By Seth Wilde – Product Specialist
High quality sound is one of the most important things that we can add to a boat in order to get the most enjoyment on the lake. A respectable stereo or source unit, along with speakers and subwoofers, are the solution to getting the best sound out of your boat. Some of the most impressive marine source Sonic Electronix has seen includes the Clarion CMS1, The Clarion CMV1, and the Kenwood KMR-700U. Each of these name-brand units has unique features that separate it from the rest of the marine certified units out there. One thing that is constant throughout each of them is excellent sound quality, user-friendly iPod integration, and marine certification.
Kenwood KMP-700U
This marine digital media receiver uses a head unit that is installed in the dash of the car, as well as a remote mount module that acts as the central audio hub. The module can be installed inside the boat dash or anywhere there is room on the boat. Connecting the two units is just a matter of connecting some cables. The Kenwood KMP-700U lacks a CD player, but results in an open space that can be used as watertight storage. The 4-line display is easy to read on the lake and the large buttons are designed specifically for this marine unit.
Clarion CMV1
One of our favorite marine stereos is this audio and video unit from Clarion. The Clarion CMV1 is unique from all the other boat stereos in that it features a 3.5” full color LCD display for video playback. Underneath the front faceplate is a slot to insert CDs and DVDs. It is compatible with DVDs, as well as DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DivX formats. As with other clarion units, it features the BBE MP Digital Sound processing and 24-bit digital-to-analog converter for incredible sound quality. There are not too many marine units that feature video playback, but that is why Sonic Electronix loves the CMV1!
Clarion CMS1
For boats that do not have a lot of space to install a marine stereo, Clarion has released a mechless remote mount source unit that is designed for custom installations, as well as smaller boats. The Clarion CMS1 has a central brain unit that deals with all the audio signals. The USB input is designed especially for use with iPods. The main unit connects to a smaller remote that can be mounted on the dash of the boat or any other place that is convenient. This is a great choice for those that primarily use an iPod as the source of music and want an integrated, simplistic feel.