One of the many joys of owning a boat is being able to listen to whatever music you love when out on the water—your boat, your choice. However, regular speakers don’t stand out to the rigors of life on the water, especially if you take your boat to sea. Instead, you need a set of marine speakers to produce quality audio on your boat. Marine speakers are waterproof and resist corrosion from salt, so you don’t have to worry about exposing them to the elements.
We reviewed dozens of marine speakers to identify the best of the best. To narrow down our top picks, we considered a wide range of features including audio quality, durability, ease of installation, wattage, and average customer reviews.
We chose the Kicker Charcoal LED Marine Speakers as our top pick. You can’t help but be drawn to their cool LED design, but below all the trappings, you get a set of high quality marine speakers that sound great and are highly durable.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Marine Speakers
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Kicker Charcoal LED Marine Speakers | 4.6 |
| Runner Up | Sony 4 XS-MP1611 Dual Cone Marine Speakers | 4.4 |
| Best Budget Buy | Pyle PLMR52 Dual Marine Speakers | 4.3 |
| Best Marine Head Unit & Speaker Kit | Pyle Marine Stereo Receiver Speaker Kit | 3.8 |
| Best Wakeboard Tower Speakers | Kicker KMT674 Marine Speaker Tower System | 4.8 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Our Top Pick: Kicker Charcoal LED Marine Speakers
With RGB LEDs that you can change at will, the Kicker Charcoal LED Marine Speakers are striking and can provide some mood lighting for your boat. However, we wouldn’t choose form over function—these are quality speakers that sound great!
These coaxial speakers provide excellent highs, mids, and lows, with built-in tweeters and woofers. With a peak power of 195 watts, they’re loud enough for most users needs.
With water resistant components and a UV coating, these can stand up to years out on the open water. You get a set of four speakers for a list price of $250.
Kicker Charcoal LED Marine Speakers Key Features:
- 6.5 inch diameter
- Frequency response of 35 – 21,000 Hz
- 4 ohm impedance
Our Runner Up Pick: Sony 4 XS-MP1611 Dual Cone Marine Speakers
While they might not be as striking in appearance as our top pick, the Sony 4 XS-MP1611 Dual Cone Marine Speakers are a practical and affordable choice with decent sound quality. Coming from a trusted manufacturer, you can be sure they’re built to last and can withstand wet conditions.
In terms of power, you get a maximum of 14 watts per pair, so they’re not as loud as some options, but still pack enough of a punch for the majority of buyers. These speakers are available in black or white, but you can paint the removable grill, if you choose.
At just under $100 for a set of four, these marine speakers are priced extremely reasonably.
Sony 4 XS-MP1611 Dual Cone Marine Speakers Key Features:
- Impedance of 4 ohms
- Waterproof rated IPx5 and certified for marine use
- Coated for UV resistance
Best Budget Pick: Pyle PLMR52 Dual Marine Speakers
If you’re looking for a pair of marine speakers on a budget, look no further than the Pyle PLMR52 Dual Marine Speakers. Sure, you won’t get the same impressive highs and rich lows as the most high-end speakers out there, but the average listener won’t hear a huge difference in audio quality. And, at a low price of $20 for a pair, you can’t argue with the price!
With 150 watts of power per pair, the volume is decent. At 100 to 20,000 Hz, the frequency response doesn’t match the range of high-end competitors, but is still pretty decent, especially for the low price.
The heavy duty ABS plastic outer and poly carbon cone are designed be water- and UV-resistant.
Pyle PLMR52 Dual Marine Speakers Key Features:
- 5.25 inch diameter
- Impedance of 4 ohms
- Full-range audio
Best Marine Head Unit & Speaker Set: Pyle Marine Stereo Receiver Speaker Kit
If you’re starting your boat’s audio system from scratch, you’ll need both speakers and a compatible head unit. It can be easier to buy these as a set, so you know they’ll work together. Enter the Pyle Marine Stereo Receiver Speaker Kit.
The head unit features a CD player and AM/FM radio, plus Bluetooth compatibility for streaming music. It also has a built-in microphone for making calls.
The four dual cone speakers are water-resistant and feature UV protection for marine use. The have a maximum power of 150 watts and a 4 ohm impedance.
With a price tag of just under $100 for the head unit and four speakers, it offers excellent value for money.
Pyle Marine Stereo Receiver Speaker Kit Key Features:
- Speaker frequency response of 80 to 18,000 Hz
- USB and SD card ports
- Aux input
Best Wakeboard Tower: Kicker KMT674 Marine Speaker Tower System
Wakeboarding is already great fun, but you can kick it up a notch with some marine tower speakers. Our favorite in this range is the Kicker KMT674 Marine Speaker Tower System. With a peak power of 300 watts, they’re loud enough that whoever’s being towed behind won’t miss a beat. What’s more, it’s a two-way system, meaning you can also use them to communicate between the boat and the board.
These speakers are easy to mount to the wakeboard bar and are entirely water-resistant, standing up to years of getting splashed and soaked. They produce rich, full-range audio that sounds impressive, even as you’re being towed along at speed.
You get a set of two speaker units (each with two speaker in them) for $480, which isn’t cheap, but it’s a worthwhile investment for a keen wakeboarder.
Kicker KMT674 Marine Speaker Tower System Key Features:
- Mounting depth of 3 inches
- 4 ohm impedance
- 6.5 inch speakers
Who Should Buy Marine Speakers
If you own a boat and are in need of speakers, you should buy a set of marine speakers. Perhaps your existing speakers have broken or your boat wasn’t fitted with speakers when you bought it.
Even if your boat’s current speakers are in working order, you might want to upgrade them for improved audio quality. Be sure to check out our review of the best boat seats for comfort while you’re listening to your favorite tunes on the water.
Important Features to Consider
A set of marine speakers should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting marine speakers:
- Wattage. Put simply, the wattage of your chosen speakers is how powerful they are. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the speakers and the louder they are. You should look at both the peak wattage and the continuous wattage of any marine speakers you’re considering.
- Frequency response. This refers to the range of sounds your speakers can reproduce, from the lowest bass notes up to the highest treble. The average range of human hearing is between 20 and 20,000 Hz, so the closer to this range your speakers can reproduce, the better the audio will sound.
- Diameter. If you’re mounting speakers into pre-existing holes in your boat, rather than making new ones, you’ll need to choose marine speakers with the same diameter as the existing holes.
- Speaker type. The most common speaker types are dual cone, coaxial, and component. Dual cone speakers are generally considered the lowest quality option. Coaxial speakers have the woofer (bass speaker) and the tweeter (treble speaker) cones wrapped around one another but with separate drivers, which produces better quality sound. Component speakers have completely separate woofers and tweeters, which avoids any interference between them.
- Impedance. It’s important to find out the impedance of your marine speakers as it must be the same as or lower than the impedance of your amplifier or head unit.
- Water-resistance. Marine speakers aren’t much good if they can’t stand up to the conditions out on the water. They should be water-resistant and UV-resistant, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are marine speakers and how do they work?
Marine speakers are speakers designed to work with your boat’s audio system. Unlike standard speakers, they’re waterproof or water-resistant, UV-resistant so they won’t be damaged by the sun’s rays, and are more resistant to corrosion from salt water.
How many watts are boat speakers?
There’s no standard wattage for boat speakers, it varies depending on the model you choose. At the low end, you can find boat speakers with a peak wattage of around 100 watts per pair, whereas very powerful marine speakers can have a wattage of 500 or more per pair.
Do you need an amp for marine speakers?
With the exception of completely wireless, portable models, marine speakers need to be wired into an amp or head unit.
Are boat speakers waterproof?
Yes. Any quality marine speakers will be waterproof, so they won’t get damaged if splashed by ocean spray or rained on.
Other Marine Speakers We Reviewed
We considered 20 other sets of marine speakers. While they didn’t quite make our 5 best marine speakers list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your boat. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Coaxial Marine Speakers
Herdio 3″ Inch Waterproof Marine Speakers
These compact coaxial speakers pack a surprising punch, although the low-end isn’t anything to write home about.
Key Features:
- 140 watt peak power per pair
- 120 to 20,000 Hz frequency response
- Comes with wires and mounting screws
Cost: $35 for a pair
JBL MS6520 Coaxial Marine Speakers
With excellent audio clarity, you won’t have trouble hearing these speakers over the roar of the ocean.
Key Features:
- 6.5 inch diameter
- Plus One™ woofers and balanced dome tweeters
- Individually voiced
Cost: $70 per pair
JVC CS-DR6200M Marine Speakers
These rugged coaxial speakers can withstand whatever the elements throw at them.
Key Features:
- Peak power of 300 watts per pair
- 4 ohm impedance
- Frequency response of 65 to 25,400 Hz
Cost: $45 for two speakers
Kicker KM8 Marine Coaxial Speaker
This powerful pair of coaxial speakers has a 300-watt peak wattage.
Key Features:
- Both charcoal and white grills included
- Large 8-inch diameter
- Built-in color-changing LEDs
Cost: $125 a pair
Polk Audio DB522 DB+ Series Coaxial Speakers with Marine Certification
A quality pair of speakers that are rated IP55 for water- and dirt-resistance, as well as being tested for their ability to deal with humidity, salt-fog, ans UV rays.
Key Features:
- 300 watt peak wattage per pair
- 5.2 inch diameter
- Marine certified
Cost: $70 for two
Component Marine Speakers
BOSS Audio MR652C Marine Component Speaker System
Don’t be fooled by the low price, these are powerful marine speakers with a peak wattage of 350.
Key Features:
- 60 to 20,000 Hz frequency response
- Voice coil for improved sound dispersion
- 4 ohm impedance
Cost: $50 per pair of speakers
Earthquake Sound Marine MC5 Matched Component Speaker Set
A quality pair of component speakers with 5 inch woofers and 20 millimeter tweeters.
Key Features:
- Neodymium motors produce clear high frequencies at all volumes
- Double layer cones
- Completely sealed motors
Cost: $50 for a set of two
Polk Audio DB6502 DB+ Series Component Speaker System with Marine Certification
Another excellent offering from Polk Audio, but this time with component speakers, instead of coaxial.
Key Features:
- Tested for UV and water resistance
- 6.5 inch diameter
- Excellent audio quality
Cost: $120 a pair
Polk Audio MM1 Series Component Marine Speakers
With a peak wattage of 750 watts per pair, these are hugely powerful speakers, but they don’t come cheap.
Key Features:
- 35 to 40,000 Hz frequency response
- Neodymium magnets
- Impedance of 4 ohms
Cost: $200 per pair
Wet Sounds Convertible Component Marine Speakers
These large, powerful speakers are perfect for when you want to turn the volume up high!
Key Features:
- Peak wattage of 600 per pair
- 8 inch diameter
- 35 to 22,000 Hz frequency response
Cost: $260 for two
Wakeboard Tower Speakers
BOSS Audio MRWT40 Marine Grade Waketower Speaker System
These strong, resilient wakeboard tower speakers are designed to withstand anything you can throw at them.
Key Features:
- 400 watt peak power per pair
- 130 to 20,000 Hz frequency response
- Water- and weather-resistant
Cost: $60 for two speakers
MCM Custom Audio 60-10021 Marine Wakeboard Speaker
Featuring a poly cone woofer and a titanium dome tweeter, these wakeboard tower speakers give you excellent highs and lows.
Key Features:
- Durable construction
- Easy to fit
- 400 watt peak power
Cost: $70 per pair
Polk Audio DB692 Wakeboard Tower Speakers
These powerful 450 watt wakeboard speakers are as rugged as they come.
Key Features:
- Each speaker measures 6 by 9 inches
- Internally wired
- Universal clamps
Cost: $180 for a set of two
Pyle Wakeboard Tower Marine Speakers
With built-in color-changing LED lights, these wakeboard tower speakers look as good as they sound.
Key Features:
- Water- and corrosion-resistant
- Two-way audio
- Peak wattage of 300
Cost: $155 for each pair
Rockville RWB80B 8″ Wakeboard Marine Speakers Set
This set contains a total of four waketower speakers, a four-channel amp, and all the hardware you need to set it up.
Key Features:
- Peak wattage of 300 per speaker
- 2,400 watt amplifier
- Waterproof installation kit
Cost: $325 for the whole set
Other Marine Speakers
Kenwood InDash Complete Marine Audio Package
With four water-resistant speakers and a Bluetooth head unit, you have everything you need to set up your boat’s sound system.
Key Features:
- Make hands-free calls with the receiver
- Four 6.5 inch speakers included
- 400 watt peak power
Cost: $170 for four speakers and receiver
Kicker KB6000 2-Way Full Range Indoor Outdoor Marine Speakers
Slightly different from the majority of marine speakers, these large models are designed for external mounting rather than fitting flush.
Key Features:
- Easy to mount—no holes required
- 8 ohm impedance
- Waterproof and UV-resistant
Cost: $90 per pair
Magnadyne WR40W Waterproof Hot Tub Speaker
These certainly aren’t the most powerful marine speakers out there, but they’re fine if you like to listen to music at lower volumes.
Key Features:
- Peak power of 25 watts per speaker
- 4.5 inch diameter
- 65 to 16,500 Hz frequency response
Cost: $20 for a pair
Pioneer TS-MR1640 Marine Speakers
Extremely durable and completely water-resistant, these marine speakers are long-lasting workhorses.
Key Features:
- IMPP composite woofer
- PEI dome tweeter with equalizer and magnetic fluid
- 6.5 inch diameter
Cost: $60 per pair
SDX Pro Audio Fully Wireless Bluetooth Marine Speaker System
If you want speakers on your boat without going to the hassle of setting up a full audio system, you can just mount-and-play with these wireless speakers.
Key Features:
- 350 watts peak power per pair
- Stream music from your phone or tablet
- Easy to mount with adjustable clamp
Cost: $240 per pair
