Hey guys, I need to change out my front sony speakers, 1 came apart last year, getting old and too much power.....  what is the best sony speaker to replace with?  i think i want to stay with marine grade, and have always been happy with the sony brand.... or is there something better?  give me your opinions, i want to order up some stuff soon.....  

 I may also be upgrading my head unit, what sony units are recommended?  its my understanding nearly all sony decks use the same plug, so installation of a new sony would be easier than changing brands....

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

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Todd, for about 10 years now, Sony has used the same plug.  The cage will probably be different but that's an easy change out.  Do you use an iPod?  The new 420ip and 820ip units are sweet as they have a data plug coming out the back that plugs right into the bottom of the iPod.  That powers the pod as well as putting all iPod control at the radio or remote control. 

As for speakers, the old MP-62 , 2 way series is replaced by the MP-1620's.  They'll mount right up in the same holes and handle a little more power.  A bit of a freshened up look as well. 

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
266BR,496 MAG-Bravo III

Todd,

 I just replaced all of my speakers (6 of them) with Infinity 602M's.  They can handle a bit more power than the Sony 1620's and I really like the sound of them.  Very crisp sound.

I agree with O'Neil on the "i" series Sony units.  I've been looking at the Sony CDX-M50iP myself.

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I do use the ipod, and the new camper came with a very poor quality stereo, so the boat unit is heading into the camper and new one on deck....  i will look into the i series for sure....  thanks for the info on speakers as well....  

 too bad we wont be making this years big rally, last year was a blast, just too far to go..... appreciate the help!

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

Our pics.....
My Gallery

What is the difference between the 1610 and 1620???

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

Our pics.....
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MP1610 are one way, dual cone speakers; MP1620 are two way speakers (woofer + tweeter + crossover filter)...

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Stefan

2008 275CCR 496MAG B3
"Arosa"

thanks....

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

Our pics.....
My Gallery

Purchased a CDX M50iP and 2 pairs of 1620s... hopefully they get here fast.......

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

Our pics.....
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You're gonna like the way that combo sounds... Keep us posted!

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Stefan

2008 275CCR 496MAG B3
"Arosa"

Got the speakers in, definately an improvement!!!  well worth the $$ spent.....  got the new head unit, and also splurged for a 200 watt powered 10 inch bazooka....  now after i get through this weekend, daughter is graduating, I can get the new head unit and sub installed.....  first step done, 2 more to go....

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

Our pics.....
My Gallery

Finished the install yesterday.... WOW.... sounds great now....  full tones from top to bottom..... and the new head unit is a dream, control the ipod (which is tucked away safely) right from the screen.... have to figure out all the new buttons and features,, but so far...  its a great combo.

 The 10 inch powered bazooka fit nicely under the drivers side bow seat on our 202.....  was simple to run the wires around the divider board in there... sounds great too....  definately have to do some fine tuning on it.....  its not glass shaking bass, but does add a nice sound.... still shakes the floor though!!!

 Overall this new setup is great.....  with the kicker speakers on the tower, the new 1620s throughout, the infinity amp, powered 10 inch bazooka, and the new sony head unit, it all works great together.... very crisp and clear sound.....  now if it would quit raining!!!

 

 

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Wouldnt be without our Crown....
03 202 BR Spinel Wine/Gold Diamond
Monster Tower w/Racks & Speakers

Our pics.....
My Gallery

Todd,

 How easy was the install?  I have a 06 185 that definitely needs new speakers.  I believe they are probably the same speakers.  I noticed when I turn up the radio loud with a song that has alot of bass the speakers completely cut out.  Not sure if it's the deck or the speakers, but I definitely need to do something within the next two weeks as I have several Havasu trips planned for the next 2 months.

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Garth Bachman

Garth, just changing the speakers is a breeze.  Cordless screwdriver in hand, you can swap all 4 or 6 speakers in 15 minutes.  It'll take you longer to unpackage the new ones than it will to zip the old ones out, reconnect the wires to the new and put em in.  If you put the Sony 1620's in, you go to a 2 way speaker that can handle more power and will fit in the hole and same hole locations.  Other speakers will work too.  If you go non-marine, make sure they use poly and no paper.  Also best if the woofer cone is solid and the tweeter/midrange is mounted on the frame over the cone than coming out of the center of the cone.  Will help keep water from the voice coil. 

Adding an amp in a boat is easy.  Run power and ground direct from the battery to the helm area (best place for the amp is up under the dash high and dry).  Make sure and put a fuse in right at the battery.  If you're just running 1 amp, 8ga. wire should be plenty.  If more in the future or now, run 4 ga. to distribution blocks and then you can run 8ga. from those to your amps.  Run RCA's from radio to amp.  If your radio only has one set out, many 4 channel amps only need one set in and will output to all 4 speakers.  Connect your speakers wires up.  To confirm they are correct in phase, use a battery (9V, AA, it doesn't matter).  Connect what you think is the positive speaker lead that will come out of the amp to the + on the battery and the other to the -.  Cone will move out.  Cool.  Do this to all speakers and connect then to the + and - outputs at the amp.  Tie everything up nice and tidy.  Start with the amp gain below mid.  Then, with a good music source (loud cd or something), turn the head unit up to about 28 and then start gaining the amps up, one at a time, one channel at a time till the speaker starts to distort.  Back off slightly.  Do the same for each.  To isolate, you can unplug RCA's from the amp inputs.  Mentally, think of 28 as your "drunk proof" number.  No matter what, don't go above this volume unless you can hear the speakers and know they can handle more.  Some of the old music might need to be pushed louder.  You should be pretty close....

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
266BR,496 MAG-Bravo III

Mike,

Thanks for the information.  I'm definitely getting new speakers this week and will go with the 1620's and see how that sounds.  After that I'll consider the amp.

Thanks again for the information.

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Garth Bachman

How many speakers do you have now Garth?  4?

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
266BR,496 MAG-Bravo III