Anyone using an MP3 p-layer hooked up to their stereo ?

[gx205]

I'm in the process of a major overhaul of my stereo system, in my boat.

I presently have a Clarion head unit, with 6 speakers, and one subwoofer in my boat. 4 of the speakers are clarion, and the other 2 are polks. I have a 2 channel amp running my subwoofer, and another 2 channel amp running my 6 speakers.

I'm getting ready to replace the 4 clarion speakers with 4 more polks, plus add another pair of polks to have a total of 8 speakers in the boat, plus the one subwoofer. I'm going to keep the same 2 channel amp hooked to the subwoofer, and add a 4 channel amp to run the boat speakers.

The other 2 channel amp that I had originally running the baot speakers will now run the 4 polk tower speakers that I'm also adding.

This will make a total of 12 speakers on my 20' boat. Is this too much, or do you guys think this will be a good setup??

I just bought a wetsounds WS420, that I will hook all of my amps into, so that I can control the subwoofer, boat speakers, and tower speakers to hopefully fit my needs.

The wetsounds Ws420, has an imput for an MP3 player. Does anyone know if this is a good place to hook up an MP3 player, or should I hook it up to the main radio unit??

I have two wired remotes on my boat, is there anyway to control the mp3 player with the main units remotes?? I'm sure I can adjust the volume,but can you actually change songs??

Any info will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in advance

[jonyb]

I sometimes use a Slacker.com Portable in my boat. I plugged it into the WS-420 and could only control the volume through the mp3 player, and it didn't have enough output to sound right.

[gx205]

Thanks jonyb,

My Clarion radio has an aux line, that some have told me you just plug your mp3 player into that. This way I'm sure I could run the volume up and down, but I highly doubt if i'll be able to change songs.

This is why I was asking about the wetsounds ws420 hookup, would it be any better? I guess if I at least hook it up to my main radio, then when I use the microphone on the ws420, it's volume should be turned down as i speak. Right??

By the way jonyb, thanks for messaging me about the ws420. If I would have known you sold them, I would have most likely dealt with you. i just didn't check my messages soon enough.

Thanks

[jonyb]

Well I was just gonna say that if you were local you could come by our shop and pick one up.....

Tim would have to chime in on the aux. input for the 420 to be sure, but I think you'd be better off using the aux input on the head unit over the WS-420.

[wetsounds1]

The aux input on the WS-420 is designed to plug an MP3 player right in. You can use a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (headphone jack cable) From the head phone jack out from your MP3 player to the Aux input of the WS 420.

jonyb- Sounds like you may have had the mp3 player plugged into the Boat Link output and not the Aux input. They are right next to each other.

The WS-420 has a feature we call Boat Link. It allows you to come from the output of one boat to the aux input of another 420 equipped boat. Alowing you to have one source to multiple boats. As you can daisy chain them.

So with an MP3 player. All you have to do is plug it into the aux input and set the volume on your MP3 player to about 3/4 volume. Push the aux/main button to aux on the 420. And the 420 will control your volumes. You still have to change tracks on your MP3 player of course.

This is the better way to do it unless your head unit has a ipod cable and can control the ipod. But since it sounds like a reg mp3 player. Attaching it to the head unit does not gain you any flexibility or control of the mp3. When going into the WS 420. You can toggle back to the head unit with the push of the button on the 420 vs having to toggle through the head units radio, cd and aux etc..

The microphone on the WS 420 has it's own volume control. It mutes the tower speaker output when the key on the mic is pushed in. When the key is released, there is a small delay and the music comes back on. So the microphone works whether the main source is on or if the mp3 player is plugged into the aux.

Also, on top of the WS 420. there are 2 sets of gain adjustments. one for the main input and one for the aux input.

Jonyb, make sure you have the MP3 into the aux input and make sure the aux gain on top of the WS 420 is turned up. you may have had the aux gain all the way down if you did in fact have it in the correct input and that is why you didn't have the volume.

There are two gains on top so you can match the mp3 player input to the main input so when swapping sources, you have the same overall volume level.

There is a step by step instruction set up guide I wrote on our site that explains how to set the gains using the 420 and your amps.

Tim
Wet Sounds

[gx205]

OK, now I'm getting some great info!!

Now wetsounds1, or Tim, by the way, that's my first name also, with the mp3 player hooked to the ws 420, will my wired remotes still control the volume??

For instance, lots of times when I go back to pick up a fallen wakeboarder, as I get close to them in the water I usually hit my "mute" button on my remote, so I can hear what they have to say.

Also now that you brought it up, I was also wondering when you press the microphone to talk, does only the tower speakers lower?? I was hoping the whole sound system of the boat would go lower as you speak.

Thanks Again for the info

[jonyb]

Tim, I had the correct input, and have used the boat link many times. I'm pretty sure the input volume was turned up. The Slacker Portable I was using probably doesn't have much output to it.

[wetsounds1]

jonyb, makes sense. I have only tested with ipods or iphones. And both have good output voltage.

gx205, the transom remotes only operate the radio. So going into the 420, you would have to use the volume of the 420. So maybe you should try the aux input on your radio as it will still give you the mute on the back of the boat. Still won't have any control of the mp3 but at least you can mute the volume.

The microphone only goes over the tower speakers as there is no reason to have a microphone blasting over the interior speakers. As the mic is designed for rider communication.

One thing to think about adding in the future. Is the Boost Box. This is not a Wet Sounds product but I own one in my boat and it works great. They have a unit for the clarion radio as well. http://shop.monstertower.com/p-104-boost-box.aspx

It installs with the included y adapter in between the transom remote out and one of the transom remotes. Takes about 10 min to install.

When you speed up, the volume turns up. Rider falls and you slow down, radio turns itself down. So no messing with mutes or pause or anything.

Works great and makes it really easy.

Tim
Wet Sounds

[jonyb]

That boost box is pretty neat. I think someone was talking about that and the RSE on WW the other day....