Stereo 101 – The Sony unit does sound better than the JVC, Kenwood and Clarion Marine units we have used in previous years.
This is the same unit BCB mounts as standard. You can buy this unit from electronics stores for bargains due to their volumes on radios. The Sony is a marine unit with splash resistant face. On the Sony, the CD cover flips down and also has a gasket. They come in two units, the upper is as Sirius ready, and Infrared Remote also. The lower level model does not have IR or Sirius. The IR model is the unit BCB uses.
The backlight colors can be changed between blue and red. There is a USB cable out that accepts MP3 formats or iPod harnesses. There is a sleeve on BCB installs for the iPods to slide into that accepts the 120 gb, iPhone and iTouch also. The smaller Nano units do not fit. If you have iPod Shuffle, that unit plugs into the same rear port for MP3’s that have the headphone jacks in the rear of the unit.
Stereo units are a nemesis for marine applications. They are notorious for failure due to the moisture that a boat is always under. Not just on the water, also in storage as water is retained and the humidity in a boat is high, which also leads to mildew and mold. That moisture also causes corrosion on the printed circuit boards and little electronic parts that already have small connection points. We feel the Sony system is above average in that regard.
Otherwise you can pretty much select any unit you feel comforatble with and go from there. If your not going to a high dollar unit, then just squeeze and reduce costs to the least cost on a suitable unit. Pro Spec makes a very efficient marine stereo that competes for the price with Audiovox.
BCB
From memo to consumer:
Assuming your are getting the Sony stereo, the Nano will work and you will need a separate USB to iPod cable which is like the one on your computer to Nano. The Sony can also use MP3 players and you will require a / the small male to male headphone jack that usually has light green ends on it.
This unit did come with the iPod cable though now comes with a USB cable. Seems Sony had to be more versatile for mroe units such as the MP3 players.
The slide carrier on the side wall fits the larger iPod units, such as the iTouch, 120 GB iPod and the iPhone. Though it will not accomodate the jackets and rubber covers that are used as aftermarket items.
The sound is tremendous from the iPod and digital music. MP3 is better than CD or FM radio, though the iPod is much better.
Hope this helps answer your questions.
BCB Admin.
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