marine speaker recommendations
Posted: June 21st, 2012, 10:48 am
I'm replacing the stereo in the center console. I'm not going to use an amp, already have a Poly Planer receiver, but need two marine grade 6.5"speakers to replace the one's that are shredded. Plus I need to fill the holes in the console. For my listening pleasure... I like a clean sound. I want to hear the bass but not have it overwhelm the music. I want to hear the mids and be able to hear the cymbals and high hat too. I like a good clean sound without distortion and I am prone to turning it up when I'm alone. The open environment of a boat doesn't offer great acoustics anyway so I want to get a speaker that doesn't already sound like a transistor radio from my childhood.
Problem is- I like to listen to a speaker first but that seems almost impossible around here.The Moultrie Car Tunes only has one Clarion marine speaker and it's overpriced by about $30. West Marine in Tallahassee only had 1 Sony and 2 of their store brand speakers hooked up last time I was there. Are there any stores that actually carry marine speakers and have them hooked up? If not I guess I am going to order a pair online based on reviews since actually listening to them first is nearly impossible without spending more gas money than the speakers would cost. I'd prefer to keep it around or under $100 for a pair.
I've ruled out the Dual brand. I have Infinity home stereo speakers in the house and love them. The Infinity Reference 612m 6.5-Inch 225-Watt High-Performance 2-Way Marine Loudspeaker gets good reviews. They look kind of funky with the blue cone showing but I'm not concerned with that. You can get a pair shipped for under $90. The Polk MM651 gets good reviews but it runs about $160 a pair which is more than I really want to spend but an extra $60 over the life of the speaker isn't bad if they sound really good. If you ask on The Hull Truth 9 out of 10 say JL is the ONLY way to go but I think most of these guys are putting them on expensive play around boats to go to the sandbars. The JL's strart out about $200 a pair but supposedly sound great, hold up 6 years or more, and are extremely well built here in the USA.
Anybody have speakers they are very happy with that would recommend them or know of a place I can listen to a few more options?
Problem is- I like to listen to a speaker first but that seems almost impossible around here.The Moultrie Car Tunes only has one Clarion marine speaker and it's overpriced by about $30. West Marine in Tallahassee only had 1 Sony and 2 of their store brand speakers hooked up last time I was there. Are there any stores that actually carry marine speakers and have them hooked up? If not I guess I am going to order a pair online based on reviews since actually listening to them first is nearly impossible without spending more gas money than the speakers would cost. I'd prefer to keep it around or under $100 for a pair.
I've ruled out the Dual brand. I have Infinity home stereo speakers in the house and love them. The Infinity Reference 612m 6.5-Inch 225-Watt High-Performance 2-Way Marine Loudspeaker gets good reviews. They look kind of funky with the blue cone showing but I'm not concerned with that. You can get a pair shipped for under $90. The Polk MM651 gets good reviews but it runs about $160 a pair which is more than I really want to spend but an extra $60 over the life of the speaker isn't bad if they sound really good. If you ask on The Hull Truth 9 out of 10 say JL is the ONLY way to go but I think most of these guys are putting them on expensive play around boats to go to the sandbars. The JL's strart out about $200 a pair but supposedly sound great, hold up 6 years or more, and are extremely well built here in the USA.
Anybody have speakers they are very happy with that would recommend them or know of a place I can listen to a few more options?