affordable tower speaker options?

chewyjr15 · Newbie Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 16

do any exist that dont cost an arm and a leg? i know wet sounds are great and i will probably go with their in boat speakers but i cant justify 800 bucks for the pro 80's right now i am looking at these which are hlcd's or what ever you call them with the horn tweeter and i have read some good reviews on them plus the price is right i think later on down the road i would probably add a set of the pro 80's but seeing as how i am already going to put a down payment on a used mc 99 maristar im trying to budget!

thanks

Joey

Brit Rider · Posted: Aug 26, 2008 4:12 am Post subject:

Kickers KMT6 System is not HLCD, but is a mid way between them and standard style audio speakers. Ebay has them for $250.... You won't be disappointed.

NKCrider · Posted: Aug 26, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Ebay is your friend, i got 4 Polk speakers and 2 dual Aerial speaker cans for $350
http://www.aerialwakeboarding.com/

loudsubz · Criminal Joined: 10 Aug 2008 Posts: 77 City: Mississauga

KMT6 hands down.

I bought them in the winter when they were $179 a pair and I have been really impressed by them. If I had the money I would def go all out on Wetsounds, but my budget only allows for mid-level stuff and the kickers more than fill that quota.

Brit Rider · Posted: Aug 27, 2008 2:17 am Post subject:

loudsubz, Exactly.

WetSounds are the speakers to go for in an ideal world, ut if funds won't stretch to that, the KMT6 make a very tempting offer and far outperform standard style drivers.

GuitsBoy · Posted: Aug 29, 2008 5:26 am Post subject:

You can get the polished cans kit from DIY wake for 160, then you can get your choice of marine 6.5" speakers from online car stereo or wherever you want. They had some choices on sale as cheap as 50 bucks last time I looked. Or if youre really handy, you can make a fiberglass batwing or pods. Im gonna try and glass some pods for the boat next season.

Brit Rider · Posted: Aug 29, 2008 8:02 am Post subject:

Problem is, 6.5" drivers are still no where near the KMT6 setup... and further still from Wetsounds/NVS etc

gatorbait · Newbie Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I'm thinking of getting the KMT6's. How critical is a marine grade amp?? I'm ignorant on audio systems. What all would I need to get this setup operational(other than wires, don't you need a crossover or something)? Is there a guide anywhere I could read about setting up a system? Should I get a 4 channel amp just in case I add a couple more speakers in the boat. I have 2 6.5" speakers currently driven by the receiver. Also if the 6.5" that I have currently aren't 4ohms, I should probably replace them w/ the same impeadance of the tower speakers? Also I have read that you should split the tower/in boat speakers on the fader? Is this method ok? Also is there a better place to buy these speakers other than ebay (~$250)?

Is this amp crap? Any other fairly inexpensive choices? I would like to stay under $150.
http://cgi.ebay.com/CLARION-APX280M-MARINE-2-CHANNEL-AMPLIFIER-320W_W0QQitemZ360083905567QQihZ023QQcategoryZ18795QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Thanks

macknjack · Newbie Joined: 26 Aug 2008 Posts: 36 City: olympia

I went with the speaker cans from diy wake. They look sick being polished and all. Ran the wires neatly in the tower. I just installed the stuff with kenwood marine 6.5" speakers. I would suggest the Kenwood KAC-6404 500w. you can get it new on ebay for about $100. With the amp you can also bridge two of the 4 channels to hook up a sub or just run two more cans. I really like my set up. But as far as a marine grade amp, not that important. Just put it up off the floor and away from water.

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

Marine grade amps are necessary if it has a chance of getting wet. Otherwise you'll be fine. I have 6 JL amps, none are marine grade, but they stay 100% dry.

As far as to where to buy your stuff - try an AUTHORIZED dealer so you have a warranty. Ebay stereo stuff = no warranty I don't care what they say. Manufacturers in the stereo industry generall will not accept a warranty from the public at all, and the few that do require a receipt from an authorized dealer. So if you want a warranty, but local or from an authorized internet dealer on everything.

Best of luck,

Dusty

mneal · Outlaw Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 120 City: St. Petersburg

Marine grade amps are not required, all they are is conformal coated, but you can actually disassemble any amp and do that yourself if you want. I have had automotive amps in boats for yrs with no issues, some coated and some not. Any amp that gets wet will die, you must keep them dry.

TnR6Rida · Posted: Oct 07, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject:

I know I am a little late on this, but Polk makes some very good speakers. I have four of them on my tower and they sound great.

V8 Killer · Outlaw Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 207 City: Bridgeport

wake eater · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 272 City: knoxville

the best speakers for the $, in my opion, are memphis audio. i pulled the stock kenwoods out of my old boat & replaced them with memphis audio marine speakers & they sounded great. better than my current kickers.

gx205 · Outlaw Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 118

I'll agree with big steve, on the Polk speakers!

My boat had 4 clarion speakers originally, but I added one pair of polk speakers to my boat last summer. You could clearly hear the two polks, better than the original clarion speakers, so I swapped out the four clarion speakers, and installed four more polk speakers in their place, and it truly made a difference in the sound.

Now over the winter, I'm adding another pair of Polks to my boat, and I just won an auction on e-bay for a pair of duel polk tower speakers, to put on my tower.

I'm also adding a WS-420 equalizer to my setup, so hopefully this baot will have plenty of sound this coming summer. I have a two channel amp driving my subwoofer, a four channel amp driving the 8 speakers in the boat, and another two channel amp to drive the tower speakers.

Anyone else have a setup like this?? Any pros, or cons on the WS-420??

Thanks