Modern Marine Radio Options for Your Boat or UTV

Marine radio designs and features have come a long way. Years ago, when Clarion introduced the first marine radios to the world, they were enhanced versions of Clarion’s car stereo solutions. Soon after, water-resistant faces were added to allow the radios to stay outside in the cockpit all year long. Over the next few decades, remote controls were added to make controlling the radio from anywhere onboard easier. In the last decade, marine source shapes have become flexible, and the source selection options are downright impressive.

Marine Radio Size Options

Most marine radios started as single-DIN car radios. The standard 2-inch-tall by 7-inch-wide chassis was outfitted with a front panel with silver or white trim. The displays were upgraded from their car audio brethren with reverse-LCD displays that were easier to see in bright sunlight. Inside these radios, the circuit boards were sprayed with a plastic layer called a conformal coating. This barrier helped keep the tiny connections on electronic components from corroding in high-humidity conditions.

Companies like Kenwood, Sony, Clarion, Fusion and Aquatic AV offered radios with an oversized front panel that was water-resistant. The large face mounted securely to the boat, and a flip-down design provided access to the cassette (remember those?) or CD slot. Over the years, these radios evolved into digital-media-only designs. Fusion had radios with room for an iPod inside the unit. The latest radios no longer have flip-down faces as many boat owners play music stored on their smartphone via a Bluetooth audio streaming connection.

Two-piece radios grew in popularity around 2010. These radios featured a hideaway control box that was suspiciously similar in size to a standard single-DIN radio, then a compact control module that was roughly 4 by 6 inches. The controller had the benefit of not requiring any significant amount of mounting depth, other than for its control cable. Currently, the most popular of these are available from JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate, Kicker and Fusion.

The final evolution was the gauge-sized radio. Many companies, including JBL, Hertz, Aquatic AV, Dual and Kicker, offer a compact radio that will fit into the same opening as a 3-inch dash gauge like a tachometer.

Modern Marine Integration Options

As the popularity of multifunction displays (MFD) from companies like Raymarine, Lowrance and Garmin has increased, radio manufacturers have developed integration solutions to let these navigation devices communicate. Clarion offers the MW6 interface that provides basic NMEA 2000 connectivity with a host of MFDs. JL Audio’s MM80-HR hideaway marine source unit works with Simrad, Lowrance and B&G MFDs and features a four-channel, 30-watt-per-channel amplifier. Rockford Fosgate also has a black-box NMEA 2000 radio called the PMX-8BB that works with its PMX-CAN interface to communicate with many Garmin and Raymarine MFDs.

Fusion’s Apollo Series radios have a Wi-Fi radio built in and allow iPhone and iPad users to stream audio using Apple AirPlay 2. Fusion says this wireless communication protocol offers a dramatic improvement over Bluetooth.

Upgrade Your Marine Radio Today

Whether you need to replace an older, water-damaged or worn-out CD player, or you want state-of-the-art connectivity and control, upgrading the radio in your boat is a great idea. Drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today to find out about the options available to make your time on the water more enjoyable and entertaining.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX5600 Multimedia Receiver

When it comes to bang-for-your-buck car audio receiver upgrades, the Sony XAV-AX5600 offers amazing value and performance. This double-DIN multimedia unit is based around a 6.95-inch capacitive touch display. In addition, it includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration and support for playback of most of your digital media files. Best of all, the radio is easy to use and looks great in the dash of your car, truck or SUV.

Easy to Use and Looks Great!

Above everything else, the XAV-AX5600 radio features an intuitive interface and lightning-fast response to your input. Whether you want to access the tuner to listen to the news or your favorite radio station, stream audio from your smartphone using Bluetooth or play files from a USB memory stick, all the sources are quickly accessible from the main menu screen.

The XAV-AX5600 features two USB jacks on the rear of the chassis. USB1 is the primary connection to your smartphone for CarPlay and Android Auto integration. These technologies let you use simple voice commands to send text messages, make phone calls, get navigation directions or choose the entertainment options you want. The radio uses Bluetooth 3.0+EDR and includes A2DP with AVCRP, HFP and PBAP profiles to listen to music and place phone calls easily and intuitively. In addition, Sony includes an external microphone that your installer can mount in the center of your vehicle to deliver crystal-clear outgoing audio during Bluetooth calls and accurate responses to voice commands.

You can connect a USB memory stick to either port to play MP3, WMA and FLAC audio files. Playback of WAV and AAC audio along with MPEG-4, WMV, MKV and XviD video files is supported by USB1 exclusively. USB1 is rated for 1.5 amps and USB2 can provide 500 mA in terms of power to charge your phone. FLAC file compatibility is specified for tracks encoded with a bit depth of 24 and a sampling rate of 48 kHz.

Sony XAV-AX5600 — Twin USB pigtails on the rear of the XAV-AX5600 allow you to connect your phone and a USB memory stick simultaneously.

From an audio feature standpoint, the XAV-AX5600 includes a 20-watt per channel, four-channel amplifier along with front, rear and subwoofer RCA outputs. Each preamp output is rated to provide up to 5 volts of signal so your installer can keep the gains on your amps down. High-pass crossovers adjustable to 50, 60, 80, 100 or 120 Hz are available from the deck power and front/rear preamp outputs. The subwoofer output has an adjustable low-pass crossover with the same frequency options and an output level control that is easily accessible from the equalizer menu. Speaking of equalization, the radio includes a 10-band equalizer as well as Sony’s Extra Bass and Digital Soundstage Organizer (DSO) processing to help make your audio system sound amazing. The EQ has adjustment bands at 32 Hz, 63 Hz, 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 khz, 2 khz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz and 16 kHz to tame peaks and valleys in the response of the audio system.

Expansion Options Add Entertainment and Safety

A new feature from Sony for 2021 is the inclusion of an HDMI input on the back of the screen under the chassis. That way, when your vehicle is parked, you can play movies or video from a laptop, camera or game system right into the radio. Your car audio retailer can also add an SXV300 SiriusXM satellite radio tuner to the system so you can enjoy genre-specific content almost anywhere in North America without interruption. Another connectivity option is Weblink. You can connect your smartphone and mirror compatible apps from your device right to the screen of the radio.

The radio includes a dedicated video input for an optional backup camera. The camera image will display automatically when the vehicle is put in reverse. Sony includes customizable guidelines to help you back into a spot safely. If you’re towing a trailer, you can bring up the camera video feed any time (assuming your camera is powered) to ensure that everything is safe and secure.

Amazing Integration and Installer-Friendly Design

The radio’s chassis is designed for double-DIN mounting locations, but the body of the radio is only a single-DIN, shallow-mount unit. This unique design gives your installer extra room for interface modules and wiring. The radio includes a steering wheel control interface jack that works with optional modules from iDataLink, PAC, Axxess and Scosche. The radio includes inputs for illumination dimming, a reverse trigger input for the backup camera and a parking brake input for video lockout while driving. Sony includes a remote turn-on output for external amplifiers.

As we mentioned, the 6.95-inch display features a capacitive-touch interface that helps deliver excellent brightness and contrast. Sony has a bezel-less front fascia that makes the XAV-AX5600 look as if it came with your vehicle right from the assembly line. The control panel with the six hard buttons protrudes slightly from the face, and the white backlighting looks elegant in any vehicle. Adjustable illumination brightness allows you to match the intensity of other dash lighting, and has independent brightness settings for when the vehicle lights are on and off.

Upgrade Your Drive with the Sony XAV-AX5600

If the technology in your car or truck isn’t state of the art, drop by your local authorized Sony car audio retailer and ask for a demonstration of the new XAV-AX5600. With a suggested retail price of $499.99 US/$649.99 CDN and a complete set of smartphone integration and entertainment features, this radio is a value that’s hard to beat. You can learn more about Sony Car Audio products by visiting their website, their Facebook page and their Instagram feed.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Audison Speaker Upgrades for BMWs and Minis

BMW and Mini owners all over the globe have shown that there is a desire for a better sounding audio system in their vehicles. To meet the performance expectations of these discerning clients, Audison of Italy has developed six drop-in upgrades designed specifically for these vehicles. Best of all, the speaker and subwoofer upgrade solutions use factory wiring and mounting locations, so there are no modifications required. These are the perfect solution for leased vehicles!

Balancing Performance and Efficiency

Designing a loudspeaker requires that the engineer balance low-frequency and high-frequency extension with efficiency and output capability. For example, the upper midrange output may suffer if a driver is optimized to produce more bass. The engineers at Audison have optimized all these criteria for their Prima Series drivers to deliver amazing performance installations using small to moderately powerful amplifiers. As such, their BMW speakers are a perfect stand-alone upgrade with the factory radio or amplifier, or when used with a much more powerful solution like the 85-watts-per-channel AP F 8.9 bit DSP-equipped amplifier.

BMW Speaker Upgrade Solutions

The BMW speakers are broken into two categories: coaxial and component sets. So whether you have a new 2-series and want to upgrade the door speakers or are looking for the dash, front and rear speakers along with a subwoofer upgrade for a 2015 X5 with the Hi-Fi Sound system, there’s a solution from Audison.

The four speaker options are all based on the same basic platform. The 4-inch (100 mm) drivers feature high-quality rigid die-cast aluminum frames that include specific mounting provisions for the doors, the dash center channel or the rear parcel shelf of your BMW or Mini.

To deliver excellent efficiency, the drivers use neodymium magnets instead of conventional ceramic units. The woofer cones are constructed from pressed pulp paper to deliver an excellent balance of rigidity and damping characteristics. The cones are treated with a moisture-resistant finish to ensure their longevity in door installations. The woofers are driven by a large 1-inch (25 mm) fiberglass voice coil former. The large diameter of the coil contributes to the 40-watt continuous, 80-watt maximum power ratings for the drivers. Lastly, they all use a rubber surround instead of foam for an additional improvement in longevity.

The tweeters used in the coaxial and component set solutions once again feature neodymium magnets for excellent efficiency. The diaphragms are made of Audison’s Tetolon silk and cotton dome material to optimize rigidity and damping characteristics to prevent distortion. In the APBMW K4E and K4M component sets, the tweeters have a diameter of 29 mm. Most tweeters in this class, including these vehicles’ stock tweeters, are only 25 mm in size. The larger diameter allows for a nice, low resonant frequency and lower crossover points. The large diaphragm size also improves efficiency.

The component sets include the APBMW CXTM 1 passive filter networks for the tweeters. These filters include 0 and -3 dB output options, and OE-quality connectors are included for wiring. Angled mounting cups for the tweeters are included for rear parcel shelf installations. In the APBMW X4M and X4E coaxial speaker solutions, the tweeters use the same materials but have a diameter of 24 mm. Audison also offers the APBMW A4E accessory kit to allow for the unique installation applications of the F15 chassis X5, F16 chassis X6 and the G30 and G31 chassis 5-series sedans and wagons.

Audison BMW — The Audison APBMW K4E is a 4-inch midrange and 29 mm tweeter set designed specifically to bolt into your BMW or Mini with no modifications.

Prima Subwoofer for BMW and Mini Cars and SUVs

The APBMW S8-2 and APBMW S8-4 are 8-inch (200 mm) subwoofer solutions that are a direct drop-in replacement for the under-seat subwoofers found in BMW and Mini vehicles. These subwoofers feature graphite fiber-reinforced baskets with top-mounted neodymium motor structures. A pair of 5-millimeter polyurethane mounting gaskets are included to ensure a perfect seal with the factory enclosure. A 38 mm (1.5-inch) voice coil provides reliable performance at the speaker’s 150-watt power handling rating. The woofers’ cones are made from pressed pulp, and they use a rubber surround for longevity. A fabric cover over the face of the woofer cone prevents coins and rogue french fries from entering the speaker and causing buzzes or rattles. The woofers feature an Xmax specification of 7 mm in each direction for impressive output from the limited space and shallow mounting requirements.

The Audison engineers put some careful planning into the 2- and 4-ohm models. The 4-ohm S8-4 is slightly less sensitive than the 2-ohm model but offers a 40 Hz resonant frequency instead of 45, so it plays deeper. When the 4-ohm woofer is bridged onto a pair of channels from a Prima amplifier, the additional power allows it to play as loudly as the 2-ohm driver. If you plan a system that will use a larger subwoofer (10- or 12-inch) in the trunk or cargo area, the under-seat woofers function well as midbass drivers.

Visit Your Local Authorized Audison Dealer To Upgrade Your BMW Audio System

If your BMW or Mini sound system doesn’t give you goosebumps when you listen to it, drop by your local authorized Audison Retailer and ask about upgrading the speakers. The Product Specialist can design a solution that works with the existing source unit and amplifier or put together a Sound Pack solution with a dedicated DSP-equipped amplifier like the AP 8.9 bit. They can even create a bespoke solution for cars and SUVs that are equipped with fiber-optic MOST amplifiers. For more information about the Audison speaker upgrades available for your BMW or Mini, visit their website. Be sure to keep up with the latest news and product releases by following their Facebook page, Instagram feed and their YouTube channel.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

What Size Subwoofer Should I Buy for My Car Stereo?

When it comes to subwoofer sizes for car audio systems, many people think that bigger is better. While we won’t argue with the fact that a speaker with more cone area can be more efficient, the output capabilities of a subwoofer depend significantly on the enclosure it’s installed in. In this article, we are going to look at a sure-fire way to make sure you get the bass performance you want from your mobile audio system.

Why Do You Need a Car Audio Subwoofer?

Making good bass that is clear and loud requires a lot of air movement. A small 4-inch speaker in the dash of your car or truck simply can’t move far enough to pressurize and rarify enough air to make acceptable bass. Subwoofers are speakers that are designed to play frequencies below 100 Hz. These speakers feature large voice coils to dissipate large amounts of heat, with suspension designs that allow for lots of cone movement. When installed in a properly designed enclosure, subwoofers relieve the smaller speakers from having to try to play bass frequencies. Being able to focus on midrange information reduces cone excursion requirements and decreases distortion.

Subwoofer Size Versus Low-Frequency Extension

When buying a subwoofer, you need to determine how much space you’re willing to assign for the enclosure. Larger subwoofers require a larger enclosure to produce the same amount of low-frequency output as smaller-diameter subwoofers. To begin to understand this concept, let’s use a few examples. Say we have enough room to have an enclosure built with an internal air volume of 2 cubic feet. This is a very flexible size in that the options for subwoofer are extensive. We could use a pair of tens with the enclosure sealed, a pair of tens with a vented design, a pair of twelves sealed, or a single 12 in a vented design. Which is loudest? Which is best? Let’s have a look.

The graph below shows the predicted free-field output of a pair of ARC Audio Black Series 10-inch V2 subwoofers in a sealed and vented design with a total volume of about 2 cubic feet. The red curve is the sealed design and the orange curve is the vented design.

The vented design increases the total system efficiency at all frequencies from 20 Hz to beyond 100 Hz. In this simulation, the dual 10-inch vented design is the winner. What about using larger woofers? Let’s compare the performance of a pair of Black 10’s to a pair of Black 12 subwoofers. The yellow line in the graph below represents the predicted output of a pair of Black 12V2 subs.

As you can see, in this simulation, the response curve of the 12-inch subwoofers mimics that of the tens, but with an increase in efficiency of more than 3 dB.

Here’s where things start to get tricky. What about a pair of tens in a vented design as compared with a pair of twelves in a sealed enclosure? The graph below tells the tale.

Down to 25 Hz, the tens in the vented design are more efficient than the twelves in a sealed design. What if you want good efficiency and want to fill in that deficiency in efficiency below 25 Hz? How about throwing a simulation of a single twelve into the mix?

The green line added to the previous graph shows the response of a single ARC Audio Black 12V2 subwoofer in a 2-cubic-foot vented enclosure. It’s not as loud as the pair of tens or twelves above 30 Hz, but it’s the loudest at 20 Hz. It all depends on your choice of music and how much low-frequency extension you’re after.

More Subs Isn’t Always Better

We are going to add one more graph to our article. This graph shows the original pair of 10-inch Black-series subwoofers in the 2-cubic-foot sealed enclosure in red and the predicted response of using three of those subs in the same enclosure. Up at 70 or 80 Hz, there is some increase in output, but down around 30 or 40 Hz, where the fun bass exists in most music, the output is almost the same. So, is there an advantage to running three subwoofers in this enclosure? Not really.

What About Subwoofer Power Handling?

The final consideration in this discussion of the best subwoofer choice for a given amount of space is power handling. There are two types of power handling to take into consideration with subwoofers: thermal and physical. Thermal power handling is determined primarily by the size of the subwoofer voice coil. Larger coils can handle more heat. In the case of the Black subwoofers in this article, both subs have a 3-inch coil, but the 12 has a 500-watt RMS power rating as opposed to the 400-watt rating of the 10.

In terms of physical power handling, that’s something that needs to be evaluated in simulation software. The graph below shows how far the woofer cones move relative to frequency. The chart below shows the sealed tens in red and the vented tens in orange. With an Xmax spec of 16 mm, the vented enclosure is good to just around 22 Hz. At that point, the cone might bottom out. Adding an infrasonic filter at this frequency would help prevent damage. In reality, unless you’re deliberately playing music with lots of extremely deep bass, you should be fine.

Upgrade Your Car Stereo with a Subwoofer

If you’re heading to your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer to talk about adding a subwoofer to your audio system, start by planning how much space you can allot to the enclosure. This information will help the product specialist determine what size subwoofer and how many are best for your listening preferences.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate HD14-SBSUB Motorcycle Subwoofers

The team at Rockford Fosgate continues to lead the industry in Harley-Davidson motorcycle audio system upgrades. Their latest offering is the HD14-SBSUB dual 10-inch saddlebag subwoofer kit. That’s right! The kit adds a pair of 10-inch subwoofers to the saddlebags of most 2014 or newer Road Glide, Street Glide or Electra Glide bikes. With 800 watts of power on tap, you bet you can hear these beauties as you drive down the road, even at freeway speeds.

Amazing Bass with No Fabrication

Few shops around the country can modify a saddlebag or motorcycle trunk to house a subwoofer. Rockford Fosgate wanted to offer a bass solution that any reputable shop could integrate into a client’s Harley in one day. They designed this subwoofer system to include a pair of rotomolded high-density polyethylene enclosures that drop into the factory hardshell bags.

The kit also includes an 800-watt M5-800X4 four-channel amplifier, a set of grilles with cutting templates and all the wiring required to upgrade this to their HD14-TKIT, HD14U-STAGE2, HD14U-STAGE3, HD14RGSG-STAGE2 or the HD14RGSG-STAGE3 kits. The kit isn’t designed to be used with bikes using the factory amplifier or with the factory-equipped stretched saddlebags.

Motorcycle Subwoofer — Everything your installer needs to integrate this subwoofer system into your Harley-Davidson is included in the kit.

The enclosures are designed so that they can slide in and out of the saddlebags quickly and easily. If you need to remove one (or both) to carry clothes or supplies for a long ride, each has a Deutsch connector to make removal efficient and painless.

The enclosures are loaded with Rockford Fosgate Element-Ready M1D2-10B 10-inch subwoofers with their dual 2-ohm voice coils configured in series to present a 4-ohm load. These subwoofers feature 2-inch-diameter voice coils, synthetic fiber spiders, Santoprene rubber surrounds and mineral-filled polypropylene woofer cones. Each subwoofer is rated to handle 300 watts of continuous power, and they have a peak power rating of 1,200 watts. Best of all, their Element Ready design means they can get dusty, wet or dirty without fear of damage. So, hose them off and you’re ready to rock again.

The amp is wired in a bridged configuration and can provide a healthy 200 watts of continuous power to each subwoofer with up to 400 watts on tap for dynamic bursts. Having previously tested the M5-1000X1 monoblock subwoofer amp, those continuous numbers are likely under-rated, even with the specifications being CTA-2006 compliant. The brake-side enclosure has clearance at the back that allows the amplifier to be installed in the saddlebag.

Just like the TMS69BL14 saddlebag speaker kits from Rockford Fosgate, the HD14-SBSUB includes two-piece grilles and a cutting template for the inside of the bags. Your installer can mask off the bags, position the template in the shock-well on the inside of the bags, then cut an opening for the grille and drill the required wire access holes. The two-piece grille clamps around the ABS plastic body of the bags to provide a clean and tidy finish. Two-sided 3M tape seals the outer edge of the grille, and a foam gasket on the inside support ring means there’s no rattling when the volume is cranked. Rockford includes a set of inserts for the grilles if you have cargo that needs to stay clean and dry. The subwoofers, enclosures and even the amplifier are water-resistant, so you don’t need to panic if you get caught in the rain.

Speaking of the saddlebag 6×9 speaker kits, the top of the subwoofer enclosures are recessed so that those speakers still fit perfectly. The subwoofer kit even includes new wire mounts for the 6×9 lid kit wiring. Can you imagine a bike with TMS65 speakers in the fairing, a second set of TMS65 speakers in lower pods, the TMS69 speakers and an HD14-SBSUB system in the bags? That’s 1,200 watts of power and more speakers and subs than many cars or trucks!

Reliable System Installation and Configuration

As mentioned, the kit includes all the wiring required for your installer to complete the installation. Eight AWG cables that connect directly to the battery under the seat handle power delivery to the amp. A water-resistant fuse holder is molded into the positive power wire to keep things safe. For signal, a T-harness that works with any of the speaker and upgrade kits we mentioned earlier is included. Your installer can run the wiring up to the fairing and make the connections.

All the harnesses are protected with braided loom to protect everything from damage, even on a bike with lumpy cams. The harness system allows the bags to be removed for servicing by unplugging the connectors.

Rockford Fosgate hasn’t just simplified the installation and wiring of the kit. They’ve included an easy-to-follow setup guide for the amplifier. Your installer can copy the settings to the four-channel amp for the subwoofers, then set a high-pass filter on the amp in the fairing for the high-frequency speakers. Once set, you’re ready to rock. This upgrade kit requires the factory radio to be flashed. This radio recalibration process will be completed during the installation of one of the supporting amplifier and speaker kits.

Upgrade Your Harley-Davidson with the new Saddlebag Subwoofer System

Upgrading a motorcycle audio system to deliver great bass has always been a challenge. However, Rockford Fosgate just made this a whole lot easier with their HD14-SBSUB system. Drop by your local authorized Rockford Fosgate dealer to audition this fantastic upgrade and get a price on having it installed on your motorcycle. You can find a dealer using their dealer locator. For more information on Rockford Fosgate motorcycle, powersports, marine and car audio products, visit their website, Facebook page, YouTube channel or their Instagram.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Modern Marine Radio Options for Your Boat or UTV

Marine Radio Size Options

Modern Marine Integration Options

Upgrade Your Marine Radio Today

Product Spotlight: Sony XAV-AX5600 Multimedia Receiver

Easy to Use and Looks Great!

Expansion Options Add Entertainment and Safety

Amazing Integration and Installer-Friendly Design

Upgrade Your Drive with the Sony XAV-AX5600

Product Spotlight: Audison Speaker Upgrades for BMWs and Minis

Balancing Performance and Efficiency

BMW Speaker Upgrade Solutions

Prima Subwoofer for BMW and Mini Cars and SUVs

Visit Your Local Authorized Audison Dealer To Upgrade Your BMW Audio System

What Size Subwoofer Should I Buy for My Car Stereo?

Why Do You Need a Car Audio Subwoofer?

Subwoofer Size Versus Low-Frequency Extension

More Subs Isn’t Always Better

What About Subwoofer Power Handling?

Upgrade Your Car Stereo with a Subwoofer

Product Spotlight: Rockford Fosgate HD14-SBSUB Motorcycle Subwoofers

Amazing Bass with No Fabrication

Reliable System Installation and Configuration

Upgrade Your Harley-Davidson with the new Saddlebag Subwoofer System

Customer Reviews

Subscribe to Our Website

Quakertown Showroom and Installation Facility

Hours

Services

Connect With Us