Help with Boat Stereo Speaker and OHMs??

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Help with Boat Stereo Speaker and OHMs??

rgoulter

105 posts

Master Geek

#180570 14-Sep-2015 09:47

I have this Fusion boat stereo

http://www.fusionentertainment.com/marine/products/head-units-50-series/ms-ra50
FUSION RA50 Product Specifications
Fuse rating 7.5 Amp
Maximum Power Output 40W x 2
Operating Voltage 10 - 16 VDC
Pre-Output Voltage 3V

I purchased these 4 OHM speakers and hooked them up but they sounded cheap and tinny. http://www.fusionentertainment.com/marine/products/speakers/MS-BX402

Product Specifications
Efficiency (1W/1M) 87dB
Frequency Response 90Hz - 22kHz
Impedance 4 Ohms Peak Power (Watts) 120

I am looking at buying these 8 OHM speakers as a replacement.

Dayton Audio IO525W 5-1/4" 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speaker Pair
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321501717462

Question I have is with my setup can I change to the 8ohm speakers on ebay? and will my head unit be able to handle those speakers (40W x 2 channel)? I'm hoping for better sound quality and increased volume range. Thanks in advance for any helpful posts

trig42

5811 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1387038 14-Sep-2015 09:53

I would have thought that 8ohm speakers will be quieter.
4ohm should be about right for your stereo. Are you sure you connected them up in phase? (so +ve to +ve, -ve to -ve correctly on both speakers). A good way to test is using the Balance function on the head unit, moving it all to one side (left or right) then back to balanced. If it is louder on full left or full right, than with both speakers running, then they are not in phase and are basically cancelling each other out (bass will be very weak).

Also, how are the speakers mounted? do they have a cavity behind them or just open air? They will should a lot better in a box (like car speakers - the cavity for them is the inside of a door, or the inside of the boot). They will sound weak if they are just sitting in free air.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#1387047 14-Sep-2015 10:16

For one, those speakers don't appear to be suited to a marine environment. Secondly, 8 ohms is wrong for that headunit. I am sure you can find better boxed marine speakers in 4 ohm if you look around. Those look like the drivers are really small like 4" but it's hard to tell from the photo. You really want something with at least 6.5" drivers.

hsvhel

1237 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1387052 14-Sep-2015 10:26

The 8 Ohm speakers you have listed there are not suitable for either the marine environment or the head deck.

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rgoulter

105 posts

Master Geek

#1387093 14-Sep-2015 11:34

Thanks for the replies.

Firstly re marine environment suitability, the speaker location in my boat means they will never get wet or splashed also I dont mind if they only last a couple of years.

The fusion speakers are 2 way with 4 inch cone and are boxed and thus mounting location and air behind them will not effect the sound. They were connected in phase correctly (i double checked) but they sounded awful with no bass at all.

The ebay speakers are larger with 5.5 inch cones and i was buying based on this review...
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-outdoor-speakers/

The fusion 4 inch speakers cost me ~$220 and the Dayton Audio speakers are about the same price landed in NZ. I have no doubt they would sound better being bigger and having good reviews.

I've looked around for 4ohm outdoor speakers but cant find any due to the ohms not being specified or not having good reviews for $220 price range.

If I used bigger core speaker wire would that help? I'm limited in that the speaker wire connection to the head unit is thin wires so I wouldnt have thought thicker speaker wire would make a difference as bottlenecked by the existing thin connector speaker wire.

What about if I brought a cheap car stereo AMP? The head unit has an AMP power out. Would an AMP help with the 4 to 8 ohms conversion either by increasing the power to the speakers or doing the 4 to 8ohm conversion? If I brought an AMP as the solution what output should I be looking for to allow me to use the 8ohm Dayton Audio speakers?

What about this AMP?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-stereos/amplifiers/2-channel/auction-946165652.htm

trig42

5811 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1387099 14-Sep-2015 11:46

HWat about a decent set of car speakers, surely you can get them cheaper than $220?

Would 6x9s fit, or a decent set of 6's?

For example: http://www.qualitycaraudio.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=68_116&product_id=6605

lots of others on that site.

MikeB4

18435 posts

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Trusted

#1387102 14-Sep-2015 11:52

I had non marine grade speakers in one of my boats and also thought that because they were in the cabin/flytop they would be OK. Unfortunately salt laden air/mist gets everywhere and the speakers deteriorated quickly. What sort of boat are you installing on and where in the craft are you intending to put them?

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#1387105 14-Sep-2015 12:02

You may need to reset your expectations a bit on bass. Even a 5.5" or 6.5" driver isn't going to give you much in the way of bass in an outdoor environment. It may not be quite as thin as a 4" driver but it's hardly going to blow your mind either.

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rgoulter

105 posts

Master Geek

#1387118 14-Sep-2015 12:18

can someone please answer my questions about getting an AMP to solve the problem as that trademe auction finishes in 35 mins

i.e. a 2 x 150 RMS amp going to those 8ohm 40 watts RMS/75 watts max speakers - would that work?

thanks

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

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Vocus

#1387122 14-Sep-2015 12:24

rgoulter: can someone please answer my questions about getting an AMP to solve the problem as that trademe auction finishes in 35 mins

i.e. a 2 x 150 RMS amp going to those 8ohm 40 watts RMS/75 watts max speakers - would that work?

thanks

It should be happy driving 8 ohms in 2ch bridge mode.