tower speaker question

[vonbottle]

we just ordered a makai and optioned the wiring and wetsounds amp for two tower speakers - does anyone have any more details on this option? specs on the amp? i assume the wiring is already run to each location, i.e. i don't need to do any drilling or other prep other than just mounting the speakers and connecting the wires? also, as i'm looking into speaker options, some have led lighting - is there wiring to connect the led lighting or just speaker wire supplied?

[Tommy2slow]

I had a professional shop do the install so I can’t speak to the tower wiring and I ordered my boat with the stock stereo so I also can’t comment on the amplifier specs. What I can tell you is that I love these tower speakers from MTX. The sound is great (better than the Rev 65’s in the boat driven off the same amp) and the have an attractive red LED logo on the front. They also come with LED dome lights that the shop wired to their own switch that are so handy when cleaning out the gear if we get back to the dock after dark.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201212/88ad6960f9af522db637a665d7b6df37.jpg


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[Tommy2slow]

Tapatalk is being difficult and won’t let me post additional pics. These are tiny. Get out the magnifying glass!2922529226

[vonbottle]

Tapatalk is being difficult and won’t let me post additional pics. These are tiny. Get out the magnifying glass!2922529226

so did you have the installer do the wiring, i.e. you did not order it pre-wired? looks pretty sweet on your boat, i like the lighting - did you go with 6.5" or 8"? MTX was one of the speakers i was looking at - just didn't make sense to spend like $1500 for the wetsounds speakers

[Tommy2slow]

I went with the 8” speakers. Sorry, I am not sure what the wiring is like in the tower. The installer mentioned something about tower wiring being too short to reach some wiring under the gunnel so it did ship pre-wired but I’m 99% sure that there was no wiring in the tower for lighting.

[SONIC]

You should have the wiring in the tower, as mentioned it's probably cut too short to reach the amps but I believe it's there, just extend as needed.

I've used the Kicker 8" Coaxials and was pretty happy with them, JL m880s and currently playing with some Kicker KMTC11's.
I think kicker is undervalued in the marine segment.

[vonbottle]

You should have the wiring in the tower, as mentioned it's probably cut too short to reach the amps but I believe it's there, just extend as needed.

I've used the Kicker 8" Coaxials and was pretty happy with them, JL m880s and currently playing with some Kicker KMTC11's.
I think kicker is undervalued in the marine segment.

well hopefully since i got it prewired with amp there'll be enough length, but we'll see - i just installed some outdoor speakers with some in-wall rated 12 gauge - i assume that'll be fine to extend it?......i guess i'll see when i get it, it's probably just 14 or 16 gauge if i had to guess.
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i wonder if since the makai comes with the pro tower, which has led lighting, i wonder if i could tap into that.....hmmm

i've been looking at kicker, mb quart, JL as well at crutchfield just to get an idea, they had 6.5" wetsounds for like $450 as well, but would prefer an 8"......i definitely don't need the quality of speaker like i have in my home theater, i just want something with decent bass and good sound in the under $600 range

[MLA]

Id shy away from anything meant for residential/commercial. That stuff is usually low strand count, so its stiff, making it hard to run. Also makes it prone to fracture down the road due to movement and vibration, none of which you get in a static res or commercial application.

In the past, its seems that swivel clamps are the best option for most of the Moomba towers. This allows for the pod to be clocked so the pod aims more straight back. Fixed clamps, and the pod is aimed off-axis. This may disqualify some models right out of the gate, as well as move you into a different price point. So inspect the mounting location and visualize how the speaker will mount and point, before settling on a model.

I do agree with the ideal of going with an 8" tower pod over a 6.5" You automatically get more output + better mid-bass over the smaller speaker. For an 8" coaxial, the Kicker KM8 (KMTC8 for the loaded pod with swivel clamp) is dang hard to beat.

[SONIC]

Agree with all of the above ^
Had the KMTC8 on my last boat and they were solid.

Get marine speaker wire if you need to extend anything (amazon is cheap) it's fully tinned and much better for the high humidity environment of a boat. If you use the residential stuff you'll notice strands breaking in a few years and connectors falling off a little while later.

[SONIC]

Currently playing with the KMTC11's and they are boss. Very hard to beat for the money.