Amplifier and Speaker Recommendations for the Marine Enviroment

[Blaine Thorpe]

Finally getting around to installing a radio on the flybridge. The only thing I have now are two Sony speakers that run off of the Onkyo receiver in the salon. There is no way to control the volume from the bridge.

Just looking for some experience for amps and speakers that will survive the marine environment.

Thanks,

 

[jim rosenthal]

You might look at Crutchfield in Virginia. They are a very reputable online retailer for audio-video items, have been around for decades, and they have marine items as well. They have good prices and they stand behind what they sell.

 

[Boatsb]

Marine gear is available or put a volume control in and use what you have.

 

[krush]

12v or 120VAC?

 

[Mike36c]

Over the years I've tried many brands of not too expensive 'marine' speakers only to be disappointed and end up having to replace them nearly annually. For me only JL and Bose have held up in our UV salty environment. For your new head unit you may want to look into Bluetooth capability to stream from your phone (Pandora, etc).

 

[Boatsb]

I just installed a fusion system with a nmea interface. The main unit stays below. Bluetooth and USB. And it's controlled from the main screen of the mfd.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

12v or 120VAC?

The existing stuff is 120 volt. I am installing a 12v system. I have the radio and CD changer that I bought to put in the 36, but never got around to it.

I still want to keep the AC stuff, but need to add the 12 volt stuff to run with the generator off.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

I just installed a fusion system with a nmea interface. The main unit stays below. Bluetooth and USB. And it's controlled from the main screen of the mfd.

Scott,

I like the idea of keeping the head unit out of the weather and I have space below.

I have a radio I was going to use, but these look interesting if I can dock an Ipod or IPhone, although I do have an aux input on the radio I have.

I'll take a look to see if I can download a manual for the fusion radios.

Edit: I see they have a wired remote available. That may be the answer.

 

[Boatsb]

Scott,

I like the idea of keeping the head unit out of the weather and I have space below.

I have a radio I was going to use, but these look interesting if I can dock an Ipod or IPhone, although I do have an aux input on the radio I have.

I'll take a look to see if I can download a manual for the fusion radios.

Edit: I see they have a wired remote available. That may be the answer.

What MFD do you have on the bridge? You may be able to use that. If not id go wireless as the less in the weather the better. Trust me I'm a fusion dealer. I've been through the exercise and I've cleaned more than a few contacts.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

I have a garmin 7212 and a furuno vx2 on the bridge. Planning on adding a garmin on the tower as well.

 

[Rickysa]

Fusion

http://www.fusionentertainment.com/marine

I've been very happy with it.

 

[Pascal]

I guess it depends on what you re going to listen to. We never listen to radio so basically all we want is a bluetooth enabled unit that w control from iPhone or iPad.

Docking units and cables are just a pain in the neck as sooner or later the cables and connectors will start acting up. Also some cases, like lifeproof, require an adapter to plug in an outside speaker and if you don't have it, you're done... Other cases don't fit in some dock connectors.

The down side of bluetooth is that range varies with th device. For instance, an iPad mini has much shorter range than a full size ipad.

On the daysailer I installed a Dual rceiver, forgot the model but it s the round one that fits in a standard instrument hole. It's in the cabin and we control it using th iPad or iPhone from t cockpit. No need for remotes. We can play from pandora, spotify or music stored on the iPhone/iPad.

On th boat I run, I put a pair of the larger Bose outdoor speaker powered with their auxiliary zone amplifier. I ran a standard mini jack cable which comes out just inside the main saloon door so guests can plug in any phone or tablet. We also have a Scoche BTRH Bluetooth receiver in which we can just plug the mini jack. Sound quality and power is excellent. So far the speakers have been on for a couple of years althouth they are somewhat sheltered under the act deck ceiling.

 

[krush]

Perhaps I am a snob, but bluetooth seems to lose lots of fidelity when I hear it. But, I also can't listen to satellite radio, quality is just too poor from low bitrate.

 

[Pascal]

nothing is worst that a damaged cable or connector making those annoying cracking sounds!!

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

I guess it depends on what you re going to listen to. We never listen to radio so basically all we want is a bluetooth enabled unit that w control from iPhone or iPad.

I am by no means a music conasuer, but I do like to listen to the radio, pandora, etc. Not having the capability to listen when anchored without the generator is a pain. We could just use the phones or tablet, but I'd rather have a radio.

Now looking at the Fusion MS-IP700i with nmea remote. Already have speakers on the bridge, might even add speakers in the cockpit with three zone capability.

 

[MikeP]

GOOD sound on a boat...well, forget that. BUT as far as having speakers that can handle the conditions, we have had good luck with Polyplaner on our 53 and on our previous boat. They can deal with the outside environment and they sound OK. The indoor speakers are re-coned OEM and they've been fine.

We have a cheap NAD amp that handles the sound duties and it's hardwired to all the speakers - all the original locations/volume pots on our 53 as well as the 4 poly planers - 2 on the aft deck/2 on the FB. The amp is mounted in the same location that the OEM receiver was when the boat was originally delivered. The input is via iPod hardwired to the amp. We don't use radio at all on the boat. All of the TV/stereo components run off the inverter so they are available under any conditions. The amp can select the indoor speakers OR the outdoor speakers OR all of them. As per OEM, the speaker volume in the galley, guest, and master suite can be adjusted to different levels by the OEM volume pots in those locations.

IMO, if you are looking for really good quality sound, then you have to use the same components that you would use at home to do the same thing.

But who wants to expose a vintage turntable/vinyl/tube amp/preamp and favorite speakers to a boat's environment?