Noise when connecting multiple amps

[earleyksig]

This question is about my boat but am thinking the same principles apply. I've got a JL Audio XD700/5v2 and Kenwood KMR-550U receiver which has 3 sets of 2.5-volt preouts. I'm pushing 6 JL coaxial and 2 JL 8w3s and everything works flawlessly. Now to my issue...

All six speakers are inside the boat and you have to turn it up fairly loud to enjoy music while in the water. Looking for an inexpensive solution, I bought a Boss MCBK400 system which has two weatherproof speakers and a small amp. The issue I have is the JL amp doesn't have any preamp outputs. I first tried a pair of y-adapters and split the rear output on the receiver to feed channels 3/4 on the JL and the Boss amp. When doing this, the signal was extremely weak and I had to crank the volume on the boss speakers which introduced a ton of noise. As a workaround, I used a 3.5mm splitter which I connect to my phone and feed both the aux inputs on the receiver and the Boss amp. This solution provides a good, noise free, signal but isn't ideal as I have to switch things around every time I want the Boss speakers to play. I thought about trying a cheap ground loop isolator but have always looked at those as a bandaid approach. I also don't want to degrade the quality of my existing system. I should also mention I'm using a pair of JL interconnects so I don't think that's the issue. However, y-adapters are cheap. Any ideas?

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[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

a simple solution would be a preamp which will boost the output voltage for you, something as simple as this:

https://www.amazon.com/SX310-Pre-Amp-Electronic-Crossover-Subwoofer/dp/B001TE5YWU/ref=pd_sim_107_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001TE5YWU&pd_rd_r=1ZZ5E7K57HHJSBKG1CMP&pd_rd_w=EIxyX&pd_rd_wg=OmF2Y&psc=1&refRID=1ZZ5E7K57HHJSBKG1CMP

but you need to honestly drop the boss equipment, get a ppi900.4, a digital oscope to set your gains clean, and some nice component Pro audio speakers if you want enough output to hear it on the water. prv audio has been recommended a lot. pro audio mid ranges plus some silk dome tweeters on the power of a ppi900.4 really will impress you.

it may not be what you want to hear, but thats how you'll get the output you want.

 

[earleyksig]

a simple solution would be a preamp which will boost the output voltage for you, something as simple as this:https://www.amazon.com/SX310-Pre-Amp-Electronic-Crossover-Subwoofer/dp/B001TE5YWU/ref=pd_sim_107_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001TE5YWU&pd_rd_r=1ZZ5E7K57HHJSBKG1CMP&pd_rd_w=EIxyX&pd_rd_wg=OmF2Y&psc=1&refRID=1ZZ5E7K57HHJSBKG1CMP

but you need to honestly drop the boss equipment, get a ppi900.4, a digital oscope to set your gains clean, and some nice component Pro audio speakers if you want enough output to hear it on the water. prv audio has been recommended a lot. pro audio mid ranges plus some silk dome tweeters on the power of a ppi900.4 really will impress you.

it may not be what you want to hear, but thats how you'll get the output you want.

I should have clarified, when I said I wanted to hear music outside of the boat I meant when sitting in a cove, not while underway or when towing skiers/tube. I understand I would need something significantly more powerful, ideally tower speakers if that's what I was trying to accomplish. For my purposes, the Boss pod speakers do the job. I really just needed a boost in mid/high range as my subs can be easily heard in the water. I've got the pods mounted to my ski bar off the swim platform and they work surprisingly well.
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[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Grab a 4ch as stated..that ppi. 900.4 is a great amp..and snagg a pair of Polk Audio DB marine certified speakers.Nice loud and crisp if decently powered,and not expensive/will last