Adding music to the cockpit is going to be a winter/spring project. I'm curious to know what speakers you have in your cockpit and how do you like the sound? If you wouldn't mind including an idea of the type of music you listen to as a reference (speakers sound different when classical is on versus rock n'roll). Thanks.
What speakers do you have and why?
- Thread starter flyhop
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R
R.C.
Flush or Surface Mount
Having been bitten by the boating, musical instrument and audiophile bugs I am fiarly well rounded in this department. For my interior speakers I purchased a set of Paradigm Sylus 350's and they sound amazing! It would be hard to beat the sound quality, imaging depth and soundstage of the Paradigms at any prie in an indoor outdoor speaker. http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/Stylus/StylusSpecs.htm They are pricey but you get what you pay for. I have a pair of Pioneer 6 1/2 coaxials outdoors but I'll be replacing those this year with a pair of JL Audio speakers. I installed the JL Audio's on a friends boat last summer and they blew me away. We used 7 1/2 inch JL's and they really had a nice way of giving the full rage to the outdoors. http://marine.jlaudio.com/products_components.php?prod_id=379 Everything depends on budget and what type of installation you want to do. If you're an audiophile junky like me it can get expensive and frustrating trying to find good sounding indoor/outdoor speakers but if you look hard and listen a lot you'll eventually find them. As for music I listen to it all but mostly acoustic based recordings. I listen very critically at home on a two chanel esoteric tube system but I try and relax and ignore the lack of sound quality on the boat. What do I listen to: Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Liz Wright, Cassandra Willson, Jimmy Buffett, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, Bela Fleck, Dianna Krall, Steely Dan, Alicia Keyes, Spearhead, G. Love, Michael Franti, The Dead etc.etc.. So I listen to just about all types from soul to clasical.
Having been bitten by the boating, musical instrument and audiophile bugs I am fiarly well rounded in this department. For my interior speakers I purchased a set of Paradigm Sylus 350's and they sound amazing! It would be hard to beat the sound quality, imaging depth and soundstage of the Paradigms at any prie in an indoor outdoor speaker. http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/ParadigmModels/Stylus/StylusSpecs.htm They are pricey but you get what you pay for. I have a pair of Pioneer 6 1/2 coaxials outdoors but I'll be replacing those this year with a pair of JL Audio speakers. I installed the JL Audio's on a friends boat last summer and they blew me away. We used 7 1/2 inch JL's and they really had a nice way of giving the full rage to the outdoors. http://marine.jlaudio.com/products_components.php?prod_id=379 Everything depends on budget and what type of installation you want to do. If you're an audiophile junky like me it can get expensive and frustrating trying to find good sounding indoor/outdoor speakers but if you look hard and listen a lot you'll eventually find them. As for music I listen to it all but mostly acoustic based recordings. I listen very critically at home on a two chanel esoteric tube system but I try and relax and ignore the lack of sound quality on the boat. What do I listen to: Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Liz Wright, Cassandra Willson, Jimmy Buffett, Jack Johnson, James Taylor, Bela Fleck, Dianna Krall, Steely Dan, Alicia Keyes, Spearhead, G. Love, Michael Franti, The Dead etc.etc.. So I listen to just about all types from soul to clasical.
RC....
I have learned to compromise my tastes in gear against cost. I don't really have a budget in mind just yet. And our musical tastes run in some similar veins. As such, I appreciate your comments. I am leaning toward a surface mount as I hate cutting big holes in our boat and equally dislike building big sealed-up boxes behind them. I've been thinking about mounting speakers on the stern railing of our O'Day 28, but I'm afraid the sound would get washed away without anything for the sound to bounce off of. I am assuming yours are flush mounted somewhere in the cockpit if you're driving 6 1/2 coaxs. Is there a pic of yours?
I have learned to compromise my tastes in gear against cost. I don't really have a budget in mind just yet. And our musical tastes run in some similar veins. As such, I appreciate your comments. I am leaning toward a surface mount as I hate cutting big holes in our boat and equally dislike building big sealed-up boxes behind them. I've been thinking about mounting speakers on the stern railing of our O'Day 28, but I'm afraid the sound would get washed away without anything for the sound to bounce off of. I am assuming yours are flush mounted somewhere in the cockpit if you're driving 6 1/2 coaxs. Is there a pic of yours?
Mr. Flyhop - check our archives here.
Simply type in the work "speakers" and you will find many (some very recent) discussions on the very topic you have mentioned. If you still need more info - come on back with the questions and we will try to oblige. Amazing what you find in the archives.
Simply type in the work "speakers" and you will find many (some very recent) discussions on the very topic you have mentioned. If you still need more info - come on back with the questions and we will try to oblige. Amazing what you find in the archives.
R
R.C.
Mine Are Not Flush Mounted
I have a Catalina with cockpit seats and the Pioneers are mounted in a set of Jensen boxes hanging under them. I bought the Jensens from West Marine and removed the driver and replaced it with the Pioneer. The Jensens Might be a good set up for you. I also noticed that Dual is now re-badging an pair of these Jensens on the Crutchfield site. As for sound mine don't get washed out where they are... In the picture at "related link" you can see the location of my speakers however those are the Nav Pod speakers that came with the boat and they only had a 3.5 inch driver so they were quickly changed out to the Pioneer's.. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bf19bYyCGAM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=228350&id=morephotos&pi=1&i=070DMS655S&display=L#Tab
I have a Catalina with cockpit seats and the Pioneers are mounted in a set of Jensen boxes hanging under them. I bought the Jensens from West Marine and removed the driver and replaced it with the Pioneer. The Jensens Might be a good set up for you. I also noticed that Dual is now re-badging an pair of these Jensens on the Crutchfield site. As for sound mine don't get washed out where they are... In the picture at "related link" you can see the location of my speakers however those are the Nav Pod speakers that came with the boat and they only had a 3.5 inch driver so they were quickly changed out to the Pioneer's.. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Bf19bYyCGAM/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=228350&id=morephotos&pi=1&i=070DMS655S&display=L#Tab
T
Tim McCarty
Polyplanar MA7500's!
I use them because they are magnetically shielded. I have them mounted in Navpods under my stern rail seats (of our Cat 310). I also have two mounted in the cabin. The sound is excellent, although I could use a bit more low end (I believe that this is related more to my Sony stereo than the speakers themselves). Dave's Marine Electronics has them (in Navpods) for a great price (or they did last year anyway). FYI, I listen to classical, rock, jazz, island music etc. Fair winds...
I use them because they are magnetically shielded. I have them mounted in Navpods under my stern rail seats (of our Cat 310). I also have two mounted in the cabin. The sound is excellent, although I could use a bit more low end (I believe that this is related more to my Sony stereo than the speakers themselves). Dave's Marine Electronics has them (in Navpods) for a great price (or they did last year anyway). FYI, I listen to classical, rock, jazz, island music etc. Fair winds...
R
Rob
Practical Sailor says
I was wondering the same question....Practical salior did a review of speakers for cockpit use in their 2004 buyers guide issue. The ratings were 1-5 where 5 was excellent. The top waterproof speakers were The Bose131 at $239.00 per pair with a rating of 4.5 then tied at 4.5 overall was the Poly-Planar MA6600 @ $169.00 Then rated 4.0 was the Poly-Planar MA5107 @89.99 per pair. Then @4.0 was the Infinity 692m @199.00 per pair. I was lucky enough that this Christmas my wife gave me the Bose 131,s...We already have a bose syetem on board so it will be a good match..The best part about these speakers is they have there own sound box which increases the performance and if a wave were to knock out the speaker (or a foot) the sound box would stop the water from coming into your boat.. As long and you have the space and the budget These are excellent speakers....What ever you choose remember that a cockpit speker, without the cone is just a huge hole in the boat, where a boarding wave can enter.......Im installing mine this weekend. By the way Im 46 and still listening to the likes of Neil Young, CSN, JT, VOGNER, Throw in some Cake, and some angry women music (Atlantis Morrsett) and you have our typical Sat cruise. Good Luck and have a great season!!!...Springs a comin!!!
I was wondering the same question....Practical salior did a review of speakers for cockpit use in their 2004 buyers guide issue. The ratings were 1-5 where 5 was excellent. The top waterproof speakers were The Bose131 at $239.00 per pair with a rating of 4.5 then tied at 4.5 overall was the Poly-Planar MA6600 @ $169.00 Then rated 4.0 was the Poly-Planar MA5107 @89.99 per pair. Then @4.0 was the Infinity 692m @199.00 per pair. I was lucky enough that this Christmas my wife gave me the Bose 131,s...We already have a bose syetem on board so it will be a good match..The best part about these speakers is they have there own sound box which increases the performance and if a wave were to knock out the speaker (or a foot) the sound box would stop the water from coming into your boat.. As long and you have the space and the budget These are excellent speakers....What ever you choose remember that a cockpit speker, without the cone is just a huge hole in the boat, where a boarding wave can enter.......Im installing mine this weekend. By the way Im 46 and still listening to the likes of Neil Young, CSN, JT, VOGNER, Throw in some Cake, and some angry women music (Atlantis Morrsett) and you have our typical Sat cruise. Good Luck and have a great season!!!...Springs a comin!!!
R
R.C.
If You Want A Pair of The Poly Planars...
Mounted in the Nav Pods I have a pair I'll sell you at a very reasonable price. If you're interested e-mail me at (mainecruising at yahoo.com) & I can send you pictures. They were only used for about four weeks and they also came as standard equipment on a C-310. In response to Tim's idea that his stereo is the culprit in his lacking low end. It's not the stereo but the fact that the MA 7500's only have a 3.5 inch woofer! You could put 300 watts of clean power into these speakers and you still would not get much bass. The ideal set up would be to use the MA 7500's as your mid highs and add a subwoofer..
Mounted in the Nav Pods I have a pair I'll sell you at a very reasonable price. If you're interested e-mail me at (mainecruising at yahoo.com) & I can send you pictures. They were only used for about four weeks and they also came as standard equipment on a C-310. In response to Tim's idea that his stereo is the culprit in his lacking low end. It's not the stereo but the fact that the MA 7500's only have a 3.5 inch woofer! You could put 300 watts of clean power into these speakers and you still would not get much bass. The ideal set up would be to use the MA 7500's as your mid highs and add a subwoofer..
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