Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/467551
www.BoatingIndustry.com 42 | Boating Industry | March 2015 MARKET FOCUS SECTION { AUDIO } BY NICHOLAS UPTON Radical advancements in the marine audio segment are coming faster than ever as prod- uct development and economic conditions finally catch up with consumer demand. The beauty of such a competitive market like electronics is that the industry isn't talking about making things simply work in the harsh marine environment. "It's not just about being waterproof, it's about being able to withstand vibration, shock and all of the movement of the boat on the water so that it doesn't affect the performance of the amp. That's a key element of design for all the manufacturers," said David Pilvelait, COO at Home Port Marine, which represents Aquatics AV. Now that most every manufacturer designs products for all those vibrations, shocks and moisture, they are able to integrate and capitalize on emerging trends in connectiv- ity, design and usability. Boaters across generations now have easy-to-use Bluetooth connections in their car and home, and are starting to demand the same kind of functionality on the water. "When people are out there spending the kind of money they spend on a new vehicle where this kind of thing is standard, then take a look at the price of a boat. In a lot of cases they're very similarly priced, so if they can have it in their car, why can't they have it in their boat?" said Marine Industry Manager Matt Wood of Jensen Audio. "I think people are demanding the latest and greatest technology. The idea of having CDs or outdated audio outlets is even becoming foreign to the older consumer. I don't see this as an age-specific issue. All ages are using this type of technology." As all consumers adopt and acclimate to their smartphones, manufacturers are also Marine audio advances to meet consumer demand Home and auto trends expand to the marine segment The blue cube offers connectivity directly to the amp, another among many connectivity products that streamline marine audio for Bluetooth devices. Keeping all those pricey devices safe means more peripherals. The Digital Media Locker from Aquatics AV keeps them safe and connected. An upcoming app from Jensen gives boaters full control of their system, including radio, downloaded audio, stream- ing services and complex controls like EQ and fade. The PRV 350 is a big jump from the dot matrix PRV 250, offering a TFT screen and intuitive user-interface elements.