Small stereo

zz4gta · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

I’m looking for a way to avoid external speakers. I don’t have much of an interior so usually I just put my ipod dock down there and crank it up. Only problem is when the motor is on or the wind picks up it makes it really hard to hear. I’m not looking for something that’ll blast out my neighbor or shake the boat. Also it has to be cheap and light. I’m reading this thread http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...-pick-two.html and am trying to make a list, but I must admit that I’m not audio savvy in the least.

Are cockpit speakers a must? Or with the below interior can I get away with just speakers down below?

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

If you want to hear the music in the cockpit, especially under power, yes, cockpit speakers are a necessity.

Stillraining · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Ditto:

And you cant always have the companionway open either...A 12v automotive CD deck is the best way to go IMHO..get one Ipod ready and your golden.

rikhall · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Just a thought, but what's wrong with the iPod earbuds?

Rik

windward54 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stillraining

Ditto:

A 12v automotive CD deck is the best way to go IMHO..get one Ipod ready and your golden.

And just a bit of a different opinion, I dumped the CD players in favor of a Fusion Ipod docking stereo. I never had much luck keeping the CD player working long, as something always seems to gum it up. You open the face where you would normally expect to feed the CD, and you will find a space for an Ipod. Once closed, the Ipod is safe in a waterproof compartment, is kept charged up, and the Ipod controls are on the face of the stereo. It sounds great as well.

I use an 80 gig Ipod Classic. I have about 1000 songs on it and I am using about 10% of the capacity so far. And I don't have to carry any CD's down to the boat anymore.

windward54 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by rikhall

Just a thought, but what's wrong with the iPod earbuds?

Rik

I can't hear the VHF radio and I can't share the music with others when I wear earbuds. And to top it all off, I'm a klutz and I'm betting I would drop the Ipod overboard.

Stillraining · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by windward54

And just a bit of a different opinion, I dumped the CD players in favor of a Fusion Ipod docking stereo. I never had much luck keeping the CD player working long, as something always seems to gum it up. You open the face where you would normally expect to feed the CD, and you will find a space for an Ipod. Once closed, the Ipod is safe in a waterproof compartment, is kept charged up, and the Ipod controls are on the face of the stereo. It sounds great as well.

I use an 80 gig Ipod Classic. I have about 1000 songs on it and I am using about 10% of the capacity so far. And I don't have to carry any CD's down to the boat anymore.

Very Cool...I want one..

...care to share a link.?

IMHO
There is one big disadvantage to going Ipods only sans the CD..that erks me to no end though..."sharing music" We have 4 or 5 of the darn things between our family members but each one is on a different computer it seems like..and its a pain dealing with them in that regard...If you could upload songs from different ipods to that units internal memory I could see going Ipod only ..other then that I will keep a CD player around that is pod ready.

windward54 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

No problem, just don't be scared off by the suggested retail price they list. West Marine used to have an exclusive with Fusion, but that seems to be changing.

FUSION Electronics â€“ Car and Marine Audio

The good news is the unit will come with a sleeve for almost every Ipod out there, so just pop out one sleeve and put in another and the unit can take a different Ipod. I have the 4-zone unit as that was all that was out when I got mine. Fusion has since come out with a 3-zone that sells for a little less money. And if you really want to keep a CD player, they have a CD player unit with a docking station add-on. Regardless, this has been the best sounding stereo I've had on the boat by far.

Best part is if you do have an issue, the company stands behind the product. I had a problem with the first unit I got. Not only did they give me a cell phone number to call when I was at the boat in the evening to help troubleshoot the unit, I received a replacement fast when they couldn't figure out a fix that I could do. The president of the North American branch also sent me e-mails and called during the process to made sure I was being taken care of and was satisfied. You couldn't ask for better customer service.

CaptKermie · #9 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

You might want to do some serious thinking and ask yourself if music in the cockpit is really what you want. Sound will dissipate out into the blue yonder very readily with speakers in the cockpit and the sound is not nearly as good as the sound that is contained below.
I just installed a 200 watt marine grade stereo last spring and I put all 4 speakers below. I mounted them so that each speaker had its own cabinette which were the natural storage cavities in various places on the boat. It is not a good idea for two speakers to share the same cavity as they will interupt the air movement of each other produced by the vibration of the cones. The 200 watts out 4 speakers produces some fairly decent sound and the base is pretty good and it is all contained below.
I do not care for music that much while out sailing, I prefer the natural sounds of the environment. I do like to have the music when at the dock hanging out and having a beer though, or at anchor or at a marina but always while secured somewhere. I can hear the music fine enough from the cockpit but I often sit below where I can hear it in its' entirety full surround. If I am running the engine I cannot hear it at all in the cockpit and I am sometimes motoring out there so even with speakers in the cockpit the engine noise would distort it. I am not a big proponent of speakers and sound in the cockpit, I prefer music when I can sit back and relax and enjoy it, not while under way.

NateCP16 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009

I got a waterproof enclosure with built in speakers for my ipod. I had contemplated putting in a stereo system, but when I started thinking about it all I would use it for would be to plug the ipod into, so why not just get speakers for the ipod?

Amazon.com: eGo Waterproof Sound Case with Dual Speakers for iPod (Clear): Electronics

I'm no audiophile either, but the sound quality is surprisingly good.