A client from here in Gainesville contacted Sound Depot and Performance about upgrading his Alpha Z audio system. This extremely rare speedboat is powered by a massive Potter Performance V8 engine and features a straight exhaust system that exits out the transom. It’s loud! The client wanted a system that would be as enjoyable anchored as it would be with the throttle wide open. After some inspection of the custom interior, we came up with a plan to ensure this awesome boat would have great-sounding music all the time.
JL Audio Marine Audio Equipment
The boat features a Clarion CMD5 water-resistant receiver mounted to the left of the captain’s chair just under the dash. A 3-inch MW1 wired remote control with LCD screen is connected to the Clarion radio. It is mounted on the dash to the right of the instrument cluster. We used JL Audio marine interconnects to feed audio signals from the source unit to a trio of JL Audio marine amplifiers. A pair of M800/8 amplifiers power the full-range speakers we installed in the boat. A HD750/1 amp powers the subwoofer system.
The pair of M800/8 eight-channel amplifiers is mounted to a piece of water-resistant Starboard, along with a pair of Stinger SPD514 power distribution blocks for the battery and ground connections. As you can see, the power, speaker wire and interconnects are all securely affixed to the amp rack to ensure the system remains reliable at all times. The HD750/1 amplifier is mounted to another Starboard panel and is located just behind the main amplifier panel.
Alpha Z Audio System Speaker Upgrade
With the compact size of this boat and its large engine, we wanted to be sure the client and his friends would have no trouble hearing the music. As such, we planned for four pairs of JL Audio speakers to be located around the cockpit of the boat. We sized each speaker to maximize performance in each location.
The speaker installation started with a set of JL Audio M100-CT-CG-WH component tweeters mounted on the dash of the boat using MTPOD-M100-CL billet aluminum pods. These speakers help with high-frequency clarity when the boat is at speed.
Next, we installed a set of M650-CCX-CG-WH coaxial speakers in what would be considered the kick-panel location of the boat. Combined with the tweeters on the dash, this would establish the front stage of the system.
Another set of M770-CCX-CG-WH coaxial speakers are mounted facing forward beneath the rear bench set and just above the seat we mounted one more pair. The last set of speakers, a pair of 8.8-inch JL Audio M880-CCX-CG-WH are mounted on either side of the cockpit. The client can use the fader on the radio to control the level of the rear speakers to balance the system or maximize its output capabilities.
We configured the left eight-channel amp as a four channel to drive each of the rear speakers with up to 200 watts of power. The right amplifier is configured as a six-channel amp, producing 200 watts into the bridged channels and 75 watts for the tweeters and 6.5-inch coaxial speaker set.
Marine Audio System Subwoofers
The pair of JL Audio subwoofers produce bass you can hear and feel!
The last component of the project was to install a pair of JL Audio FS110-W5-CG-WH subwoofer enclosures in the bow of the boat ahead of the amp rack. The fiberglass enclosures feature a sealed design and each houses an M10W5 subwoofer. The enclosures have a high-gloss white gel-coat finish. We used stainless steel fasteners to bolt the subwoofer enclosures to the boat and keep them in place. This is especially important when the boat is hopping over waves. In fact, all of the equipment we install is secured with industrial-grade, corrosion-resistant fasteners.
System Tuning and Delivery
With the system installed, the last step was to ensure all the settings on the amplifiers were configured to provide reliable performance and distortion-free sound. The client loved the way the system sounded and was impressed with the clarity of his new Alpha Z audio system. If you are in the Gainesville area and are looking for a premium audio system upgrade for your boat, drop by Sound Depot and Performance and speak with a member of our team. You can reach us by e-mail using our contact page for additional information or to schedule a consultation.
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