If you are looking for the best marine audio system, keep reading. While your car may have a nice audio system, wouldn’t it be fair if your boat had one as well? You can listen to music while cruising around on your boat or while you sit and relax out on the open water.
Either way, you want something that sounds great and can also be able to withstand some of the outdoor conditions such as the sun, heat, and yes even water. Marine audio systems are not like the kinds you find in your vehicle. We’ll also provide you a list of some of the best marine audio systems on the market.
That way, you’ll have a starting point on where to look and determine whether or not it’s a good investment for you. Now, let’s discuss why you need a marine audio system before unveiling our list of some of the best choices out there:
What is a marine audio system?
A marine audio system will have similar features to what you’ll find in your car. However, every single component is made with tougher, more durable materials. These components will be protective against water, corrosion, the sun, and so many of nature’s elements.
Since you’ll be mostly outdoors, your sound system must be able to withstand every bit of weather that nature throws your way. When the waters get rough to a point where some waves can make its way on the boat, it can still be able to function properly. However, the major caveat is that a marine system WILL NOT survive any kind of water submersion.
The good thing about these marine audio systems is that they never need any kind of protective covering. If you were to install a car stereo on a boat (and in some ways, it’s possible), you’ll need one to ensure it doesn’t get damaged.
Today, many marine audio systems have gone well beyond the usual AM/FM radio capabilities. You can play music from your smartphone and connect it to the sound system with little to no effort. Most of them will also have USB ports so you can be able to connect your phone to the sound system.
If you feel more comfortable with wireless connectivity, then you’ll need to find a marine audio system with Bluetooth capabilities.
The Best Marine Audio Systems of 2020
The following is a list of the best marine audio systems currently on the market for 2020. These three were hand-picked by us due to some of the features that have impressed us and the likelihood of how affordable it will be for most customers. If you are on a budget, one of these may be the best you can afford.
Let’s take a look at the following:
1. Fusion MS-RA70 Marine Stereo
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2. Boss Audio System Marine Gauge Receiver
Up next is the Boss Audio System Marine Gauge Receiver. This audio system has a simple design and the ability to play MP3s. Of course, it also has the capability to play AM/FM radio as well as playing music from your mobile device via Bluetooth.
It can handle SD cards, external devices, USBs, and any kind of storage that contains music files. If you run Pandora or Spotify off your phone, this is the perfect marine audio system to have on your boat. While it doesn’t play CDs, the question you got to ask is: who needs them?
This is easy to install and should take you at least a few minutes to have it all set up.
3. Sony DXS-M5511BT Marine Digital Media Receiver
The last marine audio system we’ll be looking at is the Sony Marine Digital Media Receiver. Sony is one of the most reliable brands on the market. They are no stranger to delivering excellent sound quality with their stereo systems.
After all, they’ve been one of the brands that have been around for decades. What you’ll notice about this audio system in particular is that it looks like a car stereo. But rest assured, it still has those durable components that can resist water and all kinds of weather.
This includes an anti-glare display and plenty of UV protection so it doesn’t get damaged by the sun. It also has the ability to play all kinds of audio files such as .WAV, .MP3, .AAC, and others.
With all this quality and ability to play different audio files, it’s quite the steal of a deal for the price it goes for.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for the best marine audio sound system, one of the three listed above might be a good choice for you. At the end of the day, it comes down to a few things: how it sounds, the ease of installation, and the compatibility with different devices that can play music.
These three are among some of the most affordable options on the market. But they are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination in terms of quality. They sound great, last a long time, and would look good on your boat.