Unlike cars, ATVs come with their own unique set of problems. First off, the average ATV does not offer music loving riders the needed space for more audio options. Secondly, ATVs are utilized outside. This means there is no protection from the weather and elements. Finally, the rider is sitting on top of a monster engine. This is where Sonic Electronix comes in to not only help work out all these issues. Here are a couple of insider tips that will have ATV owners on top of their outdoor entertainment game.

1. Rockford Fosgate PMX-2

Designed for marine and motorsport application, the Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 is packed with an exciting array of features that ATV owners can look forward to enjoying. This compact Bluetooth digital media receiver offers lots of entertainment options that are all cleverly incorporated into one remarkably compact package. The great news is that it all fits into one standard 3-inch gauge opening. Who said your ATV has to settle for less just because you lack the appropriate space for full-sized receivers. The Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 features a crystal clear 2.7 inch TFT full-color display that allows for optimum viewing even in the glaring sun. The unit is IPX6 rated meaning it has been tested to withstand water and the elements. With its innovative Pandora control capabilities and album art support for Apple and Android devices, the Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 is a true command and entertainment center.

Choosing a Sound System for my ATV

When looking to add a sound system on your ATV, there are lots of options available. Sonic Electronix has a wide variety of  handlebar speakers, amp kits, ATV mounts and tons of other accessories for your off road vehicle. Here are a few popular options for ATV sound systems.

ATV Speakers

To ensure total variety and customer satisfaction, Sonic Electronix carries a broad range of speakers and receivers even the most unique installs. From simple, easy to install speakers to more complex sound systems that require a helping hand, ATV owners are spoiled for choice here.

2. Wet Sounds STEALTH-6 ULTRA-HD-B

Need an all in one, plug-&-play audio system for your ATV? Look no further. Introducing the Wet Sounds STEALTH Series sound bars. Thanks to the manufacturer’s patent pending design, a fully extruded aluminum structure houses the internal components from the extremely harsh outdoor elements. This means total protection without losing sound quality. Inside the Stealth-6 HD is a total of 8 3 inch full range marine drivers and double inch titanium tweeters.Wet Sounds incorporated an internal 300-watt class D amplifier to ensure you get top of the line power and quality for your ATV.

Tower and Handlebar Speakers

Whether you own an ATV or a motorbike, this segment is designed entirely for you. Thanks to their purposefully and ingeniously designed quick slip mechanism, all you have to do here is fasten your speakers to the handlebars, connect to a power source and off you go.

3. NVX XUBT4 Universal Bluetooth Remote Control and Receiver

For the ATV enthusiast who absolutely adores a touch of convenience with their entertainment, it doesn’t get any better than the Universal NVX XUBT4 Bluetooth Remote Control and Receiver. This stocked X Series Grade Bluetooth Controller and receiver with a Membrane Switch pad makes things much easier than ever before. Unlike other controllers, this bad boy gives you the ability to play, pause, adjust the volume, forward and reverse your track. As if that wasn’t enough, the manufacturer incorporated all these features in a simple and super easy to use membrane switch pad design.

The post Tips for Upgrading Off-road ATV/UTV Audio Systems appeared first on Sonic Electronix Learning Center and Blog.

1. XS Power XP750 Special Edition 600W Battery For Boats

With a 600 amp power output potential, the XS Power XP750 is the ideal battery for car or boat owners on the go. Since this special edition battery is specifically designed to store as much energy as possible, users have no need for a capacitor. For those who like to drive hard and fast, the XS Power XP750 is highly resistant to vibrations. The manufacturer ensures that safety is the first priority, which is why this precise product is non-hazardous and includes no external vents. It can be tricky to locate a good spot to pace your battery on a boat; XS Power added an M6 terminal to solve this problem once and for all.

Types of Marine Batteries

Starting Batteries

Much similar to automotive batteries, starting batteries supply an enormous amount of current for a very short period. However, these batteries like to be recharged almost immediately and don’t do well with deep discharges. Starting batteries are idyllic for use as a single battery for runabouts, small water-crafts, and boats with minimal DC loads.

2. XS Power XP3000

There’s a reason why XS Power remains a trusted audio brand for most vehicle owners. This power-packed battery provides up to 3000 amps that will power even the most demanding 3000-watt audio stereo system. With this bad boy, boat owners can take their yachts and ships as far out to sea for as long as they want without fear of battery drain. Featuring a sealed absorbed glass mat (AGM) design, this battery significantly reduces vibrations. The manufacturer uses the same non-hazardous design and no external vents for optimum installation positions.

Deep Cycle Batteries

These are the most popular marine batteries because they can endure repeated recharging and deep discharging without any damage. They are appropriate for fishing boats, sailboats, and private boats with much larger DC power requirements. Any battery that is intended to power on board DC loads such as lighting, inverters and trolling needs to be a good quality deep-cycle battery. The norm for most boat owners is usually to have a dual-battery system with one starting battery and one deep cycle battery.

3. Shuriken SK-MBT-55

Boasting of an intelligent and unique spill free design, the SK-MBT-55 lives up to its name with 55 amp hours of operation. Cars and boats can often get really hot and humid; that’s why this particular product is made to resist extreme temperatures and even the heaviest of vibrations. The Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) design allows for easy and convenient installation in any preferred position. Shuriken understands that your music is precious to you, that’s why they developed this battery to be discharged and recharged as many times as the owner needs to. Once you install the SK-MBT-55, you won’t ever need to worry about maintenance or leakages. It is fully sealed and comes with a whole year’s warranty from the manufacturer.

Dual-Purpose Batteries

These batteries are the perfect compromise between functionality and durability. They work extremely well and will tolerate rampant charging and discharging. However, due to their lower storage capacities, boat owners are advised to couple two batteries up and use them interchangeably for starting and on board electric loads.

Sonic Electronix’s Pro Tip:

Finding the right battery for your boat does not have to be brain-wracking. It’s all about identifying what will work well for your boat and your lifestyle. Everyone is reminded to observe high levels of safety and precaution while working with batteries. They contain an outstanding and potentially dangerous amount of energy. Always remove the positive battery cables from the terminals while working on your electrical system to avoid electrocution.

The post A Complete Guide to the Best Batteries for Boat Speakers appeared first on Sonic Electronix Learning Center and Blog.

What to Look For

A marine head unit takes the same features of the head unit in your car and moves it to your boat. You’ll be able to add anything from AM/FM radio and CD player (although CDs will often times have skipping problems in rough water) to an MP3/USB digital media player with satellite radio.

Most marine head units come in single DIN designs, however there are receivers that are custom DIN designs. Custom DIN head units come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many newer boats will come with stock stereos which makes upgrading to an aftermarket receiver a simple task. However, if you want to add a head unit to an older boat that doesn’t have any sound system in it, you are probably going to need to cut open some paneling and run wiring for the components. There isn’t really one perfect spot to install a head unit in your boat because of the different boat designs and sizes, but as a general rule try to keep your head unit in an out of the way location where it will get some protection from sunlight and water.

There are many features and specifications you will want to look for when purchasing a head unit for your boat, but there are 3 that you really need to pay attention to: water resistance, UV resistance and anti-corrosion protection.

Marine grade audio equipment should absolutely be designed to withstand water. When you see a product labeled as ‘Water Resistant’, it will stand up to splashes and light rain, but won’t be able to survive submersion. A ‘Water Proof’ product is built to survive complete submersion. Even if you plan on installing your marine head unit in an area of your boat unlikely to ever see water a water proof designed unit will last longer. No matter where you install your unit the dampness of any marine environment will take its toll. When looking for water resistance ratings be sure to look for IPX ratings. IPX ratings range from IPX-0, which offers no protection whatsoever against water, to IPX-7, which provides protection from complete submersion up to 1 meter for at least 30 minutes. An IPX-8 rating also exists which provides protection from complete submersion better than IPX-7 in any way the manufacturer states.

Chances are your head unit is going to be installed in an area where it will be exposed to UV rays from the sun. This can be potentially problematic because extended exposure to the sun can lead to bleached out, cracked or overheated equipment. High quality marine audio equipment is designed to withstand damaging UV. However, there is no such thing as ‘UV-Proof’, so try and install your head unit in an area where it won’t see much direct sun light.

The third primary enemy which faces marine audio equipment is corrosion. Marine environments are not friendly places for electronics. Rust and corrosion are common in marine environments, especially if your boat is out on the ocean. Marine grade gear is designed to resist rust and corrosion with conformal coated circuit boards, plated connections and rust resistant chassis components. However, as with harmful UV rays, your head unit should be placed in an area with as little exposure as possible.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth enabled head units are compatible with most Bluetooth devices and allow for wireless streaming and hands free talk. Most Bluetooth units include either an external wired or built-in microphone for distortion free phone calls. In many states it is illegal to talk on your phone without a Bluetooth device. They also come with a text to speech feature so that you can receive and respond to your texts without pulling over.

MP3 Player/Smartphone Integration

Marine receivers also come with integrated USB ports. These can be used for iPod integration and playing music from other audio sources such as thumb drives, MP3 players and other smartphones. Select marine head units open up to accept and store your MP3 player or smartphone. These receivers are best because they protect your device from the harmful marine elements. This also eliminates the need for having any type of input jack on the outside of the receiver which can be susceptible to rust and corrosion. Receivers with Pandora compatibility are able to stream music from your Pandora account.

AM/FM Radio

Other receivers have integrated supertuners for boosted AM/FM reception. Supertuners combine the best of digital and analog tuner technology to greatly reduce distortion and improve stereo separation and sensitivity. Supertuners are ideal for low reception areas and also improve reception in downtown areas where tall buildings can add interference.

Satellite Radio

Select in-dash receivers come HD and Satellite radio-ready or with the HD/Satellite radio tuner built-in. Satellite radio receivers require a Sirius/XM subscription (and it will work up to 200 miles off shore depending on your location). Some of the advantages of HD and satellite radio are dramatically improved signal quality and that they each come with stations that aren’t found on AM/FM radio. HD radio provides a CD level sound quality to FM stations and makes AM stations FM quality.

EQ

Graphic and parametric Equalizer bands, or EQ bands, allow you to tweak your music settings. The more EQ bands your receiver has, the more you’ll be able to fine-tune the sound. Graphic EQ bands are the simplest type and consist of multiple sliders or controls for adjusting bands or sound frequencies. Parametric equalizers offer a greater degree of control over your sound. Parametric EQ can control three aspects of each frequency: the level, the center frequency and the range of each frequency.

To further clean up sound, head units can come with Digital Time Alignment, or DTA. This synchronizes the timing of sounds coming from each of your speakers to optimize the sound stage and provide the ultimate listening experience.

Higher end head units come with built-in sound processors to provide even better sound quality. Sound processors better filter audio signals to your speakers for the cleanest sound possible. The top of the line head units will come with Digital 5.1 Surround Sound capabilities to transform your boat into a truly immersive sound stage.

Preamp RCA Outputs

These outputs are necessary to connect external amplifiers for your speakers and subwoofers to your marine receiver. A receiver typically comes with one, two or three sets of RCA outputs. One pair of outputs will generally provide a full range signal which can be used with most subwoofers and amplifiers. Two RCA outputs can be configured for connecting a 2-channel amp or one pair of stereo speakers. Three sets of RCA outputs are typically used for two sets ofstereo speakers and a subwoofer amp.

It is important to know what the preamp voltage of your head unit is. Higher voltages result in stronger signals which clean up distortion and unwanted sound.

Compatibility

For boats with steering wheel mounted controls there are receivers with steering wheel integration to give you total control of your stereo without ever having to take your hands off the wheel. Most receivers do not come with steering wheel integration built-in and require an additional adapter.

The post Marine Stereo Buying Guide appeared first on Sonic Electronix Learning Center and Blog.

Marine Digital Media Receiver Kenwood Marine KMR-700U
Your cars internal environment is relatively stable so most electronic devices are protected within the confines of its doors. The environment on a boat however is battered by the sun, rain, saltwater, UV rays and humidity. This is not ideal for electronics so the marine certified receiver was fashioned to save the day.  For starters, most if not all marine receivers have a special coating on the circuit board that protects it from moisture and provides resistance to corrosion. Wait one minute, this does not mean you can soak your radio in water; it simply means it resists moisture. Marine receivers are rated on a scale based on the IP (Ingress Protection) rating chart, which measures the degree of protection/resistance the unit has from water. An IPX-1 rating means your unit is protected against falling water equivalent to 3-5mm of rainfall per minute. Not all radios have a listed IP rating, but for those that do you can accurately gauge how it will handle in the environment you plan to put it in. IP ratings are not just for marine headunits, they are also found on speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers and all sorts of electronic devices and parts.
Below is a chart with all the ratings and their standards:

Test Level Definitions:
IPX-0: No special protection
IPX-1: Protection against vertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation.
IPX-2: Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15o from the vertical.
IPX-3: Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60o from the vertical.
IPX-4: Protection against water sprayed from all directions – limited ingress permitted.
IPX-5: Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions – limited ingress.
IPX-6: Protected against temporary flooding of water, e.g. for use on ship decks – limited ingress permitted.
IPX-7: Protected against the effect of immersion between 15 cm and 1 m.
IPX-8: Protects against long periods of immersion under pressure.

Hold up, there is more to offer! If it does not have an IPX rating look for other forms of protection from the environment. For example,  UV rays not only ruin your boat and its interior but they also crack plastics…a.k.a. your radios faceplate. UV protection (ASTM G154/D4329) coatings are offered for some radio faceplates that will increase the longevity of the units’ outer components. Receivers that meet the ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) B 117 standard are resistant to salt spray and fog as tested in a salt spray apparatus. Whether you use your receiver all year round or only in the summer, it is important that you purchase a marine receiver that fits your boating environment.

The post Marine Receivers appeared first on Sonic Electronix Learning Center and Blog.