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Bridge Stereo Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter JLR
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JLR

JLR

Legendary Member
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Apr 17, 2005
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3,237
Hatteras Model
74' COCKPIT MY (1995 - 1999)
I have a Clarion CMD4 head unit, a JBL 4 channel amp and four speakers plus a sub woofer speaker. The problem is the fader knob on the Clarion will only produce sound out of the five speakers when turned all the way one way. Without that, I get no sound out of the sub woofer speaker or two of the speakers. I have no idea whether this is an amp setting or otherwise. It has always worked this way but is clearly not correct. I suspect the amp is meant to drive the sub woofer speaker and the Clarion is meant to drive the other four speakers. Any help in troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated. Since I do get sound out of all five speakers when the fader knob is turned all the way one way, I know it is not a speaker issue. I have read through the manual on the Clarion and it appears not to be a setting issue on the Clarion. Tried to read the manual on the JBL amp but it is beyond me. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I'd hate to spend the money to replace the system if it is just set up wrong.
 
Sounds like it's set to mono.
 
Boatsb said:
Sounds like it's set to mono.
Click to expand...
More likely wired in mono. The channels should have independent inputs and outputs (left front to one channel, left rear to another, etc), with the sub on it's own channel. Normally a sub gets it's own, (huge) amp.
 
I had a Clarion CMD4 on my aft deck.. Worked great... Betting they are right about being on mono wiring or setting... Upgraded to the Clarion CMD8 unit after 8 yrs (old one died).. Sadly the new updated version doesn't let you "repeat" a song on a CD like the older unit did...
 
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It appears as if the amp has posts for four speakers but not a fifth. Something about bridging the sub woofer speaker. Also, I can't make heads or tails of the required high pass low pass etc settings on the amp. The problem is really compounded because the Clarion head unit only permits fading. It does not have a balance control. So, unless the fade button is set all the way to one side, I have no sound out of three of the speakers. That cannot be right. Please keep the suggestions coming.
 
At the risk of taking the thread sideways, did the subwoofer affect your compass? I installed one on my bridge and threw off my compass by about 7*. And, it's about 7' away from the compass. (TVMDC)
 
If they are driving all 5 speakers with that amp, then here is what they probably did. They used two channels from the head unit and connected to the input of the amp. Since they wanted to drive 5 speakers with a 4 channel amp, they used output channels 1 and 2 to run the right and left speakers. They probably paralleled the two speakers on each side. This would give a 2 ohm impedance on the left and right channels. Then they probably bridged output channels 3 and 4 to drive the sub. This would give you roughly double the power to the sub.Since they only used 2 channels of the head unit the fader will not work. If you want to fade, then you will need a 5 or 6 channel amp.
 
Thanks all. Tony - as always, I appreciate your help. However, this time, I do not understand the details. If wired the way you suggested, is it wired correctly ending up with no fading and no balance? If so, is leaving the fade all the way to one side the only way to get sound out of all five speakers? Finally, if so, does it make sense either to replace the amp or head unit to be able to fade. The speakers do not need replacing.
 
I think Tony nailed it based upon my limited knowledge and understanding of these things. FWIW, there are some newer marine stereo units out there that are not too expensive and may provide more features and better utility than the exisiting unit. Most of what I listen to these days is being provided by downloaded or live streaming music service from a phone or tablet by bluetooth to the stereo on my boat. Lots of good/different/better choices out there.
 
Thanks Eric. Once I understand Tony's analysis, I will evaluate my options. I am not an audiophile and the bridge is certainly no place to worry about quality sound. But, since I mainly play Bluetooth Pandora, I should be able to power five speakers with either a proper fade or balance function.
 
I too think Tony has it right. To make it work right use the four channel amp to power the four channels (left front, left rear, right front, right rear) and get another amp to power the sub, It is customary to bridge left/right line-outs into the sub amp - or use sub out if your head unit has one - unless you have a high end system (you don't) that has stereo subs.
 
Thanks. Are there any single DIN head units that are designed to accommodate five speakers (four plus a sub woofer)? I wonder about the wisdom of adding a mono block amp to this old system versus simply chucking out both the existing amp and head unit and replacing it with a single DIN bluetooth unit that may not need an amp and can accommodate five speakers. Also, after reviewing the manual for the CDM4, it appears that it does have the ability to receive the outputs from a monoblock amp but I am not certain. I guess that these RCA's are labeled for non-fade which I think is the sub woofer.
 
JLR said:
Thanks. Are there any single DIN head units that are designed to accommodate five speakers (four plus a sub woofer)? I wonder about the wisdom of adding a mono block amp to this old system versus simply chucking out both the existing amp and head unit and replacing it with a single DIN bluetooth unit that may not need an amp and can accommodate five speakers. Also, after reviewing the manual for the CDM4, it appears that it does have the ability to receive the outputs from a monoblock amp but I am not certain. I guess that these RCA's are labeled for non-fade which I think is the sub woofer.
Click to expand...
Whatever you get you'll need an amp for your subwoofer, or a powered subwoofer. There are no head units that can drive a sub, other than line level (RCA) to an amp or powered sub. You might consider driving your four speakers from the speaker outputs and using just two of your amp outputs bridged as previously discussed. Here's a link to "marine" audio, best, Craig... https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/marine_receiver.html?&pg=1
 
Thanks so much.
 
I just removed my old head unit and old Jensen amp and speakers. I installed 4 Wet Sounds 808 speakers. A Fusion RA-70 head unit. It gives me a Fusion app for my iPhone, Bluetooth and links with Garmin. To power the speakers I bought a Rockville marine amp. I took a chance on the amp. It is on fifth the price of JL or Wer Sounds. System sounds great. With the 808 speakers I don't need a sub.
 
Thanks Tony. One last question. If my amp is being used to power all five speakers, and the sub is bridged, do both sets of other speakers go on the non bridged terminals/channel.
 
Yes. Channel 1 will have two speakers wired in parallel. Channel 2 will have two speakers wired in parallel. These willl be your left and right speakers. Then you will bridge your sub on channnels 3 and 4.
 
Thanks for all of the help.
 
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