12V Stereo For iPad/iPod

Sailm8 · Apr 4, 2012

I have an altec-Lansing that is portable and rechargeable. Runs on 12v cigarette plug or wall wart. Tried to find one on Amazon for a link but the new ones don't look like it.

Sound is OK since after all it's on a boat, and it has a built in AM/FM radio. Will also charge the iPod. It was around 100.00 but it has been several years since I bought it.

Forgot to add it has a remote to work the iPod

GorillaToast · Apr 4, 2012

I gave up in my search for one, so I got a boat stereo with a usb port for ipods/ipads. Only downer is, I can't control the ipad from its own screen when connected, I have to use the stereo's controls.

Snotter · Apr 4, 2012

A cheap car stereo is more than adequate if it has an aux jack. I bought a 15$ blue tooth receiver and plugged it into the aux jack on my boat stereo. This allows me to stream pandora from my iPhone and to control it from anywhere on the boat. However, a USB cable will provide less distortion. I also stream my blue-ray player to the boat stereo by using a blue-tooth transmitter plugged into the disc player. The sound is a whole lot better than what the tv provides.

Ron20324 · Apr 4, 2012

I remembered some previous post that someone raved about the Altec unit. It was about saving house battery power. I looked in Best Buy and found the sound difference is quite surprising. I didn't think the Altec had the best souind, but otherwise had good features as Sailm8 says. I have not bought a unit for the IPad yet, but soon will.

med2463 · Apr 4, 2012

Maine Sail said:
One of my customers is looking for a small stereo/speaker system to play his iPod/iPad through on the boat. He does not want to go through the expense of a fully installed system. I am sure some of the iPod dock type stereos run on 12V but none of them specify this well on-line. I can certainly make up a cable for him so long as the device runs on 12V or the wall wort steps down to 12V..

What are you guys using and how does it sound?

I used the iman portable sliding speaker system (not 12v) until I put in a stereo that has an Ipod port. The sound on the iman isn't near as good as my new stereo that has 4 speakers (2 in the cockpit & 2 in the main salon). But, the iman is handy when traveling. Here is link to video about the iman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpTQZ56af48&feature=related

windward54 · Apr 4, 2012

I use an iPod player from Fusion. The sound is great and everyone who hears it, has agreed that it really is a nice unit. The face opens up and the iPod slides in. Best part is all the controls for the iPod are on the face of the stereo unit.

http://www.fusionelectronics.com/marine/products/head-units-600-series

The new one, the 700 series has a color screen. And don't believe the MSRP listed on the website. I got mine for just a few dollars more than an auto style CD player.

Tim R. · Apr 4, 2012

The Logitech mm50 is rechargeable, runs for 7 hours and is recharged with a wall muffin that outputs 12v 1.5a. It should be easy to wire this to a cig lighter plug or directly. Also comes with a remote. Disclaimer: No direct experience with this device.

Jackdaw · Apr 4, 2012

I use a Fusion as well, but if I wanted to go fully minimal, I would look into Jim's LCD stereo.

http://www.eskimo.com/~leftcst/iWeb/Left_Coast/Simple_stereo.html

LuzSD · Apr 4, 2012

A while back I started a thread about the Altec Lansing that I love.....its small, easy and have really good sound for the Approximately $25 that they cost.

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=131031

I also have the BOSE Soundock and portable music system. Love them both, long lasting (BOSE last 12 hours and is as loud as one could ever want). This sytem is pricy though...

Benny17441 · Apr 4, 2012

None better than the Bose Companion 2. They are a pair of amplified speakers and come with a 120V to 12V transformer. Could be easily set up for a 12V plug operation.

alexco38 · Apr 4, 2012

Plantronics K-100 bluetooth-FM speaker

I have one of this in the car. Bring it to the boat when I go.

Broadcast calls and music from the mobile phone / iPad with the K100 speakerphone. So many convenient features in such a slim device. The K-100 can transmit over FM to the stereo. The USB rechargeable battery last for days. Even works with voice command. It also interrupts the music when a call comes in.

http://www.plantronics.com/us/product/k100

Bob S · Apr 4, 2012

I second the Altec Lancing. I have 2. The first generation and the newer iMT620 second generation. I bought both from BJ's. They have built in rechargeable batteries. I bought an 12V adapter from Radio Shack and generally need a few hours on a charge once a weekend. I have the first generation Bose with a 110 wall watt. The sound difference isn't worth the additional cost IMO. I love when we go ashore to the beach we bring it with us. It has FM radio and we very much enjoy listening to MV radio (Martha's Vineyard radio).
http://www.alteclansing.com/ae/us/h...g=2173931152&gclid=CI7p5bnXm68CFYbe4AodSDtTZQ

RichH · Apr 4, 2012

Cyber Acoustics - iPod Dock.

This is what I use: http://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Acousti...48CM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1333560505&sr=8-4

I have one in each of my autos that dont have direct USB connections, on all my boats, even in my house/office, etc.
Battery life is exceptional even at 'full blast', it charges the Ipod. and is easily charged from any 12v-->5v 'converter'.

tommays · Apr 4, 2012

I got a memorex MI3XSIL ipod dock during the last power failure at target that runns a LONG time on its AA batterys and i amd sure a 12 volt adaptor is around to use in place of the wall wart if you need unlimited 12 volt play time

40 bucks works great

rgranger · Apr 5, 2012

I've been looking for (and have not found yet) a boom box that will run from a cig. lighter plug.

If anyone knows of a good one...

Bill Roosa · Apr 5, 2012

Most stereos have aux input now. WM has them. Even comes with a geek stick USB cable that it can pull your songs from. 3GB lasts almost a whole day.

mark_swart · Apr 5, 2012

I picked up a small stereo/amp that is meant for motorcycles on ebay, it cost around $25 and it just sits on a shelf down below, but it wired to outdoor marine speakers in the cockpit. Mine has USB, aux line in, FM radio, and best of all a SD card reader. So I transferred all of my boat music from my ipod to a 4gb card that stays on the boat and that's what we listen to most of the time. It doesn't use much power, is very small, and installation was much easier than a regular stereo. I am tickled with it, to say the least. It doesn't have enought wattage to make your ears bleed, but once the sails are up it's not like you really need it to be that loud.
If you do a search for "motorcycle stereo" on ebay you should turn up something:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_nkw=Mini+Hi+Fi+Audio+Stereo+Amplifier+Car+Motorcycle+Boat

cephius (Dave) · Apr 5, 2012

Auto Stereo

I checked out weather proof audio solutions for my swimming pool deck. I didn't like the price.

That's why I also went with an inexpensive auto stereo. Mine came iPod ready so I can control it from the panel or the remote.

I used a standard electronics case to mount it in my garage.

A water proof case (if in the weather) and some marine speakers may be a solution.

For my application I used high quality all weather stereo speakers and a Ham radio style 12V power supply. That drove the price up. Only the speakers are in the weather. Since I live in Minnesota, everything comes into the house for the winter. That's why I used the banana plugs for power and speaker cables.

On my boat I just replaced the dealer installed auto stereo/CD player with an iPod ready auto stereo.

finding41 · Apr 8, 2012

I found a solution to my GPS and entertainment system. I got a Android tablet that takes extra SD memory cards. I can plug it into the existing stereo system. It does everything except make toast. There are a bunch of apps that can be downloaded. so its our E-book, video machine, Skype video phone, GPS, etc.
This is the one I have...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-2-Zenith...deo_TelevisionSetTopBoxes&hash=item1c25b6918d

12V Stereo For iPad/iPod

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