Stereo replacement

Feb 10, 2017
305
Hunter 41 Progreso
Hi to all.
My west marine deck stereo has died. I am wondering if is better to replace the allsystem just with bluetooth speakers and only use telephone, pads to listen to the music. So when not in the sailboat a can storage the speakers down. Any suggestion? Any good all weather speakers? What are you using? For cd play i have a inside music system. Do you know any speakers that have some way to be hanged from the tube arch ? My boat is a h41. Thanks for your imputs.
 

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
5,069
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
I'm all Bluetooth these days. Can't really imagine going any other way. Have Bluetooth speakers for salon and/or cockpit, a set for aft cabin and one for the guest cabin.
The first set was advertised as 'waterproof' and big bucks but the grill rusted away pretty quickly, so we go with the mid-price around $40.00 ones now and replace as needed (every other year or so).
It's not exactly as it was when I was cruising in the early '70s, the only boat in an anchorage, and playing Casey Jones by the Dead at full volume a lot anymore.
 
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Likes: MightyMike
Feb 26, 2004
23,325
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
If you already have wired speakers, and they work, and you like them, just keep them. Replace the head end unit with a Bluetooth unit.
 
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Likes: Alansails
Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
If you already have wired speakers, and they work, and you like them, just keep them. Replace the head end unit with a Bluetooth unit.
I agree. BlueTooth can't carry the power or the quality of wired speakers. Nor are wired vulnerable to the interference wireless can get. I would only use them for convenience. You'll still have to provide power unless they have batteries.
 

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,813
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
We have a couple of blue tooth speakers and the stereo that was on our boat when we bought her (2003). I guess it all depends on how you listen to music. It's generally background music for us although we occasionally sing and dance around the salon. To be honest, the sound that comes out of my Bose Mini II is better than what comes out of our stereo. The stereo plays CD's and FM but the reception isn't always good. Spotify and Pandora are our preferences on a blue tooth speaker.
 
Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
As far as FM reception, Shakespeare makes a VHF / FM splitter that takes the FM signal from your masthead antenna. As far as FM/CD sets, save the money on the 'marine' stuff and just get a good car stereo if it's mounted in a dry spot.