Stereo speaker installation ideas

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Eric Carnell

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Mar 30, 2023, 4:03:06 PM3/30/23
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Hello all,
My 355 did not come with a stereo. I have bought a small Fusion black box entertainment system which is incredibly small for a 200 W 4 channel amp (assuming this must be class D amplification). It will stream from phone, connect to my Sirius weather receiver and connect to chartplotter by NEMA-2000 network. I have found the pre-wired speaker cables. I plan to use JL pods attached to the underside of the stern pulpit corner seats. I am curious about what others have done for the speakers in the main salon. The speaker wires terminate behind the two little cubbies on both sides of the salon near the forward bulkhead. See photo. I was thinking about surface mount speakers on the bulkhead near the cubbies so the speaker wire would not be too obvious. I am wondering, however, if the entire cubbie is designed to no longer function as a little shelf and instead be turned into one speaker cabinet. Is there a factory design for this space? What have others done
Thanks.
Eric Carnell
Solstice, #126IMG_9372.jpg

ken magida

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Apr 2, 2023, 11:16:19 PM4/2/23
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This is what my speaker looks like. It is the same Bose speaker as mounted under the perch seats. I do not know if it was installed at the factory or by the dealer but I believe that it is a typical installation.

Ken
 
Ken Magida
FOREVER YOUNG C355 #46
Port Washington, New York 11050
cell:      (516) 428-4577

From: catal...@googlegroups.com <catal...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Eric Carnell <neca...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 16:03
To: Catalina355 <catal...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Catalina 355:4853] Stereo speaker installation ideas
 
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Inside speaker.jpg

bill pittore

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Apr 5, 2023, 5:01:31 PM4/5/23
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I just have these lo-res pics from the broker but it shows how the speakers were mounted in my boat by the previous owner (or dealer). Do you have the doors that go on those two cubbies? You can see them in the picture. I’ve seen speakers mounted in those cubbies so they peek out from the cutouts in the door. On my boat the speakers are both on the port side. If not for speakers, anyone know why those doors have the cutouts?

Bill


Solstice, #126<IMG_9372.jpg>

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Juan Galan

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Apr 5, 2023, 5:01:31 PM4/5/23
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Mine came from factory with Bose speakers in the cockpit [under aft seats] and in the "hole" your picture shows.

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Claudia Allison

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Apr 5, 2023, 5:01:31 PM4/5/23
to Eric Carnell, Catalina355
Hi Eric, 

Ours came with Factory BOSE speakers that fill the entire cabinet.  If given a choice I would use the cabinet primarily for storage and install the smallest size yet quality speakers.

The size of the BOSE speakers is silly and a waste of space.  If we are ever bored enough to change this is what we would do. 

If yours does not not currently have a door that opens, just install a rail/dowel and have an open storage space.  Ours opens to a minor extent but nothing else can go back there as the door hits the stanchion, so not an ideal design all around.  Have fun with your project and enjoy customizing here, it will be an upgrade!

Happy Sails!
Claudia 
2019 SV Salvation #152

IMG_8816.jpeg

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 30, 2023, at 4:03 PM, Eric Carnell <neca...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello all,
My 355 did not come with a stereo. I have bought a small Fusion black box entertainment system which is incredibly small for a 200 W 4 channel amp (assuming this must be class D amplification). It will stream from phone, connect to my Sirius weather receiver and connect to chartplotter by NEMA-2000 network. I have found the pre-wired speaker cables. I plan to use JL pods attached to the underside of the stern pulpit corner seats. I am curious about what others have done for the speakers in the main salon. The speaker wires terminate behind the two little cubbies on both sides of the salon near the forward bulkhead. See photo. I was thinking about surface mount speakers on the bulkhead near the cubbies so the speaker wire would not be too obvious. I am wondering, however, if the entire cubbie is designed to no longer function as a little shelf and instead be turned into one speaker cabinet. Is there a factory design for this space? What have others done
Thanks.
Eric Carnell
Solstice, #126
<IMG_9372.jpg>

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J Loh

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Apr 5, 2023, 5:01:50 PM4/5/23
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It is an opportunity to put in a good quality 4ohm speaker, something with fuller, richer sound. With some handiwork you could come up with a panel and install  coaxial speakers,  like something from JL Audio, or even go with  wall mount speakers or a good desktop speaker, (if ready to go down a rabbit hole searching for a "good" audiophile speaker ), of course you would need to secure them properly.



STEWART SMITH

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Apr 5, 2023, 5:01:50 PM4/5/23
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Yes Ken that is the standard installation. Salon is black speakers and cockpit is white but both identical. Stu Pelican #80

STEWART SMITH

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Apr 5, 2023, 5:01:51 PM4/5/23
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Factory installed stereo systems utilize the cubby totally as a speaker location. It is enclosed with a cutout for the Bose system speakers. The speakers inside the salon are black the ones under the cockpit pulpit seats are white, both the same design. Stu Smith #80 Pelican

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Lyle Becka

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Apr 7, 2023, 10:12:59 PM4/7/23
to catal...@googlegroups.com, ken magida
I would highly recommend Fusion. Replaced our cockpit Bose speakers with them and the sound difference is remarkable. 

On Apr 5, 2023, at 5:01 PM, STEWART SMITH <stusm...@cox.net> wrote:

 Yes Ken that is the standard installation. Salon is black speakers and cockpit is white but both identical. Stu Pelican #80

On April 2, 2023 at 11:16 PM ken magida <kensa...@outlook.com> wrote:

This is what my speaker looks like. It is the same Bose speaker as mounted under the perch seats. I do not know if it was installed at the factory or by the dealer but I believe that it is a typical installation.

Ken
 
Ken Magida
FOREVER YOUNG C355 #46
Port Washington, New York 11050
cell:      (516) 428-4577

From: catal...@googlegroups.com <catal...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Eric Carnell <neca...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 16:03
To: Catalina355 <catal...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Catalina 355:4853] Stereo speaker installation ideas
 
Hello all,
My 355 did not come with a stereo. I have bought a small Fusion black box entertainment system which is incredibly small for a 200 W 4 channel amp (assuming this must be class D amplification). It will stream from phone, connect to my Sirius weather receiver and connect to chartplotter by NEMA-2000 network. I have found the pre-wired speaker cables. I plan to use JL pods attached to the underside of the stern pulpit corner seats. I am curious about what others have done for the speakers in the main salon. The speaker wires terminate behind the two little cubbies on both sides of the salon near the forward bulkhead. See photo. I was thinking about surface mount speakers on the bulkhead near the cubbies so the speaker wire would not be too obvious. I am wondering, however, if the entire cubbie is designed to no longer function as a little shelf and instead be turned into one speaker cabinet. Is there a factory design for this space? What have others done
Thanks.
Eric Carnell
Solstice, #126
<IMG_9372.jpg>

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Eric Carnell

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Apr 7, 2023, 10:13:15 PM4/7/23
to catal...@googlegroups.com, ken magida
I am looking at quality in-wall speakers. I will cut (enlarge) that rectangular hole to whatever size is needed. I will post pictures. Looking at some audiophile names. KEF, Focal, B&W. I have never heard a Bose speaker that I have liked. I have purchased JL pod speakers for under the stern pulpit seats. 

--N. Eric Carnell
Solstice, #126
Sent from my iPhone




On Apr 5, 2023, at 5:01 PM, STEWART SMITH <stusm...@cox.net> wrote:

 Yes Ken that is the standard installation. Salon is black speakers and cockpit is white but both identical. Stu Pelican #80

On April 2, 2023 at 11:16 PM ken magida <kensa...@outlook.com> wrote:

This is what my speaker looks like. It is the same Bose speaker as mounted under the perch seats. I do not know if it was installed at the factory or by the dealer but I believe that it is a typical installation.

Ken
 
Ken Magida
FOREVER YOUNG C355 #46
Port Washington, New York 11050
cell:      (516) 428-4577

From: catal...@googlegroups.com <catal...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Eric Carnell <neca...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 16:03
To: Catalina355 <catal...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Catalina 355:4853] Stereo speaker installation ideas
 
Hello all,
My 355 did not come with a stereo. I have bought a small Fusion black box entertainment system which is incredibly small for a 200 W 4 channel amp (assuming this must be class D amplification). It will stream from phone, connect to my Sirius weather receiver and connect to chartplotter by NEMA-2000 network. I have found the pre-wired speaker cables. I plan to use JL pods attached to the underside of the stern pulpit corner seats. I am curious about what others have done for the speakers in the main salon. The speaker wires terminate behind the two little cubbies on both sides of the salon near the forward bulkhead. See photo. I was thinking about surface mount speakers on the bulkhead near the cubbies so the speaker wire would not be too obvious. I am wondering, however, if the entire cubbie is designed to no longer function as a little shelf and instead be turned into one speaker cabinet. Is there a factory design for this space? What have others done
Thanks.
Eric Carnell
Solstice, #126
<IMG_9372.jpg>

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STEWART SMITH

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Apr 7, 2023, 10:13:23 PM4/7/23
to catal...@googlegroups.com, bill pittore
the doors are for the boze speakers. the speakers take up the entire cutout space, are black in color. and fill in the entire cutout. they are matched by stern pulpit speakers only these are white in color.

william beveridge

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Jul 11, 2026, 10:11:18 AM (13 days ago) Jul 11
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Bringing back an old thread Eric started as I am considering installing a stereo system. We have been using bluetooth speakers for years.  We have 600 AH of LiFePo4 now, so battery capacity is no longer an issue.
Eric wrote of putting JL pods under the stern pulpit seats.
It appears the JL pod's are over 7" in diameter, the smaller size is no longer made, and wondering how they will fit below those seats.  It looks tight for that but doable.  I run my dock lines under the seats from the stern cleats as I have fixed docks.  This brings up the possibility the line might snag on the JLs if mounted under there.  Any insights?  photos" 

Inside, I am looking at options, but leaning toward using the factory positions and putting in JL M3's (4 ohm, making the baffle to insert), KEF Meta (4ohm) or B&W/ smallest outdoor (8 ohm).  The hold-up here is when we put the TV on board, it goes on port side hanging off the grab rail or on the side table, so Bill Pittore's set up would allow for a better set up, essentially dictating box speakers and running a wire.  
The head unit will be the Fusion Apollo MS-RA770.  

Bill Beveridge
Perfectly Imperfect, #146
Middle River, MD

Dhyanesh Kostka

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Jul 12, 2026, 12:34:04 PM (12 days ago) Jul 12
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Hi
I'm using two Teufel one S WiFi speakers. Great sound 

Put some velcro on the back and glued them to the wall.


Handbreit

catalina

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Jul 12, 2026, 1:15:06 PM (12 days ago) Jul 12
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Hi.
We installed a RA670 head and Bose speakers under the stern seats.  

We put in a fusion amp for the outside speakers as well after the performance was really poor.  Only helped a little, but better. I guess you know what they say...  "No highs, no lows, must be Bose."  😆

Anyway, the fusion head is really pretty bad compared with other systems.  The USB support for music on a thumbdrive is the biggest disappointment. 

While it does support mp3 music in folders, it had no support for continuous play across folders or playlists. I.e. Pick a folder of music to play and it will repeat songs in that folder until you go in and spent something else.  No ability to move on to the next folder when it's played everything. That's been standard behavior for 20 years.

Bluetooth control is ok, and the app is convenient, but it's tricky to keep working over time. But it does work.

Power?  Yea, near useless for more than 2 speakers without an amp.

The radio is very susceptible to voltage spikes so it's important to be sure that it's on it's own breaker.

I can see this as a good system of you have alot of zones, the remote installed, and big multi-channel fusion amps.  So you get something other than tinny squawking at low volume outside.  

My last system I my C320 was so much better overall for 1/2 the price.

But the fusion radio looks cool, I'll give it that.  😂

Jeff Hare







Sent from my Galaxy

william beveridge

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Jul 14, 2026, 5:21:16 PM (9 days ago) Jul 14
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Thank you Dhyanesh and Jeff.   As to the Teufel speakers, they are bluetooth and not available in USA where I am.  The Fender labeled Tuefel bluetooth speakers (3 models) are available.  I find it interesting we are currently using Marshall labelled bluetooth speakers which are very good.  

Jeff's experience reminded me to look at car radio head units, as I had read many negative reviews of the fusion head units regarding them being "wonky".   OK, I will look further. My last two boats, including the C34, had car radio head units in them and they worked very well.  

Still not sure about fitting the JL Audio tower mount speakers under the stern seats.  Guessing no one on our list has actually done so yet.  There is slim pickens for marine sealed box speakers these days. 

Bill Beveridge
Perfectly Imperfect, #146
Middle River, MD

Dhyanesh Kostka

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Jul 14, 2026, 5:34:41 PM (9 days ago) Jul 14
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The positive about Teufel they play Bluetooth but even better WiFi. In my boat they are connected to Starlink as AIS , Deepth, Wind etc.
Doesn't help if you can't by them 

Handbreit 


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