40 PC Stereo Upgrade
- Thread starter Ct_Formula
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James Addiction
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twarble
Member
total guess, but perhaps because they make them without the crossover as well...maybe even under a different brand name, but at the same factory.
jlanka
New member
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radiocontester
Member
jlanka
New member
OK Next question:
It currently has 2 of these:
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-ROm2oQyK1ZJ/p_113KAC7202/Kenwood-KAC-7202.html
What should I be looking to upgrade to that would be plug and play to the wiring already in place?
As usual thanks in advance.
It currently has 2 of these:
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-ROm2oQyK1ZJ/p_113KAC7202/Kenwood-KAC-7202.html
What should I be looking to upgrade to that would be plug and play to the wiring already in place?
As usual thanks in advance.
radiocontester
Member
Take a look at this https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13698224/JL-Audio-MHD600-4.html
Or you could do a JL Audio M400/4 which will not be as powerful as the MHD600 but will easily drive 4 speakers, and is half the price. The old Kenwood's are 100w per channel and the JL Audio M400/4 outputs 75w channel. The Kenwood's are so big because they are class B amplifiers with large power supplies and amplification modules. Great amps in their day, and they still sound great, but the JL Audio amps are much more efficient. They use less battery power due to their digital switching technology and run very cool, not requiring a cooling fan like the old Kenwood's. You can probably get close to $100 each if you sell them on the used market. What are you doing for a subwoofer?
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jlanka
New member
Thanks RC. So I would need 2 of the JL Audio amps to replace the 2 Kenwoods? I think the answer is yes but just confirming. I like the extra benefit of using less battery while on the hook.
AFA subwoofer, it is a stock setup so it's got the sub under the helm seat. Is there a separate amp somewhere for that? If not would that affect my JL Audio amp decision?
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AFA subwoofer, it is a stock setup so it's got the sub under the helm seat. Is there a separate amp somewhere for that? If not would that affect my JL Audio amp decision?
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radiocontester
Member
Just one 4 channel amp would replace the two 2 channel Kenwoods. The other option would be to install two JLAudio 2 channel amps, the 75w per channel M200/2.......or two 4 channel M400/4's but bridge the channels to make each one a more powerful 2 channel amp.
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radiocontester
Member
That is a powered 10" subwoofer. I removed it from my boat. For the cabin I'm running a JL Audio M500/3, 3 channel amp. Two channels are for the C2 650's and the sub channel drives a 10" enclosed sub placed in the stateroom closet.I just noticed there's another box below the Kenwoods, not sure what it is
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James Addiction
Member
That's a self contained 8" subwoofer. All it needs from the head unit is power and audio inputs. Maybe RC can speak for its quality. I'm not sure I ever heard mine before I removed it a couple months ago to upgrade my entire system. This is the 10" pictured.
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James Addiction
Member
RC - How many hours of stereo use do you get out of your batteries on the hook before needing to recharge or turning the generator on?
radiocontester
Member
Last year I used a dedicated Interstate Deep Cycle battery for the amplifiers and never ran out of juice after 6-7 hours of use off the grid.....playing music at background levels. Since I added a 4th amp this year I upgraded to two Northstar AGM's wired in parallel.
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James Addiction
Member
Wow! That sounds really good. I went down yesterday to power up my new system for the first time expecting to adjust input sensitivity (output voltages) and within 30 minutes or so my single deep cell installed just to try the system dropped to below 8 volts and my new MHD 900/5 was warm with flashing amber LED compared to the MHD 600/4 next to it with steady green LED. No speakers attached. Battery tests good today after recharging. I need to get in touch with JL Audio. Crutchfield didn't have an answer right away before determining if the battery was going to be the problem. It is not. I'm afraid it must be the new amp. We shall see.
radiocontester
Member
Those MHD amps are great but they draw more power than the M series and are more sensitive to low voltage conditions. The M series are more forgiving in that regard. Very odd....is your battery new? Sounds like a bad cell.
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James Addiction
Member
Battery is only 1 1/2 year old and tested good today after recharging. I have a proper battery tester. I've emailed JL Audio to see what they have to say.
radiocontester
Member
Ok...what make/model battery? If they go as low as 8V thats not good....it may charge to correct V but if cell was damaged from deep discharge it may be bad. Its happened to me before.
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jlanka
New member
Oh - that's good news. I was thinking I would have to spend 2 grand, 1 is a lot more reasonable (for the MHD600/4). In your opinion am I sacrificing anything by doing that versus 2 M400/4s?
Also - what is driving the subwoofer in my stock setup (the one in the helm seat)? One of the Kenwoods? Do I need to get a separate amp for that or does the MHD600/4 handle it?
I'm going to head down there now to figure out what the Concept sub is hooked up to, wasn't even aware of that and wondering if it's even hooked up (I don't think it is)
Again thanks for all your assistance here.
Jeff
