Factory Wired

[captg]

Hi, I am looking for some info on how the 4 speakers on zone 1 (cabin/front berth) and on zone 2 (cockpit speakers) are wired. Are they wired parallel or in series on a 2021 R27OB

Thanks in advance
G

 

[doke01]

Speakers are not usually wired in parallel or series. They each have their own dedicated wire pairs coming from the stereo. If you did want to add an additional speaker in parallel with an existing speaker you'd need to make sure the impedance for the parallel set was the same as the single speaker so you'd need to replace the original speaker as well.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Speakers are not usually wired in parallel or series. They each have their own dedicated wire pairs coming from the stereo. If you did want to add an additional speaker in parallel with an existing speaker you'd need to make sure the impedance for the parallel set was the same as the single speaker so you'd need to replace the original speaker as well.

The system on my boat (R-31CB) appears to only be wired as two zones (cabin, cockpit/command bridge -- supporting more than 2 zones requires a separate amplifier). Since the Fusion radio only supports 2 channels per zone, so only 4 channels in total, with 8 speakers, it means that they are wired for 2 speakers per channel.

Thus the speakers *must* be wired either in parallel, or in series -- though I agree that most typical installations are wired as one speaker per channel.

I've considered upgrading to a separate amp so we can have one speaker per channel, but that seems like a lot of work to be able to play music just in the cockpit and not on the command bridge...

 

[Brian 27 OB]

Fluid motion ran all six speakers to the head unit, then they paralleled the interior speakers to a set of outputs on the head unit. The cockpit speaker pair are in the other outputs. That head unit is stable at 2 ohms. No need for an amplifier. As a matter of fact, I added another set of speakers to our 27. 2 speakers on each channel.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Fluid motion ran all six speakers to the head unit, then they paralleled the interior speakers to a set of outputs on the head unit. The cockpit speaker pair are in the other outputs. That head unit is stable at 2 ohms. No need for an amplifier. As a matter of fact, I added another set of speakers to our 27. 2 speakers on each channel.

Sorry, should have been clearer — you can wire additional speakers to a single channel, no problem, but the Fusion 750 (which is what’s on my boat) actually supports four zones for eight independent channels. However, it only supports two zones (four channels) out of the box, and requires an additional amp to support up to two additional zones.

It’s helpful to know that the speakers are wired in parallel, which come to think if it is I think the only way one can wire speakers?

 

[captg]

Speakers are not usually wired in parallel or series. They each have their own dedicated wire pairs coming from the stereo. If you did want to add an additional speaker in parallel with an existing speaker you'd need to make sure the impedance for the parallel set was the same as the single speaker so you'd need to replace the original speaker as well.

I would say yes to the aft cockpit but the 4 speakers in the cabin/berth are on 1 zone zone meaning 1 left and 1 right output from the internal stereo amp. So they would have to be wired parallel or in series. I would think Parallel so the stereo see 2ohms.

 

[captg]

Fluid motion ran all six speakers to the head unit, then they paralleled the interior speakers to a set of outputs on the head unit. The cockpit speaker pair are in the other outputs. That head unit is stable at 2 ohms. No need for an amplifier. As a matter of fact, I added another set of speakers to our 27. 2 speakers on each channel.

Where did you place the other 2 speakers and what zone did you put it on zone 2?

Thanks
G

 

[Brian 27 OB]

I use safari so I can’t link photos. But if you look in my album there is a picture of the helm speaker I added. It’s the same fusion as the others, flush mount only a 1/2” home for the speaker wire. On the port side it’s basically at the same elevation but I did use a hole saw to recess that one. I wired the two new speakers with the two forward speakers to the zone one and called it forward. The speakers in the cockpit and aft wall of the salon are zone two called the aft zone. Now when we are cruising we use zone one and the soundstage comes from in front of us rather than high and from behind. This system is no banger but I’m older now so it’s good enough and not having a gen set makes me slightly more energy conscious.