9 Epic Marine Speakers to Make Your Boat Sound System Rock!

If you are anything like me, the only thing that is going to make your day on the water even better is to have an awesome sound system pumping your favorite songs.

Whether you’re after a peaceful day of fishing or an action-packed day of wakeboarding or wake surfing, a crystal-clear sound system with easy connectivity and seamless user interface is only going to make your boating experience better.

Lucky for you, there are hundreds of options for speaker systems and head units, so all your requirements, no matter your budget, are covered.

I’ve researched speakers and found 9 epic marine speakers sure to provide the sound you want.

Are there any great marine speakers available? Yes!  There are hundreds of options for marine speakers to fit any budget.

With a little knowledge under your belt about what is available, you’ll have no problem choosing the best speakers for your boat. Marine speaker systems have come a long way in terms of sound quality, build quality and durability.

There was a time, not too long ago, when it was tough to find a good marine speaker system that wouldn’t have problems with water getting into the housing or rusting.

Over the years though, the quality of materials and construction has only improved. Now you can find great sounding speakers that are waterproof or water-resistant and will last for years without any trouble.

What makes a great marine speaker?

Speakers are generally graded on construction quality, sound quality, and the materials used to build them. Marine speakers aren’t any different in how they are graded, but to be a great marine speaker, there are a couple of other things to consider – water resistance and durability in harsh conditions.

Marine speakers are met with some unique challenges that other speakers don’t have to deal with.  They are exposed to all kinds of weather conditions, often getting wet either by rain or because they are splashed, and they are often subjected to salty air conditions.

To better understand why creating a water-resistant or waterproof speaker that will stand up well to all types of harsh conditions and still provide good sound quality is challenging, it’s helpful to understand how speakers are made.

A speaker is made by having a permanent magnet that is held firmly in place with an electromagnet that’s attached to a cone made of flexible material placed in front of the permanent magnet. When electrical currents pass through the electromagnet, the poles of the electromagnet are quickly changed to attract and repel the electromagnet to the permanent magnet.

As this happens, vibrations pass through the cone and are propelled into the air creating sound. On a typical speaker, water, salt air, direct exposure to sunlight, and changes in temperature could damage the cone and the electrical components either reducing the sound quality or making the speaker inoperable.

Marine speakers, however, are made using heavy-duty materials so they will stand up to the harsh environments they spend their time in – the cone is made out of more durable material, the metals used are rust and corrosion resistant, all of the inputs must be sealed with rubber gaskets, and the circuitry board is sealed to prevent water from damaging the electronics. 

A great marine speaker is one that is waterproof, durable, and produces a good sound.

Here are a few of the best marine speakers available:

Rockville RWB80B

Rockville is a well-known name in audio, not just marine audio. For years, they have been producing high quality, well-built speakers and accessories for professional audio, car audio, home audio, and marine audio.

Part of their appeal is they have dedicated themselves to high-quality products and affordable prices. The 8” round Rockville RWB80B comes as a pair and are completely waterproof and rustproof, including the terminals that are completely made of stainless steel. 

Being waterproof, you won’t need to worry about your speakers no matter the conditions outside.

Fusion MS-FR6021 6”

Founded in New Zealand and created initially to be a best-in-class car audio company, Fusion transitioned into marine audio and has continually been a leader in the market for the last couple of decades.

The Fusion MS-FR6021 is a 6” round speaker and features a titanium tweeter dome and a cone made from a strong woven fiber composite. 

This combination of materials creates a strong, crisp sound, while the fully sealed and waterproof design is built to stand up to even the harshest environments.

Short of being fully submerged in water, these speakers will stand up to almost anything.

Poly Planar MA8506 – 6” Titanium Series Speaker

Offering a full lineup of marine speakers, stereos, amplifiers, subwoofers, and accessories, Poly Planar could be your one-stop-shop for setting up your marine speaker system.

The Poly Planar MA8506 was specifically designed to stand up to harsh marine conditions while producing a high-quality sound and lasting a lifetime. 

Featuring a plastic frame that will withstand UV rays, a powder-coated grill, and waterproof construction these speakers would make a nice addition to any boat.

They are also built using an “anti-magnetic” design which means the speakers won’t interfere with the navigational equipment on your boat.

Boss Audio Systems MRGB65 – 6.5”

With a speaker solution to fit the needs of almost anything that moves – cars, ATV’s, UTV’s, motorcycles, and of course, boats, Boss has dedicated itself to perfecting the sound equipment they produce. All their marine speakers come “Fully Marinized,” which is Boss’s way of saying weatherproof.

They use waterproofing components and UV protective coatings in the construction of their speakers, keeping them safe from the elements so they can provide great quality sound for years to come.

This model also comes with multi-colored LED lights to make your experience a little more fun.

PQN Audio SPA35-4GF Graphite – 3.5”

If you are looking for a speaker solution to fit in a small space, the PQN Audio SPA35-4GF may be exactly what you need.

Designed to be an exact replacement for many hot tubs, these are a great option for a marine application where there isn’t a lot of room, but you still want a powerful speaker, especially when it is paired with a subwoofer.

This speaker incorporates UV protective coatings and a waterproof design that makes it perfect for sunny and wet environments.

As long as the speaker isn’t submerged in water, it will continue to play music for years to come.

Polk Audio DB651 – 6.5”

Polk Audio is an American company that’s been around for nearly 50 years. Founded by a few friends that built their business around making high-quality sound produced by high-quality speakers.

The Polk Audio DB651 is waterproof to rain and splashing, but not submersion, and delivers a sound that is hard to find in other marine grade speakers. 

For those as interested in the quality of sound as they are in the longevity of their marine speakers, these could be a good option.

Clarion CM2223R

Clarion is another audio company that’s been around for a long time and has managed to become a major player in the audio world.

Offering marine speakers that meet or exceed industry standards for durability and reliability, Clarion has become one of the top options for marine speakers.

The Clarion CM2223R uses UV protected plastics, magnetic shielding to restrict interference with onboard navigational equipment, and waterproofing materials to ensure you’ll have music every time you want it. Known for their bass response, this speaker offers powerful full-range audio.

Kicker KM8 8” Marine Coaxial Speaker

Kicker is another of the top speaker brands available. They have secured their top spot by offering full lines of sound equipment for almost any application – audio, marine, power sports, motorcycles, and lifestyle.

When it came to their marine speakers, Kicker didn’t spare any expense in the design and engineering process.

They studied the environments the speakers would be subjected to and incorporated everything they could think of into the design, including a drainage port in the grilles to prevent standing water.

There is high attention to detail in the Kicker KM8 8” Marine Coaxial Speaker, and since they are made by Kicker, they also produce a great sound and will last for a lifetime.

Belva BBMS8B – 8”

Belva specializes in speakers for marine and power sport applications. By focusing on these areas, they’ve been able to perfect audio quality in some of the harshest conditions.

Belva has created a weather-resistant speaker that looks good, sounds good, and will last – the Belva BBMS8B is built to deliver loud, crisp sound while standing up to rain and salty conditions.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a lot of speaker options for your boat, and the right one for you is available!

Once you start looking, narrow down your search by understanding what will work best for your boat. There are several sizes of speakers available, some are mounted directly into the interior hull of the boat, while others are mounted on a wakeboard tower.

As long as you choose a speaker specifically designed for use near water, there are several good options to choose from. Whichever you choose, having a great speaker system in your boat will only make your days on the water better.