Waterproof Louspeaker Recomendations ?

[capricorn]

I'm intending to fit a pair of waterproof loudspeakers in the cockpit.

Any recomendations ?

I'm considering these AQ Sound and also the JVC waterproof ones on the Compass site at around twice the price.

I'm intending to mount them at the aft end of the cockpit and I'm satisfied that they'll be far enough from the steering compass to cause negligable additional deviation. I'm more concerned that one of them will be 18" or so from my Autohelm when in use, would you be concerned about this effect this will have on the Autohelm's fluxgate compass ?

 

[seaesta]

I fitted one of these a couple of years ago. Not sure of the make but will have a look this weekend. It is solid plastic and works fine except for making all callers sound like a half strangled parrot. SWMBO says she cannot understand what people - even our illustrious coarstguard - are saying and others have commented that it is easier to understand a half cut Glaswegian our completely paraletic Geordie! My advice - listen to one before you buy!!
Martin

 

[jerryat]

Hi Capricorn,

I've just replaced my cheapy 'waterproof' speakers with a pair of £80+, 160mm diameter Pioneers. Frankly, I'd thought the existing sound quality ok, but wow, what a fantastic difference now!! We've fitted 3 pairs of the cheap, mylar coned types in the last eight years of cruising in the Med/Caribean, and watched the sun/UV destroy the plastic of them all so that it literally crumbled. You won't get that sort of harshness in the UK (mores the pity!) but I really wish I'd bought good quality ones in the first place. IMHO it's therefore a false ecomony to buy cheap in the long term.
Ok, it's very early days yet with the Pioneers, but they match the new Pioneer CD/Tuner we've also just fitted perfectly and, with the installation (years ago) of a purpose made set of relays etc, can switch from the four saloon speakers to the the cockpit ones at the flick of a single switch.

Cheers Jerry

 

[muddyfeet]

I have fitted several pairs in different boats over the years - from my experience of them, the cheapies work ok but do deteriorate after a while - mainly due to UV degredation, even in the UK!
My current pair were Clarion, around £65, which seem fine at 3years old, they also have anti-magnetic sheilds which meant they were ok a couple of feet away from the compass. I tested them before installation for interference and they have proved fine.
Hope this helps!

 

[William_H]

It is possible to get speakers with magnetic shield around them for computer work. The magnetic field of some speakers really messes up the monitopr colour. Certainly better if mounted near the A/P. I reckon most speakers will deteriate with UV and high humidity. So I would tend to go for the cheapest and accept that they won't last too long. As for Seasta speaker experience I feel sure there i9s something really wrong with the speaker or possibly the mounting. He may have distorted the case in fitting. I certainly would not put up with the kind of distortion or narrow frequency range that he describes. Given of course that the bigger the speaker the more efficient it is and the better it sounds especially for bass.
regards olewill

 

[jerryat]

Hi muddyfeet,

Yes, I wanted 'non-magnetic speakers too and the Pioneer's are about as n-m as I've come across. Got to be on my boat as they are only a few inches from the autohelm! Must be ok as there have been no problems at all.

Cheers Jerry