Canadian Boating December 2024 - 45

Researching audio systems ahead of time will help you
get the perfect system for your vessel.
withstand pressurized water) and can be
mounted in exposed locations.
Marine certification also extends to all
wiring and related components. Make
sure you or your installers use marine certified
tinned wiring, connectors and fuses.
ENTRY-LEVEL AUDIO SYSTEMS
For many boaters, a basic or entry-level
system comprised of a source unit and
four speakers will suit
their needs. In
many cases this will be a simple upgrade
from the original factory install. New
components can be fitted into existing
cutouts, so the task is DIY friendly.
The single most important component
is the source unit. Suitable units are available
from Clarion, JVC, Kenwood and
Sony, to highlight a few. The drawback
with many entry-level receivers, including
the M508 discussed below, is that they
are not IP-rated, meaning they will require
protection from direct rain or spray.
Clarion, a stereo brand well known to
boaters, make a full range of marine audio
products, and offers the excellent entrylevel
Digital Media Receiver, the M508,
which comes with a manufacturer's suggested
retail price (MSRP) of $379.95
CAD. The M508 is a standard single DIN
(2 x 7 inch) unit that will fit any standard
marine stereo cutout. Features include
AM/FM/WB, Bluetooth with AptX,
USB, Aux Input, Pandora and SiriusXMready,
and MFI for Apple iPod/iPhone
USB Compatibility. Its built-in amplifier
supplies 4 x 18W RMS @ 4 ohms with
eight 4V RCA outputs (Front/Rear/Sub/
Fixed). To fine-tune the sound, the unit
has a 3-Band Equalizer, 11 EQ presets and
Subwoofer Low Pass Filter.
Speakers can be one of the easiest
upgrades to improve your sound quality.
In a retrofit, new speakers can be swapped
for old ones using the existing cutout. One
of the best value products on the market is
Clarion's CMS-651-CWB marine coaxial
speakers. These speakers are Salt &
Sun Certified and handle 30W RMS of
power with a bridge-mounted, 1/2-balanced-dome,
a polymer tweeter with neodymium
magnet and ferrofluid cooling.
The suggested MSRP is $149.95 CAD
per pair.
MID-RANGE AUDIO SYSTEMS
For good quality without breaking the
bank, Fusion offers two models of their
RA70 Marine Stereos: the MS-RA70
with Bluetooth ($359.99 CAD), and the
MS-RA70NSX with Bluetooth,
SiriusXM-Ready and NMEA
2000 connectivity ($429.99
CAD). Both source units are
single DIN chassis with an
IPX7 waterproof rating and
optically bonded LCD screens,
essential for installation in wet
areas.
Easy to use, these units support
AM, FM, BLUETOOTH, USB
audio, iPhone, iPod, AUX and Android
AOA for seamless integration with mobile
MS-RA70 delivers 200 watts and flexible
connectivity in a waterproof unit.
CANADIANBOATING.CA
45
devices. The Fusion Audio mobile-app
provides remote control from your iOS
and Android devices. Peak power is 200
watts from the built-in Class AB amplifier,
with Multi-Zone Technology allowing
individual volume control for two
areas. The MS-RA70NSX also offers
http://www.CANADIANBOATING.CA
Canadian Boating December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Boating December 2024
