Looking to purchase some marine speakers for my O'Day 20. Does anyone know of a website or company that sells reasonably priced marine speakers?
Boat speakers
- Thread starter ahhe223
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Depending on the quality you want, cabelas has a sale on a marine stereo and 4 speakers at this moment, $89... and its probably as good as any $200 unit you could buy.
Any of the marine stores will have them, catching them on sale is always good. Most auto speakers are waterproof enough, but true marine speakers are supposed to have lower powered magnets so they don't mess with your compass as much. You still have to be careful though. Move the speakers in and out of where you want to mount them while watching the compass. If the compass moves, find another spot. If you have an autopilot, check that too.
I don't know if it suits your needs. I bought a Bluetooth enabled speaker made by JBL. It holds a charge for about 8 hours and sounds amazing. I bring it on the boat and play music through my phone with Pandora.
I also use it outback at home.
Amazing little product.
I also use it outback at home.
Amazing little product.
I'm with Spooled. I have no desire to listen to broadcast radio, as there aren't any stations playing anything I want to hear. I have a prodigious music collection, which is now all digitized on my computer. I use a program called Subsonic which turns my computer into a music server. On my iPhone, I have an app called iSub Streamer, that lets me access the Subsonic server. I connect the iPhone and the iPad to a TDK Trek Max rechargeable Bluetooth speaker. Since I have so much music, I can't fit it all on to the phone, though I have recent purchases local on the phone. This all works well as I have good cellphone service at the lake. Probably would not work well with spotty coastal cell coverage. The Trek Max speaker is small, sounds great with good bass (better than my old Jawbone Jambox speaker, which is smaller than the Trek Max) and is splash resistant.
Sometimes if I can't decide what I want to listen to, I'll use an app called Aha Radio, which plays internet "radio stations." Lots of niche music to search from. I just found an acid house "station" on Aha Radio. Where else would I get my Roland TB-303 squelch? Not gonna find a broadcast radio station playing acid nowadays, that's for sure!
Sometimes if I can't decide what I want to listen to, I'll use an app called Aha Radio, which plays internet "radio stations." Lots of niche music to search from. I just found an acid house "station" on Aha Radio. Where else would I get my Roland TB-303 squelch? Not gonna find a broadcast radio station playing acid nowadays, that's for sure!
Our boat came with a tape deck radio and 2 speakers in the cabin. Even had knobs and a analog dial.
Bought a super inexpensive Pyle marine radio and 2 small waterproof speakers on Amazon. We get AM/FM and the newer radio came with an aux in an USB port to keep the iPhone charged. Cut 2 holes in the cockpit for the 4" speakers well away from the compass.
Not super loud but nice enough to listen to on occasion
Bought a super inexpensive Pyle marine radio and 2 small waterproof speakers on Amazon. We get AM/FM and the newer radio came with an aux in an USB port to keep the iPhone charged. Cut 2 holes in the cockpit for the 4" speakers well away from the compass.
Not super loud but nice enough to listen to on occasion
I'm another one that uses my iPhone or iPad with a Bluetooth speaker. I have the JBL Charge, which can charge an iPhone. We have our own music playlists and also listen to Pandora.
I just put that TDK speaker that Brian mentioned on my Amazon wish list. It looks pretty good.
I just put that TDK speaker that Brian mentioned on my Amazon wish list. It looks pretty good.
Ward, last year I heard about the Eton Rugged Rukus. It seemed appealing because it was Bluetooth and had a solar panel for charging. Ideal for weekend use on the boat, without having to schlep it back and forth, but it was a bit anemic when it came time for dance parties with my friend Tracy. It would distort when the fun started. I also discovered it could not tolerate a few drips when it got splashed coming onboard after a swim.
But I took it on vacation with my technoweenie electrical engineering friend, and brought it down on the beach, thinking we could have some tunes. He was all "What's that dinky thing?" and pulls out the Trek Max. The bass from that center woofer plus the passive radiator on the opposite side was surprisingly adequate for such a small device.
I was lucky to catch one on sale at Amazon for $149 this spring. The Rugged Rukus met an ignominious end when I forgot to retrieve it from the car rooftop, and it finally slid off at 55mph. I didn't even go back for it, knowing the Trek Max was on order and would arrive the following week.
We haven't had any boat dance parties yet, but Taylor Swift and I "shook off" the Monday blues during an evening sail earlier this week.
You get what you pay for. Are you looking for a BIC lighter solution that makes sound and plays for a season only to be replaced or are you investing in product for some more serious listening?
As a marine audio engineer your response will help me guide you.
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There are quality solutions and cheap solutions. These two options are usually not found in the same package.
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Phil you have a point but I think your a little overthinking this radio thing. We are talking about a sealed circuitboard and some plastic cone speakers. If it was a VHF or other safety gear I would agree.
My only complaint with the Pyle in the last two years is it does not keep good time. Looses about 3 minutes a month.
My only complaint with the Pyle in the last two years is it does not keep good time. Looses about 3 minutes a month.
To each his own opinion... To quote Stu, "Your Boat, Your Choice"...
Still, as an audio professional and former concert sound engineer, (now working as a marine audio product specialist) I cannot personally find myself considering a package that retails for $89.00 that has a radio and a pair of speakers... At that price they just can't be that good. Sure they make sound... If that is what you are after its fine, but they can't make GOOD sound, faithfully reproducing the music...
Granted, my benchmark for audio reproduction is way different from yours. I like my music louder sometimes, while being more sonically accurate with a broader frequency response than can be had with an inexpensive radio speaker combo. Certainly my audio goals are higher than some of the regular posters in these forums, so yes, I have a radio, quality speakers, an amplifier AND a subwoofer in my sailboat!
(I also have a TV/DVD combo connected through the stereo with an amplified mast-top antenna, pressurized water, a push-button electric macerating head, color-changing RGB LED mood lighting, air conditioning and a real air horn, but that's just me....
)I typed a post last night and deleted it this morning; it seemed too harsh... Still, there are some certain truths I shared, so here I go again. Sailors as a group to a large part are the tightest, cheapest bunch of boaters I know!
So many times I laugh at some of these threads; it is almost as if there is a contest to see who can be the out-do each other to suggest the cheesiest cheapest solution... The rest of the boating world enjoys pretty decent audio offerings from the factory. Some boats come from the factory with some pretty impressive audio systems. I am amazed that more sailboats do not come with basic stereos pre-installed. I am also amazed that so many sailors turn their nose up at the mere notion of installing a sound system, head unit or not, that will sound at least as good as the factory system in their car.
To me, and this is just my opinion from my perspective, a portable solution be it a BT speaker, or a boom box, or other portable device is just another thing to trip over, kick, have sliding around bown below, banging dings in fiberlass and woodwork. When I go aboard, and when I have my wife and/or friends aboard, stuff is put away. Purses, bags, snacks, etc. are all stowed, in cabinets, under seats, or in rear quarter berth. No point in having a bunch of stuff to have to step over or around, and that includes that boom box....
So, back to the question posted by the OP. The answer to his question depends on the level of quality he is looking for. Centerline's solution might be ideal. Then again, if there is a desire for a greater level of performance it is likely that he will want to spend more money.
Yes! Makes me angry that I have to actually pay for fuel on occasion.Sailors as a group to a large part are the tightest, cheapest bunch of boaters I know!
Yep, I was upset I had to pay $6/gallon today (AV Fuel) to fill my boat tank. Then I remembered I get something like 70 or 80 miles per gallon. I just need to sail more.
I purchased poly planer platinum series speakers for my cockpit...built into the corner of the 272...have stainless steel grill that can't be kicked by anyone....down below I have Boston Acoustic indoor speakers (model something 7) which are quite good...everything is 1987 vintage however I have not seen a need to replace any of them.....I do have a separate amp for powering everything, separate from the Sony CD player..
Installed kenwood amp and klipsch aw525 speakers (very efficient) in boat this year. High quality cable from iPod direct to kenwood amp. Nice clean sound. All weather model speakers do fine mounted up in cabin by bulkhead. Simple. Nothing wrong with a little music on the water.
Amen!!I typed a post last night and deleted it this morning; it seemed too harsh... Still, there are some certain truths I shared, so here I go again. Sailors as a group to a large part are the tightest, cheapest bunch of boaters I know!
Just last week I told a guy flat out that I could not work on his boat because I have standards I work to and I refuse to "cut corners". His first words to me on the phone went like this:
"RC I saw the work you did on Dave's boat and I want the same, it is amazing work. My boat is only 32' so I have allotted $400.00 to this upgrade."
I then politely suggested he talk with Dave about what it cost him in time and materials to do what I did on his boat.
He responded:
"I know what Dave paid but I have a box of used welding wire I got off Craig's List so that should save a lot. Dave's boat was 40' and mine is only 32'."
I then explained that between switches, bus bars, terminals heat shrink labels, wire clamps, fuses, the ACR, battery charger, battery monitor & the other items he was expecting he was already well above $400.00 just in materials. This was not including labor.
"Well that is just absurd I can find those parts on-line for less than that."
I then suggested he do so and find someone willing to install it and stand behind the work and the products.
"This job is worth $400.00 to me, if you don't want it, fine by me."
I said:
"Sorry but am not in business to lose money, are you?"
I then asked what he did for work:
"I am a physician, but what does that have to do with it?"
I said:
"Would you provide your work at an hourly rate of somewhere around NEGATIVE $-80.00 per hour just because I thought your services were not worth $300.00 per hour?"
He went all bonkers on me and demanded a high quality job, like Dave got, and he was willing to pay $400.00, which simply can't be done. All this while he is charging his customers $300.00+ per hour...
And many sailors then complain they can't find "good marine work". High quality work is out there you just have to be willing to recognize what it costs to have it done at a quality level....