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Copyright 2002-2007, Monster Tower, Inc.
Wiring Instructions and Amplifier Considerations
We recommend you use 16 to 18 gage wiring between the
speakers and amplifier. Consult your tower installation manual
or provider for instructions on running wire inside your tower.
We recommend covering the wiring with 3/8” or 1/2” wiring loom
and electrical tape as shown for a professional, watertight
appearance.
The most common way to wire a boat with tower speakers is
with the front speaker or front pre-amp outputs of the stereo
driving all speakers in the boat. The rear speaker or rear pre-
amp outputs are then used for the tower speakers. This allows
the fader to control the volume from inside to behind the boat.
A four-channel amplifier in the boat is typical with two channels driving the boat speakers and two
channels driving the tower speakers. The next level is to have separate amplifiers for the boat
and for the tower speakers. We recommend supplying 100 RMS at 4 Ohms to each speaker. The
peak power of an amplifier is what is advertised, but is also often misleading. The RMS at a
specific Ohm Load is the real working power of the amplifier. It is generally agreed by audiophiles
that supplying too much power to speakers is far better than under powering the speakers. If
there is too much power the signal “clips off” and the speakers let you know with no damage.
With too little power, you send lots of distortion to the speaker, which causes speaker damage.
It’s far better to “over amp” the speakers and not turn it up all the way than “under amp” them and
send up damaging distortion.
Most amps have a Bass boost or filter that you can use to remove or add Bass. Turn this off or
put on the lowest setting to remove as much Bass as possible to the tower speakers. If your amp
has a High Pass Filter turn it to the highest frequency that sounds good to filter out as much Bass
as possible. The Bass uses the majority of the amplifier power with sound that will not reach the
rider. Mostly high frequency and upper mid-Bass will be audible at 65’-80’ behind the boat over
engine, water and wind noise.
For learning more about tower audio, we highly encourage you to visit the “Boats and
Accessories” discussion boards at www.Wakeboarder.com and www.WakeWorld.com. We also
support a website at www.diyTower.com that has a wealth of information on tower audio.
