sound system replacement

[moparlvr4406]

Getting ready to give the 340 some tunes but the question I have is..
Since the stereo head is in the salon as would be the amp...do I really need to pay the price for marine equipment or would car audio work ok :huh:
the speakers will all be marine weather-proof inside and out and the disc changer would also be marine for the stabilization.
Input ??

 

[Summer Fun II]

would car audio work

Yes with no problems. :smt001. Plus you boat in fresh waters. :thumbsup:


PS, 90% of the boats out here have upgraded to better after-market car radio's

 

[Ten Years Gone]

Jim, as Wayne said, most of us have high quality car radios installed...myself included. In the case of electronics on a boat, I don't think there is a real need for a "marine" radio if it lives indoors. It's no more in danger of the elements reaching it than the radio in your car getting wet while it's raining out. The thing I would recommend for you is a head unit that has a remote control and a USB input. I wouldn't bother with the expense of a CD changer. I converted all of my physical CD's into MP3 files that I then stored on a micro thumb drive. The thumb drive stays in the head unit and you have menu driven access to thousands of songs. I can sit at the helm and control my radio with the remote control. Virtually all units are 4 channel, so I use the fade function to control the music volume between the cabin speakers and the cockpit speakers. Works very efficiently. Mine is a Kenwood KDC-348U, which is their most basic model. You can also get Bluetooth and satellite ready versions. Great product for the money, and so convenient.

 

[Phlorida]

If I boated on fresh water I would feel comfortable with a car stereo in the cabin.

 

[magstang1]

Car audio gear will work, but won't last as long as marine audio gear. Usually wired remote controls are specific to marine head units as well. I don't think I've ever seen a car head unit with a wired remote.

In one of my previous boats I installed a car head unit and after about 3 or 4 years it started havind intermittent problems. The inside of the chassis was starting to rust and it was a bit corroded inside. Marine units generally have stainless chassis and coated circuit boards to prevent this issue. Granted, that was in the cuddy of a small boat that had a lot of people in wet swim suits dripping water everywhere. My cabin stays pretty dry now with the new boat.

I would let the features of the radio itself be your guide. Don't get too worried about marine specific gear.

 

[hd2002hd]

I used marine JL's in the cockpit with the exception of a 10" JL sub I built a box for that fits under the cockpit sink with a vent I cut in the door and put a metal speaker grill over. Head unit is a car audio HD Kenwood with Bluetooth, satellite capability and wireless remote. I also have a JL and an Alpine amp in a cabin closet and both are nonmarine. Also a fresh water boater. I would guess they won't last as long as marine equipment, but the way technology is when they quit I will upgrade anyway. I can plug my IPhone in, shuffle and listen for hours.