Boat Speakers Buying Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

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Installation Size

There is no one-size-fits all for boat speakers, though there are sizers manufactured to fit most standard cabinets. The size a manufacturer publishes is typically the diameter of the cone inside, but it doesn't guarantee the grill or cutout hole size. So when you're looking for speakers, do your research on the size.

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Speaker Quality

There are many different speaker types out there, but for this list we focused on two designs: dual cone and coaxial. A dual-cone speaker features one speaker driver with two cones to reproduce the sound. A coaxial speaker features a single cone wrapped around another. Both of these varieties have tweeters, woofers, and subwoofers for added bass.

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Waterproof and Water-resistant

These speakers are intended for use on boats, so they're made to survive rough weather and constant splashing from water. To that end, all of the speakers above are water-resistant in some way or another. However, the ideal speaker is one that's waterproof because it'll be exposed to the outdoors more often than a speaker that's installed inside a boat cabin.

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FAQs

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Do I need an amp?

Every stereo receiver you install on a boat will feature some form of amplification and should be suitable for most real world applications. If you want to get really loud or are focused on sound quality, you may want to invest in an external amp.

In a boat, you'll also be dealing with exterior noise that an amp will help with.

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​What is UV (Ultraviolet Radiation?)

UV rays are present in sunlight and can cause sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer. They also cause boat speakers to fade, which could impact usability over time.

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Should I get a dedicated subwoofer?

It depends. Some of the above speakers have woofers built-in that has no problem creating authentic bass responses, but if you really want powerful bass, then you would be wise to buy an external subwoofer.

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