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flex
02-11-2011, 04:07 PM
seeking help from the audio gods on this forum on what tower speaker upgrade i should do.

i have a little money to burn & i want to here music while wakeboarding. i've had my eyes on the KM6500.2 HLCD set up, but they are expensive; plus i have four speaker cans to fill which is double the cost. i personally don't see the need for more than two HLCD's.

i'm hoping to keep this upgrade around $500.00 (speakers only & no new cans).

are there any 6 1/2" speakers i can buy that i would be able to hear 60-75ft behind the boat other than HLCD's?


here is my current set up:
head unit KMR-44U
remote KCA-RC107MR
amp #1 ZXM700.5
sub KM10 (powered by amp #1, ported box)
twr speakers 4-db651 6 1/2" (powered by amp #1)
twr cans 2-Aerial Twin Bullets (four cans)
amp #2 ZX200.4
cabin speakers 6-KM613 (powered by amp#2) came stock with boat

kaneboats
02-11-2011, 04:13 PM
I just went through this. I don't have my Exiles yet but those who do will be sure to pipe in. Be sure to listen to them. Good luck!

lsvboombox
02-11-2011, 04:14 PM
https://forum.moomba.com/showthread.php?t=13769

not sure how much the hollow points are but they sound damn good...

never mind didnt notice they were bigger than a 6.5..

brain_rinse
02-11-2011, 04:17 PM
The Kicker KM6500.2 sounds like exactly what you are looking for. One "pair" requires 4 cans so no need to multiply the price x2.

bzubke1
02-11-2011, 04:17 PM
Check these bullet 650's out. I'm sure you would be able to hear them from wakeboarding distance. The only the would be is whether or not they would fit in your current cans. The bottom link is a video of my tower setup, it's one pair of bullet 770's.

http://www.earmarkcaraudio.com/Xcart/product.php?productid=16400&cat=0&page=1

http://vimeo.com/19816809

philwsailz
02-11-2011, 04:34 PM
seeking help from the audio gods on this forum on what tower speaker upgrade i should do.

i have a little money to burn & i want to here music while wakeboarding. i've had my eyes on the KM6500.2 HLCD set up, but they are expensive; plus i have four speaker cans to fill which is double the cost. i personally don't see the need for more than two HLCD's.

i'm hoping to keep this upgrade around $500.00 (speakers only & no new cans).

are there any 6 1/2" speakers i can buy that i would be able to hear 60-75ft behind the boat other than HLCD's?


here is my current set up:
head unit KMR-44U
remote KCA-RC107MR
amp #1 ZXM700.5
sub KM10 (powered by amp #1, ported box)
twr speakers 4-db651 6 1/2" (powered by amp #1)
twr cans 2-Aerial Twin Bullets (four cans)
amp #2 ZX200.4
cabin speakers 6-KM613 (powered by amp#2) came stock with boat

Flex-

Brain Rinse is right. You have 4 cans already, and that is perfect for the KM6500.2 HLCD system. Use the four full range channels of your ZXM700.5 in bridge mode and you will have 165 watts to each half of the tower system. You could use more power if you wanted but 165 will push them pretty good. Your budget seems right on the money too.

Phil
Kicker

bzubke1
02-11-2011, 04:37 PM
Hey phil you have any videos or anything of the new hlcd's i've been dying to see what they sound like.

flex
02-11-2011, 04:41 PM
The Kicker KM6500.2 sounds like exactly what you are looking for. One "pair" requires 4 cans so no need to multiply the price x2.

this is why i ask the gods, because i don't much about the audio world. i didn't realize the horns required an enclosure.

Prec8 the quick response!!!! going to order this set up.

EarmarkMarine
02-11-2011, 04:51 PM
flex,
If you are looking for a single pair of tower speakers and you want to reach wakeboarding range then they really have to be HLCDs.
Since you have already mentioned the Kickers I'll stick with that.
The street price for a pair of Kicker HLCDs loaded into domestically powdercoated spun aluminum pods (stay clear of raw polished) with collars is around $800. That's competitive with anything. You'll have a real challenge finding a better sounding 6.5" HLCD.

David
Earmark Marine

philwsailz
02-11-2011, 05:01 PM
Hey phil you have any videos or anything of the new hlcd's i've been dying to see what they sound like.


bzubke1-

Sorry man, I don't.

There are a few problems I perceive with videos and trying to decide how something sounds from one... The main problem can come from the camcorder... We do not know the circumstances of the video, the equipment being used, and what measures are being taken to ensure that the camcorder is not influencing the audio recording. Here is why:

Unless you are using pro recording gear, video recorders have an auto-gain ranging function that adjusts the microphone sensitivity to the sound being recorded. For very loud sounds, they automatically turn down. For very quiet sounds they automatically turn up. They do this in an attempt to provide a relatively even audio program to go along with the video being shot. Consumer grade video recorders, AKA camcorders are all about the pitcure, not the sound.... They also assume that a certain lack of audio quality is acceptable... To have sound is sufficient, without regards to the quality of the sound. The microphone(s) work, but thet is about it. They are by no means reference devices...

Say someone wants to replicate the common tower speaker video scenario with a consumer quality camcorder. When recording starts, the auto-gain function will be reducing volume since the speakers are cranked up, and the speakers will sound "X" level at the beginning up close in the video. Then as the boat goes away, the sound gets quieter in real life, but the recorder, in its attempt to keep all the sound at the same level, will start turning the volume up on the recording to keep it at "X" level. In this scenario, with a camcorder that is automatically adjusting the sound level, the boat can be a quarter mile away, and assuming there are no other nearer or louder sounds, the camcorder will still be trying to pick up the sound of the speakers to record it at the same level, with the auto-gain turned all the way up.


Now with all that being said, understand, I do not attempt to discredit anyone's video of their tower speakers. I have no idea how they were made, what equipment was used, if there was a separate audio recorder or what... I have to believe that there are good examples of videos out there, posted by people who took the audio part of the equation into account. I just don't know, so until I have informatin that speaks to the validity of the demonstartion, I tend to take them with a grain of salt.... Before taking a video as proof of performance, take the time to find out how the video was made, to make sure that pains were taken to accurately portreay the audio portion

Phil
Kicker

brain_rinse
02-11-2011, 05:20 PM
I agree that it's cool to see those vids where the boat is 1/4 mile away and you can still hear the sound, but it's really just novelty for the reasons Phil mentioned. Just think of all the times the audio gets compressed and swapped between devices before it finally makes it to your ears. Even if you assume the tower speakers are perfectly reproducing the original audio you still have to make the very ugly jumps to the camera mic > camera hdd > compressed to youtube > uncompressed to computer speakers. :)

KG's Supra24
02-11-2011, 05:22 PM
Krypt is always an option for 6.5" hlcd.

Will it get bashed around here? Sure
Will it get the job done? Absolutely.

Did I put it in my 6.5" cans? You bet
Is it in your budget with money to spare? That's why I did it.

bzubke1
02-11-2011, 05:23 PM
I hear what you're saying I just think it would be a great way to promote your new product. I know personally I made my decision to go with the hollowpoints based on the video earmark had made. I don't have a great ear for sound quality I was just looking for something that I was definatley going to be able to hear at 70 feet with the noise of the water and boat.

flex
02-11-2011, 06:00 PM
thanks for the advice guys! i did order the kicker set up since the rest of my audio is kicker.

i'll keep you posted after the install.

philwsailz
02-11-2011, 06:11 PM
thanks for the advice guys! i did order the kicker set up since the rest of my audio is kicker.

i'll keep you posted after the install.

Keep us posted. I will be glad to help out with any questions-

Phil
Kicker

KG's Supra24
02-11-2011, 06:44 PM
whoa, that was quick.

flex
02-18-2011, 10:59 PM
Flex-

Brain Rinse is right. You have 4 cans already, and that is perfect for the KM6500.2 HLCD system. Use the four full range channels of your ZXM700.5 in bridge mode and you will have 165 watts to each half of the tower system. You could use more power if you wanted but 165 will push them pretty good. Your budget seems right on the money too.

Phil
Kicker

i installed the speakers today but not sure i understand bridge mode. any help would be appreciated.

the manual that came with the speakers said to run the tweeter & speaker in parallel (one speaker wire). i have the other end (to the amp) connected to R- & L+ to amp 1 of the 700.5. i did the same for the other tweeter & speaker except connected it to amp 2 of the 700.5. (the 700.5 has two 2 ch amps & one sub)

also, xover 1 & 2 are set to HI.

is this correct?

philwsailz
02-20-2011, 11:03 PM
A quick glance says yes, that looks correct.

You have the crossover turned to hi-pass which is correct. Now go to the front of the amp and make sure that the x-over frequency for both amp1 and amp2 are set to around 100HZ.

Let us know what you think when you fire it up!

Phil
Kicker

flex
02-21-2011, 02:24 PM
A quick glance says yes, that looks correct.

You have the crossover turned to hi-pass which is correct. Now go to the front of the amp and make sure that the x-over frequency for both amp1 and amp2 are set to around 100HZ.

Let us know what you think when you fire it up!

Phil
Kicker

thanks phil!!

went for a couple of sets yesterday & there is no comparison. the kicker HLCD speakers are awesome. riding at 65 ft sounds like you are sitting in the boat (with volume to spare).

anyone considering upgrading to the HLCD speakers, it is worth it!!

philwsailz
02-21-2011, 08:07 PM
thanks phil!!

went for a couple of sets yesterday & there is no comparison. the kicker HLCD speakers are awesome. riding at 65 ft sounds like you are sitting in the boat (with volume to spare).

anyone considering upgrading to the HLCD speakers, it is worth it!!

Must be nice to be on the water. I am looking at a WalMart parking lot right now that has 15' high plowed snow piles and it is still snowing...

rdlangston13
02-21-2011, 08:10 PM
Must be nice to be on the water. I am looking at a WalMart parking lot right now that has 15' high plowed snow piles and it is still snowing...

that much snow in stillwater??? it was cold this morning in elk city but not THAT cold!

philwsailz
02-21-2011, 08:15 PM
that much snow in stillwater??? it was cold this morning in elk city but not THAT cold!

The walmart I am looking at is in Stillwater, but it is a digital snapshot from Stillwater, Minnesota... :) Sister city of sorts.... I like keeping up having been through there last year... Seems like a neat river-front town... A friend is there tonight on business and sent a shot...