best speakers for illusion-x tower?

I plan on buying some speakers for my boat (2005 Malibu VLX) in the near future. Now that I'm somewhat over the shock effect of Malibu asking over $750 per pair for cheap speakers in aluminum cans, I'm trying to decide which ones to buy. I don't plan to pay that much for Kicker or Sony speakers though so I'm looking elsewhere.

In the past, I've been known to be somewhat of an audio/video snob when it came to home audio/video equipment so I am admittingly a little hard to please.

Clarity, accuracy, and imaging have been what I look for in home speakers, but I'm guessing that it is not that important in a boat due to the environment. I generally only listen to music when we are parked in a cove. Maybe because that's all the stock system is good for.

I am leaning towards all JL Audio speakers and amps. I know Fusion uses JL Audio but it looks like thier tower speakers don't fit an illusion tower. Anyone know any different?

Has anyone compared the NVS or ARC (from lightning accessories) to mass-consumer speakers like the polk audio, kicker, etc?

I wish I could just find some quality chrome or polished cans for the illusion tower that I could put my choice of speakers in.

Fusion uses Diamond.

you're right, I meant Fluid not Fusion.

btw, I know this has been debated to death. It just appears that the options for the illuision tower are a little scarce.

It is not that the options are scarce, only if you want them to be used in the stock locations. You can mount anything you want on the rear cross bar just like a standard tower. Take a look at some of TeamNeptunes work on an Illusion tower.
http://www.teamneptunes.com/galleries/cpg133/thumbnails.php?album=6&page=1

The Illusion tower is now standard on the 06's.

Chad,
let us know what your choice of speakers might be!. I have found that speakers are almost like women. Some like this, some like that. What is it that you like?
Often times its a clean volume at the rider vs clean sound at the swim deck issue. Doing both with one speaker is not possible IMO. Please clarify which is your priority.
D out

clean sound at the swim deck and in the water around the boat while we're swimming. I don't usually listen to it while riding.

I thought about using the crossbar. How do you wire that? I like the idea of the tower being pre-wired to put speakers at the mounting locations on the swoop part of the tower.

My $0.02

For your purposes I would suggest four 6x9's in a tower box, maybe more facing down too if you also want to fill the cabin. Been in Grant's with four facing back and four facing down. His Enzo box alone pretty much does the trick (emphasis on in/around boat listening). Don't forget the subs...

(Message edited by mikeski on January 02, 2006)

i am thinking NVS