JBL MR-6 Sound System

[Investigator]

Hi - on my recently purchased Maxum 2400 SC3 (2007 registered) I cannot get as much of a crackle or hiss from the radio/CD system. I don't think the first owner had the JBL upgrade, although there is a socket for iPod attachment. The radio screen lights up ok and registers on an FM station but, even at full volume, . . . . . not a peep.

Now I know that the JBL systems are normally very good, and as you can see the boat is not very old. I'm not particularly good with electrics but I can't fin any wire breakage, or any obvious loose connection, or any break in the main 1amp and 10amp fuses at the back of the radio. It does seem like the speakers are just not connected, but wondered if anybody else is aware of a known problem. Sadly I can no longer contact the original owner to see if he was aware of any problem ?

Any comments would be welcomed :?:

[seapuppy]

Welcome to the zoo...I'd try getting a volt/ohm meter and see if there is any pwr getting to the radio...or any pwr coming out of the speakers..which can be a broken wire....just looking at wires and fuses won't tell you much..might also be a bad ground somewhere...

let us know what you find out...

SP :hello:

[Gazjen]

Are these systems externally amplified? If you have lost the remote +ve feed from the head unit to the amp you won't hear anything also if the amp has lost main power or a fuse has blown on the amp itself

If its not externally amplified seems a bit strange to lose all the speakers at once unless of course the amp has blown in the headunit

[the19hole]

Here is the link for the manual
http://www.prospecelectronics.com/JBL-M ... -11-07.pdf

I have this radio and have not had a problem. First thing to do is find out if the system has an amp or not. The quickest way is to see if the RCA out connectors on the back of the unit are hooked to a cable. If they are find that amp and check to see if it has power and is getting the ON signal from the head unit. After doing some simple troubleshooting call Prospec Electronics for help.

good luck

[Investigator]

Thanks guys - will have another look at it this long weekend (Monday is a Public Holiday in UK) and then post an update :mrgreen:

[Brit Rider]

Investigator,

As a marine audio installer in the UK hopefully I can help you out on this...

First port of call, as some have already mentioned would be to check the connections - Sounds like the unit is powering up fine but I'd not be surprised if an amplifier is present and not turning on, or has been removed by the previous owner. Check fuses on any external ancillaries/aux's that are plugged into the unit.

Also, it is plausible that the speakers have blown, I was working on a Tige Wakeboard boat at the weekend and oddly found that all 4 speakers had been blown - it was only 2 years old and the head unit still worked perfectly! So hook up a multimeter and see if anythings showing at the speakers - If they've blown I'd try and get them changed under Maxum warranty as it'd truly be a poor show to see something like this fail so early.

Also, I know this sounds silly but are there any settings on that could be stopping music? Like a volume limit setting that has mistakingly been turned all the way down? or a mute/ATT mode turned on? Have you tried other sources, like plugging an iPod or USB pen drive in?

If all else fails I'd be happy to come take a look for you but I'd bet it'd be cheaper to find a a car audio shop nearer you to have a quick investigation rather than calling me out once travelling times taken into account. I'd put money on this being a simple fix given the fault being tracked down.

Hope that helps.

Mike
Wakeboard Towers UK

[Investigator]

Hi Mike - thanks for the input.

I cannot see a separate amplifier and I have wondered whether it was removed by the previous owner :!:

We have checked for the possible mute etc, and have turned volume up fully. I does seem to lock onto FM stations ok but not a peep of sound. Also, when putting in a CD, it looks like it is trying to read it but then just shows "Error" - and this is the same with a number of different CD's. The boatyard where I purchased the boat are supposed to be trying a different head unit this week ?

I'll keep in touch - thanks again

[tglee]

I have the same stereo in my hot tub. I went through three of them before I finally got one that works (at least most of the time).

Brit Rider, have you seen many problems with these JBL/ProSpec units?

[Brit Rider]

Investigator - no worries, let us know how you get on. I may have mentioned this already but I'll bench test it F.O.C for you if that helps - just get the unit to our office with a cover note (description of problem, name, address, tel number) and mark it for my attention - shouldn't be more than a week; if it works fully and we need to send it back it'll cost you £7.95 to cover our next day delivery service. If its got issues I will make a recommendation as to another unit to purchase that would meet your needs - you can then choose to buy from us or someone else, but I'll do my best to price match anything you find elsewhere

Tglee - I have seen several go dead unfortunately, but no worse than the basic Clarion or Kenwood units... at the end of the day, as much as they tout them as being 'Marine' - They just aren't - coating a circuit board isn't anyhting like enough; especially when it comes to the Casings, sockets and CD mechanisms. This is also compounded when any of them see a bit of salt. Just have a look at the cage the unit sits in and the RCA ports on the back for evidence of this. I've even seen some JBL units with a sticker over the top of the case to keep water out... it was laughable.

The only quality unit I've ever come across is the new Fusion Electronics stuff (Model - IP500) - Fully waterproof (front and back @ IP65 standards) - you just put an ipod inside it and forget about it (it keeps it charged and allows you to scroll through all your tunes from the front panel or remotes). And with nothing to do with quality but everything do to with ease of use - it'll individually control upto 4 'zones' so you can blast music in certain areas (at helm while underway for example) whilst keeping things nice and quiet in cabins/heads/ etc.

I've not had a single Fusion unit go bad... looking over the sales figures we have done 42 in the past 10 months, which by my reckoning is good going for product failure rates, especially when cross-referenced with the amount of Sony, Clarion, Kenwood and JBL I've had to replace over the start of this season. - I'm pretty sure the units are available in the US so it might be worth you scoping one out if you are in the market.

[Gazjen]

I've got the car version of that Fusion head unit (didn't have enough space for the marine one) and I can't fault that either controls the ipod with ease and plays everything but a jam sandwich on CD

[Brit Rider]

Its funny, cos Fusion used to be really really awful... I didn't rat eit at all, but as of about 2007 they seemed to have totally stepped it up - especially on the marine side but also with their full amp line and head units.

I have no qualms at all about recommending Fusion these days

[Gazjen]

I would have said the same, It was for the chav brigade and a lot of people think I've gone nutts (I was heavly into car installing when I was younger) As I used to moan if anyone wanted to fit anything but Clarion or Alpine

[Investigator]

Thanks guys for all your help.

Won't be getting over to the boat for a couple of weeks, and the Boatyard that brokered the boat supposed to be looking at it ?

I'll keep you updated

Thanks again :mrgreen:

[Investigator]

no worries, let us know how you get on

Hi Mike - heard from the boatyard today and they tell me they have had the radio checked and the amp is knackered.

I have decided to just purchase a new radio, and considered purchasing a straight JBL MR-6 replacement. That might sound daft but I have always been pleased with JBL stuff in the past.

Do you know if this unit can be sourced in UK, or would I have to make a purchase from USA. I have seen them on US web sites for around US$150 - 160. I know there'll be some shipping and tax costs, but that doesn't sound too disastrous.

The rest of the boat is mint, so I just want to get this sorted.

Would appreciate any further help or advice !

PS : the sound system on the boat is not a MAJOR factor for us in terms of ultimate quality. Where we mostly use the boat, big sounds would be a problem anyway, so the system would only be for occasional and fairly quiet listening. Just so you know that I have fully taken on board your many comments around this forum relating to JBL products, and to explain why keeping the boat "original" is good enough for our purpose - didn't want you to think I was just some nerd

[Investigator]

Couldn't find a UK source, so I ordered one today from USA.

In fact, the MR-6 model is no longer available, and has been replaced with the MR-160 which, I am told, is a direct replacement with all the same sizes and fittings, with just a few minor enhancements from what I see, but same power output which means the original speakers will be ok and, as I said in a previous post, will be good enough for our level of requirement.

I would like to thank you for your interest, and I will post details of completion in a couple of weeks.

[Brit Rider]

Oop, only just found this thread and its latest updates....

Sounds like you've got it sorted Investigator. Only 2 things I'd comment on though - that stereo, being a USA version won't have RDS, or full FM ability, it will jump in .2's rather than be able to hone in every .1 of frequency.... so if you're favorite radio station is 89.6, you will only be able to get to 89.5 or 89.7FM...

Its a minor thing but can be an annoyance depending on your favoured station....

Also, this will really annoy you but I have a 2nd hand clarion unit sitting here that would be a direct swap too... you could have had it for £20!

Either way, There is definitely some thing to say for keeping things 'stock' and 'as factory' which I can certainly relate to so I'm sure you'll be well sorted with the new unit...

Glad you got it all sorted

[Investigator]

Twenty Quid ?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrggh ! ! !

That'll teach me for being so bloody impulsive

You know, its like I said before - the boat is mint, and what with the better weather hopefully just round the corner, just wanted it all sorted.

Thanks anyway for all your interest, and will just let you know when its all done.

Cheers mate :mrgreen:

[Investigator]

Hi Guys - would love to be able to tell you that it is all sorted - but sadly not so !

The boatyard fitted the new radio, and have got some hissy sounds from the speakers at least, but the radio quality is crap (to be fair - might be where we were parked up?) but again, even with this new unit, when you put in a CD it shows the spinning symbol for a fews secs, and then shows "Error".

Having bought the radio brand new from USA, I am now starting to get more than just a little pi**ed off.

Am I missing something really stupid here ?

Thanks as always :mrgreen:

[Gazjen]

If you've tried a few different CD's then its got to be the head unit that's at fault

My radio was really good when I first had the boat now its rubbish I've put that down to the old aerial I'm going to renew that next

[Investigator]

Have tried a few different CD's now - and all come up with an error message.

However, none of the CD's fully disappear inside the unit, leaving approx 1/4" sticking out - that can't be right can it ???

As I said, I have just purchased the MR-160 new from USA - surely the fitter has not left a transit screw in or something stupid ?

Will be checking it out again during the week, so I'll keep you updated

Oh yeah - and once we moved away from the marina into open water, the radio function was working fine and dandy