Spring Into Boating Season in Style with Premium Boat Audio Speakers, Stereo, and Amp
Boating season is upon us here in San Diego, which means there are plenty of to-do items to check off before hitting the high seas. Your boat will need a thorough cleaning and tip-to-tail inspection to ensure it’s aesthetically pleasing and mechanically seaworthy.
Spring is also an excellent time to address any upgrades you’ve been putting off, such as aftermarket marine audio products. This can be a little tricky if you own a speedboat as high winds, engine noise, and sea splash can muffle your boat audio’s playback.
Choosing the right aftermarket marine audio products for a speedboat requires consideration of the unique environment in which they’ll operate. Unlike car audio systems, boat audio equipment must withstand elements like water, salt, and the sun’s UV rays.
Let’s break down how to select the best marine audio brands and products to ensure a high-quality sound experience on your speedboat.
Stereo Head Unit
The stereo is the heart and soul of your boat’s audio system. If your stereo is underpowered, your speakers will not achieve the level of volume necessary to rise above traditional boating noise, so it’s important to choose wisely. Be mindful of the following attributes when shopping marine stereos:
Power: Speedboats require stereos with some serious wattage and power handling. A 200-watt head unit should get the job done.
Water and corrosion resistance: Look for a stereo that has a water-resistant faceplate and is made of corrosion-resistant materials. Most marine-grade stereos come with coated circuit boards, UV-resistant faceplates, and rust-resistant materials.
Marine-grade certification: Confirm the stereo is certified for marine use before purchasing it. A non-marine stereo won’t last long on the salty waves. Speak with the experts at San Diego Car Stereo for guidance.
Features: Modern marine stereos offer features such as Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Touchscreens are also convenient, but some speedboat owners prefer the feel of physical buttons and knobs when traveling at high speeds.
Expandability: Confirm your stereo features enough outputs so that you can build out your marine audio system with additional components.
Marine-Grade Amplifier
Think of an amplifier as your marine audio’s own personal performance booster. This is a must-have for speedboat owners who require enough power to overcome traditional boating noise. Consider the following when choosing your new equipment:
Marine rated: Just like the stereo head unit, your amplifier must be marine rated to ensure it can withstand the salty marine environment without corroding.
Power: Choose an amplifier that can power your arrangement of speakers and subwoofers. A good rule of thumb is that it's always better to have more power than not enough. Ask the San Diego Car Stereo team for help selecting an amp powerful enough for high-octane boating.
Multi-channel: Consider a multi-channel amplifier to power your aftermarket speakers and subwoofers. A four-channel amplifier can run four speakers, and if it's bridgeable, it can also power a subwoofer.
Installation location: Amplifiers require ventilation to prevent overheating. Ideally, you want a spot that's dry, receives plenty of airflow, but is also out of the way so that it isn’t in the way of your passengers.
Marine Audio Speakers
Picking out your speakers is arguably one of the most important parts of the process, especially for speedboat owners. Keep the following in mind when shopping for marine-grade speakers:
Power handling and sensitivity: For the open environment of a speedboat, choose speakers with exceptional power handling and sensitivity so that your music cuts through wind and engine noise. 125W RMS/250W peak power is a good baseline to shoot for, but feel free to go more powerful than that.
Materials: Speakers should be made of durable materials that resist UV rays, moisture, and corrosion. Polypropylene cones, rubber surrounds, and stainless-steel components are ideal.
Size and mounting: Confirm the speakers will fit into your boat's existing speaker cutouts or where you plan to mount them. Consider flush-mount speakers for a clean look, or wakeboard tower speakers if you need sound to carry over a larger area.
Reliable marine audio brands: Avoid cheap off-brand speakers at all costs. Stick with household names like Rockford Fosgate, JL Audio, Kenwood, Pioneer, and Kicker. When in doubt, ask an audiophile at San Diego Car Stereo for guidance on top marine audio brands.
Marine Audio Subwoofers
Subwoofers are what produce those booming low frequencies that are heavily featured in hip-hop, rap, and EDM tracks. You subwoofer should be:
Marine-ready: A marine subwoofer is built to handle the elements and typically has a waterproof front.
Powerful: Look for a subwoofer with enough power handling to deliver deep bass that can be heard over the roar of the boat and the water.
In the right enclosure: Free-air subwoofers can be mounted directly into your speedboat's seating or paneling, saving space. Alternatively, enclosed subwoofers offer better sound quality but require more space. You can experience how different subwoofers sound by visiting San Diego Car Stereo for an in-person demonstration.
The Importance of Professional Marine Audio Installation
Trust us on this: you do not want to attempt your own marine audio installation. There’s a laundry list of things that can go wrong, including water damage, corrosion, electrical issues, playback problems, and cosmetic flaws, just to name a few. In the event you don’t install your equipment properly, you’re likely to need to spend more money correcting the problem.
By investing in professional marine audio installation with San Diego Car Stereo, you ensure your products look and sound amazing for your first outing back on the open waters. Moreover, our professional installers will meet you wherever your boat is docked, meaning you avoid the inconvenience of towing your speed boat across town for marine audio upgrades.
Plus, we guarantee the quality of our boat audio installations. In the extremely rare instance there’s a problem with your marine audio, our team will fix the issue free of charge.
Start Shopping Top Marine Audio Brands at San Diego Car Stereo
There’s a lot to keep track of when choosing aftermarket marine audio products for a speed boat. Not only do you need to choose the right marine audio brands that are capable of withstanding boating conditions, but you also need to select an arrangement of products that work well together, provide super sound quality, and are powerful enough to overcome traditional boating noise.
By investing in marine-grade audio components and considering features like wireless connectivity and remote control, you can create a marine audio system that enhances your boating experience with the soundtrack you love, no matter how fast you’re jetting across the Pacific.
Kick off your marine audio upgrades by visiting us at 4220 Convoy St. in San Diego or at 2750 Auto Parkway #13 in Escondido. After we learn more about your boat and what your audio goals are, the San Diego Car Stereo team will show you some products from top marine audio brands that showcase your soundtrack like never before. After finalizing your marine audio arrangement, our technicians will come out to where your boat is docked for professional marine audio installation.
San Diego Car Stereo makes upgrading marine audio easy and enjoyable for customers. Send us an email to schedule a personalized shopping appointment or to send us any questions you have about boat audio. A member of our team will promptly get back to you.