12V Radio

[XPatriot]

I'd like to have some tunes on my boat but don't want to get into a head unit and speakers.

Does anyone know of a good source for a 12V (cig lighter plug in maybe) boom box type radio?

Thx!!!

 

[Ross]

Automobiile junk yards.

 

[XPatriot]

Automobiile junk yards.

Thanks, but I'd rather a boom box type thing rather than a head unit and speakers.

 

[Stroh]

I would recommend an MP3 player if you can find some 12 v speakers.

 

[Bob S]

I've been using an Altec Lansing inMotion Classic Portable Dock Station for iPod and iPhone for three years. It has an FM radio and plays my ipod. It still last 4-5 hours on a charge and I got a 12v charger from Radio Shack to charge it on board. Sounds great, potable, $99.00 at BJ's. what can I say.

 

[GreenLight]

Seriously, My I- pod and an I- book or other portable speaker system powered by AA batteries sounds as good as my built in system. Of course you have to pre load your music but it's been a great and really portable alternative.

 

[JonnyQuest]

there are some stand alone players for iPods

I have a dead stereo head unit and wired speakers right now, and I am considering a docking station for my iPod-- don't like all the commercials on the radio and prefer my extensive Neil Diamond collection anyways

I'm looking for an ipod clock radio that I can use with a 12v cigarette lighter power cord or at least a small inverter that plugs into a cigarette lighter on my boat while cruising. Preference would be either one that has aux speaker out jacks for the existing speakers, or ditch them if the built in speakers are good enough. If I find anything interesting I'll post back.

Good luck!

 

[Bob S]

My Altec sounds as good as my Bose and has a Rechargeable lithium-ion battery it plays FM. We take it to the beach use it in the cockpit.

 

[JonnyQuest]

here's one unit

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022PDX30BL/Yamaha-PDX-30.html?tp=44

The Yamaha PDX-30 powered speaker system. Price$129.99 at crutchfield.com

 

[JonnyQuest]

My Altec sounds as good as my Bose and has a Rechargeable lithium-ion battery it plays FM. We take it to the beach use it in the cockpit.

I like that your Altec has a Li-ion battery and can be recharged via 12 volt plug--excellent features for a sailboat.

 

[zeehag]

i have a nice car stereo with cd player--and a remote---just have to install it-- i also have about 3-4 sets of speakers. mebbe i will wire some in for the lappy......

 

[JonnyQuest]

here's another interesting Altec Lansing unit that would fit nicely in a corner. Can use a 12v power cord as well.

http://www.amazon.com/Altec-Lansing...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1287022312&sr=1-1

 

[Benny]

Would suggest a Sony boom box, AM/FM/CD and Aux input for an MP3. I believe they are $49 at Wallmart. Just load it up with "C" batteries and that thing will play for days with no draw on your boat's battery. Yopu can even take it ashore if you want. Decent sound for the price.

 

[RAD]

Dewalt or Bosch jobsite radio

 

[higgs]

I have used car stereos with reasonable success. Cheaper units seem to only last up to 5 years, but my present unit, Alpine, has lasted at least 7 years. It is a car unit, but has served me quite well. I spent around $150 for it and it is still going strong.

 

[Hermit Scott]

I bought this on sale for $25 at best buy. I hook up my lap top to it or satellite radio. IT's loud enough that all the way up you can just hear it on the dock by the boat. In the boat it's pretty loud. I think it's 35 or 45 watts.

 

[XPatriot]

I managed to find a 12v mototcycle/yatch radio/speaker system for less than $100.

Waterproof, aux in, remote.

 

[Sailm8]

I have the Altec and love it. Has AM/FM radio with good reception, remote, and rechargeable. Lasts about 5 -6 hours on charge. I think I found it on Amazon. Was around $100 or less.

 

[kendall]

Any boombox radio that takes 8 d cell batteries is a 12v system, would be real easy to wire in either a jack for 12v (if it doesn't have it already) or a pair of 9v battery connectors.

Hit best buy or your favorite electronics store and start looking at the wall warts or power packs that go with the radios on display.

That said, most consumer electronics are 12v internally with transformers (internal or external) to step down the voltage, Radios, TVs LCD computer displays etc. and at most will require installing a jack or hard wiring power leads past the transformer.

 

[Stu Jackson]

This is like one of those: "What's the best _____ ?" questions.

Why not just go shopping? Best Buy would be a good start, then the internet.

I have a cassette deck, a cassette adapter for my iPod, and a 10 disc CD changer. From your post we have no idea what kinda music platform you're running.

My wife says to me, "The only thing you don't have for your music on the boat is your phonograph player."

"That's next," I replied. Along with our old jenga game.

You'll find soon enough that anything that can fly around the cabin of your boat simply isn't worth NOT getting a "head end" fixed unit.

Why not keep it silent when running, and just use your headphones? Your neighbors might appreciate it at midnight.