Monterey 328SS Stereo Upgrades for Gainesville Boating Enthusiast

A long-term client of Sound Depot and Performance contacted us to upgrade a few of the components in his 2012 Monterey 328SS stereo system. The boat had been in storage in his barn, and mice had damaged the upholstery. After taking the boat to have the interior repaired, he asked us to go over and look at the stereo and see what could be done to improve it. Since we have worked with this client for more than 10 years, we know how he enjoys his music, so we developed a plan to upgrade the stock speakers, add more subwoofers and add a new amplifier.

Interior Speaker Upgrade

Subwoofers were used throughout the boat for great bass response.

Everywhere you go on this boat has great bass!

A JL Audio coaxial speaker and subwoofer flanked each side of the middle of the boat.

The driver has great sounding audio thanks to the JL Audio speaker and subwoofer.

The new interior and stereo system on this boat really brought it back to life.

The amplifier wiring was neatly routed and secured.

Our team installed a set of JL Audio M650-CCX-CG-WH 6.5-inch coaxial speakers in the bow location and upgraded the central speaker location with a set of M770-CCX-CG-WG coaxial speakers. While we had the boat apart, we checked all the wiring we could reach to make sure the mice had not damaged any of it.

We added a total of three JL Audio M10IB4-CG-WH subwoofers to the system. Two of the subs replace the factory Polk Audio subwoofers on either side of the cockpit, and a third is mounted on the panel under the seat behind the helm. The three subwoofers are powered by the client’s Memphis Car Audio Memphis Belle amplifier. We added an M8IB5-CG-WH subwoofer on the side of the walkway to the bow of the boat to improve bass response for passengers up front. We repurposed the client’s MB Quart NAU260 amp to drive the 8-inch sub.

We ran new 4 AWG JL Audio power wire to the Memphis Belle to ensure it would be fed with adequate power to perform reliably and make as much power as possible.

Tower Speaker Upgrade

Each tower pod holds 2 JL Audio coaxial speakers.

We obtained a pair of Quad Arch Pod speaker enclosures from a company called Waves and Wheels. The enclosures are made from Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLPDE) plastic to resist UV exposure. Each enclosure provides room for four 6.5-inch speakers. We mounted the pair of enclosures on the radar arch, using the supplied rubber gaskets and filled them with four pairs of JL Audio M650-CCX-CG-WG 6.5-inch coaxial speakers. The overhead speakers are powered by the front channels of the Memphis Belle amp.

Rockford Fosgate Source Unit Upgrade

The main source unit was installed in the factory radio location.

The Rockford Fosgate remote source provides a color screen for media selection.

The center helm also got a Rockford Fosgate remote unit.

We installed a Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN marine source unit in the central factory radio location. The PMX-5CAN is a digital media receiver with AM/FM/WB reception, Bluetooth for audio streaming and a USB jack for digital media files. A bright, 2.7-inch color display and large rubber-coated buttons make the unit easy to use.

We added a pair of PMX-1R remote controls. One remote is mounted in the center of the helm, while the other is on the rear swim platform. Operators or passengers can adjust the music from almost anywhere on board.

Monterey 328SS Stereo System Tuning and Delivery

Once everything was installed, we set up the amplifiers to work with the Rockford source unit. Maximizing the performance of any audio system with an amp requires that the sensitivity controls be set accurately. Too high and the system will distort, and speakers will be damaged. Too low and the system will not play loud enough.

After five days of work, it was finally time to wrap up this Monterey 328SS stereo system installation and return the boat to the client. Even with a few extra challenges in running the wiring for the overhead speakers, our team met our deadline of having the boat ready to go by the weekend.

The client was amazed at how much better the new JL Audio speakers and subwoofers sounded. Even with the same power, the bass was tighter, vocals were clearer and everything seemed more realistic. To say that he was pleased would be a massive understatement.

If you are looking for a sound system upgrade for your boat, drop by Sound Depot and Performance in Gainesville and speak with a member of our sales team. We would be happy to design a sound system upgrade that is custom-tailored to your application and listening preferences. For more information about our marine entertainment system upgrades or any of our services, call us at 352-374-7700 or send us an e-mail using our online contact form.