Music player

degas

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Aug 14, 2023
26
Tanzer 29 Lake Ontario
Hi,

What's your preferred way to play music and listen to AM/FM on board?

I never liked the car stereo poking through a bulkhead, its antenna in my hanging locker, and the crappy speakers in my cockpit. (And I have questions for the PO who thought it made sense to cut 4-inch holes in a cockpit coaming.)

I've been using a weather resistant portable Bluetooth speaker instead. It works, but I'd like better sound.
 

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
4,282
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
I have an older Jensen AM/FM/CD/AUX marine grade system with three sets of wired speakers - cockpit, main saloon, Forward cabin - that can be selected in any combination of on/off. My better speakers are in my main saloon but I wouldn't call any of them particularly audiophile quality. The main unit sits in my main chart table control panel so is very unobtrusive. I have a remote that I can use to control the unit from elsewhere on board. Can't control which speakers, that's done through toggle switches next to the main unit.

I'll be very interested in hearing any suggestions for especially cockpit speakers. I have a small wired pair that are supposedly "marine" grade that sit in recessed cubbys used for winch handles and the like in the cockpit. They have brakets that hold them in place and I just have a small wire feed coming up from inside that I can seal well deep inside the cubby. I would definitely call those my lowest quality speakers on the boat. But at least i do get music in my cockpit. The location is actually quite nice because it kind of "focuses" the music into the cockpit so I don't tend to disturb surrounding boats if I'm in a crowded anchorage.

dj
 
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Dec 25, 2000
5,911
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
What's your preferred way to play music and listen to AM/FM on board?
iPod nano for music with hundreds of recordings and a pocket sized radio. Some time ago I installed two 12vdc computer speakers that run off of our house bank. Both the iPod and pocket AM/FM radio play into these speakers located in the main salon while away from shore power. I used velcro to mount the radio to the shroud stay inside the boat as an antenna with great reception.

Our boat came with an AC sound system that I plug the iPod into while on shore power. I use the radio mainly to listen to talk shows and news.
 
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Nov 30, 2015
1,343
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
Full Bluetooth wireless portability. iPhone, Spotify, 2 true wireless pairing NYNE Vibe speakers (fit inside cup holders). Stereo with plenty of volume, even upwind or motoring.


IMG_0237.jpeg
 
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Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,169
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Fusion media player is part of my N2k network. The most popular music source is bluetooth personal phones. Media player has good FM radio, bluetooth, all the storage connection slots, Sirius XM with an added adapter is popular with boaters... besides music and podcasts it also has a weather service. The bluetooth is popular with guests... I encourage them to share their favorites with the rest of the crew....
 
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pgandw

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Oct 14, 2023
128
Stuart (ODay) Mariner 19 Yeopim Creek
Just a boom box with a USB port is sufficient for me. Load music onto USB stick, play away when desired. Carry it to beach if water depth is reasonable. Don't want any kind of permanent install.

Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 #4133 Sweet P
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,828
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Bet those kiddos in the back of the bus would go gaga over the driver playing TS.
 
Jan 22, 2008
85
Hunter 30_88-94 Ipswich, Ma MA
We use a Bluetooth Bose Soundlink with iPhones and an iPad for listening to downloaded music and Satellite radio.
For AM-FM radio broadcasting we have a vintage Grundig Yachtboy.