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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.

Seaworthy SEA8180 AM/FM/Cassette with Gimbal Mount Housing Marine Stereo Closeout Special! $49.95
Code: 00599

Boss Audio MR1400W AM/FM/CD White 200 Watts Marine Stereo front input jack for MP3, iPod or Satellite Radio $121.88
Code: 28678

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

Boss Audio MR1420W AM/FM/CD/MP3 White 200 Watt Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $131.25
Code: 28679

Magnadyne Aquavibe M5000CD 200 Watts AM/FM/CD Weatherband Waterproof Marine Stereo Closeout Special! $149.95
Code: 00100

Clarion M275 AM/FM/CD/MP3 200 Watts Marine Stereo Front Aux inputs for MP3 players $149.95
Code: 01234

JBL MR-6S AM/FM/CD Silver 180 Watts Sirius Satellite Ready Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~179.95~~
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Code: 30556

Jensen MSR2007 AM/FM/iPod� Controller Sirius�, Satellite Ready 160 Watts Marine Stereo No CD Player. Great For Connecting iPod or MP3 Player. Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~199.99~~
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Code: 29369

JBL MBBMINI AM/FM Tuner with CD Changer Control Sirius Satellite Ready Black Box Waterproof Marine Stereo $160.79
Code: 019004

Boss Audio MR1600W AM/FM/CD White 240 Watts with Waterproof Wired Remote Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $163.80
Code: 28680

JBL MR-17W AM/FM/CD White Sirius Satellite Radio Ready CD Changer Controller Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~199.95~~
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Code: 16362

Boss Audio MR1620W AM/FM/CD/MP3 White 240 Watts with Waterproof Wired Remote Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $180.34
Code: 28681

JBL MBB-219S Chrome AM/FM Tuner with CD Changer Control Sirius Satellite Ready Black Box Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~199.95~~
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Code: 019003

Clarion CMD4A AM/FM/CD iPod/MP3 Ready 200 Watts Waterproof CD Changer Controller Marine Stereo Closeout priced! Regularly $299.95 Now only $189.95
Code: 01006

Clarion M475 AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sirius Satellite Ready 200 Watts CD Changer and iPod Controller Marine Stereo Front Aux inputs for MP3 players $189.95
Code: 01022

JBL MR18S Silver Sirius Satellite Ready AM/FM/CD Waterproof Marine Stereo $196.08
Code: 28107

JBL MR4WG AM/FM/CD with Gimbal Mount Housing Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~229.95~~
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Code: 28558

Boss Audio MR1640W AM/FM/CD/MP3/Weatherband White 240 Watts with Waterproof Wired Remote Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $196.88
Code: 30705

Boss Audio MR2080W AM/FM/CD/MP3 Waterproof White 320 Watts with Waterproof Wired Remote Marine Stereo front inputs for MP3, iPod, Satellite Radio $213.98
Code: 29030

Jensen MSR7007 AM/FM/CD/MP3 Weatherband Sirius Ready iPod Control Waterproof Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~299.99~~
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Code: 31121

JBL MR32S Silver Stereo Sirius Ready AM/FM/CD CD Changer Control Waterproof Marine Stereo $241.84
Code: 28108

AQUATIC AV AQ-CD-1 AM/FM/CD/MP3/WEATHER 200 Watts Waterproof Marine Stereo $246.31
Code: 17101

AQUATIC AV AQ-CD-3 White AM/FM/CD/MP3, XM Satellite Ready, iPod Control, Waterproof Marine Stereo $258.76
Code: 29976

Clarion CMD5 AM/FM/CD/MP3 Sirius Satellite Ready 200 Watts Waterproof CD Changer and iPod Controller Marine Stereo $294.95
Code: 01024

Fusion FCD-255 Black 200 Watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 Marine Stereo Includes a wireless remote! $299.95
Code: 01302

Fusion FCD-255S Silver 200 Watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 Marine Stereo Includes a wireless remote! $299.95
Code: 01303

Poly-Planar MRD 60 White Waterproof AM/FM/CD CD Changer Controller, iPod Controller Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~389.95~~
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Code: 11226

Poly-Planar MRD-70 Black AM/FM/CD/MP3 XM Satellite Ready Multi-zone Component System Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~449.95~~
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Code: 30112

Poly-Planar MRD-70 Gray AM/FM/CD/MP3 XM Satellite Ready Multi-Zone Component System Marine Stereo Manufacturer's Minimum Advertised Price: $~~449.95~~
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Code: 30297

AQUATIC AV AQ-DVD-1 AM/FM/CD/MP3/DVD 160 Watts Waterproof Marine Stereo $384.66
Code: 17100

AQUATIC AV AQ-DVD-3 White AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3, SD Card Slot, XM Satellite Ready, iPod Control, Waterproof Marine Stereo $421.18
Code: 29975