Quality Marine Audio Equipment For A Better Boating Experience

Weather and environmental conditions could be very harsh while sailing. When thinking of installing marine audio equipment in your boat, it is important to choose a waterproof system. With a harsh environment, the audio system should also be protected not only from moisture but from dust and temperature changes.

Splash and moisture protection covers are not the only thing that should be checked or considered when choosing marine stereo systems.  It is also important to check if the circuits are also protected from different elements and even from shock.  The Poly-Planar MRD-60 marine stereo is watertight, circuits have conformal coating as protection and it is also shock-resistant. The Furuno FM-3000 Radiotelephone also has the ability to withstand harsh environmental conditions. 

Aside from water protection, it is also important for marine audio to be UV resistant and have anti-corrosion protection.  To protect against corrosion or rusting, conformal-coated circuit boards and rust-resistant chassis should be among the features of the marine audio.  Equipment with no protection is unlikely to last in the outdoors.  So make sure to get marine audio which is both waterproof and weather resistant.

Another feature to check is a wired or wireless remote control. This would ensure that your marine stereo is protected from the elements or at the safe distance from other equipments which may cause interference.  There are even remote controls which float on water.

Getting clear signals and frequency is also important whether the boat is docked or in the middle of the sea.  Marine audio would offer sound distortion limiting feature like in the Polyplanar. The Furuno FM3000 Radiotelephone could get weather reports from 10 different channels.  The Furuno FS1503 can also access international and distress frequency.

Marine stereo has powerful amplifier that could drown out background noise.  Even if the volume is increased, distortion could be limited.  High powered amplifiers would provide better and clearer acoustics.  Aside form CD players, current radio and marine stereos would also have USB inputs to connect MP3 and iPod.  Preamp outputs could also be present.  If you are adding up speakers, make sure to select marine speakers. 

Features are not the only one that should matter when looking for marine stereo. Ease of installation should also be a factor. The primary question would be how the marine stereo is going to be installed.  Would it involve complicated wiring system or just require an easy setup? 

Not all boats have existing mounting locations, unless you are just replacing an old marine stereo, in which case it is likely that there is already a place to mount it.  Marine audio would usually fit the standard DIN cutout.  Be sure to check with the manufacturer and the manual if there are any specified methods on how the marine audio will be mounted.

Marine audio equipment have become a regular feature in boats.  Sailors, fishermen and boat owners have realized that sound and music could increase relaxation and pleasure of boating.  But before jumping at the next best thing, make sure to deliberate on your options. Surely, you want a system that would continue to perform for more than just another boating season.