Elite Car Customs

Reading PA's expert for fun and functional upgrades for your ride!

1176 Park Rd Unit A10, Reading, PA 19605 484-671-2343

Marine Audio

Product Spotlight: JL Audio AP600/6

JL Audio AP6006

A few decades ago, amplifiers designed for marine applications were not only huge but also inefficient and, crucially, not truly waterproof. Things have come a long way since then, and JL Audio has recently introduced a new series of products specifically for high-performance marine and powersport applications. In this spotlight, we’ll look at the new JL Audio AP600/6 amplifier.

Introducing JL Audio AP Amplifiers

Before we dive into the specifics of the AP600/6, let’s look at the features common to the entire AP Series of products. These amplifiers were designed to provide ultra-reliable performance in marine, powersport and even motorcycle applications. They are completely free of analog controls that might require removable panels or plugs. How did they accomplish this? The amplifiers use a digital signal processor for sensitivity, crossover, bass boost, infrasonic filter, and polarity adjustments. The up and down arrow and Mode/CH buttons on the front panel, combined with a simple dot-matrix display, make it easy for your installer to complete the configuration process. With the amplifier completely sealed, it has an IP67 water and dust intrusion rating.

The AP Series includes four products: the four-channel AP300/4, rated for 50W x 4 into four ohms or 150W x 2 into a pair of four-ohm bridged loads; the monoblock AP300/1, which can deliver 300 watts into a two-ohm load; and the impressive AP600/6, a staggered power six-channel amp. There is also an amp called the AP200/4BT. This amp is rated a 4 x 40 watts into four ohm and includes a BT audio streaming receiver and a controller to adjust volume, track selection or source (BT or Aux input).

JL Audio AP200/4BT
The JL Audio AP200/4BT is a four-channel amp with Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP.

JL Audio AP600/6 Specifications

The six-channel AP600/6 is rated to deliver 50 watts per channel into four ohms for the four main outputs and 100 watts per channel to channels five and six. These last two channels can be bridged to provide 300 watts into a single four-ohm load. At 2 ohms, the main channels deliver 75 watts, and channels five and six deliver 150 watts each. The amp isn’t designed to drive a two-ohm load in mono. This is an ideal solution for marine applications with four main speakers and two tower speakers, or could be used with two towers and a subwoofer – just to name a few configurations.

Additional specifications include a CTA-2006-D-compliant signal-to-noise ratio of better than 70 dB when referenced to 1 watt of output from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Frequency response is listed as being 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a tight tolerance of 1 dB. Idle current is between 1 and 1.5 A, and dark current is specified to be under 1 mA. The six-channel amp has low- and high-voltage signal input ranges that accept 0.2 to 2 or 0.8 to 8 volts RMS.

All three pairs of channels can be run full-range or have high- or low-pass filters applied. The filters in the amp use second-order -12 dB/octave slopes and are adjustable from 20 to 500 Hz. The bass boost is centered nice and low at 37 Hz and can boost around this frequency by up to 18 dB. The AP600/6 has an adjustable infrasonic filter on channels five and six that’s adjustable from 20 to 50 hertz with a second-order slope. This amp doesn’t have a polarity reverse adjustment in the menu.

The amp has an Easy Tune mode that allows it to work with select Fusion source units with DSP and the Fusion Audio smartphone app.

JL Audio AP6006
A dot-matrix display on the front panel makes setting up the amp easy for your installer.

Connections and Installation

Electrical connections are on pigtails at either end of the amp. The left side has six pairs of 18-AWG speaker-wire connections, along with a remote turn-on connection and an 8-AWG connection. These connections are 10 inches long. The right side has three pairs of RCA jacks and a factory service USB port connection. The amp doesn’t have a built-in over-current protection device, so your installer should install a 70-amp fuse on the end of the power wire. Four-AWG should be run to the battery connections to ensure efficient operation.

Footprint-wise, the AP600/6 measures 11.81 inches (30 cm) long, 5.9 inches (15 cm) wide, and is 1.86 inches (4.7 cm) thick. These dimensions exclude the wires and their injection-molded strain reliefs. The amp mounts using the provided M4 x 35mm (approx. #8 x 1-3/8) fasteners that pass through the corners of the cast aluminum heatsink.

Upgrade Your Marine or Powersports Application with JL Audio AP-Series Marine Amps Today!

Whether you are shopping for a small amp with a Bluetooth receiver to power a system in your fishing boat, or you want a higher-power solution like the AP600/6 for a small cruiser, the new AP Series of amplifiers from JL Audio should have what you need. Drop by a local authorized retailer today. You can find out more about the AP Series amplifiers by visiting the Garmin website.

Be sure to follow JL Audio on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to learn more about their impressive automotive, marine, and powersport solutions.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate PM400X4

Rockford Fosgate PM400X4

Contrary to how some marine audio amplifier manufacturers approach the design of their products, an amplifier designed for a boat isn’t just painted a different color. From coatings on the circuit board and the finish on the heatsink to the materials chosen for the electrical connections, a marine amp needs to be designed from the ground up for reliability. In this spotlight, we’ll look at what makes the Rockford Fosgate PM400X4 a perfect solution for your marine audio application.

Specifications of the Rockford Fosgate PM400X4

The PM400X4 is a four-channel amplifier rated to produce 50 watts of power into four 4-ohm loads and 100 watts into 2-ohm loads. Each pair of channels can be bridged to provide 200 watts of power into two 4-ohm loads. The bridged configuration would be ideal for a pair of subwoofers or wakeboard tower enclosures, such as the 10-inch Rockford Fosgate M2WL-10H.

Performance-wise, Rockford Fosgate rates the amp as having a bandwidth of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a tolerance of 1 dB. Most companies use a 3 dB rating. This is a Class A/B amplifier, so you know the frequency response with real dynamic loads is going to be ruler-flat to well beyond where humans can hear. Distortion is specified as less than 1%. We know from our testing that these amplifiers are capable of better than 0.02%, putting them in line with the cream of the crop.

Rockford Fosgate PM400X4
The PM400X4 is a four-channel Class-AB amplifier designed for marine applications.

Design Features

The PM400X4 is based on a cast aluminum heatsink that measures 11.03 by 7.76 inches and stands 2.38 inches tall. The heatsink is finished in a light grey powder coat that’s not only durable but also resistant to fading under prolonged UV exposure.

Speaker, signal, and power connections are made along the front edge of the amp. Terminal blocks with set screws accessible from the top of the amp ensure secure and reliable connections for up to 4-AWG power and ground wires and 8-AWG speaker connections. The terminal blocks use stainless steel hardware to prevent corrosion. The amp has four RCA input jacks that are slightly recessed into the front panel.

Rockford Fosgate PM400X4
Custom-tooled terminal blocks ensure that power and speaker cables are held in place securely.

Signal Processing and Controls

As you can see from the photos, there’s a removable panel on top of the amp that provides access to the controls. Each pair of channels has a sensitivity control that’s adjustable from 150 millivolts to an impressive 12 volts. The RCA input jacks have a balanced differential circuit design. Not only does this help eliminate noise, but it means your installer can connect the output of a factory radio or small amplifier directly to the PM400X4 without the need for a line output converter.

Each pair of channels has a crossover function switch that selects between high-pass, low-pass, or full-range operation. The associated frequency control is adjustable from 50 Hz to 250 Hz, and the crossovers have a -12 dB-per-Octave slope with a Butterworth alignment.

Additionally, Rockford Fosgate included a Punch EQ2 control with each pair of channels. Your installer can dial in up to 18 dB of boost at 45 Hz and 12 dB at 12.5 kHz to give your music a little kick or sizzle. In a marine application, the added high-frequency output can be very beneficial to systems where the speakers are mounted low under the seats.

Rockford Fosgate PM400X4
All the controls and adjustments are concealed behind a removable panel on the amplifier’s top panel.

Keeping Things C.L.E.A.N.

The PM400X4 includes Rockford Fosgate’s C.L.E.A.N. distortion-detecting circuitry on each channel. The amp features an input clip indicator LED beside the RCA jacks to optimize signal-to-noise performance. Each pair of channels has an output clip indicator to let your installer know when the amp reaches maximum output. Setting up an amp with the C.L.E.A.N. circuitry saves time and eliminates clipping, which can add unwanted high-frequency content and damage tweeters.

Element Ready Design

We’ve mentioned the UV-resistant powder coat finish and the stainless-steel terminal hardware. These are just part of the Element Ready design of the PM400X4. Additionally, the circuit board has a two-part epoxy coating that helps eliminate corrosion from exposure to salt, as you’d find near the ocean. The epoxy, combined with hot melt adhesive around significant components like the power supply capacitors, ensures that vibrations and impacts won’t damage the circuit board.

Upgrade Your Marine Entertainment System Today!

If you are interested in having an audio system upgrade designed for your boat, drop by a local Rockford Fosgate retailer. They can combine speakers, subwoofers, and a source with high-quality amplifiers like the Punch PM400X4 to create a system that will sound amazing and last for years.

To find an authorized retailer near you, use the locator tool on the Rockford Fosgate website. While you are online, check out their Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube feeds to stay up to date with the latest product releases and cool event coverage.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2

Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2

Having a great-sounding audio system on your boat is one of the best ways to improve your time on the lake or ocean. Rockford Fosgate is an industry leader in marine audio products. Their speakers, subwoofers, source units and amplifiers are at the heart of some of the best-sounding boats on the water. Let’s check out the Punch Series M2-200X2 amplifier in this product spotlight.

Specifications of the Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2

The M2-200X2 is a two-channel amplifier that’s rated to produce 50 watts of power per channel into four-ohm loads. When the load impedance is two ohms, power output increases to 100 watts per channel. The amp can be bridged to deliver 200 watts of power into a single four-ohm load.

From a perspective of performance, Rockford Fosgate rates the amp as having a bandwidth of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a THD spec of < 1.0%. Having tested several Punch amplifiers in our labs, we know that they dramatically outperform these modest specifications. We’ve seen frequency response measurements that are within 3dB to well below 5 Hz, and THD numbers in the <0.02% range. Punch and Power series amplifiers not only measure well on the bench, but they also sound excellent.

Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2
The M2-200X2 is a two-channel amplifier designed to withstand the challenges of marine applications.

Marine Stereo Amplifier Features

The M2-200X2 is based on the same cast aluminum heatsink design as the Punch Series amplifiers. These high-mass heatsinks are a key component in determining reliability and thermal stability at high power levels. Indeed, there are many compact amps on the market that make similar power claims. However, we doubt they will play at full power for more than 30 minutes without overheating.

The M2-200X2 has a footprint of 6.8 by 8.1 inches and stands 1.9 inches tall. All the power, signal and speaker connections are made along the front edge of the amp to keep the installation tidy. Angled terminal blocks accept 4-AWG power and ground connections, while a smaller block accommodates at least 12-AWG speaker cables.

The amplifier has a pair of RCA input jacks that will accept up to 4 volts. Adjacent to the speaker jacks is a Molex plug for speaker-level inputs. This will take up to 12 volts of signal. The amp has an Auto Remote Turn-On feature that monitors the inputs for the presence of the BTL offset voltage from a head unit or similar amplifier. This is an excellent feature if your installer is connecting the amp to a radio that doesn’t have RCA outputs.

Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2
Power, signal and speaker connections are made via zinc-coated brass terminals along the front edge of the amp.

Signal Processing

The Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2 has a variable crossover that can be adjusted from 50 Hz to 250 Hz. The slope is -12 dB per Octave and features a Butterworth alignment. A switch on the top of the amp allows your installer to select between high-pass or low-pass operation, or to bypass the filtering completely.

The M2-200X2 features Rockford Fosgate’s C.L.E.A.N. circuit on both the input and output, allowing your installer to optimize the amplifier’s power and noise performance. The C.L.E.A.N. LED indicators illuminate when maximum power is achieved.

Element Ready Design

Rockford Fosgate rates the M2-200X2 as being Element Ready. In this application, the amp is constructed with corrosion-resistant materials like a UV-resistant powder-coated cast aluminum heatsink and corrosion-resistant zinc nickel-plated brass hardware. Where the moniker becomes more critical is the use of a conformal coating on the circuit board to prevent corrosion in environments with high salt content. Furthermore, the board and its attached components can withstand impacts and vibrations that would cause problems with lesser products. If your boat takes a pounding as you jump over waves, then this physical stability is crucial to the longevity of your marine audio system.

Rockford Fosgate M2-200X2
The M2-200X2 includes mounting hardware and a hex key to make installation straightforward.

Upgrade Your Boat with Rockford Fosgate Marine Audio

If you are shopping for a great-sounding, reliable amplifier to upgrade your marine audio system, drop by a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the M2-200X2. This stereo amplifier is an ideal solution for powering a few sets of speakers or a subwoofer. In fact, running two of them would make for a perfect two-way marine audio system that can play for hours and hours.

Visit the Rockford Fosgate website and use their dealer locator to find a shop near where you live. While online, be sure to follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn about their impressive marine audio upgrade solutions.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: KICKER MSC65

KICKER MSC65

There are dozens of companies manufacturing marine-grade speakers. That certainly doesn’t mean that all the speakers sound good and have equivalent performance. KICKER, a company known for developing car audio, powersports and marine audio solutions, recently launched their M-Class Premium Series of marine products. This spotlight will look at the MSC65 6.5-inch coaxial speaker from this high-end family. Let’s check it out!

MSC65 Specifications

The KICKER MSC65 speakers have a published frequency response of 55 Hz to 25 kHz with an efficiency of 89 dB at 1W/1M. Recommended amplifier power is 15 to 100 watts, while peak power handling is 200 watts. The mounting requirements are a 5-7/16” hole with 3-9/16” of depth behind them.

Features of the KICKER MSC65

The MSC65 is a 6.5-inch coaxial that’s designed around a glass-filled nylon chassis. The chassis provides a stable platform for the magnet and moving assembly. At the heart of the speaker is a carbon-fiber-infused polypropylene woofer cone. A Santoprene synthetic rubber surround provides a compliant connection at the top edge of the cone that will last for many years.

For a tweeter, each speaker uses a textile material called Teteron to provide smooth, audiophile-grade performance. The tweeters have a diameter of 28mm (1.1 inches), so they can play low enough to prevent the woofers from becoming directional. The speakers use an integrated -12 dB/octave passive crossover at 3.2 kHz, which helps to ensure smooth and natural sound.

A perforated metal mesh grille protects the tweeters. An eight-spoke grille above the woofer cone supports the whole assembly. This eliminates the need for a pole piece, thereby increasing the woofer’s cone area to improve efficiency and bass production. Each pair of speakers includes both the white and charcoal grilles.

Electrical connections for the speaker are made via two-position Deutsch-style connectors to ensure a reliable, water-resistant connection. The speakers feature RGBW LED illumination, which lights up the cone from an LED strip wrapped around the tweeter’s neodymium magnet. The optional KMLC LED Lighting Remote controller can control the five-wire lighting system. Alternatively, the lighting can be hard-wired to a specific color to match your boat.

KICKER MSC65
The MSC65 set includes both charcoal and white grilles along with RGBW lighting to add a little extra style.

Real Marine™ Products

KICKER has invested significant resources into ensuring the entire series of M-CLASS products is up to the toughest challenges Mother Nature can dish out. All the speakers and subwoofers are tested for resistance to corrosion from salt under the ASTM B117 standard. They are also tested for colorfastness and resistance to chalking or fading due to prolonged UV exposure under the ASTM G154 standard. Finally, they have an IPX66 water-resistance rating thanks to integrated mounting gaskets on the backs of all the speakers. You can be confident that your purchase from KICKER will last for many years.

KICKER MSC65
Speaker wire and illumination connections are handled by weather-resistant Deutsch-style connectors that are molded into the chassis.

Other KICKER M-Class Solutions

Aside from the MSC65 6.5-inch coaxial speakers, the M-Class line includes 8-inch coax speakers along with 6.5 and 8-inch component speaker sets. The series includes 10 and 12-inch subwoofers designed for compact enclosures or infinite baffle applications. There is also a compact marine-grade subwoofer enclosure with a 10-inch subwoofer and a matching 10-inch reFLEX passive radiator to improve low-frequency efficiency.

Upgrade Your Boat with KICKER M-Class Speakers and Subwoofers Today!

If the sound system on your boat doesn’t put a smile on your face when you turn up the volume, drop by an authorized KICKER retailer today and ask them about the amazing new M-Class marine audio products like the MSC65. You can find an authorized dealer using the locator tool on their website. For more information on KICKER marine, powersports and car audio products, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and of course, their amazing YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN

Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN

Compared to just over a decade ago, there are dozens of options for marine source units on the market. Few are truly high-end units with state-of-the-art audio performance and compatibility with chartplotters and multi-function displays. Unsurprisingly, Rockford Fosgate offers several class-leading solutions. Their PMX-5CAN multi-zone digital media receiver is the focus of this Product Spotlight. Let’s check it out!

Features of the Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN

Starting with the basics, the PMX-5CAN is an oversized-face single-DIN receiver. This means the chassis has the standard two-by-seven-inch height and width dimensions, but the display and control panel are larger and sit in front of the mounting surface. The face measures eight inches wide and stands 3.5 inches tall.

The radio’s front panel features a 2.7-inch (measured diagonally) color TFT display to let you know what’s playing. A large rotary volume control is located to the left, making it easy to adjust the radio without searching for a button. Rubber buttons surround the perimeter of the radio and provide source access, source selection, tracking control, radio preset access, and menu navigation. Knowing how Rockford Fosgate fanatics roll, they’ve included subwoofer-level control buttons directly on the radio face.

 

Entertainment Source Options

The PMX-5CAN includes an AM/FM receiver for terrestrial radio and a WeatherBand receiver, so you can stay informed about marine forecasts and avoid getting caught on the water during inclement weather. The AM/FM tuner can be set to regions like North America, Europe, Asia, or Japan to accommodate different channel frequency spacings. To enjoy SiriusXM’s genre-specific entertainment, your installer can add an SXV300 tuner module and antenna.

The USB port on the rear of the chassis lets you connect a USB memory stick up to 32GB in capacity to play MP3 or WMA audio files. The radio supports up to 999 songs, which should be more than enough for a day on the water. You can also connect your iPhone, and the deck will use it as an audio source. The USB port is powered and will charge your device with up to one amp of current.

You can also stream music wirelessly to the PMX-5CAN over Bluetooth. The radio supports audio streaming with the A2DP profile and includes AVRCP control. AVRCP allows you to change tracks on your device using the radio’s buttons. Hands-free calling is not an option on this radio as it’s intended for marine applications, not a car or truck.

Finally, the Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN offers an auxiliary input. This is the perfect solution for listening to audio from a media center, DVD player or laptop computer.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN
The PMX-5CAN is easily upgraded with SiriusXM, remote controls, MFD integration and more.

Audio Configuration and Processing Features

One feature that sets the PMX-5CAN apart from many other radios is its true 2-zone operation. This means you can listen to SiriusXM in the berth while playing streamed music over Bluetooth in the cockpit. The Zone 2 output is provided via a set of RCA cables, so you’ll need an amplifier to power those speakers.

Speaking of RCA cables, the radio features front, rear, and subwoofer outputs rated for four volts with an output impedance of 500 ohms. The built-in four-channel amplifier is rated to produce 25 watts continuously into four four-ohm speakers. The amplifier can also drive two-ohm loads and will deliver up to 50 watts max per channel in that configuration.

The deck includes adjustable high- and low-pass crossovers for RCA and speaker-level outputs. There are also separate seven-band graphic equalizers for the main and secondary zones. Your installer can use these tools to ensure maximum performance from your system. A web configuration tool on the Rockford Fosgate website allows all these audio settings to be saved to a file and loaded into the radio from a USB memory stick.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN
The Rockford Fosgate website offers a web-based audio configuration tool that allows your installer to configure and calibrate the PMX-5CAN.

System Control Options

The “CAN” suffix in the radio’s part number refers to its compatibility with several multi-function displays. With the addition of the PMX-CAN NMEA-2000 interface module, the PMX-5CAN can be controlled by many Garmin and Raymarine devices. This compatibility allows, for example, a radio mounted in the cabin to be controlled from a Garmin GPSMAP device at the helm.

Up to three PMX-0R or PMX-1R remotes can be connected to the radio for secondary control. These are a perfect solution if you want to change tracks from the swim platform or adjust the volume from the galley.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN
A wired remote on the swim platform is a great convenience upgrade.

Durability and Reliability Features

The Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN is designed from the ground up to offer class-leading reliability in all marine applications. As such, it bears Rockford Fosgate’s Element Ready moniker. This means it can withstand being splashed or sprayed with a hose, thanks to an IPX6 water intrusion rating.

All materials used in the front panel are rigorously tested under the ASTM B117 and ASTM D4329 standards to withstand salt exposure without corroding and prolonged UV exposure without fading or discoloring. Unlike many other manufacturers, Rockford Fosgate subjects its products to intense shock and vibration testing to ensure they hold up under pressure. If you’re pounding the waves on a jet boat, you’ll want a radio that can take a beating.

Upgrade Your Boat with the Rockford Fosgate PMX-5CAN Receiver

If you’re shopping for a high-quality, easily upgradeable marine radio for your boat, visit a local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the PMX-5CAN. This is a fantastic solution for a simple audio system and can also serve as the heart of a complex multi-zone, multi-control system on a cruiser or small yacht. You can use the dealer locator tool on the Rockford Fosgate website to find your nearest retailer.

While you’re online, check out their other high-performance marine speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers to make your time on the water even more enjoyable. Don’t forget to follow Rockford Fosgate on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to stay updated on all the latest products and see the amazing events the team attends.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.