I'd welcome suggestions on a 12V AM/FM/CD unit...

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Jeff M21319

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Dec 6, 2003
295
Macgregor 26D Pollock Pines, Ca.
Another vote for Crutchfields

Hey Jack, I'll have to add my vote to Fred's, Crutchfields is the place to go for stereo gear. Good prices, great service, quality products and zero hassles. Go to their website (www.cruthfield.com) and you can get a catalog, or just order over the net. Their website is huge, I think everything in the catalog is there and maybe even more. Oh, and BTW, IMHO Sony is a great brand to go with, I've had a bunch of their stereos over the years and have always been happy with them. As to power output, it really depends on a lot of factors (mainly, how loud to you want it to be) but typically most people will be happy with 40-50 watts per channel. If you want more, you'll need an external amp, something in the 150-200 w/ch range will definitely let the neighbors know you're home!
 
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Darren Mayes

Pictures...

By the way, I posted pictures of my stereo install into the project forum at the link below
 
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Tom S.

And don't forget Sirius satelite radio

Its commercial free. I like it.
 
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Darren Mayes

Sirius is in serious trouble.

XM is keeping its promise to go commercial free after 1 Mil subscirbers beignning in FEB and they are adding new channels as well. IMHO, Sirius' days are numbered...
 
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Tom S.

Really ? Just curious, do you have any

links to financial articles on Sirius going down. I've heard that both were scraping by a year or 2 ago, but now both are doing much better (as is the whole economy). Personally I think there is room in the consumer electronics world for both and I think both are going to make it. I don't think this will be a technology debate between "beta vs VHS" . Its more between one satelite TV provider and another. When talking to some local audiophile stores around here they seem to give the programming edge to Sirius. Maybe its because they use their own DJ's and don't "pipe" their feed's in from other music providers
 
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Darren Mayes

I thought there was a lot of stuff...

...that the National broadcast of NPR didn't have... like ATC?
 
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Jack Tyler

Another query for power (RMS) minimums...

I sure don't mind the thread drift, but wondered if anyone could tell me what wattage they've found is adequate for driving up to 4 speakers rated at 8 ohms - not entertaining the anchorage, just comfortable listening levels. Thanks again for the helpful comments. Jack
 
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Tom S.

Jack, really depends on how loud you want

and how efficient your speakers are. 40 watts seem to be pretty adequate, but if you want to "Rock the Docks" a few more 'amps' can make a difference. (Don't know what your slip or anchoring mates might think though). With that said, there are times when I would like to really crank up the volume where I could be sailing in a full out gale, but I could still blast Wagners "Ride of the Valkyries" without distortion ;) Click on the link below to listen. (Think helicopter invasions and the smell of napalm in the morning)
 
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Tim McCarty

haven't read all of the responses so...

don't sue me, but...my friends have an incredible boat...Hunter 46 with a full rack stereo, flat screen tv...really nice, but they also have a genset. Two years ago, I bought a Hunter 29.5...beautiful boat, but on-board stereo (Kraco...original equipment) was a piece of crap, and the speakers were pretty bad too. I had an old JVC car stereo gathering dust in my basement...replaced the Kraco with the JVC, bought a set of Seaworthy speakers (on sale at West Marine for $15.00!!!) and installed. The system sounds pretty good...even for an audiophile like me . Thing is...up here in Michigan, when I haul out for winter, the elements are pretty tough on things like speakers and such. I still believe that it's better to buy some cheap, decent speakers and replace them every 3-5 years, than to go out and spend major money and pull the speakers every autumn. Then you have to re-install and re-seal etc... I'm sure that there are differing opinions, but for what it's worth. I got tired of hauling my boombox onboard and taking up space...
 
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Jack Tyler

Thanks, Tom and Tim

I'm going to assume that 50 watts would be more than adequate for our needs, especially so when we swap out the current pair of cabin speakers for another pair of Bose 151's. Tim, you didn't mention how much power your old dusty garage unit was; do you remember? Thanks again, guys. Jack
 
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Bob Allen

Speaker installation

Can the Bose 151's be installed flush mounted? Although the specs articulate a 6" x 9" speaker, it's hard to tell if the enclosure allows seperation of the grill for a flush mount configuration.
 
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Tom S.

Bose 151 can be flush mounted

But not like you think, you can't remove the speakers from the enclosure, you have to keep the box and purchase their outdoor flush mount brackets. Look at te link below for their accesories.
 
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captbill

Am/Fm/CD/CASSETE?

Hey - has anyone forgotten their good ol' cassetes? I'm looking to build-in a new audio unit this spring and don't want to give up my cassete collection. I'm looking for a double DIN-size system with both cassete AND CD playback. BOY!Is it hard to find those animals for a decent price! Anybody out there have any luck finding a cheap (less than $200) unit? BILL on STARGAZER
 
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Ron

cassette/cd to mp3

Many of the newer CD players also play MP3 files. If you've got a computer it's fairly easy to record all your old cassetts to mp3 files (see link) although a bit time consuming. You can also record all of your CDs to MP3. Nice thing about that is you can put about ten audio CDs on one MP3 CD and just leave them on the boat. No longer have to carry them back and forth plus does away with the need for a changer. Ron
 
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Tom

Double Din CD Cassette AMFM

$149 on Ebay and JC Whitney, plus some of the other websites for a AM FM CD Cassette Double din, don' know how good they are, but come with a remote and pretty graphics. Pyramid or something is the make.
 
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tom b

cassettes and water atmosphere

i too have a bunch of cassettes from the good ol days, but have been buyin cd's lately,..I could be totally wrong here, but isnt the last thing I want to do,,is to take my old cassettes and introduce them to a marine enviroment, since all of their life has been to keep them away from moisture, ie,humidity,spray,salt air,etc..I even remember some manufacturers who sold units that detected moisture by lighting a small idiot light on the front panel. Just me but, don't take the cassettes.The cd's at least, you can wipe them off after a day on the water.Hard to do to that 1/4 inch tape inside that plastic case. anyways,,, have fun rockin and rollin
 
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JSetser

Go Digital

We have taken a different tack, for Christmas my wife received an Apple iPod. Being a dyed in the wool IBM compatible PC user, it seemed an OK gift. What a revelation, this is the coolest tech toy on the planet. 10Gb hard drive capable of storing 2500 MP3's, more than 40 hours of digital music. Oh by the way it contains no moving parts. The included iTunes software will render all of your CD's into digital format. iPods contain a built in battery that would easily last for an entire day cruise. The best part is that for about $70.00 you are able to purchase a 12v plug in adapter and a wireless tuner that will broadcast the music directly to your FM radio. No more changing CD's or worring about cassette tapes on the boat. Simply tune the stereo to one of 4 preset settings and instant digital music on the boat, all from a unit no larger than a pack of smokes, (no smoking on the boat, thank you), look around at your local electonics store. I believe you will see the light. Rock On, J. R.
 
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