Minor stereo upgrade question

[DBamaC]

Maybe a stupid question, but is there any reason why I can't do this as stop-gap measure on my stereo system?

I want to add tower speakers (cans loaded with Polk db651's). Currently I have the factory Clarion M502, (4) factory Polk DB651's and a Clarion XC1410 amp. I will eventually buy another amp, but can I run the cabin speakers and tower speakers off the amp and the bow speakers off the head unit? I realize the bow speakers won't sound as good, but I'm not sure why that won't work for now.

Thanks!

 

[Derek Fosbury]

I would run the cabin + bow off of 2 channels (in parallel @ 2 ohms), and the towers off of the other 2 channels. That way you can still have music in the boat when not using the tower speakers. I never found it useful to be able to fade from bow to cabin, and it never bothered me that no one was in the bow when the music was on .

I had a similar setup, and my only word of advice is to think about what you are using the tower speakers for. If it's in hope of having the tubers/skiiers/wakeboarders behind the boat hear the music, that own't happen with this setup, specifically with these speakers - the music simply will not project loud enough; for that application, you need HLCD speakers and some more power. If, on the other hand, you want it for when you swim behind the boat at a sand bar or at the dock, then go for it!

 

[DBamaC]

Yeah, I realize that I won't have the volume from the tower speakers for towing. I just like hearing it while hanging out behind the boat. I might just go ahead and buy a second amp with a remote gain and control the volume to the tower speakers with it. Controlling that damn M502 is such a pain that I don't want to ever use it to fade the channels.