amplifier direction question

[pmkkdx]

my head is starting to hurt and will need to dig back thru some paper documentation that hopefully my wife kept from 2 years ago as I dig deeper.

easy part first, the current remote is an oval Clarion:

[MLA]

RMS power Fusion 26 watts, Clarion 18 watts
Peak output Fusion 70 watts, Clarion 50

Misleading as one is peak and one is RMS. Id say real world volume would be the same from boat. However, its moot if all speakers are powered by external amps.

preamp outputs Fusion 9 channel, Clarion 6 channel

The fusion has a woofer output for each of its 3 volume zones. Not relevant unless you have a large cabin or houseboat and need each zone to have its own woofer tied to that zone's volume level.

Preamp voltage Fusion 5.5 volts, Clarion 4 volts

4v is already 2X what your current head unit is delivering, so both would be an improvement and you would notice a difference in a side x side test.

The Fusion wireless has no display, where are the Clarion's hard wire remote has a display and shows you most of what you would see on the main unit. Not sure if you old remote is round, rectangle or oval, but Clarion also offer the MW3 rectangle remote. One of these could be a near plug n play replacement for the existing remote. If its not retired, the MF2 wifi adaptor lets your phone be a wireless remote.

When using the MF2, I prefer to use an old phone thats not active. Much easier to leave it on the remote app compared to going back and forth between the remote app and your music app.

JL does not offer a 2 chnl that will deliver anywhere near the wattage of the Syn-DX2.3HP. If you want to stay with JL, then I would go with the MV600/2 over the bridged 4 chnl M800/8. The MV600/2 will deliver 150W rms to each speaker and thats not an audible difference compared to the bridged 200W from the M800/8

[pmkkdx]

thanks MLA!!!

by looking at the Clarion M608 ($400) & MW1 remote, looks like that is a wired remote? I am guessing a new wire harness or new wires (plus labor)?

where the Fusion MS-RA607 ($450) uses a wireless remote?

side by side comparison, should I take into consideration the below?

RMS power Fusion 26 watts, Clarion 18 watts
Peak output Fusion 70 watts, Clarion 50
preamp outputs Fusion 9 channel, Clarion 6 channel
Preamp voltage Fusion 5.5 volts, Clarion 4 volts

(comparison was from side by side in Crutchfield, link doesn't work right)

as for Amp, does JL offer something similar capability (notice I didn't say size, since that kept confusing me last time) to the Wet Sounds Syn-DX2.3HP? (just trying to keep both amps the same brand). Also the first sound guy recommended the JL M800/8, the second sound guy was giving apples to apples comparison on amp, so I am not stuck on the M800/8.

[MLA]

Clarion M608 and MW1 remote would be my choice along with a Fusion Apollo series.

Amp for Rev-8; The Wet Sounds Syn-DX2.3HP retails for $1100, will reliver up to 300W RMS and only requires a single pair of RCA. The M800/8 retails for $1050 and at its full potential (bridged 4 chnl with all chnls at 2 ohm) is just hitting the speaker's RMS of 200W and to bridge correctly, needs to have all 8 inputs populated, which requires 6 RCA splitters.

Add additional battery capacity. In 13 years, ive never installed a capacitor in a boat, but have removed a few and tossed them in the trash.

[pmkkdx]

hi again ... I have another question (maybe several as I dig deeper). We have had 2 different sound guys give us bids with options ... Checking my trusty braintrust here on TT

We are now looking at replacing the radio or head unit as some might refer. We have the Clarion head unit that I believe to be the original for 2004 X2 (205v). The add on bluetooth we added a couple years back when I started this thread is fluky and frequently doesn't connect. We would love to still have CD capability but I think I have my wife consoled to merely radio & streaming from phone via bluetooth with an upgraded head unit. by talking to the sound guys, I also need to replace the original Clarion remote by the helm.

What recommendations do ya'll have for replacement head unit??? (recommendations are Kenwood KMR328BT or Fusion MS-RA670)

second question, back to the second amp to drive the tower 4x Wetsounds Rev 8's. sound guys recommendation is JL m800/8, I believe the discussion was to bridge to maximize the power to drive the Rev 8's.

again, what recommendations do ya'll have???


also add on option recommendation was for a power capacitor to keep consistent power to prolong life of amp???

[pmkkdx]

thanks swatguy!!! the price point of the NVX sure is tempting right now ... but will look at the others as well.

[swatguy]

Best
Wetsounds SDX 2
1200.00

Better *************
Kicker KXMA1200.2
580.00

Good
NVX VAD8402
190.00



I’d be at the Kicker

[pmkkdx]

PMKKDX -

If you decide to go the PPI route - I have two 900.4s I recently removed from my boat - I would be willing to part with one (or both). Shoot me a PM if you are interested. I had one driving a pair of rev 10s and the other was driving my four JL in-boats.

thanks! pm sent ...

[pmkkdx]

Yes, yes it will.

thanks! as you can tell from, this really isn't my strength ... trying to get my head wrapped around it.

[ccelia]

PMKKDX -

If you decide to go the PPI route - I have two 900.4s I recently removed from my boat - I would be willing to part with one (or both). Shoot me a PM if you are interested. I had one driving a pair of rev 10s and the other was driving my four JL in-boats.

[MLA]

Just about every 2 chnl on the planet will power 4 speakers. Heres an example;

Wet sounds Syn-DX4 4 channel amp is $900 and would only deliver 125W rms to each speaker. The Syn-DX2 is $750 and would deliver 180W rms to each speaker. More watts, less money.

Both the Syn-DX2.3HP and Kicker KXMA1200.2 are going to deliver 300W rms to each speaker.

Id maybe stop using the term size. I thinks thats were you are getting tripped up on.

hmmm, so a 2 channel to drive all 4 speakers?

Yes, yes it will.

[pmkkdx]

hmmm, so a 2 channel to drive all 4 speakers?

[MLA]

A 2 chnl amp is the best option. You typically more wattage for the $$$. The Wet Sounds Syn-2 is a good option. The Syn-DX2.3HP Or kicker KXMA12002 will drive them perfectly.

ok, finally got back to my private messages going thru Quick Links ... recommendation was a PPI 900.4 to drive 2x Rev8s ... but do I need 2x of those to drive 4 Rev8s??? or is there something similar that would drive all 4?

A 2 chnl amp is still the best option.

[pmkkdx]

ok, finally got back to my private messages going thru Quick Links ... recommendation was a PPI 900.4 to drive 2x Rev8s ... but do I need 2x of those to drive 4 Rev8s??? or is there something similar that would drive all 4?

[pmkkdx]

yes, I get tripped up a lot on this stuff!!! Why so many questions ...

are there any more economical amps that would provide adequate power??? Others have mentioned the PPI and NVX as good ratings but more budget friendly?

if you go back thru to earlier in the thread, I was originally only needing (or so I thought) 1 amp to replace one that was dead ... I have now way over shot expectations of my budget with 1 amp, 4 new Rev 8s, bluetooth, new wiring, etc. ... and it sounds great (other than the low volume static/high frequency buzz).

and I have some budget friendly suggestions in my private messages that I can't get too