18+ Klipsch Stereo mods

[eecyclone]

I will try to keep this post updated with my latest findings to make it easier for people to modify their stock Klipsch stereo. Below it is broken down between Klipsch upgrades and non-Klipsch upgrades.

The general consensus is the Klipsch speakers are actually pretty good, however they are underpowered as they come from the factory. Section A and B below have some upgrade paths suggested.


Section A. Modifying the Klipsch stereo with Klipsch approved parts:
Adding 2 Tower speakers to the premium system (powered from the 8 channel amp):
508510 Tower Harness
Additional pins to output from the factory TE AMP harness
Tower speakers

Adding 2 or 4 Tower speakers to the advanced or premium system:
Factory equipment required to add 4 tower speakers:
508827 Amp Klipsch 4 CH (amp)
508006 Harness-AMP Battery 60 AMP 2ft '18 (factory battery cable from terminal strip to amp)
508503 Harness AMP-XT, XS, PRE
508510 Tower Harness (harnesses connect amplifier to speaker wires at tower base. Not required if boat was ordered with one pair of tower speakers)

Note for people adding non-Klispch speakers with the 4 channel amp: It appears the Klipsch 4 CH amplifier is at least 4 ohms/channel stable, likely 2 ohms/channel stable. The 4 channel and 8 channel amps CAN be bridged but it requires reconfiguring the input pins in the miniDin connector. The increased output of bridging 2 channels will then be available on the +/+ speaker outputs.

Section B. DSP outputs:

The DSP provides a 5.5Vrms output. It can either be used through a line output converter or directly into certain amps if they can handle that range (Most JL amps, some wetsounds amps, etc.)

I now have the adapters available, send me a PM if you are interested or visit my website, www.chesnuttech.com to order. Link to post


This is where things can get really interesting. The most common upgrade is to the tower zone.
Several people have added a JL M400/4 to repower the Klipsch tower speakers. It will output 200 watts x 2 @ 4 ohms, doubling the power to the tower speakers. Combine this with my Type 1 DSP to RCA adapter and tower output harness to have a plug and play upgrade to get a lot more sound output from the tower speakers. Taking this a step further might mean repowering 4 tower speakers or changing out the tower speakers for Wetsounds Rev 10's or JL M6-880's.

The next most common upgrade is to the subwoofer. The Klipsch subwoofers can handle more power than the 200-350 watts provided by the factory. I really like the M1000/1 upgrade for the premium system with 2 subwoofers or the M600/1 for the advanced system with one subwoofer. Again, this can combine with the Type 2 DSP to RCA adapter and a subwoofer output harness for a plug and play installation. Taking the subwoofer upgrade a step further would mean adding an aftermarket amp and subwoofer with a ported box combination.

Power upgrades are also viable with the interior cockpit/bow/helm speakers. These speakers seem to sound much better with the additional power output of an aftermarket amplifier.

Section C. DSP Software:
DSP updates are provided by your Mastercraft dealer. There are 9 possible files as of 2019.
NXT profile A (for use with NXT boats with Advanced audio and 0, 2, or 4 tower speakers)
XT Advanced Profile A (XT boats with Advanced audio and 0 or 2 8.5" tower speakers)
XT Advanced Profile B (XT boats with Advanced audio and twin pod tower speakers)
XT Premium Profile A (XT boats with Premium audio and 0 or 2 8.5" tower speakers)
XT Premium Profile B (XT boats with Premium audio and twin pod tower speakers)
X Advanced Profile A (X boats with Advanced audio and 0 or 2 8.5" tower speakers)
X Advanced Profile B (XT boats with Advanced audio and twin pod tower speakers)
X Premium Profile A (X boats with Premium audio and 0 or 2 8.5" tower speakers)
X Premium Profile B (X boats with Premium audio and twin pod tower speakers)

2020+ boats with Premium Plus audio package use the same Profile A DSP files as above. Premium plus can also be added to other boats by using 2 outputs from the 8 channel amp and it's passthrough of the cockpit zone.

For those that are running Rev 10's it is recommended to update the DSP with a profile B file. The twin pod tower speakers more closely resemble the acoustic profile of the Rev 10's.

I have not heard of anyone that has been able to modify the DSP file for custom tuning although I know of a few people that are working on it. If you have any insight on this topic, please send me a PM.


Section D. FAQs:
Has anyone added non-Klipsch amplifiers?
Yes, see section B above.

Has anyone bypassed the DSP?
Yes, but it cannot be done with retaining zone control.

Has anyone added zone control to tower speakers on a boat equipped with the advanced audio system?
Yes, this is now available as a modification from your Mastercraft dealer.




Hopefully this will become a go-to thread for people looking to improve/upgrade the Klipsch stereos in the 2018+ MasterCraft boats.

[TerribleONE]

Anyone?

I dont have my boat yet and I am trying to form a plan on if the interior speakers need to be replaced or if I can power them with a proper amp and be happy.

[MLA]

Has anyone added non-Klipsch amplifiers?

Has anyone bypassed the DSP?

These two seem to go together. Adding non-klipsch amps would certainly have to bypass their DSP box/control box.

Yes, amps have been added to ICE system, which I believe it what Mastercraft is using as the source.

I suppose you could add in a simple line level POT up stream of the Klipsch equipment.

[eecyclone]

18+ Klipsch Stereo mods

These two seem to go together. Adding non-klipsch amps would certainly have to bypass their DSP box/control box.

Yes, amps have been added to ICE system, which I believe it what Mastercraft is using as the source.

I suppose you could add in a simple line level POT up stream of the Klipsch equipment.

I finally had a chance to dive into the Klipsch system myself and learned a lot about what was going on.

1. Mastercraft is not using the zone outputs of the Murphy ICE system like other manufacturers. I figured this was the case because they have 5 zones on the screen and the Murphy ICE system only supports 4 zone outputs. Also the Murphy transom remote zone controls (+/- buttons) have no function to the Klipsch system. (Edit: a later software update enabled zone controls from the transom remote)

2. From the screen there is ONE stereo pre-out going to the Klipsch DSP. This is via a 6 pin mini DIN connector and is a low level differential balanced signal. I didn’t trace back to where it originated from at the screen because I want to keep the zone controls. See item 3.

3. The DSP also functions as the zone controller. The single stereo output of the screen feeds the input to the DSP. There is also a USB or CAN bus interface from the screen to the DSP. This is what tells the DSP the mode the boat is in (surf, wake, ski, chill, etc.) and also controls volume levels for each zone via communication.

4. The DSP has a mini din output for each zone, for a total of 5 outputs- bow, helm, cockpit, tower, subs

With these things in mind unfortunately I don’t think anyone will be bypassing the DSP and retaining the zone controls of the touchscreen.

Now for the good news- It appears the DSP is outputting a usable signal to the Klipsch amps based on readings I took with my oscilloscope. Further testing is ongoing...




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[MC25]

Wow, awesome work. Definitely keep this thread updated!!!

[MLA]

Awesome info eecylcone. Sounds like MC/Klipsch had Murphy do a one one, by passing the already build in 4 zone, which others are using, along with the remote.

Since the unit was originally built with 4 outputs and the Klipsch is only using on into their box, I dont see why you could not jump on to one of the other outputs for additional or aftermarket amps. UNLESS, they had these disabled in order to prevent this very thing.

Im not sure id want to supply an aftermarket, non-klipsch DSP amp with an output from their box.

[eecyclone]

Since the unit was originally built with 4 outputs and the Klipsch is only using on into their box, I dont see why you could not jump on to one of the other outputs for additional or aftermarket amps. UNLESS, they had these disabled in order to prevent this very thing.

I’ll check into this as a possibility. I haven’t dug around enough to locate the ICE box as Murphy shows in their installation manual. My fear is that the 4 built in outputs are not tied to the 5 zone outputs used by the Klipsch DSP, rendering the touchscreen zone control useless. However, the transom remote may still control those zones.

Im not sure id want to supply an aftermarket, non-klipsch DSP amp with an output from their box.

What’s your hesitation with doing this?




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[MLA]

I dont know enough about the processing going on with the klipsch box with the bonjovi ( or whatever 80's rocker it is) mixer and their DSP amps. Not sure what a traditional amp would sound like. Not worried about blowing something up, just not sure about the sound quality.

[DMA]

I seen this coming last year when they announced this partnership. An thought it was a horrible idea as we like to make these boat hammer.

So i jump at the chance early this spring to dive into this dsp BS. My custom had lots of question for me and the online community and soon we got a call from the factory saying the warranty would be void if we messed with the stereo. They never clarified if it would cause the screen to be part of that warranty void.

Only way I see to build any kind of decent audio system is to use a mosconi dsp or like dsp. The 6pin mini connector is common part. So no need to cut anything. Each zone is individually tuned so it might not sound that great even after the 2nd dsp. But you'll retain screen zone control. So its going to be like doing a modern car integration. Maybe idatalink maestro can help out in the future and make a box to interface these things.

[eecyclone]

To confirm my previous post on the design of the zone control- Mastercraft is NOT using the (4) zone outputs of the Murphy display in the 35 pin connector. They are using the general audio output from the 23 pin gray connector. I still have not checked to see if any of the pins in the 35 pin connector are still active for the "normal" Murphy display zone outputs.

[eecyclone]

I’m still working on the interface from the Klipsch DSP to aftermarket amps. The Klipsch DSP is outputting an 8Vpp (5.5Vrms) balanced line level signal that should be compatible with a single end grounded amplifier that can accept that strong of a signal level.

I don’t want to post more info until I’ve finished testing but as of right now I have JL HD amps powering my tower speakers. Seems like I’m getting some excess static and maybe some slight clipping.


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[Kirkusn]

I had two Rev10’s with a Syn2 amp installed, I had to put a separate volume control for the tower speakers.

[FourFourty]

I’m still working on the interface from the Klipsch DSP to aftermarket amps. The Klipsch DSP is outputting an 8V balanced line level signal that should be compatible with a single end grounded amplifier that can accept that strong of a signal level.

I don’t want to post more info until I’ve finished testing but as of right now I have JL HD amps powering my tower speakers. Seems like I’m getting some excess static and maybe some slight clipping.


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Not that it would be my first choice, but I wonder if a Polk amplifier would work well. They look almost identical (doesn't necessarily mean anything), they are made by the same company (doesn't necessarily mean anything), and they have a speaker level input (doesn't necessarily mean anything).

But maybe?!?

At least they would be tunable if they did work......

[MLA]

A polk amp would not work or work, same as any other amp will or wont. Speaker level is just another means of bringing the signal in to the amp. The difference is what the Klipsch DSP amp does with it, compared to the polk models, or any other non-DSP.

[eecyclone]

A polk amp would not work or work, same as any other amp will or wont. Speaker level is just another means of bringing the signal in to the amp. The difference is what the Klipsch DSP amp does with it, compared to the polk models, or any other non-DSP.

Are you saying the Klipsch amp does more processing of the signal? I had assumed that all of the processing of the signal was performed in the standalone DSP and that the Klipsch amps were "dumb" amps. If the Klipsch amps have DSP capabilities, they would need to be taken apart to be updated as there aren't any accessible communication ports on the outside.