You see, when it comes to marine speakers, you have to understand that each model and prototype has its own unique properties. You need to do your research and decide what is best for you. Of course, this is dependent on what kind of functionality you require from your boat speakers. Do you want them to have a loud bass and transform your boat into the summer hub for all beach and boat parties?
Some great marine speakers can be found at The Marine Lab with their recommendations. However, let us share a few tips with you that we hope will help you get the best possible marine speakers for your boat.
1. Best Marine Speakers: decide audio system’s purpose
As we mentioned earlier, think about what you want your boat’s audio system to do. Do you want to just have some light, cheery music playing in the background? Do you want to switch on the radio and just alternate between your favourite music channels? If yes, then you do not need to dip far and wide into your wallet and can just get an affordable speaker solution with reasonable sound bandwidth.
However, the one thing to keep in mind is how loud your boat is when on the go on the water. If you own a loud, proud powerboat, then you will need something that can be heard over the sound of the boat engine as it churns and cuts through the high seas. We would recommend woofers, high-quality speakers, and amplifiers in such a scenario.
2. Location of the best marine speakers
Where and how do you plan to install your speakers? Will you be placing them inside or outside? If they go out on the exterior, then there are external sound forces to account for: primarily, the sound of the wind and boat engine. You will need high-power, loudspeakers if you wish to mount them outside on your boat deck.
Where will your friends or family spend most of their time on the boat? This is also a variable that you should consider when planning where to install your speakers.
3. Size of best marine speakers
As you may be well aware, speakers come in different sizes. When you’re in your research stage and checking out variant speakers, you’ll notice that the size of the speaker is categorized by its diameter within its cone or its diameter within the cut-out hole.
The bitter truth is that there is no standard size in the speaker industry and each brand manufacturer has introduced his own measuring scale as per his brand. This is a critical factor to keep in mind when considering the final location of where to install your speakers.
4. Get marine speakers for marine usages
Nope, we hate to disappoint you but not just any old speaker will do. Those speakers from your teen years in the 1990s, lying and gathering dust in your parent’s garage, will not do at all! Let go of those. Donate it for a good cause. What you need to do is to get custom marine speakers for your boat. Doesn’t that aqua beauty deserve the best? You deserve the best too! Also, when you have spent so much quid investing in a boat, then you will not want to compromise on the small things such as speakers.
Marine speakers are super strong and can stand the force of natural elements that your ocean vessel will encounter out there on the water. Salt, fog, dust or wind, your marine speakers will be able to survive these weather challenges as they are designed for this very purpose.
On top of this, marine speakers can manage UV light, vibrations, and other shocks that tend to exist within a marine atmosphere. Many will also use an automotive type of speaker, which has similar specifications but is not suited to the marine environment.
5. Bigger may not always be better
Remember, not all that glitters is actually gold. You’re a smart cookie whose done their homework. You’ll know that bigger speakers may not necessarily be the optimal choice for your boat. For instance, when you connect your speakers directly to the head unit, it will not make a difference to the sound quality whether your speakers are 200W or 150W.
The lesson to pay attention to here is that the individual specs of your speakers are not important – what matters is how well-tuned you’re your system is- particularly when subwoofers and external amplifiers are put in place as well.
6. Waterproof speakers
Now, when you see the label of your brand new marine speakers and see that they are waterproof or water-resistant- it does not mean that you take them swimming with you or drown them in water.
What it means is that these new babies can take splashes or light sprays of water – especially since you’re out there on the sea. Do not use a power washer to clean them when they get dirty. When you see dust accumulating at the top of your marine speakers, just take a cloth and wipe it off. Better to play it safe than be sorry after!
7. Best marine speakers are multifunctional
Your marine speakers can do a lot more than just serve their ultimate purpose on your boat. You can take them and install them outdoors on your patio or on your yard. Having a summer pool party? Switch them on! They make excellent outdoor speakers as well! Put them up on your RV, outside your house, or your bike. These babies are perfectly suited for outdoor environments!
These are your marine speakers and you deserve to have fun with them! Just make sure you think carefully about the type of brand you want, what it’s purpose will be, where you will install it and how loud you want it to be. Remember, your marine speakers will be competing with the sounds of nature (wind, ocean) as well as the boat engine. In order to be heard, you will definitely want to make sure your marine speakers are loud enough.
Need to know more? Here our Best Tips To Select The Right Marine Subwoofer
If you feel like your marine stereo is lacking in punch, it is probably because the speakers are overworked. Standard marine speakers are good at processing high and midrange frequencies. Bass, however, is not their forte. That is why adding an extra subwoofer is always recommended. It takes the burden off of the main speakers, leaving them free to focus on the highs and mids, while the subwoofer concentrates on the low-end sound.
This division of labour improves the bass signature of your songs and enhances the overall listening experience. You get clean and crisp audio full of rich detail. No band is left out, every note is accurately captured and reproduced.
Some time back we published on tips to identify the right marine speakers. Now, in this article we are going to learn some important tips for selecting the right marine subwoofer. Here we go.
Ingress Protection (IP) Rating
The first thing you need to consider while buying a marine subwoofer is the marine-readiness of the device. Since you are going to be using the sub on a sailboat (or UTV, truck, etc.) you need to make sure it can stand up to water and dirt. For that you need to check the IP rating of the speaker.
