Summer Sounds - A look at Rockford Fosgate

Rockford Fosgate burst onto the marine audio scene a few years ago with their innovative media centres and industry leading amplifiers and speakers. We have been on that journey with Rockford since 2017, pleased to represent another manufacturer who understands the importance of quality and customer satisfaction. Summer is the time when everyone considers their new audio system, warm evenings spent on board or anchor-down lazy days both are better with a great soundtrack! A Rockford Fosgate system on board is guaranteed to put a smile on your face but how do you choose what to go for?

Audio systems can be a bit of an intimidating topic. Watts, Ohms, zones and NMEA integration, it can be a bit of a minefield for anyone just looking to upgrade to something that performs as expected and sounds great. This is where we come in. We are not just a catalogue; we can help sort your set-up and get you going with some really great marine audio. Here, we briefly try and point out the key considerations when choosing a new system and what to go for.

Understanding what you require

It may sound obvious but knowing what you want from your system is really important. Are you after the loudest set-up on the water, a party boat that’s the star of the marina or just a radio and something to listen to your favourite podcasts on? Knowing this sort of information before you set out specifying your system is a great help. The other point to consider at the start is regarding functionality. Do you need the system to integrate into the NMEA system and be controllable from your navigation screen for instance or are you happy with just a head unit that you can have some control over with your smart phone? We would normally suggest that for small craft, integration with the MFD (Multi-Function Display) is not necessary. Once you have connected your phone via Bluetooth to the system, you can have a degree of control from that device. Most people always keep their phone on them anyway so you would not benefit from being able to also control the system from the MFD. For larger boats with multiple zones then the situation is different. Connected phones or tablets can be left in many places on board and having the flexibility of having control from the navigation screens on board can be an excellent addition.

Amplifiers

All of our media source units have integrated amplifiers except the PMX-0. For those looking either for an interior only system in a single zone or perhaps a simple set-up to listen to the radio and some gentle music then this is all the power you will ever need. Match the likes of the PMX-2 with up to 4 speakers such as the RM1652’s and you will have a great system for fantastic value. Make sure you include the USB port to make full use of the USB and AUX connection on the source unit too. This is on the back of the source unit and could easily be missed, blocking off a simple way to connect devices without.

Bluetooth

If you enjoy your tunes and are talking about an exterior system, then an amplifier is an important link in the chain. You will be surprised how much sound is lost when out on the open water with the interference of the sea, wind and potentially engine noise all robbing your sound. Adding more power to the system will only help keep the base notes rich and the treble clear. We have a number of options when it comes to amplifiers but we cannot recommend highly enough the benefit of the Rockford Fosgate POWER digital amplifiers. With super compact dimensions and low power consumption thanks to the digital class AB design, the amps are great for large and small craft alike. If your budget permits then go for subwoofers externally. The benefit these can bring is notable to the sound quality. Make sure that any installation area is well sound deadened though, nothing worse than clean bass being ruined by a vibrating panel or two! Use some audio insulating material such as Dynamat and ensure any hatches or lockers have a rubber seal! Fitting subwoofers means that you will need to go for either the TM1000X5AD or the PM1000X5 amplifiers. Either of these two will provide plenty of power to your mid-range speakers and ensure your subwoofers fill your space with those deep rich tones. Remember that we can help with how to wire your system in order to maximise performance and ensure that everything is running at optimum levels.

Integration

If you want to integrate your audio system into your NMEA 2K network on board then Rockford have the answer. The PMX-CAN is the necessary piece of hardware that enables your audio to connect to the NMEA Bus. Please note however that you can only use the PMX-CAN with either the PMX-5CAN source unit or the PMX-8BB. Originally designed together with Raymarine®, the interface allows the control of volume, track, zone selection and media source. This is now also available for Garmin® users with an attractive and easy to use interface. Check out the compatibility list to see if your MFD will hook up: Compatible MFD’s. For those looking for the sleekest install with an OEM feel then the PMX-8BB with the PMX-CAN results in a hidden away black box audio system and full MFD control, perfect.

Speaker choice

Rockford have some great speakers that pack a huge punch. If you are sticking with the integral amplifier in the source unit then go for the RM1652 or RM0652 speakers. You won’t really get the benefit from going bigger or better and the sound will still be signature Rockford, redefining what you thought marine audio was! The 6.5” PUNCH or 8” PUNCH speakers are deserving of an amplifier to get the best from them. The new M2 range landing soon have a peak power handling of up to 1000 Watts, we can’t wait to hear what they sound like when we get our hands on them. In addition to the Rockford speakers on offer we do of course also have the fantastic Bowers & Wilkins Marine 6 and Marine 8 products available. For those looking to “see nothing, hear everything”, these are the speaker of choice for any audiophile. The great news is that they are the perfect partner to the Rockford Fosgate source units, even without an amplifier.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s celebrate summer and turn the volume up. Have a discount on us for the month of August across the entire Rockford range and rock your boat, literally.