MrG
Well-Known Member
My 2012 2575QCW came with 4 kicker speakers and a Sony X-plod deck and Wired remote. It's the cheep entry level system you can't expect much. i figured I was gonna put a high end system in my boat so don't spend any money on stuff you just going to not use.
Well I'll fast forward to almost 5 years later. I'm still rocking basically "the stock system" and I'm totally happy with it.
So if you have crappy "stock sound" and you don't wanna spend any money here is some advice. I was turned onto the Sony MEX XB100BT head unit from a Fourm member. I have been running it for some time and wanted to report back.
In my opinion your stock head unit has NO power. That's 1/2 of the reason your system sounds like crap. Remove your stock head unit and throw it away.
The Sony Mex XB100BT has 100 watts of power. Plenty of power to push your 4 stock speakers that's 25 watts per speaker. (For your 4 channel stock system) Your not gonna win any stereo contest but it's a far cry better then what you have now if your system is bone stock.
simply removing your stock head unit and swapping it out for a new high power head unit will make a big difference. And they are only $198 on Amazon.
Now if you have the stock kicker speakers or newer offerings your in luck that's the other 50% of the equation. (Descent Speakers) If you have deasent speakers and just enough power to push them your golden.
Most people that have a 2012 or newer boat have good enough speakers to make it happen.
Another bonus is low power draw for a system that sounds this good you typically need a Amp and that means more power draw. I have 1 Group 31 deep cycle battery in my boat.(stock battery is a Group 24) That 1 Group 31 battery has more then enough power to play your stereo at a reasonable volume ALL DAY LONG. And still start your boat at the end of the day. I can tell you this because I have done it for the past 4+ years so. (Full Disclosure) I keep a jump start pack handy, so that if I ever have run flat I have somthing up my sleeve.
Only 3 potential down sides that I can see that would hinder Fourm members
#1 the new high power head unit asks you to run a larger gauge power wire to the Headunit. So if your batterys are not close your gonna have to pull a wire. Not a big deal but it's not plug and play.
#2 if your boat came with a factory Sony dash or lounger remote your gonna need to swap it out for a new one, because the Orignal RM-X60M is not compatible with the new MEX XB100BT head unit.
if you want the convenience of a dash mounted remote you need to find a Sony RM-X11M. This brings me to the last down side to this install.
#3 The Orignal Sony RM-X60M remote is a larger remote. The RM-X11M is a smaller and you would need to fab up a filler plate to mount the new remote.
All down sides considered I still think is a worth while upgrade.
Here are some pictures of my remote retro fit.
here is what your dash looks like after you remove the stock remote
I made this filler piece out of Abs plastic
Then I coverd it with some vinyl I had laying around.
Here it is in the Dash
Well I'll fast forward to almost 5 years later. I'm still rocking basically "the stock system" and I'm totally happy with it.
So if you have crappy "stock sound" and you don't wanna spend any money here is some advice. I was turned onto the Sony MEX XB100BT head unit from a Fourm member. I have been running it for some time and wanted to report back.
In my opinion your stock head unit has NO power. That's 1/2 of the reason your system sounds like crap. Remove your stock head unit and throw it away.
The Sony Mex XB100BT has 100 watts of power. Plenty of power to push your 4 stock speakers that's 25 watts per speaker. (For your 4 channel stock system) Your not gonna win any stereo contest but it's a far cry better then what you have now if your system is bone stock.
simply removing your stock head unit and swapping it out for a new high power head unit will make a big difference. And they are only $198 on Amazon.
Now if you have the stock kicker speakers or newer offerings your in luck that's the other 50% of the equation. (Descent Speakers) If you have deasent speakers and just enough power to push them your golden.
Most people that have a 2012 or newer boat have good enough speakers to make it happen.
Another bonus is low power draw for a system that sounds this good you typically need a Amp and that means more power draw. I have 1 Group 31 deep cycle battery in my boat.(stock battery is a Group 24) That 1 Group 31 battery has more then enough power to play your stereo at a reasonable volume ALL DAY LONG. And still start your boat at the end of the day. I can tell you this because I have done it for the past 4+ years so. (Full Disclosure) I keep a jump start pack handy, so that if I ever have run flat I have somthing up my sleeve.
Only 3 potential down sides that I can see that would hinder Fourm members
#1 the new high power head unit asks you to run a larger gauge power wire to the Headunit. So if your batterys are not close your gonna have to pull a wire. Not a big deal but it's not plug and play.
#2 if your boat came with a factory Sony dash or lounger remote your gonna need to swap it out for a new one, because the Orignal RM-X60M is not compatible with the new MEX XB100BT head unit.
if you want the convenience of a dash mounted remote you need to find a Sony RM-X11M. This brings me to the last down side to this install.
#3 The Orignal Sony RM-X60M remote is a larger remote. The RM-X11M is a smaller and you would need to fab up a filler plate to mount the new remote.
All down sides considered I still think is a worth while upgrade.
Here are some pictures of my remote retro fit.
here is what your dash looks like after you remove the stock remote
I made this filler piece out of Abs plastic
Then I coverd it with some vinyl I had laying around.
Here it is in the Dash