Marina Audio Subwoofers

Enjoy the Waves Even More With a Marine Subwoofer

Out on the water is the perfect place to rock, and a marine subwoofer/amp combo delivers thumping power for the occasion. Designed for durability in sun and saltwater, marine subwoofers improve your audio systems sound by beefing up the lowest frequencies. Read on for about new and preowned marine subwoofers and check out eBay for a large selection.

A marine subwoofer carries your tunes in the great outdoors, but its important to plan. If you intend to use a flush mount, check the subwoofer models depth. A marine subwoofer enclosure is critical for resonance and volume, so give it space.

Also consider the diameter. A common size is 10 inches, but a 6-inch marine subwoofer might be a better fit. A small 6.5-inch marine subwoofer is ample for relaxing melodies, or you might choose an 8-inch marine subwoofer if the 10-inch is too much.

Marine subwoofers need to withstand heat and water along with whatever the wind blows in. Normal equipment wont stand that abuse, which is why even inexpensive marine subwoofers are designed with the following features:

• Water-resistance: Even a backyard marine subwoofer needs protection.
• UV-resistance: Specific ratings for UV resistance are usually listed.
• Anti-corrosion protection: Saltwater is an enemy of electronics, so itu001as important that your subwoofer is designed to stand up to it.

If your marine subwoofer doesnt have enough power, you can add on an amp to give it a boost. You can find a marine subwoofer with a built-in amp for convenience, but distortion can be an issue. Though it handles a short range, a marine subwoofer takes a lot of power. You risk damage with an amp that is too high, but distortion from maxing out an underpowered amplifier can put a damper on your listening experience, so make sure to choose an amplifier that is compatible with your sound system.

Here is a look at what the numbers mean:

• RMS power rating (watts) Recommended power rating, which is the most important spec. You can safely run with amp power of 75% to 150% of the RMS.
• Ohms This is the impedance factor, and lower numbers consume more power. A 4-ohm speaker is common, but make sure your amp can drive it.
• Sensitivity An important rating that shows the volume from your marine subwoofer.
• Peak power How much power your marine subwoofer can stand. Even though it is not as important to sound quality as RMS, its a big number that gets promoted. Be sure your marine subwoofer matches your amp.