JOey Knapp

Hurricane Sundeck Boat Gets JL Audio Marine Upgrades

July 13, 2021 By JOey Knapp

This local client was referred to us at Pinnacle Autosound for some marine audio upgrades to his Hurricane Sundeck boat. The boat had some previously installed equipment in it, but it was nowhere near the level of performance the client was looking for. After speaking with the client about his goals, we came up with a solution that would surely fit his needs.

JL Audio Source Unit

The black Starboard panel was crafted to fit the available space on the console.

We mounted the radio within easy reach of the captain.

To give the client the ability to not only use his phone to play music, but also listen to FM radio, we installed a JL Audio MM-50 radio. The JL Audio Media Master radio was to be installed to the right of the steering wheel. Because the previous radio had a different shape than the new JL Audio radio, we needed to make an adapter plate. This is a task we are always up to. We stock sheets of starboard in black and white, as well as acrylic in black, white, and clear and in various thicknesses. These plastics coupled with our large supply of stainless steel hardware give us the materials needed to install marine products properly. For this boat, some black Starboard and a handful of stainless screws gave us a clean way to mount not only the new radio but also the subwoofer control knob.

JL Audio Marine Amplifiers

Once the radio was installed it was time to move on to the amplifier installation. To power all the speakers in the boat we chose the JL Audio M600/6 amplifier. This 6 channel amplifier provides each speaker with 75 watts of clean power. We chose the M series amplifiers for this project to compliment the premium M6 speakers we would be using. To power the subwoofers, we used the MX500/1. The MX series amplifiers pack quite a bit of power into a very small footprint. Their high efficiency make them great for use on boats.

Premium M6 Speakers and Subwoofers

Midway through the boat we used another set of speakers.

Thanks to the 6 pairs of speakers, there wasn’t a bad seat in the boat!

A pair of M6 speakers were used in the bow of the boat.

The two 10″ subwoofers were mounted under the stern seat.

When it came time for speakers, the premium JL Audio M6 speakers were the choice for this Sundeck. The M6 speakers provide plenty of loud and clear sound, without a hint of distortion. To maximize the efficiency of the speaker system we chose the 7.7″ speakers. These speakers provide additional output over the traditional 6.5″ speaker size. The speakers were mounted in the front, sides, and back of the boat, for great audio coverage anywhere someone might choose to sit. To reinforce the low end, we again called on the M6 line from JL Audio. This time it was 2 10″ subwoofers. The subwoofers were mounted facing each other in the rear cubby area. These subwoofers, powered by the MX500/1 amplifier produce some great sounding bass.

Marine Audio Upgrades Are Successful!

With the installation finished it was time to clean up the boat. We always make sure the boats (and cars!) we return back to clients are in cleaner condition than they came to us in. When the client picked up the boat he loved the loud, effortless sound the M6 speakers produced. He had his own personal floating concert venue! We have worked on hundreds of boats and know what it takes to make them sound great. If you are looking for any audio upgrades for your boat, give us a call or contact us through our contact form.

Premium Stereo Upgrade for Lake City Ford F-250 Pickup Truck

June 11, 2021 By JOey Knapp

A previous client from here in Lake City brought his 2015 Ford F-250 pickup truck to Pinnacle Autosound for a stereo system upgrade. We’d worked on the client’s boat in the past, and he was very happy with the enhancements we installed. He wanted the stereo in the Ford to play louder, sound clearer and, of course, deliver much better bass response. After inspecting the vehicle and talking to the client about his listening preferences, our team put together a premium audio upgrade that would deliver on all his expectations.

Ford F-250 Pickup Truck Stereo Upgrade

We used our laser to cut the ABS adapters for the Morel tweeters to mount in the factory location.

The rear doors got upgraded with the Morel coaxials.

The speaker adapter plates were reinforced with sound deadener.

The Morel Virtus speakers were a huge upgrade over the stock speakers.

The front doors were retained their great stock look, but sound much better.

We started the project by removing the stock speakers to make way for new drivers from Morel. Our team used a set of ABS plastic adapters to mount the 6.5-inch woofers from a Virtus 602 component set in the OE speaker location in the front doors. The adapters are lined with sound deadening to make them more rigid. We mounted the tweeters from the Virtus 602 set in the stock locations at the top of the sail panels, and we made ABS brackets to hold the tweeters in place behind the grilles.

For rear speakers, we used a set of Morel Tempo Ultra Integra 602 two-way coaxial speakers in the doors. While the door trim panels were off, we treated the inner and outer door skins with sound deadening to make the interior of the vehicle quieter.

JL Audio Subwoofers Add Impact and Warmth

Our Thunder Laser was used to create the acrylic trim plate.

LED lighting and chrome trim was used to accent the bottom of the enclosure.

Different layers of trim were used to accent the front of the enclosure

We were able to squeeze all of the electronics on the back wall.

The next step in upgrading the stereo in this pickup truck was to construct a custom enclosure for a pair of 13.5-inch JL Audio 13TW5 subwoofers. The enclosure fits under the rear seats with the subs pointed down at the floor. We added a custom trim piece to the face of the enclosure with a panel that bears Ford’s Platinum logo. We used our CNC laser to etch the logo into a sheet of cast acrylic. The trim is wrapped in gray vinyl, and the rest of the enclosure is finished in a gray carpet that matches the interior of the vehicle. Blue LED lighting under the enclosure and behind the accent piece gives the whole thing some extra style.

The subwoofers are powered by a JL Audio RD1000/1 monoblock amplifier that’s mounted to the back wall of the truck. A four-channel Morel MPS 4.400 amplifier that’s mounted beside the sub amp provides power for the front and rear speakers. The amplifiers, passive crossovers for the front speakers and the system’s signal processor are affixed to a carpeted panel to keep things tidy.

We used a PAC AmpPRO interface to connect the new audio equipment to the factory radio. This interface extracts the audio signal that’s normally fed to the factory-installed amplifier and provides a full-bandwidth, processing-free signal that we used to upgrade the sound system in this truck. The preamp outputs of the PAC interface are connected to a JL Audio TwK-88 digital signal processor.

Signal Processing Improves Car Audio System Accuracy

The TwK-88 processor handles frequency filtering for the sub and speakers in the truck. We also used it to equalize the output of each speaker to deliver a smooth and natural response that’s free from peaks and valleys. Finally, we set the signal delays and output level adjustments so that the system would create a very realistic soundstage that spans the width of the dash.

We upgraded the TwK-88 with a JL DRC-205 remote level control, which we mounted on the dash to the left of the steering column. We created a trim ring for the remote with our computer-controlled laser to identify the functions of the adjustments.

North Florida’s Best Car Audio Upgrades

With the audio system installation complete and the processor and level controls on the amplifiers dialed-in, it was time for the client to return to pick up his F-250. He was thrilled with the sound of the upgraded stereo in his truck and loved that everything was integrated so nicely.

If you are interested in upgrading the audio system in your vehicle, drop by Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City and speak with one of our Product Specialists. If you can’t come by the store, give us a call or send us an email using our online contact form.

Lake City Pontoon Boat Receives Upgraded Stereo System

March 12, 2021 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

The owner of this pontoon boat was referred to Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City by our neighbors at Sound Line Design. The client let us know that the Infinity radio was broken and the speakers didn’t sound very good. He wanted a sound system that would be loud enough to be heard when out on the water or partying with friends. After inspecting the boat to determine the available space for upgrades, we put together an audio system design that would meet his expectations.

Pontoon Boat Stereo Upgrade

JL Audio’s M600/6 amplifier is one of our favorite marine amplifiers.

Our laser cut adapter plate was used to retro fit the JL radio in the old radio location.

We started the project by removing the Infinity radio. Our fabrication team created a mounting trim piece for a JL Audio MediaMaster MM100s-BE that would cover the large opening left by the previous radio. We mounted the controller for the Power Pole anchoring system on the left side of this acrylic panel.

The output of the JL MediaMaster feeds a six-channel JL Audio M600/6 amplifier. This amp can produce up to 75 watts per channel for the new speakers and 200 watts for the subwoofer. We mounted the amp on a sheet of white HDPE (starboard) using stainless-steel fasteners. We always use corrosion-resistant hardware when upgrading boats.

Marine Speakers Bring the Party To Life

The six pairs of speakers ensured great sound throughout the boat.

The two bow speakers were replaced with new JL Audio speakers.

The titanium silver JL speakers were chosen to blend in with the boat upholstery.

A JL Audio 10″ subwoofer was added to enhance the low end sound reproduction.

This pontoon’s upgrade includes three pair of JL Audio M3-650X-S-Gm 6.5-inch coaxial speakers mounted around the boat. We also added a single JL M3-10IB-S-Gm-4 10-inch infinite-baffle subwoofer just beside the helm to ensure that the system would reproduce the lowest notes of the client’s music.

The client was thrilled with the way the stereo system upgrade on his pontoon boat turned out. It sounds clean and clear at high volume levels, and the sub gives it a nice warm sound.

If the stereo on your boat doesn’t sound amazing, drop by Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City and speak with a member of our team. We’d be happy to design and install a custom audio system that will make your time on the water even more enjoyable. For more information or to schedule a personal consultation, give us a call or send us an email using our online contact form.

Stereo and Lighting Upgrade for Lake City Alumacraft Boat

March 10, 2021 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

The owner of Sound Line Design, the home theatre company that we share our building with, recently asked the Pinnacle Autosound team to upgrade the stereo and lighting on his 2019 Alumacraft boat. He wanted to listen to music and needed a nice, bright light for docking and navigating once it was dark. We inspected the vessel and came up with a plan that would deliver the features he wanted.

Alumacraft Marine Stereo Upgrade

The client was blown away by the output of the JL Audio M6-880 speakers.

Once the plate was cut out on our laser, we used it as a template for cutting out the switch holes.

The new acrylic trim plate helps integrate all the new pieces into the dash.

The audio system we designed for the boat is simple but uses high-quality components to ensure that it will sound great. We started with a JL Audio MediaMaster MM100s-BE digital media receiver as the source. Our team cut a custom trim panel for the radio out of HDPE plastic using our CNC laser. We added openings for a few switches and the remote control for the Power Pole shallow water anchoring system. We included the Alumacraft logo in the panel for a little extra flair.

The output of the MediaMaster feeds for a four-channel JL Audio MX280/4 amplifier. This amplifier is rated to produce 50 watts of power per channel. We wired the amp in what’s known as a bridged configuration to power a single pair of speakers. Wired this way, the amp will provide as much as 140 watts to each driver.

We mounted a set of JL Audio M6-880X-S-GmTi 8.8-inch coaxial speakers on either side of the center console helm. These speakers are a two-way design with a large 1.25-inch tweeter. They not only sound great, but their large size allows them to produce impressive amounts of bass.

Marine Lighting Solution

With the stereo system buttoned-up, we turned our focus to adding the lighting our neighbor wanted. We suggested one of the Radiance-Series LED light bars from Rigid Industries. This 20-inch bar produces more than 7,100 lumens of output to ensure safe navigation as the sun sets. We mounted the light on top of the tubular aluminum frame around the windshield. To keep things neat and tidy, all the wiring is run through the frame. The left-most switch beside the radio controls the light bar.

We also added a pair of drink holder pockets to the top of the console so he could keep beverages safe and secure while on the water.

Lake City’s Best Marine Stereo Systems

With the stereo system dialed-in and the light bar aimed properly, we let our neighbor know his Alumacraft was ready to go! He loved the way the stereo sounded and was amazed by the cool trim around the radio. The light bar was exactly what he wanted. If you are interested in upgrading the stereo or lighting on your boat, drop by Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City or send our team an email using our online contact form.

Premium Stereo Upgrade for Steinhatchee Invincible Fishing Boat

March 5, 2021 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A client from down in Steinhatchee recently brought his Invincible Fishing Boat to Pinnacle Autosound for a sound system upgrade. The client had done business with Sound Line Design – the home theatre company in the same building as us. When he mentioned that he wanted to upgrade the stereo on his bout, they sent him our way. The boat came with a pair of JL Audio amplifiers, two subwoofers, and six matching speakers. While this might be enough for most people, this client wanted much more. After reviewing how the system was configured, we put together a package that would play louder and sound even better.

JL Audio Marine Speaker Upgrade

Midway through the boat another pair of speakers were added for uniform sound.

The very front of the bow was upgraded with a pair of JL Audio coaxial speakers.

The sides of the console were home to the pair of JL Audio subwoofers.

A pair of M6-880’s were added to the stern of the boat.

The speaker lighting provides ambient light throughout the boat when the sun goes down.

Thankfully, our install bay is 50 feet long. Once we had this Invincible and its trailer inside, there were only a few feet left to walk around it!

In terms of the audio system upgrade, the first order of business was to install three sets of JL Audio M6-880X-C-GwGw-I 8.8-inch coaxial speakers. Aside from being part of the top-of-the-line M6 Series, these speakers also include JL’s Transflective LED lighting system. The lights are mounted below the translucent woofer cone to keep them away from water but illuminate the speaker beautifully.

Our team ran new wiring to each speaker location in the bow and stern of the boat, along with the pair mounted on either side of the center console to power the RGB lighting.

The next step was to upgrade the subwoofers with a pair of M6-10IB-C-GwGw-i-4 10-inch drivers. Also part of the M6 family, these subs have the same gloss white classic grille and Transflective illumination as the speakers. The subs are mounted in recessed baffles on either side of the helm.

We always use stainless steel fasteners when upgrading the accessories on boats, ATVs and side-by-sides to ensure there is no chance of anything corroding when exposed to water.

Invincible Boat Marine Amplifiers

The boat came with a JL Audio M600/1 subwoofer amp and an M600/6 to power the original speakers. We added a second M600/6 amplifier and rewired all six speakers in what’s called a bridged configuration. This ups their power delivery from 75 watts to an impressive 200 watts. Given the upgrade to M6 drivers, the system can play a LOT louder without distorting.

Marine Radio and Lighting Integration

Our modifications on the dash look like a factory upgrade.

Our laser cut plate expertly integrated the radio and lighting controller into the boat.

The boat came with a SiriusXM receiver integrated into the Garmin multifunction display in the helm. We added a JL Audio MediaMaster MM100s-BE digital media receiver to the boat to provide Bluetooth audio streaming capabilities. We connected the JL radio to the Garmin screen using the NMEA-2000 built-in interface.

The radio is mounted in the helm on a laser-cut and engraved panel that we fabricated with our Thunder Laser Nova 63. We mounted the knob for the JL Audio MLC-RW LED controller to the left of the radio and added the Invincible Boat logo just above it. The controller will let the client change the color of the LED lights in the speakers and subwoofers, adjust their intensity or configure them to cycle through a rainbow of colors. He can also connect to the lighting control module using an app on his smartphone and the built-in Wi-Fi receiver.

Columbia County’s Best Marine Audio Upgrades

After about two days of work, we had the upgraded audio system in this Invincible boat installed. The amplifiers’ settings were configured so the system would sound crystal clear, even with the volume cranked. The client was thrilled with the upgrade and loves how loudly the system plays. If you are shopping for an audio system upgrade for your boat, drop by Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City and speak with one of our Product Specialists. You can also reach us by phone or e-mail using our online contact form.

Lake City Hyundai Santa Fe Gets CarPlay Radio Upgrade

October 28, 2020 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A client from Lake City recently contacted us at Pinnacle Autosound about upgrading his daughter’s Hyundai Santa Fe with an Apple CarPlay radio and a backup camera. We offer a number of radios that feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We hand pick radios from the top brands, Kenwood and Sony, for their excellent CarPlay options. After discussing different radio options with the client we settled on the Kenwood DDX5707S.

Safe and Handsfree Phone Access

The Kenwood DDX5707S offers many features that bring the technology in this first generation Santa Fe to the 2020’s. Most importantly the DDX5707S offers Apple CarPlay that gives the user handsfree control of their smartphone for safer driving. The client’s daughter will now be able to safely listen to music, navigate using numerous navigation apps, and even text with both hands on the steering wheel! Our technicians mounted the microphone above the rearview mirror, so it was sure to provide clear sound quality for those on phone calls with the client.

Backup Safety by Echomaster

To further enhance the safety of the vehicle the client requested the addition of an Echomaster backup camera. We exclusively sell Echomaster cameras because of their outstanding quality and value. Echomaster not only offers clients to the aftermarket segment but also to OEM manufacturers. We mounted the camera over the license plate, a location we determined would be perfect for the Santa Fe. The camera was adjusted to give the driver a rear view that includes a bit of the bumper to help judge closeness to objects while backing up.

CarPlay Available at Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City

If you are interested in adding Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to your vehicle, give us a call or email. To see Apple CarPlay in person, stop by our store. Make sure to check out our Echomaster backup camera display, too!

2019 Camaro Bass Package for Lake Butler Client

January 10, 2020 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A client from Lake Butler stopped by Pinnacle Autosound to inquire about adding some bass to his granddaughter’s new Camaro. The grandfather said his granddaughter was happy enough with her Bose system, but the system was lacking in bass output. We had an appointment cancel just before he stopped by, so we were able to work him in that afternoon.

Interfacing the Factory Radio

The factory radio was retained in this Camaro.

The JL Audio interface was designed to for high power factory systems.

This Camaro came with a wimpy factory subwoofer. To interface with the new JBL bass package, we enlisted the help of a JL Audio LOC 22. The LOC 22 is designed to take the high power output of a factory amplifier and created a signal that the JBL system can use. It is important to have a good understanding of the systems being interfaced with, using a wrong adapter could result in premature failure.

All-in-one JBL Bass Package

The JBL package features a heavy grille to protect the subwoofer.

The client still had plenty of trunk space left.

The remote level control provides easy access to control the bass output.

To provide the client’s granddaughter with more bass output we chose the JBL BassPro system. This system features a sturdily built enclosure that houses a ported 12″ subwoofer and a optimally matched onboard amplifier. The subwoofer is protected by two heavy steel bars. The compact package yields quite a bit of space with a small footprint. To provide the driver with the ability to blend in just the right amount of bass, we added a remote subwoofer level control knob just belofw the dashboard.

Camaro Bass Upgrade Success

After just under two hours of work we had the Camaro bass system installed and tuned. The JBL bass package provided more than enough bass to add some much needed excitement to the factory Bose system. The grandfather was happy with the work we did and knew his granddaughter would enjoy driving her car even more now! Give us a call or contact us today if you are interested in learning more about bass upgrades for your vehicle.

Protect Yourself with a Dashcam: An Unfortunately True Story

November 25, 2019 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I was working in our bay at Pinnacle Autosound when I heard the sadly familiar sound of a collision at the intersection in front of our facility. While thankfully everyone involved was safe, the turmoil did not end at impact. Read on to find out more about how a dashcam could save you in more than one way if you’re involved in an accident like this.

Our building is equipped with a number of security cameras. Naturally curious, we checked the footage after the wreck to see what had happened. The two main vehicles involved were a white car and a black car. Watching the footage, it was clear that traffic was flowing in both directions when the white car appeared to attempt a left turn. As a result, the black car and a truck hit the white car. Everyone who viewed the footage agreed that the actions of the white car caused the accident. The EMS and wrecker crews did their jobs and the day went on.

The next day, the driver of the black car came to our store, asking whether we had video footage of the collision. The owner of the white car was suing them over the accident. The driver was still rattled from the incident and now had the additional stress of being sued for an accident they did not believe they had caused. We gave them the footage and wished them the best.

Products That Make A Difference

Many of the products we sell are for entertainment purposes. I like to think those products enrich the lives of our clients. A segment of our products, however, falls into the safety category. These are items like backup camera systems and dash cameras, which certainly offer more benefit than entertainment. In the case of the accident that we had footage of, a dash camera system would have been beneficial for the driver of the black car.

Dashcams Can Save the Day

If the driver of the black car had a dashcam in their vehicle, they would have had the footage necessary to prove their innocence. Because it is always recording, a dashcam is a bit of inexpensive insurance. Let’s take a closer look at what a dashcam does and the features it offers.

The Basics of a Dashcam

The market is full of dashcams these days. Models range from sub-$100 versions that you can pick up at the local auto parts store to full-featured cameras that provide additional safety features. The one thing all of the cameras have in common is that they record video from the front of the vehicle while you drive. Dashcams are typically mounted to the front windshield near the rearview mirror (the closer to the center of the car, the better). Nicer camera models will include a rear camera, to monitor the back of the vehicle also. The footage from the camera is stored on a memory card that can be removed and inserted into a computer for viewing. Some dashcams have built-in screens for viewing, while others rely on smartphone apps for viewing and control.

Dashcam Driving Safety Features

The nicer cameras, like our flagship model at Pinnacle Autosound, the Thinkware Q800PRO do much more than just record video. Premium dashcams like the Q800PRO include a suite of safety features to proactively assist the driver.

Many newer cars come with lane departure warning systems. Some even take over the car in attempt to avoid a collision. Thinkware features the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which has three components. The first is a forward warning. If the camera senses road hazards ahead (such as a car abruptly stopping), it alerts the driver with an audible warning. The second component falls more into the convenience column, in that it will alert the driver if cars in front of the car start to move after sitting still in traffic. The third feature is the lane departure warning system. This component vigilantly monitors the road ahead and if the driver starts to veer out of their lane, a warning is sounded. If the warnings aren’t your thing, any or all of them can be turned off through the smartphone app.

Dashcam Parking Features

The Q800PRO doesn’t just protect your vehicle while driving. When you park your car, the camera continues to keep watch on it. The smart engineers at Thinkware came up with two types of recording while the vehicle is parked. The first is a time-lapse recording, in which the camera is recording fewer frames per minute, and thus using less energy. The second is an energy-saving impact mode. If the camera senses an impact to the vehicle, it begins to record, to provide footage of the impact.

Dashcam Parental Features

The final protection offered by the Q800PRO is for parents. These cameras allow parents to keep track of a vehicle via the Thinkware Cloud app. The app displays the location of the vehicle as well as its speed and the direction it’s travelling.

Another useful feature for parents is the geofencing feature. Using the Cloud app, the parent can set up digital “fences” that are triggered by the vehicle’s location. Alerts can be set up to notify the parents when the vehicle leaves or enters a particular area.

Dashcams at Pinnacle Autosound

We don’t know how the lawsuit between the two drivers turned out. But a dashcam in either vehicle certainly would have given the drivers some peace of mind.

If this saga hits home with you and helps you see the need for a dashcam, trust the experts at Pinnacle Autosound to help you with your purchase. We sell a number of dashcams to fit anyone’s budget. Our MECP-certified technicians will ensure that the camera you purchase is installed safely. We know that sometimes new technology can be overwhelming, so we make sure to walk our clients through the features of new products they purchase. We are also always available to answer any questions after the sale. Stop by, call or contact us today to find out more about the perfect dashcam solution for your vehicle.

Polaris General 1000 Gets Full JL Audio Sound System

August 17, 2019 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

A long-time friend of the Pinnacle Autosound owner recently came by to see about upgrading the audio system in his Polaris General 1000. After talking a bit with the staff at Pinnacle Autosound they determined what he needed were some serious upgrades. Not only did the General need to have plenty of volume, it also needed to be able to stand up to extreme abuse. The Pinnacle Autosound team was up to the task and the client scheduled a time to drop off the General.

JL Audio Media Master

Polaris Audio — The custom radio mounting plate lets everyone know where this awesome audio system was built.

Our go-to powersports audio source for side-by-sides and golf carts is the JL Audio MBT-CRXv2. The unit is a small, round controller that features Bluetooth connectivity and front mounted buttons for source control. The client wanted something with a few more bells and whistles for his General, though. The radio for him was the JL Audio MediaMaster MM100s-BE. This radio features multiple zone control, a color screen and numerous tone adjustments for each zone. All of the gear we would be installing could be controlled easily from the driver’s seat thanks to the new radio.
To integrate the radio in the dash of the General, we had to fabricate a mounting plate. We chose to make the plate out of black HDPE plastic, because of its good looks and durable construction. The plate was machined on our Shapeoko CNC machine. In the blank space below the radio we used the CNC to pocket a space for a badge insert. We again called on our CNC to machine a red and white insert for the dash insert piece. This helps give the build a truly custom look.

Powersports Amplifers

The amplifier mounting plate was precisely machined and all the edges were chamfered for a finished look.

HDPE was also used to fabricate the mounting plate for the two fuse holders.

It was a tight fit, but we were able to neatly fit all the gear under the hood.

To make sure this General sounded loud and clear at any speed, or any level above or below water, we needed lots of power. Our most rugged amplifiers are the JL Audio MX series powersports amplifiers. For this build we used a 4 channel 500/4 MX amplifier to power the speakers and two 500/1 MX amplifiers to power the two subwoofers. The mounting location we discussed with the client was under the front hood, where they would at least get a little bit of protection.
To mount the amplifiers we once again called on the use of HDPE plastic. We hand machined a piece of HDPE that would fit under the hood and give the proper clearances for factory items also located there. The plate would hold the three amplifiers as well as the power distribution block. As you can see from the photos, it was a tight fit to get all three amplifiers under there. We secured the mounting plate and amplifiers with stainless steel hardware for long service life. All of the wiring was neatly routed and secured in a way that would allow for easy servicing, if needed, later in time.

Speaker System for Polaris Audio

Reinforcement rings were added behind the rear speakers.

Quick connect fasteners were used for all the speaker and subwoofer wiring, for easy servicing.

Our speaker upgrade fit perfectly in the unused space under the console.

Two speakers were mounted on each side of the center console.

One of the things that we were excited about in this project was getting to use the brand new JL Audio M6 series marine speakers. This was our first vehicle to feature them, and they did not disappoint! To maximize the audio output in the front of the Polaris General we installed two pair of the M6 6.5″ coaxials in the front console area. The space we chose was normally just an open cavity. To mount the speakers we machined two 1/2″ HDPE plates, one for each side. The plates were able to be bolted to the factory trim pieces using stainless steel hardware. We wired up the speakers using special all-weather, high-current connectors. The connectors would make it easy for the client to disassemble the system if he ever needed to go back and service any of the General.
An additional pair of M6 speakers were added to the rear of the General to help round out the sound for the rear passengers. These speakers were surface mounted to an existing flat part of the factory console panels. To help reinforce the mounting we cut out two 1/2″ HDPE reinforcement rings that mounted behind the speakers. This allowed the speakers to securely mount, and helped reduced unwanted flexing of the panel.

Subwoofers Bring Some Serious Bass

Rivet nuts were installed to the General frame for mounting the subwoofer mounting frames.

Two metal racks were fabricated for mounting the pair of subwoofer enclosures.

Additional tabs were welded onto the mounts to secure the subwoofer enclosures.

The urethane spray looks great and will protect the enclosures from damage.

The subwoofer enclosures were positioned to fire directly into the openings under each front seat.

The final component of the Polaris audio upgrade was the subwoofer system. The client has the JL Audio Polaris Stealthbox in another one of his side-by-sides. For the General he wanted more output. After looking at the available spaces on the General, we determined that directly under the passenger and driver’s seats would be the idea spots for a pair of JL Audio Tw3 10″ subwoofers. Knowing the abuse and water that this Polaris would see, we knew the enclosures and mounting had to be very robust.
The enclosures were cut out of 3/4″ marine grade plywood, and then assembled using waterproof glue. We then rounded the edges of the enclosures and coated each enclosure with a saturated layer of 1.5oz fiberglass mat. When the fiberglass had cured, our next step was to spray each enclosure with a thick layer of SEM Rock-It Bedliner. The Rock-It spray is a two-part urethane textured coating that dries to form a very durable and great-looking surface.
Securing the enclosures to the underside of the General took quite a bit of time. Our fabricators had to switch hats once again, this time to metal working. One inch square tubing and One inch angle iron were used to fabricate the mounts for the subwoofer enclosures. The mounts were bolted to the frame work of the General with stainless hardware that threads into rivet nuts that we installed. The result were enclosures that were incredibly sturdy and we are sure the General is now even stronger thanks to the added support.

Great Audio Inside AND Outside this Polaris General

One of the things we were concerned with in this project was how low the speakers had to be mounted. Typically in a side-by-side we are mounting the speaker up higher, and many times to the roll cage. We knew the audio on the inside of the Polaris would sound great, but we weren’t sure how it would sound outside. When we finally tuned the system and cranked it up for the first time all our concerns were gone. The music was able to be heard loud and clear not only inside but also far away from the Polaris General. We were excited and knew the client would love his Polaris General audio upgrades!
Here at Pinnacle Autosound in Lake City, Florida, we love working on powersports vehicles. We stock plenty of stainless steel fasteners and plastics, that will hold up in any environment to ensure our installs last the life of our client’s vehicles. If you would like to find out about upgrading your side-by-side, golf cart or motorcycle audio, lighting or accessories give us a call or contact us here.

Marine Audio Upgrade Package for Lake City Caravelle Client

April 13, 2019 By JOey Knapp Leave a Comment

The sister of a repeat marine audio client recently contacted us about an audio upgrade for her Caravelle boat. She initially just wanted a radio and some speakers, but after discussing the benefits of an amplifier and a subwoofer we came up with a complete package for her.

Kenwood Marine Radio Upgrade

The new Kenwood radio offers a number of audio sources.

To give the client the ability to stream audio from her smartphone through her new audio system, we added a new Kenwood radio. To ensure many seasons of audio use, we used one of the marine radios Kenwood offers. We installed the radio in the client’s existing marine radio cover kit.

JL Audio Marine Speakers

The rear speakers were spaced out a bit so the underseat storage compartments weren’t compromised.
The JL Audio coaxial speakers feature woofers and tweeters in one speaker.
The rear speakers light up the back half of the boat.
The front speakers add just the right amount of sound and light to this system.

The cornerstone of a great-sounding marine audio system is great-sounding set of speakers. For this Caravelle audio system we chose the JL Audio MX series speakers. To add a little more excitement when the sun went down, we used the speakers that feature blue LED lighting. We added a set of speakers in the front, in the factory locations. The rear speakers required a bit of spacing to fit properly. We fabricated some plastic spacers from HDPE to give the speakers a perfect fit.

Subwoofer Upgrade

The single JL Audio subwoofer provides just the right amount of bass to this system.

Clients often don’t initially understand the many benefits of adding a subwoofer to their marine audio system. We like to educate them on how a subwoofer makes a big difference. Adding a subwoofer ensures that the audio is tonally balanced. Without a subwoofer, and audio system is missing the lowest octaves of sound. Another benefit of a marine audio subwoofer is that it allows us to filter more of the bass from the speakers, thus allowing them to play louder and cleaner. The marine audio subwoofer we used in this Caravelle was a JL Audio MX series subwoofer.

MX Series Amplifier

Powering the system in this boat is a single 4 channel JL Audio amplifier. We used two of the channels to power all four of the speakers. The remaining two channels were bridged to power the JL Audio subwoofer. We have used the JL Audio MX 280/4 in many applications like this and has found it offers tremendous bang-for-the-buck.

Awesome Caravelle Audio System

With the new gear installed, we went through the process of adjusting the radio and amplifier. We made sure the gain control was properly matched to the radio for maximum performance. We carefully adjusted the crossovers to make sure the system would sound its best at any volume. When the client picked up the boat she loved how loud and clear the system played. She was excited to be out on the water with it and see how the lighting looked at night. At Pinnacle Autosound we are marine audio experts. Stop by, call or contact us today to find out more about making your boat sound better.