BestCarAudio.com

Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry

Showcasing the Best in the Mobile Enhancement Industry
  • Articles
    • Bluetooth
    • Car Audio
    • Motorcycle Audio
    • Navigation
    • Remote Starter
    • Satellite Radio
    • Smartphone Integration
    • Test Drive Product Reviews
    • Vehicle Insights
  • Industry Profiles
    • Installation Profiles
    • Installer Profiles
    • Retailer Profiles
    • Vendor Profiles
  • Products
  • Dealer Locator
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • 0 items
Home » ARTICLES » BestCarAudio.com’s Complete Guide to Powersports Audio Upgrades
Arc Audio

BestCarAudio.com’s Complete Guide to Powersports Audio Upgrades

March 25, 2021 By Dave MacKinnon

Powersports Audio Buying Guide

The BestCarAudio.com team is back with another detailed guide to help you choose the best upgrade solutions for your powersports vehicles. While it’s true that pretty much anything you can ride in or on that has a motor falls into this powersports or motorsports category, we’ll focus on UTVs and side-by-sides, then throw in a few options for snowmobiles, personal watercraft and golf carts. Let’s dive in and see how we can add some great music to your ride.

Start with a Premium Source Unit

Whether you want to listen to satellite radio, play songs from a USB memory stick or stream music from your phone, any audio upgrade is going to need a source unit. Thankfully, there’s usually room in the dash of a side-by-side for a radio of some kind. Just as with marine and motorcycle applications, you need to keep weather and usage conditions in mind. UTVs are likely to get quite dusty, if not downright dirty. Dust can get everywhere when you’re blasting down a trail or playing in the sand dunes. If you’ve equipped your UTV with a snorkel, you might have the urge to try water skipping. If that goes well, you’ll get splashed. If it goes poorly, well, you might need a tow!

Start your shopping experience by deciding how crazy you’re going to get. Water-resistant source unit installation options are designed specifically for the dash of popular Can-Am, Polaris, Honda and Yamaha vehicles. These kits usually include a digital media receiver with an AM/FM tuner, Bluetooth for audio streaming and a USB port to play digital audio files from a USB memory stick. What you won’t see much anymore are CD players. Sadly, they’re going the way of the dodo bird.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The YXZ-STAGE1 for Yamaha YXZ vehicles includes a mounting bracket for the dash and one of the PMX-2 digital media receivers. This source unit offers a 2.7-inch display, an AM/FM tuner with Weatherband and includes Rockford’s Punch EQ circuit to add some jam to your music!
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The HMR 20 from Hertz features a 3-inch color display designed to be used in bright lighting conditions. Equipped with a four-channel amplifier, the HRM 20 has an IP66 dust/water intrusion rating and has passed ASTM-D4329 UV resistance testing to ensure that it will work and look great for years.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
JL Audio offers their SBA-POL-RZG2-DK-MM50 mounting kit for 2014 and newer Polaris RZR, XP2 and XP4 vehicles. The kit works with their MediaMaster MM50 digital media receiver.

If a specific kit isn’t already available for your vehicle, don’t fret. A competent installer or fabricator can integrate something into the dash to give you the functionality you want. The process could be as simple as creating a custom mounting panel or pod, or it might require more advanced fabrication skills to create a solution from scratch.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The team at Certified Autosound and Security in Chilliwack, British Columbia, created this custom radio mount out of acrylic plastic to house a Rockford PMX-2 receiver in the dash of this 2019 Can-Am RC Sport.

Your source unit doesn’t have to be complicated. If you use your phone to play music, then a Bluetooth audio streaming option is a great choice. These solutions are available in hide-away versions and ones with volume and track selection buttons.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Extreme Audio in Midlothian, Virginia, mounted a JL Audio MBT-CRX Bluetooth receiver in the dash of this 2016 Can-Am Maverick.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
California Car Sounds and Tint in Campbell, California, upgraded this Yamaha golf cart with a Bluetooth receiver in a custom pod on the dash. The cart also has a 12-inch subwoofer in a custom enclosure and a Wet Sounds Stealth 10 Core sound bar.

An option you will want to keep in mind is satellite radio. If you’re riding the dunes at Glamis or are out on a big lake on your Sea-Doo or WaveRunner, then you might not have radio reception or cell phone service. Satellite radio works almost everywhere in the U.S. and most of Canada. You can tune in to your favorite genre of music or entertainment without worrying about reception issues. Many marine source units have options to add a SiriusXM radio receiver.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The MTX AWMC3 is a digital media receiver that’s upgradable with a SiriusXM tuner module to deliver non-stop music for your adventure.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
SiriusXM has satellites circling the earth to provide fantastic coverage in the U.S., most of Canada and more than half of Mexico.

All of the above source unit options also work great for golf carts. Keep in mind, even though you aren’t likely to get the vehicle dirty, a chilly morning could easily result in a thick layer of dew on the electronics. A weather-resistant solution is highly recommended. The compact Bluetooth options are excellent for personal watercraft and snowmobiles as there is rarely much space for anything larger.

Sound Bars and Speaker Pods Offer Simple Audio Upgrade Solutions

Moving into a discussion about speaker solutions takes us to the option of adding a soundbar to your side-by-side. A soundbar is very similar to an LED light bar in its design. It’s an enclosed speaker system that attaches to something solid like a roll cage. Many soundbars include integrated amplifiers and Bluetooth receivers. Some even have outputs for external amplifiers so you can add a subwoofer or more speakers to the system. A soundbar can also be an excellent solution for a golf cart, and some of the smaller units work well on the handlebars of snowmobiles or personal watercraft.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The JBL Stadium UB4100 is a 31.5-inch long soundbar that includes a 240-watt amplifier, four high-excursion midrange drivers and a pair of tweeters. The system offers Bluetooth audio streaming and can produce a mind-numbing 105 dB of output at 15 feet!
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
MTX offers their MUD6SPBT soundbar for powersports applications. This weather-resistant solution includes a Bluetooth receiver and is compatible with mounting bars with diameters of 1.75 or 2 inches.

Speaker pods are another option for adding speakers. Unlike those designed for marine wakeboard towers, pods designed for powersports applications are typically much more compact. When executed correctly, they use a low-Q woofer design to deliver smooth midbass performance that’s free of resonance and unwanted emphasis. Many side-by-side installations use speaker pods on rear roll cage bars.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Rockford’s M2 6.5” ColorOptix Moto-Can speakers are designed to deliver big sound from a small package while looking amazing. The enclosures feature 6.5-inch coaxial speakers with either Sport or Stainless grilles.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The SLPK-YA-19FXC-Gw SlamPak for 2019 and newer Yamaha WaveRunner personal watercraft includes a set of their 6.5-inch VEX speaker pods, a Bluetooth receiver and a water-resistant amplifier.

Vehicle-Specific Speaker and Subwoofer Solutions

Unlike car audio systems where accurate imaging and staging might be a goal for music aficionados, merely hearing your music over the scream of a high-revving engine and wind noise is more of a priority in powersports applications. With that said, many companies offer vehicle-specific front speaker mounting solutions that can deliver an impressive soundstage. When shopping, you’ll find fiberglass and plastic enclosure options. When executed properly, both are great solutions. If either is flimsy, they have the potential to add unwanted distortion to your music. You’ll want to confirm fitment and inquire about the need for any modifications before the installer begins work on your vehicle. Speaker pods are available for dash and kick-panel mounting locations to deliver impressive output.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
MTX offers their RZR-14-FS speaker pods to fit in the kick-panel area of many 2014 and newer Polaris RZR side-by-sides.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Rockford Fosgate offers five stages of vehicle-specific audio upgrades for Can-Am, Polaris and Yamaha side-by-sides. This Maverick features the Stage 5 kit that includes front and rear speakers, a 1,000-watt, five-channel amplifier and a 10-inch subwoofer.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Hertz offers 6.5- and 8-inch powersports speaker solutions that use a coaxial design with the tweeter suspended above the woofer for maximum system efficiency. You can opt for models like the HMX 6.5 LD that includes RGB LED lighting to make your ride look as great as it sounds.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Kicker partnered with SSV Works to create this five-speaker audio system for the Can-Am Maverick X3. With more than 700 watts of power from the pair of amplifiers, this system will drown out even the rowdiest of exhaust systems.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Shon Besharah from 6Thirteen Auto Design near Ottawa, Ontario, created this custom carbon fiber speaker and subwoofer solution using JL Audio speakers for a turbocharged Yamaha Viper snowmobile.

Powersports Amplifiers Let You Crank the Volume

Excellent speakers aren’t of much use without a good amplifier to drive them. When you need to drown out exhaust and wind noise, your speakers need as much power as they can get. Just as with motorcycle amplifier selection, you’ll want to consider how much current the amplifiers you choose will draw. As such, you want a design that is as efficient as possible. The most efficient amplifiers can convert more than 90% of the electrical energy from the battery and magneto into power for your speakers.

Another consideration is to choose an amp that can handle the environment. Just as with the radio selection, if you plan on getting buried up to your ankles in mud and guck, or you’re going to be leaping off snowbanks or jumping boat wakes, then choosing a weather-resistant amp is a wise choice.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The four-channel Moto720 from ARC Audio delivers 150 watts per channel into 4-ohm loads from a design that’s more than 90% efficient. This compact amp isn’t just powerful; it sounds impressive.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Rockford Fosgate’s new M5-Series amplifiers were designed specifically to meet the needs of powersports applications where water and mud are a concern. This five-channel M5-1500X5 produces up to 1,500 watts of power to drive speakers and a subwoofer to extraordinary volume levels.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Hertz offers a pair of weather-resistant powersports amplifiers to bring your music to life. The HMP 4D shown here produces 60 watts per channel, and its sister, the HMP 1D, is a subwoofer amp that delivers up to 300 watts of power. Both are IP64 rated to keep dust and water away from the circuitry.

Suppose you plan on having a subwoofer in your powersports application. In that case, you’ll want to work with your local retailer to choose an amplifier that can either be bridged or is designed as a dedicated subwoofer solution. Subs need many times as much power as midrange speakers to play equally as loud.

Given that powersports vehicles (aside from golf carts) are notorious for “getting air,” make sure your installer has a plan to secure your electronic upgrades to handle big jumps, bumps and the occasional rollover. The last thing you want is to get hit in the leg, arm or head by an amplifier or speaker pod that’s come loose.

Wiring and Battery Considerations

From a simple radio and pair of speakers to something custom with multiple amplifiers and subwoofers, every audio system puts an extra load on your powersports vehicle’s electrical system. With much less electrical reserve capacity than a car or truck, you will want to choose wiring that’s of high quality and appropriate sizing to ensure that the system operates reliably and efficiently. We have a penchant for over-sizing power distribution wiring, as it’s a relatively inexpensive way to increase the efficiency and reliability of your upgrades. This mantra holds true for lighting upgrades as well as audio electronics.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
If you upgrade a Polaris vehicle that includes the Ride Command system, Rockford offers this RFPOL-RC5 interface to let you connect one of their Stage 5 upgrades directly to the source unit.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
Adding a second battery to your powersports vehicle is a great way to improve current delivery to your audio upgrades and extend playtime when the vehicle isn’t running. Stinger’s SPXRZRBAT2 kit is designed specifically for 2014+ Polaris RZR upgrades.
Powersports Audio Buying Guide
A high-quality battery will deliver more current and handle shocks and vibrations better than one from the home improvement store. The XS Power PS Series batteries feature Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) construction and use pure lead grids for fantastic power delivery.
owersports Audio Buying Guide
How’s this for a neat and tidy idea? JL Audio offers a six-conductor multifunction cable for speaker installations that include RGB LED lighting. Each cable has a pair of 16 AWG OFC copper conductors for the speaker and four color-coded 18-AWG conductors for the lighting.

Unless you live somewhere like Florida, California or Texas, your powersports vehicle will likely be used more during some seasons than others. When it’s not in use, it’s wise to connect the battery to an intelligent charger or maintainer to keep it topped up. Make sure you choose a charging solution that uses a microprocessor to monitor the battery voltage and adjust the charging current. You don’t want to over-charge the battery. If you have played your audio system without the engine running, we recommend connecting a charger overnight to ensure that the battery is replenished safely.

Powersports Audio Buying Guide
The CTEK CT5 Powersport charger will charge and maintain powersports batteries with capacities from 5 to 25 amp-hours. The charger will automatically recondition deeply discharged batteries to restore their capacity.

Picking the Right Shop To Install Your Powersports Audio Upgrades

While many companies offer audio upgrade solutions that are supposedly “plug and play,” this moniker is surprisingly misleading. First, you’ll need to have the tools and knowledge to disassemble the vehicle, mount the components, then route and secure all the wires and cables. More importantly, you’ll need the experience to configure whatever amplifier you choose correctly so that the speakers are protected from distortion and over-excursion at high output levels. We always suggest partnering with a specialty  mobile enhancement retailer to upgrade your vehicle. They will stand behind the work they’ve done, and you may even have extended warranty coverage if their products are integrated by a professional.

Start by searching for shops in your area that have completed projects similar to what you have in mind. Their websites should have a gallery of their work and explain their capabilities. Just as you would do when choosing an artist to paint a family portrait, it’s wise to inspect examples of their work and audition similar vehicles thoroughly. It’s not a crazy idea to ask them for references to previous clients. Sure, these suggestions might seem a bit daunting, but the last thing you want is for someone to damage your vehicle or render it unreliable.

Upgrade the Audio System on Your Powersports Vehicle Today!

Whether it’s a golf cart to cruise around the pits, the links or a retirement community, or a 195-horsepower Maverick Turbo RR, adding an audio system to your powersports vehicle is a great way to make your leisure time more enjoyable. Drop by your local specialty mobile enhancement retailer today to find out about the options for adding some tunes to your ride.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: ARTICLES, Bluetooth, Car Audio, Marine Audio, Motorcycle Audio, Satellite Radio Tagged With: Amplifiers, Can-Am, Golf Carts, Honda, Maverick, Polaris, Radios, Sea-Doo, Side-By-Side, Snowmobiles, Sound Bars, Speakers, Subwoofers, UTV, WaveRunner, Yamaha

About Dave MacKinnon

Dave has worked in the mobile electronics industry since 1988 in almost every capacity, including roles as a Retail Salesperson, Installer, Sales Representative, Technical Trainer, and Product Development Manager for some of the largest car audio companies in the world. Dave started his writing career in 2000 as the Technical Editor of a Toronto-based car audio magazine and has reviewed more than 450 products. Formally trained as an Electronics Technician, Dave is considered an industry expert when it comes to explaining how mobile audio components work and has crafted thousands of articles to share that knowledge. He’s currently the Head Writer for 1sixty8 media and the Editor-in-Chief at BestCarAudio.com

Audison Forza

Save Time and Money!

Our buying guides will help you make educated decisions when upgrading your vehicle. Click the image above to shop our affordable and informative buying guides.

Industry Profiles

Hilux Stereo

Mobile Enhancement Installation Profile: Xtreme Autosound & Marine Toyota Hilux

March 15, 2023 By Dave MacKinnon 

Matthew Crouch of Shelbyville, Kentucky, owns the ultra-clean 1991 Toyota Hilux you see above. Matthew is one of the … [Read More...]

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Mobile Enhancement Installation Profile: KarTele Jeep Grand Cherokee

February 13, 2023 By Dave MacKinnon 

A demo vehicle is one of the best tools available to demonstrate the audio and convenience upgrade options for a car or … [Read More...]

Press Releases

New Heise Connect App Goes Live for Smart Devices
RDVFL CarPlay CP1
RDV Releases New CarPlay Hardware Platform
Maserati Radio
RDV Launches Tesla Style Radio for Maserati
Firstech Launches Momento M7 Three-Channel Car Dash Camera
iBeam
iBEAM® Ships New Tailgate Handle Cameras, Micro Camera, and Window Mount

Vehicle Insights

2023 Lincoln Corsair

2023 Lincoln Corsair. Pint-Sized Navigator.

2022 Jaguar I-Pace

2022 Jaguar I-Pace: Zig-Zag Jag.

Find Facility Near You

Subscribe to BestCarAudio via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to BestCarAudio.com and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Popular Categories

  • Car Audio
  • Window Tint
  • Remote Car Starters
  • Vehicle Insights
  • Radar Detectors

Supporting Manufacturers

  • Arc Audio
  • Compustar
  • Hertz
  • Momento
  • Rockford Fosgate
  • Sony

Contact

  • Editorial
  • General
  • Advertise
  • Dealer Locator Guidelines

Forms

  • Profile Request

Sign up for our newsletter today. Opt out at any time with 1 click.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

BestCarAudio.com is a product of 1sixty8 media, inc. · Copyright © 2023 1sixty8 media, inc. · Privacy Policy · Website by 1sixty8 media, inc. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...