Speaker replacement in cockpit

[Cutwater28GG]

Cutwater 28

Anybody upgraded the cockpit speakers? Mine are showing their age.

Has anyone gone larger in the default install location?
Any advice ?

 

[scross]

I upgraded both the cabin and cockpit speakers.
For the cabin, the Polk Atrium 4 speakers were my choice. The stock Fusion MS-UD750 puts out 70 watts per channel at 2 ohms. That’s the same as putting out 17.5 watts at 8 ohms per channel. The Polk Audio Atrium 4 are designed to operate with 10-70 watts of power at 8 ohms. At 17.5 watts input you are a bit on the low side but still in range.
All that said, the sound out of them is great in my opinion. Not a huge amount of bass of course but an amazing improvement over the stock fusion speakers. Everyone’s ears are slightly different of course so take my recommendation with a grain of salt.
For the cockpit speakers, I went with some Kicker 45KM654 6.5” speakers. They sound great but the starboard side install was a bear! The area where these go is really, really shallow. The Kickers are too deep so you need a 1/2” spacer between the speaker and the boat fiberglass. You also need to enlarge the speaker opening a bit for the Kickers but that wasn’t difficult. If I were to do it again I’d

get a super shallow speaker.

 

[scross]

 

[Cutwater28GG]

Thanks! I did the polks inside last summer.

Do those outside units have any base? I’m wondering whether I should install a sub with an amp for outside

 

[scross]

Not much base from the Kickers. If you want more base I think a 10” JL Audio M3 subwoofer would be the way to go. IF you can find a place for it! I had the JL Audio marine speakers in the R-25 Classic and really liked them. They are deep speakers and just wouldn’t fit in the C-28 spaces.

 

[TristenT]

I just replaced my cockpit speakers with some kickers didn’t feel like cutting the holes out bigger. Now for subs Iv been really tempted, I think you could fit one under the port side cockpit step or under the helm seat on the c28

 

[Cutwater28GG]

Ive wondered if it would be easiest to mount some enclosed tower speakers to the fishing rod holder rack above the cockpit

 

[TristenT]

Ive wondered if it would be easiest to mount some enclosed tower speakers to the fishing rod holder rack above the cockpit

That would be totally doable it’s just getting the wires routed in a nice fashion. I don’t think I would because I use every inch of rod holder space.

 

[Mattesch]

I upgraded both the cabin and cockpit speakers.
For the cabin, the Polk Atrium 4 speakers were my choice. The stock Fusion MS-UD750 puts out 70 watts per channel at 2 ohms. That’s the same as putting out 17.5 watts at 8 ohms per channel. The Polk Audio Atrium 4 are designed to operate with 10-70 watts of power at 8 ohms. At 17.5 watts input you are a bit on the low side but still in range.
All that said, the sound out of them is great in my opinion. Not a huge amount of bass of course but an amazing improvement over the stock fusion speakers. Everyone’s ears are slightly different of course so take my recommendation with a grain of salt.
For the cockpit speakers, I went with some Kicker 45KM654 6.5” speakers. They sound great but the starboard side install was a bear! The area where these go is really, really shallow. The Kickers are too deep so you need a 1/2” spacer between the speaker and the boat fiberglass. You also need to enlarge the speaker opening a bit for the Kickers but that wasn’t difficult. If I were to do it again I’dView attachment 25815 get a super shallow speaker.

Great recommendation - Thank you! Picked up a pair of the Atrium 4s- massive improvement in my R29CB. No subwoofer required. They sound great!

Cockpit upgrade next!