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I'm accumulating some nice parts to upgrade the stereo on my 2003 220.
My question is- how did Cobalt wire the six speakers from the four outputs from the SONY X-plod head unit?
Thanks,
Mike.

Mike in SC wrote: Thu Jun 04, 2020 3:20 pm I'm accumulating some nice parts to upgrade the stereo on my 2003 220.
My question is- how did Cobalt wire the six speakers from the four outputs from the SONY X-plod head unit?
Thanks,
Mike.

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Most likely in parallel, Mike, with the two front bow speakers separate from the four rear cockpit speakers (allowing for front-rear fader control). The Rear RCA jack from the Sony X-plod head unit may have 2 Y splitters connected--one Y to the red jack, and one Y to the white jack allowing for four inputs to the amp (if you have a separate one). This signal then gets pumped out to your four cockpit speakers.

Without a separate amp, there is just a molex type connector with those colorful speaker wires from the head unit which will connect to all six speakers using another molex connector. The head unit provides the amplification (usually 25 watts for each speaker).

If you have pics, it may help us clarify. You also have a subwoofer correct?

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I have a 210 that is wired exactly as Aslan describes. A great candidate for a six channel digital (or class D) amplifier upgrade, and some new wiring at a minimum. I picked up an amp from one of our informal forum sponsors (https://creativeaudio.net/m600-6/), who will give you a nice discount if you check out their thread in the Deals and Specials sub-forum.

Particularly, I picked up six new speakers that are drop-in replacements for my current speakers (I got Roswell, but JL's M series are very similar), the amplifier above, power cable for the amplifier along with ends and a crimper, and some 14ga speaker cable along with a crimper and ends to mate with the speakers I picked up. I can't report on the sound yet as I don't see as much of my boat since my toddler came along, but I'm hoping to get it up and running this summer yet.

John

I think they tied the bow speakers to the frt cockpit speakers. Get rid of all that old wire and run new ones and new amps and power them all up separately. Piece of cake. Do it right.

Good information, lots to do still.
I guess all speakers will be rewired.
I've ordered a new head unit by Fusion, one of their wired remotes, JL 800w 8 channel amp, four 6.5" and two 8.8" speakers.
Plan to power the 8.8's using the four channels biamped into two. I've also got an additional battery and ACH to install.
I might have been happy with six 6.5's and a six channel amp, but I let my son talk me into a double whammy upgrade.
My son is the electrical craftsman, pretty much need him to have some free time for this to go well.
I'll try to take pics as we go, and will certainly report back on results.

Mike, sounds like a fun project. Keep us posted!

2004 220

Yes I put the rockford system in and all new cabling/new speakers/enlarged the speaker holes. In the cockpit area get a 4 ' long piece of heavy wire and tape the the speaker wire to the end of the wire , fish the new speaker wire to the new speaker location. I put the amp in the compartment behind the old radio. It's not a small boat but you get away with things a 26' footer lets say may not. Pay more and use the speaker wire/cabling recommend by the radio OEM just in case of problems and your not blaming the cabling Good luck

AsLan7 wrote:If you have pics, it may help us clarify. You also have a subwoofer correct?

No sub.
Going to count on the amp and a pair of 880's to provide the bass.

The wiring question has become moot. Rewired the boat for new speakers last night. Ran 14 ga to the front four 6.5" speakers, and 12 ga to the rear pair. Had three of us feeding, advancing and receiving the wire. We used something called Fish Sticks to push the wire through the wire trays. Have some scuffed up hands and forearms this morning, but got the smaller speakers installed and connected. Also fitted the Fusion RA-MS70 NSX to the dash and pulled the old Sony wired remote. Have to take a couple days away from the project for my primary job.
Son is busy creating a template to cut rear holes perfectly using a router, and also recutting the dash panel for the new Fusion wired remote.
Next steps are running power cable from new battery to ACR/Switch and amp, waiting for parts from Pacer Group.

Mike in SC wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:00 pm

AsLan7 wrote:If you have pics, it may help us clarify. You also have a subwoofer correct?

No sub.
Going to count on the amp and a pair of 880's to provide the bass.

I did that for 1 year then added a sub. And I'm not a bass guy. Huge improvement in sound.

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:53 pm

Mike in SC wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:00 pm

AsLan7 wrote:If you have pics, it may help us clarify. You also have a subwoofer correct?

No sub.
Going to count on the amp and a pair of 880's to provide the bass.

I did that for 1 year then added a sub. And I'm not a bass guy. Huge improvement in sound.

I'm sure there was a nice improvement, but this mod will leave me feeling tapped out for this year.
I remember changing out the four speakers in a CC I owned with new Infinity 6x9's, adding a refurbished JL amp. Sounded awesome!
I expect this project to sound even awesomer!!! The 8 channel amp will have two channels biamped to the rear speakers...
Once the power cables arrive, we'll finish up and I can brag on the results.

Yes it will sound great. Did you get the bow speakers in yet?

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Mike in SC wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2020 7:00 am Good information, lots to do still.
I guess all speakers will be rewired.
I've ordered a new head unit by Fusion, one of their wired remotes, JL 800w 8 channel amp, four 6.5" and two 8.8" speakers.
Plan to power the 8.8's using the four channels biamped into two.

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Mike in SC wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 10:22 pm

Big Block Power wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2020 5:53 pm

Mike in SC wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2020 8:00 pm

No sub.
Going to count on the amp and a pair of 880's to provide the bass.

I did that for 1 year then added a sub. And I'm not a bass guy. Huge improvement in sound.

I'm sure there was a nice improvement, but this mod will leave me feeling tapped out for this year.
I remember changing out the four speakers in a CC I owned with new Infinity 6x9's, adding a refurbished JL amp. Sounded awesome!
I expect this project to sound even awesomer!!! The 8 channel amp will have two channels biamped to the rear speakers...
Once the power cables arrive, we'll finish up and I can brag on the results.

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Mike I’m confused slightly on your setup.

You mention Bi-amping your two JL Audio 8.8’s with four of the channels on your JL Audio 8 channel amp. The 8.8’s do not have separate inputs for separating the tweeter and woofer power needed for Bi-amping. You did not mention purchasing a separate crossover or DSP either.

Are you talking about mono-bridging your two 8.8’s?
In this case you connect the positive terminal of one speaker to the positive terminal of one amp channel. The negative terminal of that speaker connects to the negative terminal of a second amp channel that’s bridged to that first channel. Bridging amplifier channels provides quite a boost in power.

I totally understand doing this project in phases. It can break the bank fairly quickly when using quality products like you’re doing. (we just finished a similar phase 2).

IMHO, I think you should work toward adding a subwoofer which can be mono-bridged combining two of the eight channels on your 8 channel amp for maximum power. The frequency response on a sub is going to be much lower than the 38hz floor of your 8.8’s and bass is VERY power hungry. Plus you’ll really begin to FEEL that lower bass in a mono bridged sub configuration....and who doesn’t love that!

Then power your other six speakers with the other six channels on the JL amp and that way you’ll have a balanced speaker set up (again with awesome bass).




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I may have a conceptual problem, or a vocabulary issue...I'll have to check with my expert!
In either case, if I decide I'm pleased with the outcome, I can stop there.
Although there is room for a sub in the passenger kick space...
Edit- I guess I meant bridging...

Mike in SC wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 2:45 pm
Although there is room for a sub in the passenger kick space...
Edit- I guess I meant bridging...

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Roger that....and I like your thinking on the sub location.

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