Devine Concepts

Mobile Electronics Expert in Naples, Florida

Marine Audio

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate M2-500X1 Element Ready Amplifier

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M2-500X1

When it comes to marine entertainment systems, Rockford Fosgate speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers are among the best in the industry. If you’re searching for an amplifier to power the subwoofer system on your boat, the new M2-500X1 is a great choice. This 500-watt is efficient, includes all the features you could want and sounds great! Let’s check it out.

Features of the Rockford Fosgate M2-500X1

The M2 Series of amplifiers is based on the Prime Series of car audio amplifiers. The amplifiers have been upgraded with Element Ready features that improve their longevity in high-humidity applications. All the terminals are zinc nickel-plated brass so they won’t corrode. The heatsink, which measures 6.5 by 8.5 by 1.9 inches, has been powder-coated with a UV-resistant gray finish that will look great for years. The circuit board has a special conformal coating that prevents the tiny traces and components from oxidization that can affect performance. This amplifier and its two-, four- and five-channel brethren are serious about reliability and performance in marine applications.

The M2-500X1 is a mono Class D amplifier designed to power subwoofers. The amp can produce a continuous 300 watts of power when driving a 4-ohm load. Power output jumps up to 500 watts when driving a 2-ohm load. Frequency response is specified as being 20 Hz to 250 Hz. The amp includes an adjustable high-pass infrasonic filter that can be set between 15 and 40 Hz, along with a low-pass filter that’s adjustable between 50 and 250 Hz. Both filters use -12 dB/octave Butterworth alignments. The amp also includes Rockford Fosgate’s Punch EQ circuit that allows for up to 18 dB of boost to be added at 45 Hz. If your subs didn’t hit hard before adding this amp, they will after! Finally, the amplifier includes an RLC remote level control to fine-tune the bass level quickly and easily right from the helm.

Your installer will appreciate that Rockford Fosgate has included their C.L.E.A.N. input and output clip LEDs to make it easy and fast to set the amp up. The amp has a set of RCA input jacks for low-level signals up to 4 volts. If your application requires it, speaker-level inputs on a pigtail will accept up to 12 Vrms of signal. The amp also has an auto-sensing turn-on feature that will activate it when it detects that a factory-style radio connected to the speaker-level inputs is turned on. Both inputs use a balanced differential design to optimize noise rejection for clean, clear sound.

M2-500X1
Corrosion-resistant zinc nickel-plated brass connections ensure reliable power delivery and performance.

A Pedigree of Car Audio Performance

With more than 50 years of car audio experience under their belts, the Rockford Fosgate team created the M2-500X1 with many of the technologies found in the Punch and Power Series models. In addition to the C.L.E.A.N. feature, the amp includes a high-efficiency MEHSA 4 high-mass heatsink to keep all the components running cool so they remain reliable. The NOMAD protection circuit monitors the amp for shorts or low-impedance loads to keep things safe. The M2-500X1 uses a loosely regulated power supply design called P.O.W.E.R. to maximize power production when the supply voltage increases. Finally, the amplifier and all the associated specifications comply with the ANSI/CTA-2006 standards for power rating. There are no “If Lightning Strikes” (ILS) numbers on Rockford Fosgate gear.

M2-500X1
The M2-500X1 includes mounting hardware, a high-level input cable and an RLC remote level control.

Upgrade Your Marine Audio System with Rockford Fosgate

If your boat needs great bass, drop by a local Rockford Fosgate retailer and check out the fantastic M2-500X1 500-watt mono Element Ready amplifier and the impressive M2 Series of 10- and 12-inch subwoofers. You can find a retailer near you using their dealer locator on their website. To learn more about the M2 Series of marine audio products, check out their Facebook page, Instagram feed and 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.

Devine Concepts

14848 Old 41 Rd
Suite 9,
Naples, FL 34110
United States (US)
Phone: (239) 451-3210
Email: info@devine-concepts.com

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate M2WL-8 Wakeboard Tower Speakers

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Rockford M2WL-8

Whether you’re waterskiing, wakeboarding or towing friends on a tube, having great music to accompany your time on the water makes a day of fun even better. When it comes to wakeboard tower speakers, the powersports audio fanatics at Rockford Fosgate have the perfect solution to ensure that everyone on the boat and at the end of the rope can hear your favorite jams. Let’s look at the Rockford Fosgate M2WL-8 wakeboard tower speakers and the PMX-RGB LED lighting controller.

Wakeboard Tower Speakers Done Right

The M2WL-8 are Rockford Fosgate’s second generation of wakeboard tower speakers. The kit includes a pair of enclosures loaded with the 8-inch M2-8 coaxial drivers. In addition, a set of universal tower bar clamps are included, along with inserts to work with bars from 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter. The clamps allow the speakers to be rotated by 360 degrees for each alignment during installation. Stainless steel grilles are mounted to the speakers out of the box but can be removed quickly to reveal the white, sport-style, twin-six-spoke grilles in behind. Finally, the speakers include Rockford Fosgate’s Color Optix RGB LED illumination system, and the rear of the enclosures boasts the new 3DIL RGB-illuminated Rockford Fosgate logo. The tower speakers are also available in black as part number M2WL-8B.

Rockford M2WL-8
The included clamps have inserts to allow secure mounting on tower bars from 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter.

When it comes to marine speakers, there are three important product selection criteria: performance, longevity and style. Rockford Fosgate uses Klippel testing during the speaker development process to ensure that all of their drivers operate as linearly as possible. This design verification and testing process translates to speakers that deliver clearer and more detailed sound, especially at high output levels. In addition, the speakers are rated to handle 250 watts continuous and an impressive 1,000 watts of peak power, thanks to the large-diameter voice coils and high-quality crossover networks.

Rockford M2WL-8
The RGB LED illuminated 3DIL logo on the rear of the speakers can be rotated to suit any installation angle.

The M2-8 speakers are based on a PA66 glass-fiber-reinforced chassis for rigidity and thermal stability. At the heart of each speaker is a 1-inch voice coil wrapped around a high-temperature Kapton former. The voice coil is centered by a linear spider made from an aramid-polyester composite. The woofer cone is mineral-filled polypropylene with UV inhibitors and is bounded by a UV- and salt-resistant thermoplastic elastomer surround. The surround and cone benefit from Rockford Fosgate’s Vertical Attach Surround Technique, which allows for up to 25% more effective cone area than conventionally designed drivers. The tweeter in each speaker is made from what Rockford Fosgate calls laminated PXNX, and they have a dome profile with a 1-inch voice coil and dual neodymium magnets.

Rockford M2WL-8
The M2WL-8 set includes wire pigtails, brackets and all the hardware your installer will need to start the installation.

Marine Speakers Made to Last

In terms of longevity, the M2WL-8 meets all the water- and UV-resistance requirements to bear the Element Ready moniker. The speakers are IPX6 water-intrusion rated, and the enclosures are molded from UV-resistant ASA plastic for rigidity and to keep weight down.

Rockford Fosgate’s attention to detail includes dual water-resistant Deutsch/Amphenol DT-Series connectors with silicone gaskets. One connector is in the center of the clamp, and the second is behind the mounting hardware access port. The speakers can be mounted directly to many tower brackets without a clamp, and the dual-connection options keep wiring simple and clean in every application. Speaking of mounting, a concealed security Torx fastener keeps everything rock solid, even when you’re pounding across the tops of waves and wakes.

Great Sound with a Cool Look

The Color Optix RGB LED lighting works with the RMX-RGB wireless controller module. Using the free RFConnect app on your Apple iPhone or an Android device, you can set the illumination color on the speaker cones and 3DIL logo to almost anything under the rainbow. You can even adjust the brightness or choose from 30 color scrolling patterns. In terms of attention to detail, the Diamond R logo on the 3DIL can be rotated, so it’s upright, no matter what angle the speakers are installed.

Rockford M2WL-8
The M2WL-8 kit includes removable stainless steel speaker grilles, so you can choose the style you want at no extra cost.

Upgrade Your Wake Boat with Rockford Fosgate

If you want a set of wakeboard tower speakers that will sound amazing, look cool and last for years, drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the M2WL-8 system. They’d be happy to provide you with a quote to upgrade your boat. For more information on these tower speakers, visit the Rockford Fosgate website and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and of course YouTube.

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.

What To Look For When Buying Marine Audio Products

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Marine AudioIf you own a boat, you know how great it is to hang out on it with your friends in the evenings and on weekends. Enjoying great conversation, good food and awesome music is the perfect recipe for fun and relaxation. When it comes to designing and installing a marine audio system on a boat, there are some specific product requirements that will help ensure it lasts for years and always sounds great. Let’s take a look at a few.

Water Damage

Marine AudioImagine the cockpit of a bow-rider or wakeboard boat. If you were to install a conventional car audio CD player in the dash and get it wet, it would stop working. Maybe not right away, but all the exposed internal components that are not protected against corrosion will fail eventually. The same goes for speakers. Car audio speakers can handle a few drops of water now and then, but being rained on or splashed a lot will do them in.

Water-resistant source units are built with control panels that seal themselves when closed. They include rubber gaskets to ensure water won’t get into the back of the radio, and the buttons and controls can withstand whatever Mother Nature throws their way. Look for an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP66 or higher. The first number in the rating describes the dust protection capabilities, and the second describes moisture protection. An IP rating of 66 means it is fully protected against dust and against water being sprayed by high-power jets. Specifically, level 6 jets spray 100 liters (26.4 gallons) of water per minute at a pressure of 100 kPA (14.5 psi), at a distance of 3 meters (9.85 feet) for a total of 3 minutes. No water can get into the device during the test.

While direct exposure to water is a problem, so is exposure to dampness and humidity. Thankfully, companies that design source units designed for a marine application coat their circuit boards with a non-conductive water resistant coating. This is referred to as conformal coating. It prevents moisture from corroding component connections inside the radio.

Marine Audio
Thanks to Prestige Car Audio And Marine for sharing this picture with us.

A genuine marine speaker is designed in the same way. These speakers include a rubber gasket on the mounting surface to seal them to the boat. For a coaxial speaker, there must be a secondary gasket at the base of the woofer cone to prevent water from getting into the speaker’s motor assembly. Without this seal, the top plate and T-yoke of the speaker will corrode. Good-quality marine speakers often include drainage channels to let water out from the behind the grille and include provisions for allowing wiring to be secured to the speaker. This prevents speaker wires from being pulled off when objects like life jackets or fishing rods are being pulled out of storage lockers.

UV Exposure

The second challenge is the sun. Almost every boat sits outside in the hot sun all summer. The sun will dry out plastics and fiberglass resins that are not designed specifically to handle harsh UV rays. The materials can fade, turn yellow, crack, turn chalky or simply dissolve. The UV rays cause the microscopic carbon bonds within the plastics to fail at an atomic level, causing free radicals. Once these free radicals (which are highly reactive molecules) are exposed to oxygen in the air, the material starts to fail. Quality marine audio products are made from plastics like Centrex 814 and similar materials that are designed to withstand UV exposure.

Marine manufacturers often specific industry-standard testing procedures such as ASTM D4329. This test puts products in intense UV exposure situations to verify material stability.

Ignition Protection

Marine AudioThe American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) has a set of guidelines for the installation of electrical and electronic equipment on boats. While the ABYC guidelines are written for boat manufacturers, they are good practice for anyone who works on boats. Of interest to the installation of marine audio products is the requirement to use of ignition-protected equipment.

Ignition protection-rated devices were designed for use in environments where there are fuel vapors, such as the engine compartment of your boat. In these applications, the devices cannot produce any spark or another form of ignition of flammable substances during normal operation. Manufacturers of compliant products have their products tested in a chamber filled with a flammable air/fuel mixture. The device is operated and cycled through its functions repeatedly to ensure that it is safe. The best part of the test is the conclusion: To confirm the validity of the test, a spark is created inside the test chamber to ignite the fuel. Yes, they blow up the product under test. I know – cool, eh? Devices such as remote controls and circuit overload protection devices (fuses, circuit breakers, etc.) should be ignition protected. Why risk the alternative?

Connectivity

Marine source unit manufacturers put a great deal of effort into their source unit accessories, from simple wired remote controls to units with color LCD displays and wireless units. There are hand-held Infrared and Radio Frequency Remotes, remotes with extra features and outputs to control other functions on your boat (hatch covers, lights, etc.), and even remotes that will let you use your iPod or iPhone to control your radio and see what is playing. These features are not typically found on common “car audio” units.

Salt Exposure

Marine AudioIf your boat is going to be operated near saltwater, fear not. Marine entertainment product manufacturers test for reliability under extremely salty conditions as well. In fact, most manufacturers of marine audio products do extensive salt spray and thermal testing, along with the UV and water ingress tests. Look for ASTM B117 Salt Fog Exposure testing on the products you are interested in using.

It’s no secret that marine audio products cost a little more than similar car audio products. You are making an investment in their reliability. The last thing you want is to sail out on the first day of a long weekend and have your system not work. With quality marine audio products on board and a professional installation, you will always be entertained.

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.