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It's all about the bass...
Posted: Thu May 14, 2026 4:38 pm
by jhnmdahl
When I installed Roswell R1 speakers, a JL amp, and a new Fusion head unit and remote in my boat, it turned out to be a bit of work assembling all the right pieces and installing it all. Now that it's done (custom replacement dash panel and all) and working, I'm getting an itch for some lower frequencies.
A brief search found that Hodges Marine has heavily discounted their Roswell R1 subs, which are among the best I've heard for powersports:
Under $200 for the 10 inch -
https://www.hodgesmarine.com/rosc920-18 ... white.html
and well under $300 for the 12 inch -
https://www.hodgesmarine.com/rosc920-18 ... white.html
Looks like the 10" will fit best in my boat, and I suspect the 250W rms/500W peak down to 35Hz will be enough to be a fun upgrade. Now, I need to decide whether to stick with JL for a higher end amp (maybe
https://creativeaudio.net/rd500-1-k/), or buy a cheaper option like MB Quart's marine subwoofer amp (
https://creativeaudio.net/na2-400-1-kl/)
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Fri May 15, 2026 1:47 pm
by NautiGirl
Last season we replaced the factory 2017 vintage JL MX Series 10in Sub in our R5 with a JL M6 10in and then also added a second JL M6 10in under the passenger seat. The Subs are wired in parallel and powered off a single M600/1 JL amp, so getting about 300w each. Adding the dedicated Sub Amp also let me free up 2 channels on the amps that came from the factory so now all the speakers in the boat get their own channel.
Game Changer. Second Sub was easily the best upgrade I have done to the stereo in the boat, and I have done a lot.
I was shaking the ice in the built in under seat cooler last weekend, Good times.
I found the M600/1 open box on Creative Audio, it was new in the plastic when it arrived. Cant argue /w their prices or customer service. If you go JL for the amp stick with their marine line. The M300/1 would be a great fit with that 10in sub.
Good luck!
Sub.jpg
amp.jpg
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2026 4:54 pm
by jhnmdahl
The easy part is done - the speaker arrived today, and I can confirm it plays bass. I was a bit surprised they include some box tunings and Thiele-Small parameters for the speaker should you want to build or tune your own enclosure, but mine will be a more typical infinite baffle install. The general build quality appears pretty robust and it's a pretty deep basket/motor assembly, but at 88dB at 1W/1m, I think a bigger amp like Nauti recommended is a good idea (and will be able to drive a second sub if I add one some day).
IMG_8118.jpeg
IMG_8117.jpeg
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Tue May 19, 2026 6:45 pm
by NautiGirl
jhnmdahl wrote: Tue May 19, 2026 4:54 pm
The easy part is done - the speaker arrived today, and I can confirm it plays bass. I was a bit surprised they include some box tunings and Thiele-Small parameters for the speaker should you want to build or tune your own enclosure, but mine will be a more typical infinite baffle install. The general build quality appears pretty robust and it's a pretty deep basket/motor assembly, but at 88dB at 1W/1m, I think a bigger amp like Nauti recommended is a good idea (and will be able to drive a second sub if I add one some day).
Looks good - if you are going to go w/ the bigger amp - and I would - you might as well order the second sub also. $190 is a deal compared to what I paid for our JL's.
As Big Block would say....."doooooooo it"
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:01 pm
by JameswithCreative
NautiGirl wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 1:47 pm
Last season we replaced the factory 2017 vintage JL MX Series 10in Sub in our R5 with a JL M6 10in and then also added a second JL M6 10in under the passenger seat. The Subs are wired in parallel and powered off a single M600/1 JL amp, so getting about 300w each. Adding the dedicated Sub Amp also let me free up 2 channels on the amps that came from the factory so now all the speakers in the boat get their own channel.
Game Changer. Second Sub was easily the best upgrade I have done to the stereo in the boat, and I have done a lot.
I was shaking the ice in the built in under seat cooler last weekend, Good times.
I found the M600/1 open box on Creative Audio, it was new in the plastic when it arrived. Cant argue /w their prices or customer service. If you go JL for the amp stick with their marine line. The M300/1 would be a great fit with that 10in sub.
Good luck!
Sub.jpg
amp.jpg
Super clean install! Im sure this sounds amazing!
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2026 4:42 pm
by jhnmdahl
JameswithCreative wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:01 pm
Super clean install! Im sure this sounds amazing!
James, any reason not to go with the JL XDM600/1 for a 250W 10" sub? I do like that it has the power and the built-in terminals to add a second mono sub as well.
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 4:22 pm
by NautiGirl
jhnmdahl wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 4:42 pm
JameswithCreative wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:01 pm
Super clean install! Im sure this sounds amazing!
James, any reason not to go with the JL XDM600/1 for a 250W 10" sub? I do like that it has the power and the built-in terminals to add a second mono sub as well.
I'm not James but Ill but in my 2cents.
Best reason is b/c 600 is more than 300...you see these go to 11?
If you want 250w to a 4ohm load out of a JL Monoblock XDM series amp you have to use the 600/1
The XDM300/1 is only going to give you 200w x 1 @ 4 Ohm
XDM600/1 with the gain dialed back is the best way to get to 250w. Bonus is you could add a second 10 later on as you noted the JL monoblock's have a second output wired in parallel internal to the amp.
Other option is to just use the 300/1 and give up a bit of output, 50w may not be that noticeable to be honest.
Overall not a terrible problem to have. Good luck!
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 4:23 pm
by NautiGirl
JameswithCreative wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:01 pm
NautiGirl wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 1:47 pm
Last season we replaced the factory 2017 vintage JL MX Series 10in Sub in our R5 with a JL M6 10in and then also added a second JL M6 10in under the passenger seat. The Subs are wired in parallel and powered off a single M600/1 JL amp, so getting about 300w each. Adding the dedicated Sub Amp also let me free up 2 channels on the amps that came from the factory so now all the speakers in the boat get their own channel.
Game Changer. Second Sub was easily the best upgrade I have done to the stereo in the boat, and I have done a lot.
I was shaking the ice in the built in under seat cooler last weekend, Good times.
I found the M600/1 open box on Creative Audio, it was new in the plastic when it arrived. Cant argue /w their prices or customer service. If you go JL for the amp stick with their marine line. The M300/1 would be a great fit with that 10in sub.
Good luck!
Sub.jpg
amp.jpg
Super clean install! Im sure this sounds amazing!
Thanks James - it does sound great. The JL M6's are such a good upgrade over the M3 line, maybe not so much in the 6.5 drivers, but in the 10in Sub the difference is huge....that plus correct power to them made a huge difference.
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:58 am
by JameswithCreative
NautiGirl wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2026 4:22 pm
jhnmdahl wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 4:42 pm
JameswithCreative wrote: Mon Jun 29, 2026 2:01 pm
Super clean install! Im sure this sounds amazing!
James, any reason not to go with the JL XDM600/1 for a 250W 10" sub? I do like that it has the power and the built-in terminals to add a second mono sub as well.
I'm not James but Ill but in my 2cents.
Best reason is b/c 600 is more than 300...you see these go to 11?
If you want 250w to a 4ohm load out of a JL Monoblock XDM series amp you have to use the 600/1
The XDM300/1 is only going to give you 200w x 1 @ 4 Ohm
XDM600/1 with the gain dialed back is the best way to get to 250w. Bonus is you could add a second 10 later on as you noted the JL monoblock's have a second output wired in parallel internal to the amp.
Other option is to just use the 300/1 and give up a bit of output, 50w may not be that noticeable to be honest.
Overall not a terrible problem to have. Good luck!
I am a big fan of going with more power out the gate on the amplifier so you can add on another woofer later. In most applications a quality amp will be the most costly item in the system. Getting the expense done once and right will save money and headache down the road if upgrading.
Lots of great info here and looking forward to follow all the cool builds!
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2026 11:22 am
by jhnmdahl
JameswithCreative wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:58 am
I am a big fan of going with more power out the gate on the amplifier so you can add on another woofer later. In most applications a quality amp will be the most costly item in the system. Getting the expense done once and right will save money and headache down the road if upgrading.
Lots of great info here and looking forward to follow all the cool builds!
Ordered from James at Creativeaudio.net, and it was shipped in maybe half an hour, with a nice discount. Plus, a free amplifier remote level control and cable so I can adjust the bass from the glove box where the head unit is located. A lot of companies go an extra step, but James and CreativeAudio always seem to find a way to go two extra steps!
Re: It's all about the bass...
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2026 10:54 am
by JamesTCreativeAudio
jhnmdahl wrote: Thu Jul 02, 2026 11:22 am
JameswithCreative wrote: Wed Jul 01, 2026 8:58 am
I am a big fan of going with more power out the gate on the amplifier so you can add on another woofer later. In most applications a quality amp will be the most costly item in the system. Getting the expense done once and right will save money and headache down the road if upgrading.
Lots of great info here and looking forward to follow all the cool builds!
Ordered from James at Creativeaudio.net, and it was shipped in maybe half an hour, with a nice discount. Plus, a free amplifier remote level control and cable so I can adjust the bass from the glove box where the head unit is located. A lot of companies go an extra step, but James and CreativeAudio always seem to find a way to go two extra steps!
Thank you for the continued support and kind words! Can't wait to hear about the new setup!