Marine Amplifiers Will Expand Your Sound Print on the Water
Your boat can be a noisy place, and no matter how loud you crank up the volume on your sound system, you may not be able to hear your music or the football game very clearly over the underlying noises that are ever-present. To hear only the sounds you want and avoid hearing the comments from your fellow passengers, you will want to install a good sound system in your boat that can take the abuse from the harsh outside conditions. Choosing the proper amplifier for your particular situation can mean the difference between having a loud but muddy signal and having the clear and crisp sound you expect.
Why do you need a marine amplifier for marine environments?Even though an amplifier will not be exposed to any direct water on your boat or from some other type of marine environment, it will still be affected by the increased moisture content of its surroundings. The effects of salt in a salt-water locality can be particularly troublesome because of the corrosiveness of the salt. Marine amplifiers have special gasket covers for protection and are made of stainless steel with special coatings to withstand corrosion. You can find all sorts of new and used marine audio amplifiers on eBay.
How many channels do marine amplifiers have?Depending on the number of speakers, subwoofers, and amps you have in your system, the number of channels the amp has is an important consideration. Particular configurations require these channels:
- Two channels - Ideal for a small setup of two speakers, an amp with two channels is sufficient but will not be able to handle any additional components if the system is upgraded.
- Three channels - An amp with three channels will work nicely with a two-speaker system with one subwoofer.
- Four channels - You can direct two channels for a sub and two channels for two speakers.
- Five channels - An amp with five or more channels is good if you think you may upgrade later.
- Six channels - Six channels can handle almost any type of sound configuration you may own, such as having multiple towers, powerful subwoofers, and lots of speakers.
To get the most out of your marine amplifiers, it is necessary to have the correct minimum and maximum RMS ratings on your speakers. There should be a minimum of 75 % and a maximum of 150 % of the required amplifier power per amplifier channel.