12v standalone radio/cd player?

Kelpie

Kelpie

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I can't really be bothered properly installing a car radio and built in speakers, but I'm getting fed up of using a phone, laptop, or battery radio on the boat- it's never really loud enough, sound quality is terrible, and the battery never lasts very long.
Is it possible to buy a standalone radio, ideally with cd or, even better, line-in from an mp3 player, etc, which has its own speakers and can plug into a 12v socket?
 
I fitted a Samsung soundbar, it's powered by a mains brick, but is really 14v, so a cheap DC-DC convertor allows me to connect it to the boat 12v. It has various input, including Bluetooth. A Bluetooth connection from my phone give very nice quality sound and more volume than i need. It also has a 3mm jack input, so you could connect the laptop and play music from that, or if you watch movies etc on the laptop you get decent sound. If you have a TV you can connect that too.

I have a 24" TV on the bulkhead above the soundbar, also powered by a DC-DC convertor, connected to my laptop via HDMI, with an optical cable to the soundbar. I can watch downloaded movies etc, or any of the catchup services on the 'net (phone is paired to laptop) on the TV screen via the laptop, play music from the laptop, use the 'net with the TV as the monitor etc etc. I usually just have the soundbar on, which uses 0.3 amps, and listen to a variety of stations from my phone with the RadioPlayer app'.

The laptop, again powered by a DC-DC convertor, also has OpenCPN installed and this can either be used standalone on the laptop or i can have a 24" chart display on the TV screen. In normal use the laptop is tucked away in the chart table, out of sight and operated by a small wifi keyboard.
 
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What about USB powered speakers and connect your MP3 player or phone? These will plug into a cigarette lighter socket - just get a twin adapter so you can also plug your phone in at the same time


Environmentally friendly 2.1 USB and Mains Powered Portable Speakers. Solid Wood construction with 100% cardboard Eco-friendly packaging for caravan television 12v volt TV PC, Laptop or Kitchen
Click to expand...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/PC-Speak...id=1502656122&sr=8-5&keywords=12v+pc+speakers


71Gs6XBnMjL._SL1500_.jpg
 
Bluetooth speaker that charges off USB.

Use bluetooth from phone. Lots of them work as power banks now, too, so your phone needn't be depleted when using it.

Looks like reviewers favourites are the Bose and JBL:


These look more suitable for my budget:


Search terms "bluetooth speaker charger" and "bluetooth speaker power bank"
 
Strolls said:
Bluetooth speaker that charges off USB.

Use bluetooth from phone. Lots of them work as power banks now, too, so your phone needn't be depleted when using it.

Looks like reviewers favourites are the Bose and JBL:


These look more suitable for my budget:


Search terms "bluetooth speaker charger" and "bluetooth speaker power bank"
Click to expand...

+1 on the USB bluetooth sound bar - I've ad a couple f them over the years, one charge will easily last one of my day sails and if necessary I can charge via he boats USB charger.. the Sony ones are the dogs nadgers, but there are cheaper versions available - my current favourite (excellent sound) is one I got from Tesco's free with the phone contract..
 
Kelpie, I removed the care stereo, speakers and wiring from the boat. In place I installed a various USB ports. In the cockpit I fitted a Scanstrut dual USB point, which has degree of ingress protection. IIRC this and the other USBs can be fitted directly into a circuit up to 32V, so a degree of flexibility, if that's useful (I have 24V).

http://www.tcschandlery.co.uk/scans...JR-5DQNpJJ_gGcRnGOgCaSuROMFOJnnEaAtR5EALw_wcB

I have not bought a Sound Bar yet but that will happen at some point.
 
steve yates said:
What exactly does it do?
Click to expand...

FM radio
Plays mp3 from either usb stick, or little mico SD cards

Just noticed you said stand alone tho.. which means you'll need some 12v speakers too so may not be a fit.

I use mine a lot now, having the radio and music in one place accessible via remote is handy. I velcroed the remote just inside the companionway so I can reach a hand in to change the station etc easily.
 
As a portable option buy a Bose or Sonos brand speaker with built in battery and just Bluetooth from ipod/iphon/ipad etc. Any cd player will plug in back as well . For a boat cabin any small jambox speaker will I am sure do much the same although perhaps with lesser quality however that might not matter give ambient noise in a boat . I was always thought the Toughbook version of a speaker that could be strapped to the dingy might be the thing though if case anyone anchored too close. Or you could just buy a shower speaker ?
 
Thanks for all the various suggestions. It seems there are many different answers to this.
I'm unlikely to actually use bluetooth- I don't have much music on my phone. Much more likely to use my ancient iPod which has a 3.5mm jack, and if I can get reception then usually happy with the radio.

Think I'm going to plump for this: https://www.reichelt.com/de/en/Cloc...OUPID=5225&artnr=ICY+IB-SP101-BT&SEARCH=sp101

Ok so it's mostly a clock, but I need one of those too. Looks like it runs off a micro USB adapter/charger with a decent inbuilt LiIon battery.
 
I bought a Goodmans rechargeable dab/fm radio recharges via a USB port.

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132264695143
It has Bluetooth in as I download plays to my phone and listen to them via it. Easy to move around on the boat, clear for speech not so good for music but prefer it to our Roberts Eco Rechargeable radio which lacks clarity.

Dab reception is hard for me to judge as we are not in a good area at home.
 
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