A client from Chandler came to Handcrafted Car Audio with his boat, in search of a serious Monterey Explorer marine audio upgrade. Our team looked over the boat with him and listened as he explained his thoughts about the upgrades. After listening to some different equipment, we worked up a proposal that we thought best suited his needs which he liked, so we set a time to begin working on the new system.
Wet Sounds Coaxial Speaker Upgrade
This boat had an existing stereo system in the driver console that we kept intact, as well as two sets of locations for speakers – one in the bow and another in the stern. We began by replacing those speakers with Wet Sounds XS650 6.5” marine coaxials that sound incredible and will last for years to come since they are built from the ground up as marine speakers.
We knew that two sets of speakers weren’t going to cut it if we wanted to give this client a larger-than-life sound, so we installed a third set of XS650 speakers right behind the driver and passenger seating areas.
Big Boost In Bass Output Thanks To Wet Sounds Subwoofer
Once we had the speaker situation handled, we turned our attention to the subwoofer. Any good marine audio system needs a subwoofer to reproduce the low-end bass. Since this client wanted a system that really could jam, we went back with Wet Sounds, choosing their XS-XXXv2 12” subwoofer. In a properly designed enclosure, this thing will downright pound.
Speaking of enclosures, the installers at Handcrafted Car Audio built an enclosure out of marine-grade plywood and created a beautiful trim panel so the subwoofer fires toward the feet of the driver, maximizing the output potential. The rear of the enclosure has a ¾” clear acrylic panel to show off the beautifully made enclosure and the massive motor structure of the sub.
Power For The Open Water
We mounted two Wet Sounds amplifiers in a custom amp rack suspended above the subwoofer enclosure. The SD2 amp sends well over 1,000 watts to the subwoofer, while the SD6 sends over 1,100 watts of power to the coaxial speakers, for a mind-boggling 2,100 total watts. All of the wiring is neatly hidden behind the amp rack and is properly loomed and secured for easy servicing in the future.
Professional Installation By The Handcrafted Crew
In usual Handcrafted style, the marine installation was designed from the ground up for life on the water. All fasteners used were only stainless steel; all upholstery products were marine-rated; and every connection soldered with heat shrink applied – ensuring the installation will last for years and years.
Monterey Explorer Audio Upgrades Blow ‘Em Out The Water!
When the client came to pick up his boat, he was impressed with the attention to detail of our work. When we cranked it up for the first time, he knew he’d picked the right shop. All of his favorite music could now be heard at concert levels without strain, coming through crystal-clear. Time on his boat just got a lot more fun.
Swing By With Your Boat And See Us Today!
If you want to upgrade the audio system on your boat, we invite you to stop by Handcrafted Car Audio in Chandler or contact us HERE. One of our specialists will work with you to design and build the marine audio system that best fits your needs.
what exactly was the reason behind installing the soundskins inside of the woofer box? looks? function ?
In this scenario, its mostly an aesthetic thing Randy. Thank you for your question!