10 Best Marine Speakers (Waterproof and Bluetooth)

Audio quality is one of the most important aspects to look into since you don‘t want to spend money on a speaker that doesn‘t meet your standards. There are a few specifications to take note of. Here are the main ones:

• Frequency response: the frequency response determines how much detail you‘ll hear in the audio as a wider response is better. Around 20 – 20KHz is an ideal amount since there will be great balance between the highs and lows.
• Wattage: the wattage amount tells you how loud the speakers can get. Therefore, if you want ultra-loud speakers getting as much wattage as you can is a must. Make sure to check the RMS wattage and not the peak power because brands will advertise the peak power. RMS wattage is how loud the speakers can be consistent with little to none distortion.
• Built-in EQ: having a built-in EQ is a must as you can customize the audio to sound the way you want it. If the speakers don‘t have a built-in EQ, you can usually adjust the bass and treble with the stereo you‘re connected to. On the other hand, if they are Bluetooth speakers, you can download an EQ app on your smartphone to tune the drivers.
• Number of speakers: not all options will have the same amount of speakers, which is why you should get the right amount for your boat. Depending on the size of your boat you should get as many speakers as possible, but have in mind you‘ll have to pay extra.

The marine speaker brand is super important since some brands create better quality products than others. Going with a popular brand is ideal because there is less risk involved. That‘s because they have a great track record of keeping their customers happy and delivering premium speakers. Also, larger brands usually give out free warranties, so you won‘t have to spend extra money purchasing one separately.

On the other hand, you can go with a small brand, but make sure you do the necessary research. You can do this by reading online reviews left by previous customers and see what their experiences were like. Also, you can watch unboxing videos to gain an insight into what the speakers will be like out of the box. Going with a smaller brand can save you money as they don‘t over-price their products.

The marine speaker design should look stylish using glossy colors that add good aesthetics to your boat. Some speakers come in multiple colors so that you get more personalization. Therefore, you can pick the color that best matches your boat.

Furthermore, the speakers are waterproof, which means splashes of water won‘t damage the drivers inside. Make sure to check the IPX waterproof rating because some ratings are far better than others. Above IPX5 is ideal since it protects the drivers inside from rain and accidental splashes. However, if you want to be safe, IPX7 is one of the best ratings you can get.

The method you use to connect to your speakers is super important because some methods have more benefits than others. The speakers will connect to a stereo, and from there you get multiple connection options. Here are the main methods you‘ll use:

• AUX: connecting with AUX is a great option because most devices are compatible with this method. With AUX you can adjust the length of the wire depending on what you need. Also, AUX is a brilliant alternative for non-wireless devices.
• Bluetooth: connecting with Bluetooth is one of the best methods because it gives you wireless freedom. The connection range is usually around 33-feet, which is more than enough for most boats. Also, make sure that there are no objects in the way of the device you‘re connected to and the Bluetooth device. Otherwise, you‘ll hear interruptions and loss of quality.
• SD card/USB stick: using an SD card or USB stick is a great alternative if you don‘t want to connect any devices to the stereo. Depending on the GB size you can store thousands of songs. However, frequently there is no shuffle mode, which means the songs alway go in order every time you turn the speakers on.