New JL Audio tower speakers from Mastercraft......

What do you all think of the JL Audio tower speakers that mastercraft is installing? I am getting a new x1 and i was torn between ordering some of those tower speakers or save my money and buy some skylon rubicon speakers? I like the JL speakers that have the light built into the speakers. I think its kind of cool. I can still change my order until friday so i need to decide fairly quick. Thanks Josh

I heard a 06 X2 with 4 JL tower speakers this weekend. I thought they were the best "car-audio" setup I've heard to date. Not nearly as loud and clean as my set of Wetsounds Pro80's but much better then any Fusions I've heard. The boat manufactures really sock it too on stereo equipment so I believe you could do alot better on cost and sound going aftermarket. I havent heard the Rubi's yet so really cant comment

Im with Kev; The JL speakers in the Mastercrafts sound real good, Get them

I've got four JL's and they sound really great. Can easily hear behind the boat at 75ft. Even with the big block engine.

You mention the speakers with the lights. I have been told by an MC installer that he does not like the speaker light combo. He beleives the speakers w/o lights produce a better, deeper, cleaner sound then speakers with the lights built in.
I have four JL's w/o lights on my boat and I love them.

I just talked to my dealer and he told me that the speaker with a light built in is around $1000 per pair. I think he was giving me a deal also. Do you think it is worth the money? Thanks Josh

$1000 a pair...In my opinion, NO WAY. Much better options for that much $$$$ Good luck in what ever you decide on that KILLER boat.

I just talked to my installer and he said the speakers with lights have way more volume and is a cleaner deeper more full sound. He also said tey look super neet-o and will make your wake look bigger at night,

Grant,
I'm trying to figure out a way to have a "brightness Switch" on the lights to make the wake bigger....it's not working, what's up?

i am with todd t on this one... you can do better than $1k a pair (ie $2k for 4 speakers)

i kinda sense you have some questions :


-can you do better for the same amount of money ?
-sound quality (car vs hcld) and appearance (turn key vs aftermarket)
-future changes

mastercraft and jl audio is ahead of everyone in some regards to marine audio (the jl marine components are in a class by themselves and the wiring on the mc is first class)

however alot will depend on what is important to you and what is your listening preference..

if sound at 80 ft is your first priority - then the rubicons/nvs and others hcld win hands down (there is another thread on this). no other speaker component based designs can compare (imo... so take it with a grain of salt- the current sota (state of the art) is a hcld setup and a good amp.

however you will have to change out your amp or amps and add a line driver..with that being said, the jl e series amp is medicore at best... you can get the jl slash series for close to the same as the dealer cost or go with zapco or arc that can run seperate volume controls.

you also have to consider whether you want turn key (all matching components - amps, speakers, tower and lights/bling).the jl component speakers are very good but the rest is over priced and you can do better..

another consideraton is the jl speakers are old technology then you might want to reconsider... pretty much all tower speakers will be hcld within the next three years and come down in price... you might be stuck with something intergrated into the tower that will be next to near impossbile to change out. if you dont like the hcld setup, you can easily find a buyer...

so it kinda comes down on what is important to you and your preferences and how much you want to get into it (and how much will the dealer give a credit back )..

hope that helps...

let's be real for a second. aren't we really all in the search of the silver bullet. the bullet that can carry like a hcld and sound as good at low volumes as a coaxial or seperates? the truth is, there isn't one. yet. it all depends on how important hearing the music is to you accross the water. find yours.

/edit
with that said the mc jl's with the lights look and sound pretty good in and around the boat. that's all i'm after.

(Message edited by brucemac on July 20, 2006)

Thanks everyone!!!! I agree that the JL sound a little pricy for non hlcd speakers. The main concern to me is the wiring. If i go after market speakers wont it be hard to run the wires through the tower so they wont be seen. Since the tower folds down wont it be hard to get all the wires hidden? Does that make sence? I don't think they look bad but i don't think they great either.

Clubmyke, so what your are saying is that if i have them install the speakers the wiring will be built in and can't be changed? They sell skylon rubicons that i could probably get added to my total bill. Will the mastercraft wiring work for any other speakers? Thanks Josh

Josh- wiring towers is usually not a big deal. Drill a couple of holes and use a vacuum and dental floss to thread the wire thru the tower. Best advise is just preplan and map everything out 1st. If you go with the JL I believe 2 sets is a must !! and yes the stock MC wiring will work if you ever switch out speakers.

Josh......on my 06 X2 I went with the JL Audio system in the boat and then put NVS 808s on the tower.

I took the stock JL amp (4ch) which was running both the boat 6.5s and the stock 10" JL sub and dedicated it to the interior speakers. I changed out the stock sub for a JL 12W6V2 and am pushing it with a JL e-Series (1000w D-class) and then a JL 300/2 pushes each of the 808s. This setup is seriously loud and crystal clear.

I will agree with everyone though.....the new JL stuff is some of the best "stock" equpiment to be put in a boat.

Nice setup zack!!!!! It sounds like you really love your setup. I love the JL 12w6 subs. I have have 4+ in my days and they are super sweet sounding. That is why i almost and thinking about not getting the sub and amp from mastercraft and using the money to buy something nicer. Did you use the stock wiring for your tower speakers? Thanks Josh

see if your dealer has a hook up with a local stereo dealer and have your goodies installed there and just have it included in the boat price.

I went with the stock 4 MC tower speakers (without lights) on my 06. I also heard that speakers with lights in the front dont match up to the ones without.

From what i understnad the JL's were updated recently to improve the sound projection at riding length.

The setup totally rocks, more than enough to upset everyone else on the lake while im riding...

We've got 2 w/ the lights on our 06. (pro pic) No complaints here, and you can hear them well while riding. The lights are nice for docking as well.

have you ridden behind a hcld setup ? if you can compare the two...

no complaints 4 jl 2 with lights 06 X2. great sound from the end of the rope

Good question clubmyke. I also wonder how they compare to hcld speakers. I am almost positive that i am going to go with hcld speakers but i am still curious on JL speakers

I've ridden behind an 06 x-2 w/ 4 jl tower speakers, and my various HLCD setups. The JL's are good, but not in the same league as HLCD. the only thing I've heard come close to HLCD's is the 6-6x9 setup. of course everything is dependent on how much power your running. I will say I thought the exhaust nosie off the new x-2 is noticeably louder than my 22SSV.

I am used to hearing HLCD for the last couple years so I'm used to hearing the music very loud and clear. Ther's always a noticable difference to me vs car stereo components, regardless of brand.

Ok, im really tired of people trying to compare Hcld to car auido, they are both comppletely diffrent , its the same as compareing apples to oranges, " i say apples taste better, no you wrong, oranges, taste better, now see how stupid that sound . ok my point is 80% of the people that have boats dont wont a god d&*m concert in thier boat .That being said i thing horns sound and look "all brands n.vs., wetsounds, all of your home made stuff " like crap. now i know all you hcld people are going to have a tuff time reading this, sorry for the blow to you ego.



p.s CRANK IT UP.

umm..you might be a little mistaken..

hcld became popular in car audio with image dynamics back in early 2000..there have been a couple others after that..

given the nature of the listening situation - hcld's make sense..though they are not perfect, they can project out to 80' EASILY. something a traditional tweeter cant do..

some of them have too much HF output (i wont mention any names).. some of the best sounding ones are the discontinued image dynamic skylon reference (takes some crossover mods and updated drivers to really shine)..

the new skylon refernces and nvs still hold top honors for output, finish, and attachemnt (though i like the older skylon reference mounting system better...)

I've got an 06 X2 with factory installed JL speaker/lights - and I love them. They look and sound terrific. Could use a little more volume on the tower while boarding, but the overall quality and apperance makes up for it.