Best Boat Speakers on the Market (Buyers Guide)

A speaker is one of the best accessories you can get for your boat. Music can make any boating activity better, whether you’re spending the day relaxing, fishing, or partying. If you really want to rock the boat, though, you’ll need a high-quality speaker. 

The best boat speakers on the market are weatherproof, powerful, can connect with your other devices, compatible with your boat, and durable. The best boat speakers include speakers from Infinity, Sony, Pyle, JBL, and Polk Audio models. 

In the rest of this article, I’ll explain everything you should keep an eye out for while you’re shopping for a speaker for your boat. Then, I’ll recommend some of the best marine speakers on the market. 

What To Look For in a Boat Speaker

There are dozens of quality marine speakers avaiable, so let’s discuss what you should consider when shopping for the best boat speaker to help narrow down your options. 

Boat Speakers Need To Be Weatherproof

Your boat speakers need to be able to withstand all kinds of weather. It should go without saying that the speaker needs to be waterproof, but it also needs to be able to function after prolonged sun exposure. 

You may think that all marine speakers are waterproof or water-resistant, but this isn’t always the case. Some speakers cannot withstand too much moisture, especially if they’re only coated with resistant material. 

Needless to say, your boat speaker will spend lots of time outdoors, and it needs to be up to the task. 

The Best Boat Speakers Are Powerful

You want to hear what you play on your speakers while on the water; that’s the whole point! However, this isn’t always easy. Some boats are loud when moving, and you’ll need a powerful speaker to compete with the sound. 

You’ll also want to be able to crank up the volume without losing sound quality. Some speakers start to sound fuzzy when the volume gets too high, which diminishes the listening experience.

Speaker output power refers to how much power your speaker can handle before the sound quality starts to plummet and you start to cause damage to the speaker. You can find this information in Watts or Root Mean Square (RMS). The higher the RMS, the louder your speaker can get without sounding bad.  

Boat Speakers Need Good Compatibility

You’ll probably want to be able to hook up some of your other devices to your speaker, such as your smartphone. Most contemporary speakers have an aux input or a USB port you can use, which is sufficient for most users. Still, before you make the purchase, you should ensure that it will work with all the devices you want it to be compatible with. 

Boat Speakers Should Be Durable

Your boat speaker should be heavy-duty and durable so your investment can last you a long time. Specifically, you should ensure that the tweeters on your speakers are made with high-quality materials such as titanium or aluminum, which are weather-resistant materials that can still provide smooth sound. Aluminum and titanium are long-lasting, so you can enjoy your speaker for longer.  

The Best Boat Speakers You Can Buy

Many boat speakers are available on the market, making shopping a little overwhelming. I have tried many different boat speakers and can confidently recommend some of my favorites. The following table outlines some quick facts about these speakers: 

Now, I’ll explain in greater detail why I love these speakers. They are all available on Amazon.com. 

Best Overall: Infinity Two-Way Multi-Element RGB Titanium Marine Speakers

This speaker can take whatever you throw at it because it is engineered to endure prolonged sun exposure, salt water, and sea spray due to its sealed motor structure and UV resistance. These speakers can take up to 75 Watts of RMS, so you’ll be able to crank up the volume without worrying about damaging the speaker or losing sound quality. 

This speaker is your best bet if you want to turn your boat into the ultimate party destination. Not only can you reach impressive volumes, but the speaker also comes with LED lights that enhance the experience and can turn the deck of your boat into an epic dance floor. If you are planning on partying, it is important to stay safe! For a safety guide, check out my article on how alcohol use affects boat operators and passengers. 

Here’s what comes with this speaker: 

• Stainless steel mounting hardware 
• Foam gasket 
• RGB lighting 
• Manual  

Pros

• The speaker comes with LED lights that bring the listening experience to the next level. 
• This speaker will likely last a long time with high-quality materials and weatherproofing. 
• It is easy to install and mount. 

Cons

• This speaker is more expensive than the other options on this list. 
• The bass isn’t as strong as you could expect from a speaker at this price point. 
• The speaker doesn’t perform well in windy conditions. 

Sony XSMP Dual Cone Marine Speakers

These water-resistant speakers can handle heavy rain and sea spray, and their coating makes them resistant to corrosion and UV rays. The materials are high-quality, although the front grille is made from plastic.  

The dual-cone speakers offer 65 Watts of RMS, which is relatively powerful for speakers in this price range. These speakers are a great choice for people on a tight budget. 

Pros

• These speakers are affordable compared to other options. 
• The front grille is removable, so you can paint it to suit your boat style. 

Cons

• The sound quality isn’t as high as other speakers. 
• They aren’t as powerful as other alternatives. 
• High tones aren’t very bright. 
• The front grille is made of plastic and isn’t as durable as metal grilles. 
• They probably won’t last as long as other alternatives. 

Pyle Low-Profile Waterproof Marine Speakers

These rugged and durable speakers are a great and affordable option for high-quality boat speakers. Not only can they play high-quality sound and endure the elements, but they also come with blue LED lights that bring the listening experience to the next level. 

The speakers have a low profile and slim design that works well with boats. They’re also easy to install, and they come with the necessary wires for installation. The wires are nearly ten feet long, so you have plenty of options regarding where to install your speakers and how to set them up.  

The included manual is easy to follow and tells you everything you need to know about the setup and function of these speakers. 

Pros 

• At under $100, these speakers are relatively affordable. 
• The speakers come with blue LED lights. 
• The speakers are UV-resistant. 

Cons

• The tweeter isn’t built-in. 
• The sound quality isn’t as high as more expensive speakers.
• This speaker isn’t as powerful as you might like.

JBL MS6520 Coaxial Marine Speakers

These coaxial speakers use balanced dome tweeters and boast an impressive 90 Watts in RMS. Most materials are high-quality, although the grilles are made of plastic. You can easily screw them on and off, so you can remove them and paint them if you’d like. 

You can increase the volume on these speakers without losing sound quality, to a point. This sound quality means you can crank up the volume over the sound of the wind and sea without risking damaging the speakers or losing the sound quality. 

Pros

• The speakers come at an affordable and realistic price. 
• They are relatively powerful for speakers under $100. 
• The sound is impressively clear. 

Cons

• The speakers don’t have an official rating for their weather protection. 
• The grilles are made of plastic, which isn’t as durable as metal grilles. 

Polk Audio Atrium 4 Outdoor Speakers 

These durable speakers last in sea spray, rain, and extreme heat. They attach to the boat with included brackets, but you can easily remove them from these brackets if necessary. This feature makes them more portable than other speakers, so if you’re planning on using your marine speakers for more than just your boat, these are a great choice.  

With a peak RMS of 80 Watts, these speakers aren’t messing around volume-wise. Even at high volumes, they maintain sound quality, although the bass may leave something to be desired. 

Pros

• These speakers are easily portable. 
• They’re made with high-quality, durable materials.
• The small size means that they won’t take up too much space on your boat and have less risk of being knocked over or damaged.  

Cons

• The speakers are on the pricier end. 
• The bass isn’t great, especially at loud volumes. 

Conclusion 

Your boat speaker can make or break your day out on the water, so you want to ensure that you get the best speaker for your boat, priorities, and budget. Your boat speaker should be weatherproof, powerful, compatible with your devices and boat, and durable. My favorite boat speakers are from Infinity, Sony, Pyle, JBL, and Polk Audio. 

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