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bass problem in a sailboat

Hi!

I have a sailboat with a nice marine-grade stereo, built by Poly-Planar. There are four speakers, powered by a 4 X 45 (180 watts total) head unit. The speakers each have a 5 1/4" "woofer". I generally like the sound. The not-so-low bass is great, but I'd like to boost the really low frequencies just a little. I listen to mostly classical music, and I miss a few very low notes that I hear clearly on my home system. I'm NOT talking about great volume. I just want to boost the very low bass a little. I did this once years ago in a Camaro by simply adding an equalizer to the factory system. I DON'T want to add an amplifier and subwoofer because I don't need the extra magnetic field nor the additional power drain. An equalizer also seems inappropriate because, in this case, it would be a "set it and forget it" thing that I would hide somewhere. Is there a simple way to boost just the very low notes a little with the existing speakers and head unit?

Regards,
Troy Scott
tscott1217d0eb
tscott1217d0eb OP
12 posts
 
WRT "bass shakers", I do remember from long ago a device that could be attached to a wall to transform the wall into a speaker. I'm guessing that's what the "bass shaker" is. I'll check into it.

BTW, the sailboat in question is a Cape Dory 36. The displacement is over 16,000 pounds, and there are two nice cabins which are probably acoustically similar to a small room.

Regards,
Troy
linkster's avatar
linkster
432 posts
 
Hello Troy,
FYI, I owned a Robinhood 33 (hull no. 2) which is a downeast flybridge cruiser using a modification of the Cape Dory 33 hull. Robinhood Marine is the sucessor to Cape Dory- they build the Robinhood 36 which is identical to your 36, I think they are now close to hull no. 20.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
a small Bazooka cylinder-shaped active car-type sub might work out for you; they don't cost a whole lot. One model isolates & sums two-channel line-level inputs driving a single cone via an integral amp. I think their larger model handles the channels separately. Simply tee-connect the left & the right channels respectively at line level in either case.
baffled
106 posts
 
I had Poly Planar head unit and speakers in my boat and in my hot tub. All factory installed.....and all way below average in every way. Overpriced as well. Not 45 watts constant power.....peak only. I would try new speakers first. Bigger, if possible. Look for something with a high sensitivity rating. Also pay attention to the specs as to how low they will go. If you do not get the bass you are looking for, at least you will have improved the sound dramatically. A passive bazooka tube may be the answer if your head unit will power it. Crutchfield will let you return it if it does not work out. The amplified version would shiver your timbers, but you have ruled that out.
By the way, bass shakers are made to go under your seat and vibrate to the music. They are not speakers at all.
Another idea (and probably the best)would be an inexpensive head unit with bass management. Crutchfield has lots of those. Look for one with lots of internal power. I would look at Crutchfield's comparison chart and focus on the watts per channel. I like the Alpines, but I think you will find Kenwood to be the watts winner. Good luck.
tscott1217d0eb OP
12 posts
 
Baffled Bob,

Thanks! Your response is the most helpful so far! Right now I'm trying this: a dual voice coil subwoofer (hate that term) operated by two of the head unit's four channels. The other two channels will operate two of the original four PolyPlanar box speakers. We'll see. I intend to keep playing with this until I get it "right". I'm learning a lot!

Regards,
Troy
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