The Best Marine Audio Gear: Waterproof Boat Speakers and Stereos 2024

You’ll find it difficult to find a marine-grade stereo better than Sony’s MEX-M72BT CD stereo receiver. It’s packed to the gills with features to make your weekend water excursion even more fun and relaxing. This is why it claimed our “Best Marine CD Stereo Receiver” award!

Were you intrigued when we dropped the bit about the Sony being packed with features? Great! Then this section will thrill you! The MEX-M72BT has a built-in CD player, Bluetooth for music-streaming and handsfree calling, front USB and AUX inputs, SiriusXM connectivity (with the optional SiriusXM tuner kit), and pre-amp outputs for adding amplifiers.

The high-contrast LCD display is easy to see in most environments, and the ability to change the colors of that screen and the buttons permits you to add some flair to the stereo.

The built-in amplifier does a wonderful job of powering up to four 4-ohm speakers, but adding an outboard amplifier will improve your system’s performance tremendously. 6-channel pre-amp outputs allow you to add up to three amplifiers (front, rear, and subwoofer).

The MEX-M72BT has a host of audio tuning capabilities thanks to the 10-band equalizer, high-pass and low-pass filters, and Sony’s EXTRABASS technology. Tailor the resulting sound to what YOU want it to be.

A wireless remote is included to pass around to family and friends (or to be hidden in a cabinet so no one touches your music playlist). You can also download Sony’s Music Center app to remotely control volume, source selection, and more from your iPhone or Android smartphone.

We believe it’s time for you to upgrade your stereo, and we think you might just agree with us. The MEX-M72BT is just a few clicks away from being yours!

Pros:

• Bright display is easy to see in most conditions
• Plethora of input options
• Built-in CD player
• Expansion options
• Wireless remote

Cons:

• 2-volt pre-amp outputs (we wish it was higher)

Sony’s DSX-M55BT offers a whole lot of options for not a whole lot of money. Some examples of this would be Bluetooth, front-mount USB and AUX inputs, SiriusXM connectivity (with optional tuner), and system expansion options. This is why this marine-grade stereo took our “Best Value Marine Stereo Receiver” title. Read on for more details!

The big part of a marine-grade stereo is its ability to withstand the punishing environment of watercraft. The engineers at Sony figured, and rightly so, that conformal-coated printed circuit boards would be the key to success. They repel water intrusion and moisture very effectively.

The DSX-M55BT’s display is a high-contrast LCD display, which means that it really pops in a well-lit environment (like you will most likely find on a boat). You can quickly and easily see important information at a glance.

On-board Bluetooth, USB, and AUX connections give you plenty of options to connect your smartphone or other device to the stereo for your listening enjoyment. A wireless remote has been thoughtfully included by Sony to allow you to control the stereo from a distance.

If you add the optional SXV300V1 SiriusXM tuner kit, you can enjoy SiriusXM satellite radio, if that interests you.

Lastly, you can expand upon the DSX-M55BT by adding amplifiers to drive your speakers and/or subwoofer. 2-volt rear and subwoofer pre-amp outputs are located on the back of the radio.

If you want to make your water excursions even more enjoyable, add this Sony to your watercraft for years of fun!

Pros:

• Bright display is easy to see in most conditions
• Plethora of input options
• Expansion options
• Wireless remote

Cons:

• No option to change button colors
• Only two pairs of pre-amp outputs

The best thing about Kicker’s 46KMC2 AM/FM digital media receiver is that it looks like it came with the boat.. This gauge-looking system will look at home near the captain’s seat. With its weather-proof IPX66 rating, it fits right at home on the water. It’s no wonder why it took our “Best Custom-Fit Marine Bluetooth Receiver” award.

In terms of connectivity, this piece offers quite a bit for the price point. For example, there is a built-in AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth for music-streaming and hands-free calling, and rear-mounted USB and AUX inputs (one of each). You can plan on using anything from a USB thumb drive loaded with music to your smartphone as your personal jukebox.

A 25 watt x 4 channel amplifier is also built into the 46KMC2, so it can effectively drive up to four existing (or new) speakers. There are also 2-channel pre-amp outputs for adding an amplifier or connecting to an existing one.

The large backlit LED display is quite easy to see in most environments, so you will know at a glance the FM station you’re on or what song is playing from your smartphone. The large buttons below the screen are easy-to-see and even easier to use.

If you’ve been in search of a discreet, but fully-loaded digital media receiver for your boat, we believe that the Kicker 46KMC2 will fit your needs perfectly!

FYI - this Kicker receiver is looking for a 3” diameter opening and there must be at least 5” in depth available in the area in which you’re mounting it.

Pros:

• Gauge-style chassis for discreet placement
• Bright display
• Large buttons for easier control

Cons:

• No remote for control from a distance
• Just 2-channel pre-amp outputs

There’s nothing like enjoying music on the open waters – especially if you are listening to great speakers like the marine-grade Kicker 45KM654L 2-way LED-lit coaxial speakers.

The 45KM654L’s woofer cones are made of UV-treated polypropylene and then attached to the speaker’s frame with a durable rubber surround. The 3/4” titanium dome tweeters do a fine job of delivering stellar high-frequency response to each listener – even through the fair amount of noise when the engine is running and wind is whipping past.

Capable of handling up to 65 watts continuously (and up to 195 watts of peak power), these speakers will run well off a marine-grade amplifier. Adding an amplifier (assuming you don’t already have one) will increase both sound quality as well as volume potential.

Two pairs of stylish protective grilles are included to finish the speakers off quite nicely – one pair is white and the other is charcoal in color. And speaking of stylish, the 45KM654L’s woofer cones can be lit with the included LED lighting for a unique and colorful look. An optional KMLC remote allows you to change the color as well as dynamic lighting modes.

These Kicker speakers are designed to withstand the punishing environment found on boats, so you can rest assured that you’ll be enjoying them for years.

Pros:

• Great sound quality
• LED-lit woofer cones are stylish
• Both white and charcoal grilles are included

Cons:

• Titanium tweeters can get a little harsh at louder volumes
• Lighting controller not included with the speakers

Sony’s XS-MP1611 2-way marine-grade 6-1/2” coaxial speakers might very well present a solution to your boat’s current lackluster sound. Claiming our “Best Value 6-1/2” Marine Coaxial Speakers” title, these Sony speakers not only sound great, they also look sharp with their white protective grilles.

For decades, Sony has been a leading manufacturer in all things audio and video. It makes total sense that they would make some fantastic product for those who love boat life, too.

The XS-MP1611 is built tough and will withstand the harsh environment that a boat presents. The polypropylene woofer cones are attached to the frame of the speaker via a treated cloth surround. The poly cone tweeters reject water and salt with ease while producing some strong upper frequency response.

These Sony speakers will handle up to 65 watts of continuous power. Whether you decide to drive them off your boat’s stereo or up the ante with a more robust amplifier (which we happen to carry!), you’ll receive some stellar sound.

Pros:

• Great sound quality
• Provided grilles for protection

Cons:

• Lack of real tweeters can result in a “stuffy” sound to some
• We would have preferred to see rubber surrounds for a more durable solution

If you own a boat, you are most certainly aware of how loud that thing can be when you’re cruising around on the open water or heading towards your favorite fishing spot. If you want to listen to your music as you make those voyages, your speakers are going to need some serious juice to achieve the necessary volume to overcome the noise of that engine. Enter Kicker’s KMA600.6 6-channel marine-grade speaker amplifier. This thing’s got tons of juice and permits different wiring configurations to expand in the future if desired. These are just a couple of reasons why it took our “Best Marine Speaker Amplifier” title!

This is hands-down one of the most popular boat amplifiers that we carry. The KMA600.6 is powerful, sleek, and compact enough to satisfy just about anyone’s requirements. We spoke quite briefly about different configurations that this amplifier can handle, and we wanted to touch upon that briefly. This amplifier can be used to power anything from four to six speakers with ease, or it can be used to power four speakers and an efficient subwoofer. You choose how it can serve you now and in the future!

In terms of power, this Kicker amplifier boasts 50 watts x 6 at 4 ohms, 100 watts by 6 at 2 ohms, or 200 watts by 3 when the six channels are bridged at 4 ohms. All of this power comes out of a relatively small chassis (the amplifier measures just 13-7/8”W x 2-1/4”H x 6-5/8”D. You should be able to tuck this amplifier away in a cabinet or other storage spot in the boat. Make sure you leave some airspace around the amplifier so it can properly dissipate the heat it creates.

The amplifier features a conformal-coated printed circuit board and stainless steel hardware to protect itself from the unpredictable environment that a watercraft presents.

If you want to enjoy your system to its fullest potential out on the open water, we couldn’t suggest Kicker’s KMA600.6 amplifier any more!

*A 4-gauge power kit is suggested for this amplifier, and is not included.

Pros:

• Robust power output
• Multiple wiring configurations

Cons:

• A tad larger than some applications need
• Can run hot with high volume and long listening sessions

In need of a heavy-duty marine-grade amplifier to drive your new subwoofer(s)? Look no further than Kicker’s KMA800.1 monoblock amplifier. Measuring in at only 7-1/8” x 2-5/16” x 8-1/16” (WxHxD), this amplifier is compact, but powerful.

This KMA-series amplifier boasts pretty incredible power output: 300 watts x 1 @ 4 ohms, 600 watts x 1 @ 2 ohms, and 800 watts x 1 @ 1 ohm. To ensure that this amplifier keeps chugging along in the marine environment, Kicker applied a conformal-coating to the amplifier’s internal printed circuit board. The amplifier’s hardware is also resistant to corrosion and rust. This thing was designed to last.

The included remote bass knob allows you to dial in the perfect amount of bass response from the subwoofer(s) connected to this Kicker amplifier. Speaking of tuning, the KMA800.1 has an on-board bass boost to help emphasize the bass output of the subwoofer(s) as well as a subsonic filter to protect the subwoofer(s) from harmful ultra-low bass response. With these controls properly set, those subwoofers will be able to achieve fantastic volume with low potential of distortion.

Long story short: get this amplifier to get the most from your boat’s subwoofers. You won’t be disappointed.

Pros:

• Robust output
• Can be wired down to 1 ohm
• Compact chassis
• Included bass knob

Cons:

• Needs to be dropped to 1 ohm for maximum output
• Can run hot with high volume and long listening sessions

Adding bass to a boat can be a very challenging prospect. Don’t worry: Kicker’s got you covered with their 45KMF102 10” marine-grade free-air subwoofer. You can get the bass you crave without sacrificing much space at all. Best of all, the subwoofer doesn’t need a dedicated box to perform well. Rewarding this Kicker marine subwoofer with the “Best 10” Marine Subwoofer for Boats” was a no-brainer for us!

Free-air? What’s that mean? It means that this Kicker subwoofer doesn’t need an enclosure to perform well, which is a good thing for a boat where space can be at a premium. Instead, this rugged subwoofer can be installed into places such as a cabinet, compartment, or in a bulkhead.

Due to the high potential of the subwoofer coming in direct contact with wind, water, salt, and UV, Kicker built the 45KMF102 to withstand all of these elements and come out on the other side grinning. The built-in water drainage system will keep the subwoofer running well and the included stainless steel hardware will resist corrosion quite well. A Santoprene rubber surround will keep the subwoofer in-check for a good long time, too.

Kicker’s 2-ohm 45KMF102 will handle up to 175 watts of continuous power and up to 350 watts of peak power, so you don’t need a massive amplifier to get the job done.

Don’t wait any longer - get the bass that you and your companions crave!

Pros:

• Great sound quality
• Free-air design
• Use rugged materials for longevity

Cons:

• 5” depth may limit applications
• Doesn’t come with a protective grille

Bass is an integral part of every genre of music and adds so much in immersing you into the music. Out on the open water, this should be just as important as if you were sitting in your home. Kicker’s 12” 45KMF124 marine-grade subwoofer is a wonderful solution and absolutely something worth considering for your watercraft. We suppose that we don’t need to explain too much why this subwoofer took our “Best 12” Marine Subwoofer for Boats” title?

This marine-grade subwoofer has a free-air design, so it doesn’t take up too much while delivering solid performance. The 45KMF124 can be installed in almost any available space: cabinet, bulkhead, or other locations.

The subwoofer’s durable polypropylene cone repels water with ease and the built-in water drainage system gets rid of excess moisture so the subwoofer can play as long as you need it to. The hardy Santoprene rubber surround on the 45KMF124 will keep the woofer cone in-check, ensuring accurate bass response in addition to a long lifespan.

The 45KMF124 has a 4-ohm voice coil and handles up to 175 watts of continuous power (and up to 350 watts peak). Mounting depth is about 5-1/2”, so that may limit you to certain locations on the watercraft.

If you’re in pursuit of significantly better bass extension in your boat, we are thrilled to offer you this Kicker subwoofer as a solution. We promise that you won’t be disappointed!

Pros:

• Great bass extension
• Free-air design
• Use rugged materials for longevity

Cons:

• 5-1/2” depth may limit applications
• Doesn’t come with a protective grille