place to put my speakers so that I get good sound both in the cockpit (most important) but also when I am below decks.

I bought a marine radio/ 2 speaker set and my first thought was to put the speakers on either side of the companionway. Another option was both speakers on the starboard side (one inside and one outside). I am not sure if this would cause interference with the sound but it sure would make wiring much easier (the radio is above the galley). Option 3 was putting the speakers low in the cockpit possibly 1 against the laz bulkhead and one near the companionway.

What has worked best for you?

Thanks in advance

Greg

This isn't as simple as just location. It's very dependent on the kind of music you listen to. For example, if you listen to classic rock with big guitar riffs, then the method shown by Texrob is good. If you listen to that itchy-scratchy stuff, then the best location would be in the bilge facing straight down. Beware of fish kill though. To prevent this, use earbuds. I wouldn't worry about what the itchy-scratchy music does to your brain with the earbuds because if you are listening to that stuff, the damage is already done.

 

[Texrob]

My setup can be turned around to face forward so I can play the Jaws theme while running down "faster" boats.

I do like the sound of sailing over music most of the time. How ever I do raftups a lot and music is apart of the fun.

 

[timebandit]

Works inside and out----

 

[Doug J]

Don't know what model boat you have Tourguide, but I have a 26S, there were two circular holes already cut, I think at the factory under the cockpit seats.

The best way I can describe the location is when you lay in the aft birth look up, two black plexiglass covers over the holes, port and starboard. I think they were put there to provide access to the stachion bolts.

Anyway, I mounted two speakers in those holes, no modification required, pointing downward, sound great there. I also have two 3" exterior speakers for the cockpit, bracket mounted and can be removed and stowed when not in use.

Here's a pic looking in the coamings through access port I installed.

The speaker on the port side is just behind the radio, out of sight, but the sound is great from there!

If I open the access plate, I get even more sound, kinda acts like another speaker.

 

[seaStan]

I have a 26m which has carpet on the sides so I found 2 large flat sided juice holders about 4 inches thick and cut holes in them for the speakers and put velcro on them and they stick great to the carpet. An added advantage I found is that the tops come off and I can store papers in them since they are watertight. I never like cutting holes in my boat and this was easy. I mounted 2 more speakers on a piece of plexiglass and cut it to fit in the hatchway. It's about 11 inches high and I can step over it if I need to go below and can take it in if it rains so the speakers don't get wet.
I love velcro and put small battery lights and shelves and just about anything on velcro and can move it around to anywhere it needs to be.