1 Pair of Pro 485s vs. 2 pairs of Exile XM7s ??

Since the cost is about the same between the 2 options, which do you think is a better setup? 1 pair of Wetsounds Pro 485s or 2 pairs of Exile XM7s? I'd like good sound quality while riding (about 80 feet on a foil), but be able to turn them down while hanging out and still have them sound pretty good.

And while we're at it, will a pair of the 485s even fit on the new Malibu G3 tower up on that top hoop? I need to be sure I can fold the tower down all the way to fit it in my garage, so the speakers would have to clear the dash board with the tower down as well.

I really like that quick release mount on the XM7s, but I'd like to make sure I've got the best sounding speakers....

Charlie,

The new G3 tower poses some challenges on what will fit as the factory system uses a "shelf" to mount the speakers on the side like the Illusion tower. But there are no mounting points on the side of the G3 like on the Illusion.

So we have designed a special adapter called the G3M. G3 adapter mount. This will give you the ability to mount on the sides and retain the factory BU look and folding ability.

With this shelf system, it allows you to install any combination of our tower speakers with the exception of the 485. So you can mount 2 pairs of PRO 60G3. Two pairs of PRO 80G3. Or one pair of 80G3 with a pair of 60G3. Or for even more options. A pair of MB-8G3 with the 60G3 or MB-8G3 with 80G3

So you can pretty much configure the system however you want in terms of you overall goals.

If you are not worried about keeping the factory look and going on the sides. You can mount on the cross bar up top. This bar has a curve to it. So I would recommend doing the 3-Some set up. This would be a single PRO 485 in the center and the PRO 80's on the outside.

The PRO 485 and PRO 80 both ship with our TC2 quick release clamps. So you can take them off the tower easily if needed.

We have even had some dealers do 2 pairs of 80G3 on the sides and a single 485 up top for what they are calling the 5-Some!

You can give us a call at the office at 877-938-7757 and we can see if there is a dealer near you so you can get a demo and see what works best for you.

Tim
Wet Sounds

I would think that 4 would sound better than 2 (brand not included)

Just the simple fact that you will have 4 woofers and tweeters projecting the sound should get you clearer volume.

Riding behind 4 10" NVS' vs my 2 770's I notice the extra 2 horns for sure.

Also, you will be pushing the 2 very hard vs not having to push the 4 as hard, and that will play into it.

lifetime,

Using his example. He would have 4 speakers with 6.5 inch drivers and 4 compression drivers versus a 2 speaker system with 4-8 inch drivers and 2 compression drivers.

So you have more surface area in the 8 inch drivers in terms of mid bass. Also a larger housing so more mid bass and output.

So that leaves the compression portion of it. The compression driver magnets in a coaxial based speaker are much smaller than the ones used in the 485. The magnet size of the 485 compression driver is over twice the size in comparison.

With a larger compression driver, you get more output and more upper mid range providing more vocals than a smaller compression driver.

Also, with the larger horn flare and shape. You get a wider dispersion so more volume at 80 feet back and outside the wake. So you may have 2 versus 4 but you have 2 that magnet size are greater than the 4 combined.

The pair of PRO 485's is my all out favorite with the 3-Some right behind.

Hope that makes sense.

Tim
Wet Sounds

I'm really torn about what tower speakers I should be looking at. I would ideally like to keep them on the side of the tower, at the stock location, but Brian from Exile says they'll be too loud in your ears in the boat there, and recommends mounting up on the top hoop. With Exiles, I can only mount one pair on the tower at the side locations. Wetsounds has the bracket where I could mount 2 pair on the sides, but I think the sheet metal bracket looks kind of cheesy (sorry). I like the look of the stock shelf much better. Do any of the speakers mount on that?

Honestly, I think my top choice would be 2 pair of Exiles if I could mount them on the stock Malibu shelf (Love that bracket!). Beyond that, it's 2 pair of Exiles on the top hoop, or 1 pair of 485s up there, or 2 pair of Pro80s on the side, or maybe 1 pair of Pro80s and 1 pair of Pro60s on the sides. I just can't decide.... At least it's still the middle of winter and the new boat won't be here until late March/early April!!

My bad - I was thinking they were a pair of 8's vs 4 7.7's (XM7 rounded down?lol)

That would seem like a no brainer then. Nothing against the others, but I would go with the WS's.

Thanks Tim.


(and that's a good point about the shape of the horn. look at P.A. systems at concerts. they are huge and wide for sound dispersment. You win again, Tim.)

(Message edited by lifetimewarranty on February 05, 2010)

Lifetime,

no worries!

Charlie,

I feel you on the shelf system on the G3. The factory shelf is only available from Bu when you order the factory speakers. They are not selling just the shelf.

The factory shelf is bolted from the outside and into the shelf. The factory shelf has threads. We had looked into doing something along these lines but I did not feel the threads are strong enough. I wanted something stronger to handle the weight of any type of set up.

So the G3M shelf is solid aluminum plate that is designed to thru bolt in the same bolt locations as the factory. And we also added an extra bolt. There is a allen bolt that holds the alum on the tower to the pipe. You remove this and add in a longer one. So the G3M shelf has 3 bolts holding it.

There are just not a lot of options. This is also the reason we are bringing out our PRO 696-RS. HLCD 6x9 raw speaker. As we have gotten a lot of requests for those that want the factory shelf and speakers but want more performance. So that is an option that will be ready in about 60 days. So time frame may work for you.

If you want to go on the top bar. The 3-Some set up would be the way I would go. It will flow well with that tower and follow the curve.

Tim
Wet Sounds

(Message edited by wetsounds1 on February 05, 2010)

Well, I guess the 3-Some would be a good option then.

So, your new 6x9s coming out would just replace the 6x9s in the cans from Malibu?

You got it. The factory cans are 6x9's. You would replace the speakers with the PRO 696 RS.

Tim
Wet Sounds

The simple answer when you say 485 vs. anything for riding 80' back is there is no comparison.
There is nothing on the market that competes 80' back.
If you are looking for something that is space friendly and has a wider range of sounds then the market is wide open.
We started with 2-485's 3 years ago,



and then 2 years ago we went to 2-485's 2-MB-8's and 4-self-made MB6's because the quality of sound for hanging out when tied up or beached was way too much with the 485's



Last year we totally changed directions and went with the 4-XM7's




Maybe Im getting older, but the look and the one sided performance of the big cans just doesnt have the full range of sound for riding and hanging out that I want.
Of course this is just my .02
The G3 tower and the bimini setup makes decisions a whole other issue. Im sure glad that we have the Illusion XS tower.
The shelf design that Tim and the folks at WS came up with for the Pro 60's and 80's is the best looking idea Ive seen so far. Im sure that many others will tool up something before too long if they havent already.

Hey guys - Sounds like I'm late to the party. Forgive me its Friday and thing have been busy today.

Representing the Exile point of view, I'd say that I dont really disagree with anything Tim has suggested. It really just comes down to weight. if you want to put 70 lbs up on that tower I'm sure the 485s will sling tons of sound. The Exile set up in this case is about 24 lbs. Tower manufacturers are not keen on any of the big time weight issues audio products bring into the picture... And to be fair, plenty of people put those big enclosures up there. It's just a choice.

Charlie if you want Exiles in the stock locations we'll make you a shelf and you can put 2 pair there and still have all the innovations that come with our speaker. Right now we recommend doing upto 3 pair on the rear hoop or 1 pair on the stock location with a cnc'd adaptor. I'd prefer you put them up in the hoop, but its your call. I know you mentioned putting the tower up and down a lot with the garage situation.

Most importantly, whichever solution you opt to go with, rest assured that you'll have A LOT of sound on boat. And thats a good thing! Give me a shout, call or email if you have any questions.

-Brian
Exile Audio
TGIF! Here comes the weekend.

The Xm7's are 8lbs a piece?

The three some would be a killer setup on that tower!

Richard - 6.7lbs each. so x4 = ~26.8lbs total (I previously said 24. my bad). You can shed another 1-lb each if you use the direct fit configuration.

We went to a lot of effort to make a well built speaker that's light weight.

-Brian
Exile Audio

Nice civilized thread guys, nice to read open positive honest opinions.

My setup is a pair of Pro 485s since 2006. I have one of the very early pairs off assembly line. To date I have not heard anything compelling enough to make me take down my Pro 485s and shell out my hard earned cash on something new. The Pro 485s provide a nice full range sound out to the rider. I have heard louder towers but mine is plenty loud for my needs.

Part of my happiness with my 485s are the mounts. They are secure enough so I can leave them up on my tower overnight in a hotel parking lot with little fear of them being quickly disconnected (I have replaced my lugnuts with button head allen bolts for a little added security). I take them down everytime I put my boat away, it only takes me a couple minutes to get them down. Note that I have the old style mounts like Brady's in the picture above. I also think the styling of the 485 is very complimentary to my Nautique 211's rounded corners. But the kicker is all the time and money I have into my custom LED backlit grills. It would be difficult to replace the grills so you are not likely to see anything new on my tower of this boat.

Today there are so many options I don't know what I would do if I were in your situation with your tower. I like the concept of the MB8/Pro-80 combo. Most HLCDs are so strong we spend more effort on attenuation versus amplification. With this in mind I am not sure I want 4 high frequency compression drivers with all of them partially blocking the projection of the midrange. As far as I know the only speakers that do not have HF drivers in front of the midrange are the 485 and NVS Entity 1010's.

If you were to do a market saturation survey I would expect you to find more Wetsound product out there than any other HLCD based brand of speaker system. After Wetsounds it would probably be a mixed bag of NVS, Bullet, Exile, Krypt, and my all time least favorite Skylon (sorry for the negativity but I have not found much positive feedback from owners of Skylon systems so my comment is based on this alone). I am sure you would likely be completely happy with anything properly setup from any of these companies. I also think the plastic housings are the right solution for tower speakers.

I would suggest you try to do a test ride on the foil at 80' before you make your final decision. If you are ever in the bay area you are welcome to ride behind my boat as long as you let me ride/jump your foil. It's been a few years since I sold my airchair.

I purchased two pairs of the XM7's on friday and couldn't be happier with the customer service so far. I haven't received the speakers yet but I'll post up a review when I get them.

Wow thats an impressive number 6.7lb... Nice work..