17 Mojo Stereo Setup!

[rdlangston13]

Ok so I know the boat won't be here for a month but I want to be ready when it does arrive. Just placed an order with Earmark in Plano, TX for the following.

2 Pair of Rev10s with the RGB led rings
SD2 amp to push those bad boys
SD6 amp to push my cabins and sub
XS12 sub
WS420EQ
WS A link

Plan to use www.caraudiofabrication.com for a good sub box design that Cody and I can build ourselves to put that WS sub in. I'm pumped to hear how this thing is going to sound!

Any tips on how to install stuff and run wires on these new mojos is welcome!


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[David Analog]

That is a SERIOUS system. Be sure to post your subwoofer enclosure design before the build. Odin will be an excellent technical resource.

[rdlangston13]

Now if only I had a boat for all this!


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[rdlangston13]

So the local dealer has said they have had bad luck with WS420eqs producing feedback. I don't want to battle this so I was wondering, what's the best set up to prevent feedback issues or those of you who installed a 420 and had feedback, how did you fix it?


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[David Analog]

First, there really isn't an issue specifically with the 420 EQ and feedback. If you have motor noise it can be avoided by the correct installation execution, first, the wiring scheme, and second, system tuning. David, the biggest issue is that people know to use a single physical B+ supply point and a single physical ground point for all audio gear in the signal path, however, they often exclude the factory source unit from the same rule.

[rdlangston13]

First, there really isn't an issue specifically with the 420 EQ and feedback. If you have motor noise it can be avoided by the correct installation execution, first, the wiring scheme, and second, system tuning. David, the biggest issue is that people know to use a single physical B+ supply point and a single physical ground point for all audio gear in the signal path, however, they often exclude the factory source unit from the same rule.

Yeah I wasn't implying that the 420 had an issue. I knew it had to be an installation issue. So best thing to do is run the power and ground for every stereo component back to the battery?


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[EarmarkMarine]

Yeah I wasn't implying that the 420 had an issue. I knew it had to be an installation issue. So best thing to do is run the power and ground for every stereo component back to the battery?


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There are 3 issues to the noise problem that people often have when adding an EQ to a towboat.

First, you are adding another device in the signal path and another gain stage before the amplifier. If the input sensitivity is properly matched between radio and EQ, and EQ and amplifier, then you will greatly reduce your potential for noise.

Second is the issue that David mentioned, you MUST make sure that ALL power and ground connections in the audio system (radio, EQ, line driver, amplifiers, etc) are isolated to the stereo battery bank, and all boat electronics (especially LED controllers) are isolated to the house battery bank.

Third, most of the time when people are adding a device like the Wet Sounds EQ, they are doing it specifically to get independent level control of the tower zone versus interior zone. And that often means they are running HLCD speakers on the tower. The horn on a HLCD speaker is dramatically more efficient than any other speaker in the boat and it is designed to reproduce high frequencies. When you have an audio system with a signal path that includes multiple gain stages before the amplifier, then amplified through a high powered amplifier, then sent out to a speaker that is maybe 10db more efficient than the rest of the system, you're going to hear it if you have a problem. The noise floor is often higher than it should be due to poorly matched gains on the radio/eq/amplifier, but with amplified HLCD drivers it's not uncommon to hear some ambient background "hiss" when there is no music playing. Sometimes this can be tuned out, sometimes it cannot be completely eliminated, there are many variables at work.

[rdlangston13]

There are 3 issues to the noise problem that people often have when adding an EQ to a towboat.

First, you are adding another device in the signal path and another gain stage before the amplifier. If the input sensitivity is properly matched between radio and EQ, and EQ and amplifier, then you will greatly reduce your potential for noise.

Second is the issue that David mentioned, you MUST make sure that ALL power and ground connections in the audio system (radio, EQ, line driver, amplifiers, etc) are isolated to the stereo battery bank, and all boat electronics (especially LED controllers) are isolated to the house battery bank.

Third, most of the time when people are adding a device like the Wet Sounds EQ, they are doing it specifically to get independent level control of the tower zone versus interior zone. And that often means they are running HLCD speakers on the tower. The horn on a HLCD speaker is dramatically more efficient than any other speaker in the boat and it is designed to reproduce high frequencies. When you have an audio system with a signal path that includes multiple gain stages before the amplifier, then amplified through a high powered amplifier, then sent out to a speaker that is maybe 10db more efficient than the rest of the system, you're going to hear it if you have a problem. The noise floor is often higher than it should be due to poorly matched gains on the radio/eq/amplifier, but with amplified HLCD drivers it's not uncommon to hear some ambient background "hiss" when there is no music playing. Sometimes this can be tuned out, sometimes it cannot be completely eliminated, there are many variables at work.

Ok, I'll draw up how I plan to wire it all together and post it on here for any feedback. I have a month or so to plan this all out.


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[New Guy]

I'm running one and I have zero issues. The quality of RCA plays into it as well. I went with the best Stinger ones.

[David Analog]

Yeah I wasn't implying that the 420 had an issue. I knew it had to be an installation issue. So best thing to do is run the power and ground for every stereo component back to the battery?


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Yes David, that is correct. Depending on the scheme, the common points may be battery-direct or to distribution blocks. Odin will dial you in based on your specific scheme.