Please Recommend Marine CD/MP3/FM Radio/Player

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Susie

I'm looking for new radio/CD player for my boat in the Caribbean. I'd like it to have an auxiliary input right on the front so I can plug in my mp3 jukebox, and it would be another bonus if it can play mp3 cd's so I can bring along plenty of music. We like to listen to radio, so a good receiver is important.
 
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Griffin

Player

I don't know the name off hand...but I picked up an inexpensive auto unit at KMart that has a remote I have been using this season and it is working great. If you want, I will try to rember to get the manufacturer for you. Griffin.
 
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Debra B

good auto unit in a dry place

Mine is Sony and sits by my nav station. The only thing that is really exposed to the elements is cockpit speakers. If you are worried about humidity check out the Bull-Frog rust inhibitors. They were developed for electronics.
 
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Michael

DONT get this brand.....

Our boat came with a Jensen CD/AM/FM (no mp3). Its a special marine grade and cost $225, but its just cheaply made. The backlighting blew out and CDs get stuck in it often. Dont go with Jensen.
 
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Gary

Got one from West Marine

We just installed exactly that kind of stereo on our boat. It plays MP3s and has an Aux input (I think it even has an Aux input on the front, but am not looking at it, so can't be sure). Didn't cost too much, something like $140 or so. We found it at West Marine and are very happy with it.
 
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Susie

West Marine model has bad reviews

We looked at one at West Marine that's on sale. The local store had only one on display and we couldn't get it to work at all. Another store had a working one, and we tested it and it seemed okay except for very confusing buttons. Then I went on the West Marine web site and read many bad reviews of that model, so I don't think I'll go with it.
 
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Dave

Practical Sailor says;

Practical sailor did a review of marine fm /cd plaers sometime in the last few years. They determined that, unless you are installing a unit in the cockpit where it is exposed to weather, get a good Auto unit and mount it below in a dry place. Use a dry box or cover to protect it if that makes you feel better. I mounted a blaupunkt player below 5 years ago. It is still working perfectly.
 
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Dale I

Jensen is bad news...

Bought a Jensen unit from West and it wouldn't play the CD's.... The Jensen customer service line had a recording 'thanking its customers for their patronage'... and upon returning the unit to West determined that Jensen is either chapter 11 or 13 bankrupt. West upgraded me to a better Jensen at no cost...and will probably take it back if it goes south within the warranty period. (Bought my last Jensen).
 
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Derek Rowell

Also had terrible luck with Jensen...

Bought the Jensen CD changer. The first time I turned it on it jammed solid with my favorite CDs inside. Couldn't get them out any way. Took it back to Best Buy immediately - the tech people at the store had to physically break it to remove the CDs. The sales people said that Jensen was definitely the low end. Bought a Pioneer changer instead - it has worked fine for two years. (Mind you, I'm now hooked on XM satellite radio, so the CD changer is not used nearly as much as it was last year.) That said, I recently installed new Jensen cockpit speakers. The boat came with some beat-up old Jensens with broken grills and I replaced them with the identical models. After listening to all the brands at West Marine I felt that the Jensen's had the best sound and were considerably less than the others.
 
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Garry @ S/V TASHTEGO

Jensen

I recently bought a Jensen AM/FM/CD. It failed to work when I tried to power it up. Local shops say I should send it back to Jensen. Is it true that they are in bankruptcy? Are they still servicing their product? I expect I'm stuck.
 
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Dale I

Call the Customer Service line...

..included in your warranty info and see what type of automated response you get....but don't call four times and wait several weeks for that call back that they promise like I did. (I'd take it back to the supplier and plead insanity...maybe they'd just take it back.)
 
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Bill

Go Auto

Assuming you are installing the unit below and below is in fact a relativly dry place, go to Best Buy or something like that and get a car unit with all the bells and whisles you want.
 
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