cockpit speakers

[andrewhopkins]

At the moment I have a VHF radio and Music radio down by the chart table, neither of which i can hear very well from the cockpit (particularly under engine)

I want to have a single speaker fitted in the cockpit area (away from the compass) so probably in one of the lockers that will both play the music radio and the VHF by switching it over.

Is there any off the shelf kit to this ? Any hints, suggestions ?

I could get someone to do it but it doesnt sounds too taxing.

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[dickh]

I have an extension loudspeaker plugged into the rear of the VHF, on a trailing lead and I just lodge it under the spray hood. It was a cheap 2½" loudspeaker, in a plastic housing - I think I paid 50p for it. Works much better than the built in speaker - even down below where it sits on a shelf.
The cassette/radio I only ever use when below so that is not a problem.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Boathook]

There are small weather resistant speakers avaliable to plug into the back of the VHF on a long lead. Simrad / Silva were advetising something a while back to match existing instruments.

I dread the thought of the stereo being played in the cockpit though. Studland (Poole) is sometimes ruined by having to listen to others choice of so called music. May be the National Trust could police it ..............

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[robp]

As you say, it's not rocket science but I don't know of a kit for both. I wouldn't recommend that you try to combine them anyway. Remember that the music will be stereo and your VHF isn't. Whilst it is possible to combine them, it's not worth it for the extra cost involved. You might wind up damaging the output stages. Get waterproof speakers for your stereo and mount them in the cockpit well. Use a portable extension for the VHF, or a tiny fitted one under the sprayhood. You don't need much for purely vocal.

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[bedouin]

Not quite trivial.

I presume you mean to play music until there is a signal on VHF then switch over to that?

Most kit that does that works at line level rather than speaker level - but that requires an amplifier after the signals have been combined. I think it would in theory be possible to make a piece of kit to do want you describe, but I have never seen one on the market.

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[vyv_cox]

As others say, it doesn't seem easy or straightforward to do this. I have separate stereo speakers and a Navico VHF speaker in the cockpit. IMHO having music available in the cockpit is a great bonus and it would be criminal to play it through the 2.5 inch speaker in a VHF extension.

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[kingfisher]

BOSE and B&W do a superb outdoor version.

I agree: use two circuits for music and VHF.

Get a remote control so you don't have to nip in and out to lower the volume. Or install a volume level know in the circuit.

No cockpit music in port, please.

<hr width=100% size=1>Group of people on the pontoon: skipper is the one with the toolbox.
http://sirocco31.tripod.com

 

[JeremyF]

As others have said, don't mix VHF with stereo.

Most VHF cut out the internal speaker when you plug in an extension. I found that positioning a speaker just under the hatch means it can be clearly heard when at the chart table and the helm.



<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
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[tcm]

oho. The sony weatherproof speakers are good, but the monster Bose and Linn (sp?) is better. Should play above moderate engine noise without an amp...But withevenalittle amp it will be better. What? I said IT WILL BE BETTER ohI can't hear above all this music...

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[pandroid]

I had this method on my old Contessa using a pair of the Navico Waterproof Speakers. I just had a switch below to switch the cockpit speakers from VHF to Stereo to Off. Its risky as you can blow the output stages by switching at speaker level, but I used the second (back) set of speakers on the radio and the VHF was one that didnt cut out the internal speaker.

For my latest boat I've (probably illegally) modified the VHF to have a line level output and fed that into the 'spare' input of the stereo, and a pair of Sea and Symphony waterproof speakers in the cockpit. The stereo is great, but to be honest, the VHF needs smaller speakers with less bass to be clear (the squelch becomes v annoying) . I have to reset the audio 'profile' on the stereo to make the VHF clearer

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[fluffc]

I wouldn't recommend Bose - they may be solid; but (a) they need a graphic equaliser to sound good, and (b) they're expensive.

Likewise B&W - I've installed this in a few houses (bathrooms and kitchens). Wouldn't recommend them for use in salty air.

A reasonably cheap speaker, that sounds okay and won't break the bank is one made by Audio Design Services (www.audio-design.co.uk) - the Nautilus Marine speaker. This is manufactured by Audio Design Services, and is often rebadged by several companies... But you can also order direct from audio design services.

Its' interesting that no-one's developed a automatic change-over system. Maybe there's a school project for someone there. Technically, its' not difficult to do.

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[fluffc]

Forgot to mention - although I wouldn't recommend B&W for outdoor marine use; they do sound absolutely superb. Particular models are CCM50 and CCM65.

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