Wetsounds 420 install pictures

[09vRide]

My factory JBL MBB black box is kaput. I'm going to do the 420 BT route and skip a HU given that I don't use a tuner, etc.

I want to put it under the helm left of the steering wheel. Anyone have install pics in a similar location? I'm particularly interested in how to mount it to the dash.

Thanks!!

[bunji169]

Surfin USA [emoji570][emoji475]

[bunji169]

Surfin USA [emoji570][emoji475]

[Punyelroo]

Probably not the most aesthetically pleasing but here's mine (to the right not left) ...

It actually has a bit of marine ply that extends further 'back' than the rear of the WS420 and the rear end of the marine ply is suspended with a simple metal strap up to a suitable point in the dash structure to support it. The WS is mounted to that...

You can tell where 'start engine' is on the MTC can't you..... who can guess my start code .... ?

Edited May 21, 2015 by Punyelroo

[Levi900RR]

I used my old stock stereo remote POD, reconfigured it and made it work for my WS420

[MLA]

Ive seen a couple in their under dash mount as it looks clean

[Levi900RR]

Have you noticed that some of the 420's have a face mounting flange (like mine) and some dont?( Like this one ^) Is that a BT vs SQ thing?

[shawndoggy]

Have you noticed that some of the 420's have a face mounting flange (like mine) and some dont?( Like this one ^) Is that a BT vs SQ thing?

yes. the 420BT is "thicker" and has a much bigger face.

[Stevo]

How exactly are those mounting up to the helm?

[shawndoggy]

How exactly are those mounting up to the helm?

if you use the WS mounting bracket like MLA posted in the last pic (post #6), there are four screws that run through the bottom of the bracket to mount in the surface above. But on the '14 lsv dash there isn't enough dash real estate to poke through four times and have the EQ reasonably level. So what I did is cut a piece of 3/8" starboard that is the same size as the bracket. The starboard goes on the inside of the bottom of the dash. The front two screws of the bracket (the screws closest to the face of the EQ) penetrate the dash and screw into the starboard piece. The back two screws just screw into the piece of starboard. So far so good... it's pretty solid.

[Stevo]

Any chance you have a couple pics?

[IPXpert]

I had mine mounted on the left under the tuner like all the above pics, but I kept catching my knee on it when I would slide in and out of the helm. So I had it moved and flush mounted it on the side where the throttle is, Installer didn't put it where I wanted, so its a little too far forward but its flush in the panel so nothing sticks out. Don't have a pic though, I need to take some this weekend.

I would recommend putting it there if you can, I almost drew blood a couple of times when it was under the tuner.

[shawndoggy]

Any chance you have a couple pics?

Now I do.

[09vRide]

Thanks everyone for all the pics. I got it installed this weekend and as part of the install, my OCD took over and I finally addressed the awful stock wiring job on the amps, etc. It's been on my project list for the boat for a few years and I figured might as well as get it done. I must say, this site has been a wealth of ideas and tips which made it go well. Thanks to all of you who have posted stereo install topics/pictures recently! Last year I built a new sub enclosure and upgraded my sub, so I'll include a few pictures of that as well. This is my first largish stereo install, let me know your thoughts. If there are areas of improvement, I'll make the changes.

First I removed JBL black box unit and amps - notice the fine OEM wiring job; shame on you Malibu. I practically had to take an ativan every time I looked in here.

Next was build an amp rack. I removed some of the carpet and glued with PL Premium some 3/4" ply backing to the hull. This is what I fastened the rack to. (sorry no pics of that). I changed all the amp wiring to 4 AWG and used distribution blocks with 1/0 wire from them to the common post on the Perko switch. I fused each amp run and put a fuse at the Perko in the 1/0 supplying the distribution blocks. Lastly, I moved my battery charger to the amp rack to clean it all up.

Next I made a mounting bracket for the 420 and carpeted it to match.

Because the 420 doesn't have an on/off switch, I added a switch to signal 420 and amps to turn on/off. I had a left over stock switch and cover from my ballast install which came in handy. I used a constant hot as the signal circuit. I like this because now I'll be able to run the stereo without the key in the on position.

For the sub, I upgraded the stock RF in an infinite baffle set up to a Hertz HX300 in a 1.25 cu.ft. ported enclosure. What a difference!

I used some composite decking to raise the box off of the floor. I also used a T&G style locking mechanism to hold it in place. In the face I cut a hole for the heater tube

And the final product. The addition of the 420 really improved the adjustability and sound of the system. My girls LOVE the mic feature. I used it to call my wife into the garage to get me another beer - didn't go over well

Edited May 25, 2015 by 09vRide

[bunji169]

Nice job. Great looking install.

Surfin USA [emoji570][emoji475]

[Levi900RR]

That looks really nice.

[IXFE]

Man... I sure like seeing all that stuff cleaned up!

[2manyhobbies]

Dude, that's a nice clean install. How's the sub sound with the new enclosure?

[09vRide]

Dude, that's a nice clean install. How's the sub sound with the new enclosure?

The sub is MUCH improved over the stock RF 12" mounted in the kick plate with no enclosure. The enclosure I built is 1.25 cu.ft. with port size/length as specified by Hertz (I can't remember off hand). I also put the sub on a dedicated amp, a RF 1000-1 which puts out 500W RMS @ 2ohm. You can feel the bass in the boat now.

What really woke the system up was the addition of the 420. Much cleaner sound and much louder too. It must be the preamp voltage output of the 420 that makes all the difference. I'm taking the boat into the stereo shop this weekend to have the system tuned again now that I've made significant changes.

Edited May 27, 2015 by 09vRide

[Kojak]

Sweet!

It takes time but it sure is good feeling when you're all done knowing you did the work yourself.

[2manyhobbies]

The sub is MUCH improved over the stock RF 12" mounted in the kick plate with no enclosure. The enclosure I built is 1.25 cu.ft. with port size/length as specified by Hertz (I can't remember off hand). I also put the sub on a dedicated amp, a RF 1000-1 which puts out 500W RMS @ 2ohm. You can feel the bass in the boat now.

What really woke the system up was the addition of the 420. Much cleaner sound and much louder too. It must be the preamp voltage output of the 420 that makes all the difference. I'm taking the boat into the stereo shop this weekend to have the system tuned again now that I've made significant changes.

Awesome, and agree that the 420's really allow the system to bring it all together. I am taking my setup over to my buddies house this weekend with a case of beer, he does stereo's as a side business and has an amazing system on his own boat (Tige unfortunately). That said, he's going to tune me up and see if we can get more out of the 10in WS sub/enclosure I have right now, it's not really filling out the low end like I want it to. It's running off a Syn6 with two Rev 10's. I'm hoping it just a matter of adjusting the gain's and not problem with the enclosure/sub combo.....

[jtrovato]

Nice keychain in that last pic...

[09vRide]

Nice keychain in that last pic...

Good eye! I was wondering how long it would take someone to notice. I got that key chain from my local MC dealer when I had a deposit on a new X2 a number of years ago. In the end I didn't get the X2 and went Malibu instead and never looked back.

[ibglobal]

That looks clean! I'm looking to do something similar to my new 24 mxz.

How difficult is the wiring with the eq and how hard was it to make the front sub enclosure? It looks better then the once coming out of shops around here

[09vRide]

Wiring the eq is very straight forward. Three sets of RCA's to the amps and power, ground, switch wires. Just make sure you use same power/ground as the amps to avoid noise in the system.

Building a sub enclosure is really about how good you are with woodworking tools. It's a simple box with a few holes. The front face wasn't too difficult - most of the angles were 90 degrees. There are lots of resources online for size/vent specifications.