Best sounding marine head unit/speaker without running amp??
 

1988 SN2001 factory radio and speakers.

Looking looking to replace with a good budget headunit with ipod to run factory inboat speakers and 2 new tower speakers.

I generally like Alpine more than others because they are a lot more simple to use. It'll power the in boats OK but not tower speakers. I have only ran car specific head units and never had a problem and we run in salt water.

They actually sell a mini amp for alpine that plugs straight into the head unit, it bumps the rms up to 45w 4ch. You don't have to run power wires or RCA or anything.

Just look at crutchfield.com for head units then buy them from a wholesale seller like onlinecarstereo.com.

If you only have 2 in boats and 2 tower speakers than the head unit will power them but is only good for low levels and cove listening. But if you actually want to hear it then a amp is a MUST. but stereo systems are skies the limit.

For cheap head units with iPod, look up Alpine CDA-102. They have others too.

This is like asking the fastest olympic sprinter with one leg....

Technically any head unit has an amp inside it.

This is the Alpine plug and play amp that Jordan was referring to:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...e-KTP-445.html

I've read positive reviews on it and it's an interesting concept. It supposedly gives you a true 45 watts RMS per channel (@ 4 ohms) which is more than double what a typical head unit puts out on its own. Supposedly you can cut the wires and wire it up to any head unit if you know what you're doing but it will plug directly into current alpine models.

For wakeboarding/surfing tower speakers I think you're going to be disappointed with just 90 watts unless you're doing like Jordan says and just for hanging out with the engine off. I'm not a loud music junkie but I'm not really impressed with the 200 watts I'm pushing to my tower speakers. They're fine but nothing impressive.

Not going to happen with a single headunit. I'd buy an amp and headunit used that someone pulled out of their system. tower power is another story, but you can cut up a six cabin/two tower speaker setup with a decent 4 channel. Like Jeff said- it's only good for hanging out with engine off.

Made a boat stereo on a Budget - http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=87201

Forget the head unit I guess. Now what do I need besides speakers if I get the WS-420?

bump

Check out Memphis marine head unit.