Best marine speakers

[demonboy]

Anyone have any pointers/views on the best all-round marine speakers to use in the saloon of a boat? I've been pursuaded to stick to marine speakers, even in the saloon (for longevity). Do you have standard speakers installed in your saloon that have served you well over a number of years?

I have my eye on the Alpine STM6666 marine speakers because the head unit will be an Alpine, but I know nothing about their quality.

Any views gratefully received.

 

[dickh]

I've always installed cheap car speakers in the boats I've owned. As long as they don't get exposed to any salt water they should be fine. I.ve never had any truobles with them.

 

[robbieg]

I've used decent car speakers in the saloon, good sound,look ok & worked fine. Most boats I come accross do the same. Are you sure you need marine speakers inside?

 

[demonboy]

I dunno, rob, you tell me! I thought I was ok with normal car speakers but after speaking to the Alpine tech hotline he said I'd go through them in a couple of years (and they deal with Sunsail) so marine would be best. To be honest I only thought I'd need them for the deck, not the saloon.

I'm so confused (again)!!!

 

[fireball]

Stick with decent car speakers - don't be fooled by the "marine" tag
The rest of your belongings aren't trashed that quickly are they?

 

[jerryat]

Hi Demonboy,

I bought four speaker 'boxes' from Halfords for the corners of the saloon. Can't remember the make but they are relatively small and neat with surprisingly heavy plastic cabinets with a larger speaker at bottom and a smaller dual cone (includes a tweeter) just above. They're black and produce quite a good sound for around £20 a pair about 10 years ago or so.
They've worked without fault since, during which we've cruised full time for about seven years. So my advice is keep it cheap and cheerful unless you're a real hi-fi buff and want to spend heaps more for a very small percepted improvement in reproduction.

The cockpit speakers were a totally different matter. Here we spent over £80 for a pair of Pioneer dual cone waterproof speakers that produce superb sound. We've only had these about four months (while ashore for a big refit) so it's very, very early days. However during our cruising we've gone through three pairs of cheap (£20 ish a pair) so-called waterproof speakers that the UV destroyed within 2-3 years, so do not believe it economical to buy cheap here.

Hope this helps

Cheers Jerry

 

[demonboy]

Thanks, Frogley. Good advice /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[demonboy]

Jerry, that's very useful, thanks. What do you mean by speaker 'boxes' though? As in standard stereo looking speaker boxes? I take it that because they were from Halford they were specifically for the car and therefore had a low impedance?

Agreed on cockpit speakers. Did you do much research into this? Just wondered why you went for Pioneer. For some reason I keep coming back to Clarion as an option.

 

[PaulJ]

I have installed some "Non-Magnetic" speakers which I obtained from "Sea Screw" in Eastbourne. They are all plastic and are virtually non-magnetic. The compass will pull off slightly if you put them very close but MUCH less than with a normal speaker. Excellent quality of sound, I am very pleased with them. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://www.marine-hardware.co.uk/acatalog/Sea_Screw_Catalogue_Stereo_Loudspeakers__Marine__52.html

 

[jerryat]

Hi Demonboy,

By speaker 'boxes' I mean 'proper' versions of those sold for computer sound systems, so yes, they're like standard stereo speakers, though with the case made of plastic rather than wood/metal.

They were presumably meant to be bolted into a car (as they were from Halfords) but they were rear fixing and the perfect size for my saloon. I would guess the size of each unit at about 200mm high x 125mm wide x 125mm deep though I haven't been to my boat to check the exact dimensions. If you'd like the actual size I'll post it tomorrow, though it's unlikely the same thing will be available after ten years. Impedance is either 4 or 8 ohm, either of which my Pioneer CD/Tuner handles.

Re the cockpit speakers. Yes, I did look into this quite a bit, in particular, taking the experiences of my own and my long term cruising friends/acquaintances into account. Pioneer (amongst other relatively expensive top brands) was rated highly for longevity in hot, sunny, and therefore vicious UV areas and also sound great!! In addition, and having spoken to a Pioneer specialist, I was assured that the match to the CD/tuner unit I was proposing to buy (that's brand new too) would be perfect. Ok, they would say that wouldn't they(!) but the reproduction really is crystal clear and excellent --- so far!!

The previous cheapy 'waterproof' speakers added up to an expensive waste of money, with first the plastic grills crumbling then the cones deteriorating the same way to the point where the slightest touch put a hole in 'em! Frankly the sound wasn't very good either and they certainly couldn't handle the power without distortion. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

As I said earlier, it's very early days yet to say the Pioneers are the answer, and I'm sure that other equally high quality ones will also do the job. However, IMHO I suggest you don't waste hard earned beer tokens on the rubbish stuff.

Hope this helps rather than confuses!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers jerry

 

[mcgarry1]

i bought a set of speakers made by a company called berolina for my boat, the cones are made of mylar and they take up to 60w peak (more than enough from a mid range head unit!) as we all know mylar is used in sails so they are ok, the best bit:
they only cost me £10.99 from a local car parts shop.
check out berolina

 

[jerryat]

Hi mcgarry1!

Yep, the cheaper ones I fitted had mylar cones and all sorts of other attributes, and maybe in this country where, let's face it, UV problems aren't too likely(!) you may be all right for a year or three. However, as I mentioned, we were full time cruising in hot regions (Med and Caribbean) and ALL these cheaper ones packed up horribly quickly.

It also, of course, depends on what sort of sound quality you're after, and while the cheaper ones produced what I considered then to be perfectly ok, it was only when I switched on and used the Pioneers that I realised what I'd been missing.

As always, yer pays yer money and takes yer choice - and long may that last!!

Cheers Jerry.

 

[yachtbits]

Have a look at Fusion

If they are going in the cockpit, then have a look at Fusion. Their marine range is water proof.

These have neoprene suspended Mylar cones. Sound quality really is good. Fusion do loads of stuff for the enthusiast Car Audio market, so they have good knowledge of what sounds right.

http://www.yachtbits.com/fusion/

kev

 

[mcgarry1]

yes i have to admit, i fitted two gme speakers for my friend and was so excited by the quality
i have actually replaced it with the gme, it sounds boootiful!