Date: 4/13/04
Words and Photos: Mike McKenzie

Related Items:
Maeghan's JL Audio X-Star Photo Gallery
JL Audio Re-Signs Major for 2004

Maeghan's New JL Audio Equipped X-Star

Stereo has become a huge part of the wakeboarding scene. Today, boarders are spending thousands of dollars on systems. Sound systems powered by thousands of watts of power requiring multiple batteries are quickly becoming the norm at sand bars across the country. Internet discussion boards are loaded with topic after topic of stereo questions and answers…and the manufacturers are listening.

Early in 2003, JL Audio, one of the leaders in high-end car audio equipment, was looking for a way to make a bold statement regarding their attitude toward this growing market segment. MasterCraft's new X-Star was the perfect vehicle for this project, but that was not enough. JL Audio decided there was another market segment that needs some attention…the female buyer. JL decided that MasterCraft rider Maeghan Major was to be their first sponsored athlete and the project was begun.

JL Audio W7 Subwoofer in custom box

JL Audio is probably best known for their subwoofer systems. Their W7 series has been praised as "the new subwoofer reference" by audio magazines around the world. Not one, but two 10" W7's are installed is Maeghan's boat. The first utilized the stock subwoofer location, behind the drivers seat, and the second was mounted under the observer seat wrap area. Both sealed enclosures are fiberglass wrapped and feature blue lighting and see through Lexan tops for added "bling."

Mid bass duties are handled by a pair of 8" W3v2 subwoofers located in the bow of the boat. Powered by a JL 500/1 amplifier, the pair crank out those crucial mid bass notes for a well balanced sound.

JL Audio XR650CSi 2-Way component system

With so much room in the new MasterCraft X-Star interior, close attention was paid to the selection of mid drivers and tweeters. JL Audio's top of the line XR series was chosen due to the sonic purity and the programmable crossovers. Three pair of the XR650CSi (6.5" woofer, 1" tweeter) were installed in all the stock locations and fit the molded armrest to perfection.

On the tower, JL once again utilized the XR650CSi with two more pair installed into the stock MasterCraft tower speaker cans. One pair even included the MasterCraft docking lights on the back side.

Sony MP80 head unit

Due to its versatility and reliability, the Sony MP80 head unit was picked as the source unit. One of the most important features in this determination was the auxiliary source volume level control which can be used to boost the output level of MP3 players like Maeghan's I-Pod. The Sony weatherproof remote was installed by the driver for convenience and on the transom for those times at the sand bar.

Matrix line driver and crossovers

With so many amplifiers pulling from the source unit, output voltage became a concern. The Sony head unit has ample low level power, but now the signal was being divided among six amplifiers. A Matrix line driver was installed to boost the output signal and aid in the tuneability of the system. This mount also served as a dry location to mount the XR crossovers.

Custom amp tower

All the amplifiers were mounted to a custom built amp rack located under the observer seat. The rack features fans between the amps and the crossovers to keep everything running cool. Once again, blue lighted Lexan was utilized for some "bling" and to match the custom blue metal flake that has become Maeghan's signature color.

Maeghan's own words sum this system up best. "To say that the system gets loud is an understatement. I ride a 75-foot line and hearing the music is not a problem. In the boat, the quality of the sound is nothing short of amazing!"

Component List:

• 2 JL Audio 1000/1 amplifiers
• 1 JL Audio 500/1 amplifier
• 3 JL Audio 450/4 amplifiers
• 2 JL Audio 10" W7 subwoofers
• 2 8" W3v2 subwoofers
• 5 pair XR650CSi 2-way component systems
• 1 Sony MP80 head unit
• 2 Sony remotes (black for driver console, white for transom)
• 1 Matrix digital line driver
• 4 Marine batteries (switched and isolated)
• JL Audio premium cabling

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