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Marine Stereos - How to Choose The Right One

Quality marine stereos give longer life and better performance in a wet marine environment than standard car stereos. Coated electronics to withstand moisture and salt air and UV protection make the difference.

IMPORTANT NOTE! Our stereos are all meant to run off of a 12 volt DC marine or car battery. If you are installing in a backyard, pool or hot tub area, or any other land based application, you will need some kind of power adapter to run off of regular household current. Check out our installation tips page for more information on power adapters.

What is the best marine stereo for your situation?

FIRST: Consider Size And Installation Dimensions
if you are replacing an existing stereo this will narrow down your selection a bit. Most marine stereos come in what is called standard DIN (Dash Installation) size. Standard DIN is about 7 inches wide and 2 inches high. Unfortunately, different manufacturers seem to have different ideas about what DIN is so the dimensions will vary slightly from stereo to stereo. Some marine stereos are 1.5 DIN or 2 DIN which refers to the height. 1.5 DIN is appproximately 3 inches high while 2 DIN is about 4 inches high.

You don't necessarily need to cut a hole for your stereo. A marine stereo enclosure with a gimbal mount will help protect the unit from the elements while providing convenient mounting under a dash or in another location. If the stereo you choose does not have a sealed waterproof faceplate and you are expecting a lot of spray in the area, you will want to consider a splash cover.

SECOND: Consider Power Output
Most marine stereos (sometimes referred to as heads or head units) include a power amplifier. A quality stereo will usually have 4 separate channels of power output providing one channel for each speaker. The 4 channels make up 2 sets of stereo pairs. Manufacturers usually add up the total peak power of all 4 channels to give you the total wattage of their product. Unfortunately, keep in mind that if you only use two speakers on a 4 channel amplifier you will only utilize half the available power.

It is also possible to power multiple speakers on one amplifier channel, however more speakers do not always add up to more volume if they are not wired correctly. Also you will need to be careful when doing this because too much or too little resistance on a channel can damage your amp and/or your speakers. See our installation page for more information. If you are not certain how multiple speakers might affect your system it is always best to stick with one speaker per channel.

There are two different power measurements for an amplifier.

Peak Output is the maximum power the amp can produce at any given instant. You can expect a quality head unit to produce 40 to 50 peak watts of power output per channel.
RMS Output is the average power the amp can produce over time. You can expect a quality head unit to produce about 15 to 20 RMS watts of power per channel.

Many people wonder if this will be enough for their boat, but on a medium to small sized craft it will be plenty in most cases and the sound quality will be very good. On a larger boat you would not necessarily need more power from your stereo. Instead you might want to extend what it has by adding an additional amplifier and more speakers to cover a larger area.

If you are looking for exceptional sound, and/or need a lot of volume you will definitely want to add an amplifier. If you plan on using an amplifier, keep in mind that you will get the best sound if your stereo head unit has pre-amp auxiliary RCA outputs so that you can send a non amplified (or line level) signal to the amplifier. Most amps can accept both amplified and non amplified connections and have a switch so that you can toggle back and forth depending on how you are using it. Keep in mind, though, that feeding amplified output to your amplifier won't give you any more total power output and can add a small amount of distortion to the signal. So, if you have a choice, stick with a non amplified connection. How you wire an amplifier with your speakers is very important, so take a look at our installation page for help with that.

Most quality marine speakers will give you good bass response, but if you are looking for thunderous bass that shakes the harbor you will need an extra amplifier and a subwoofer. (see marine speakers for help choosing subwoofers).

THIRD: Consider Features
Generally, it isn't power that distinguishes marine stereos in price. Rather it is features. Below are a list of features that you can expect to pay more for in a marine stereo:

Weather Resistant versus Waterproof All of our marine stereos are built to be outdoors and are, at the very least, weather resistant. By this we mean that the circuit boards go through a special poly coating process that prevents corrosion in a humid environment. In addition, they are UV protected for exposure to the sun. Weather resistant stereos also prevent water intrusion in varying degrees, but they are not waterproof and water inside the unit will definitely do some damage.

If you plan on your stereo frequently getting in the path of splash or spray you may want to go a step beyond this and get a stereo with a waterproof faceplate. Waterproof faceplates have a sealed gasket so that water can't get into the CD compartment when closed and the buttons and LCD display are waterproofed as well. Keep in mind that the back side chassis of the stereo may or may not be waterproofed and it may need to be safe behind your dash or enclosed in some type of enclosure. To avoid the expense of a waterproof faceplate you could opt for a separate flip down splash cover.
Wireless or Wired Remotes Some of our stereos come with wireless remote controls or a wireless remote can be added. It is important to understand that most of these are "line of sight" remotes (like a television remote). If you plan on installing the stereo in a cabin, the remote might be useless on deck. Wireless remotes sometimes come with a small infrared "eye" that can be mounted in a convenient place for line of sight control. A wire connects the eye to the stereo. Some systems have other methods for accepting IR remote commands like through special speakers or through mounted wired remotes so you don't have to point the wireless remote at the head unit itself. You will want to check that out ahead of time to be sure. Some RF remotes are now available that do not require line of site in order to work.

Wired remotes are often available that can be surface mounted or flush mounted with a very streamlined look. Most are completely waterproof so they can be installed in a wet area. You might think a wireless remote would be better, but consider that wired remotes never get lost. Mounting a wired remote in an area that swimmers or skiers can easily reach may be more practical than a wireless remote.
Auxilliary Inputs for iPOD, MP3 Player, DVD, Satellite Radio, etc. With auxilliary inputs you can play an external device through your marine stereo by patching the audio signal into the head unit through special jacks (usually RCA jacks). Aux inputs do NOT give you the ability to control song selection, play, pause, or other detailed control over the external device from the marine stereo itself. The only control you will have is volume. Everything else must be controlled from the external device. In most cases the Aux input jacks are on the back of the stereo chassis because putting them in the front presents an opportunity for water to get into the unit. However, you can purchase an audio cable adapter with a plug that can be mounted within easy reach to plug in your external device. The cable runs from the back of the stereo to wherever you mount the plug.
iPod Control If you want full control of your iPod from your marine stereo, such as song selection, play, pause, song/artist display, etc. this feature has become available on some models. A special cable or adapter is required, but an additional benefit is that the iPod will recharge while it is connected to your marine stereo.
Ability to Play MP3 files from CDs Almost all stereos will play CDRs (Recordable CDs), but not all can play MP3s. MP3s are compressed digital music files. The quality of MP3 music is not any better than normal CD audio, but since the data is compressed, you can fit a lot more songs on one CD. One CD filled with MP3s could play for many hours compared to a maximum of just over an hour for a normal CD. Naturally, you would only get benefit out of this feature if you have the ability to burn your own MP3 CDs or have someone else do it for you.
CD Changer Control The ability to control a CD Changer is another feature of some marine stereos. Keep in mind that the head unit can only control a CD Changer of the same brand that was made for it.
Satellite Radio Satellite radio is obtained from one of two competing services, Sirius or XM - Radio. There is a monthly subscription fee to use these services. Some marine stereos have built in satellite radio control capability (satellite ready), but you generally have to buy a separate satellite receiver and antenna. A satellite ready unit will offer full control over the satellite receiver.

You can also add satellite radio to a non-satellite ready stereo, but the satellite receiver will have to be controlled by a unit separate from your stereo. This is not only an inconvenience, but the separate controller will probably not be waterproof so you will need to be careful with it in a wet environment. There are two ways to attach a separate satellite receiver to a non-satellite ready stereo. For the best quality sound you should use auxilliary inputs. If your stereo does not have auxilliary inputs you can use a satellite reciever with FM modulation. With FM modulation the satellite signal is broadcast right through your FM stereo (like "Mr. Microphone" only better quality) so that you don't need auxillary inputs and you don't have to pull out your stereo to attach any wires behind it.

Poly-Planar MRD-70 Gray AM/FM/CD/MP3 CD Changer Control, XM Ready, Waterproof Marine Stereo Closeout Priced! Originally $349! Now only $66.65
Code: 30297

Poly-Planar MRD-70 Black AM/FM/CD/MP3 CD Changer Control, XM Ready, Waterproof Marine Stereo Closeout Priced! Originally $349! Now only $66.65
Code: 30112

Milennia PRV15 AM/FM/MP3 USB Port, Gauge Size, Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~99.95~~
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Code: 41577

Boss Audio MR1420S Silver AM/FM/CD/MP3 White 240 Watt Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $86.67
Code: 43808

Boss Audio MR1315WUA White AM/FM/MP3/WMA USB Port, SD Card Slot 240 Watt Marine Stereo $92.97
Code: 40979

Boss Audio MR1315BUA Black AM/FM/MP3/WMA USB Port, SD Card Slot 240 Watt Marine Stereo $92.97
Code: 40978

Boss Audio MR1400W AM/FM/CD White 240 Watts Marine Stereo front input jack for MP3, iPod or Satellite Radio $97.66
Code: 28678

JBL MBB2 AM/FM Black Box 180 Watt Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~119.95~~
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Code: 39004

Boss Audio MR1420W White AM/FM/CD/MP3 White 240 Watt Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $103.91
Code: 28679

Boss Audio MR1465S AM/FM/CD/MP3 Silver 240 Watts Marine Stereo $113.29
Code: 40983

Boss Audio MR1560DI White AM/FM iPod and USB MP3 Player Dock With SD Card Slot 320 Watts Marine Stereo Closeout Priced! Originally $159. Now only $118.75
Code: 37344

JBL MR145 Silver AM/FM/CD Marine Stereo Front Aux input for iPod or MP3 players Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~139.95~~
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Code: 36672

Milennia MR380 AM/FM/CD/MP3 USB Port And SD Card Slot Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~149.95~~
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Code: 38273

Boss Audio MR1470US Silver AM/FM/CD USB Port, SD Card Slot, 240 Watt Marine Stereo $119.54
Code: 40981

Boss Audio MR1470UW White AM/FM/CD USB Port, SD Card Slot, 240 Watt Marine Stereo $119.54
Code: 40980

Boss Audio MR1520UA AM/FM/CD/MP3 With USB Port And SD Card Slot 320 Watt Marine Stereo $131.25
Code: 38551

Boss Audio MR1525UI AM/FM/CD/MP3 USB Port for MP3 Players, iPod Control, SD Card Slot 320 Watt Marine Stereo $132.28
Code: 38550

Boss Audio MR1580DI White AM/FM/USB iPod MP3 Control 320 Watt Marine Stereo Internal iPod/MP3 dock instead of a CD player $132.28
Code: 42920

Poly-Planar MR45D White AM/FM/MP3/WMA iPod/MP3 Player Control, USB Port, Sirius Satellite Ready Marine Stereo $133.62
Code: 43251

Poly-Planar MR-41 White USB Port AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA Marine Stereo $136.49
Code: 07111

JBL MBB-218S Silver AM/FM Sirius Satellite Ready Black Box Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~199.95~~
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Code: 28556

JBL MR165S AM/FM/CD Sirius Satellite Ready, iPod Controller Marine Stereo Front audio input for iPod or MP3 player Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~189.95~~
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Code: 38271

Jensen MSR3007 AM/FM/CD/Sirius Satellite Ready iPod Control Marine Stereo Includes flip down splash cover! Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~159.99~~
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Code: 29368

Jensen MSR3012RTL Silver AM/FM/CD/MP3/iPod USB Port, SiriusXM Satellite Radio Ready, 160 Watts Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~164.99~~
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Code: 42592

Poly-Planar MR45C-B Black AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA iPod/MP3 Player Control, USB Port Marine Stereo $159.02
Code: 40619

Poly-Planar MR45C-W White AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA iPod/MP3 Player Control, USB Port Marine Stereo $159.02
Code: 40620

JBL MR18S Silver Sirius Satellite Ready AM/FM/CD Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~207.95~~
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Code: 28107

Kenwood KMR440U AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sirius Satellite Ready, USB Port iPod Control, Bluetooth Ready, HD Radio Ready Marine Stereo $179.95
Code: 01122

Poly-Planar MR45S-B Black AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA iPod/MP3 Player Control, USB Port, Sirius Satellite Ready Marine Stereo $183.09
Code: 40617

Poly-Planar MR45S-W White AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA iPod/MP3 Player Control, USB Port, Sirius Satellite Ready Marine Stereo $183.09
Code: 40618

JBL MBB3 AM/FM Sirius Satellite Ready, iPod Controller, USB Port Waterproof Marine Stereo Built in Flash Drive for storing and playing MP3 Digital Music Files Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~249.95~~
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Code: 31158

Boss Audio MR3.6V AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 320 Watts With 3.6 TFT LCD Screen Marine Stereo $196.88
Code: 39315

Fusion MS-RA200G AM/FM/MP3/iPod Controller, USB port, Weatherband, 200 Watt, Sirius Ready, Waterproof Marine Stereo Compact size for smaller spaces. $198.42
Code: 38180

Jensen JMS2212 AM/FM/MP3/WMA Weatherband, Sirius Ready, iPod/MP3 Player Control, USB Port Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~229.99~~
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Code: 40082

Kenwood KMR-700U AM/FM/MP3 Sirius Satellite Ready, USB iPod Controller Waterproof Marine Stereo Faceplate flips down to store iPod or MP3 player instead of CD! $239.95
Code: 06129

Poly-Planar MRD80I AM/FM, iPod/MP3 Player Dock, SD Card Slot, Sirius Satellite Ready, USB Waterproof Marine Stereo Dock for iPod or MP3 player instead of a CD player! Free $50 iTunes Card! Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~299.95~~
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Code: 44075

Jensen JMS7010 Silver AM/FM/CD/MP3/Weatherband USB Port, iPod Controller, Sirius Satellite Ready Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~299.99~~
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Code: 40075

Poly-Planar MRD80I AM/FM, iPod/MP3 Player Dock, SD Card Slot, Sirius Satellite Ready, USB Waterproof Marine Stereo Dock for iPod or MP3 player instead of a CD player! Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~299.95~~
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Code: 40616

Poly-Planar MRD80 AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA, iPod/MP3 Player Control, Sirius Satellite Ready, USB Port, Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~349.95~~
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Code: 40615

Fusion MS-IP600G AM/FM/iPod Control 3 Zone Sirius Satellite Ready Multi Zone Waterproof Marine Stereo This unit has an internal iPod dock instead of a CD player Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~349.99~~
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Code: 35179

Fusion MS-CD600G AM/FM/CD/MP3 iPod Controller 3 Zone Sirius Satellite Ready Multi Zone Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~349.99~~
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Code: 35180

Fusion MS-AV600G AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 iPod Controller 3 Zone Sirius Satellite Ready Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~499.99~~
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Code: 35178