2009 180SE - standard Jensen radio has distortion periodically

[carfansince73]

Like the title says, sometimes it sounds okay and other times it's difficult to understand the songs. I'm considering just buying a new radio even though it's still under warranty through the end of this June. I'm figuring about four hours for two round trips to the Sea Doo dealer for repair/replacement, and my time is worth more than the cost of a new one. My only concern is that I want to keep the remote function by the steering wheel.

I've seen a Sony marine radio with an optional round remote complete with an LCD display, but how the heck will I get the two wired to each other? I'm no boat mechanic by ANY means. LOL

 

[gtoimpulse]

Check you speakers. My stereo was fine but the speakers were shot. See if each one is cracked once you pull the covers off.

 

[carfansince73]

I'll check it out. I did manipulate the fader and balance so only one speaker was playing music, and each one sounded the same, like cr@p. I hardly ever use the radio, and i've never turned them up loud either. Is it possible that all the speakers are blown? Last Monday when we took the boat out, they sounded fine for about 15 minutes MUCH TO MY SURPRISE before going back to the crackling voice while out boating a choppy day?

 

[gtoimpulse]

yes, its definitely possible. i bought mine used so who knows what the previous owner did, but on all of mine the woofers were cracked.

 

[carfansince73]

I bought it new, but I will certainly take a look. I'm just not an audiophile so I don't know much about speakers. I just figured if they were blown, they'd sound terrible 100% of the time.

Thanks.

 

[moochy]

Like the title says, sometimes it sounds okay and other times it's difficult to understand the songs. I'm considering just buying a new radio even though it's still under warranty through the end of this June. I'm figuring about four hours for two round trips to the Sea Doo dealer for repair/replacement, and my time is worth more than the cost of a new one. My only concern is that I want to keep the remote function by the steering wheel.

I've seen a Sony marine radio with an optional round remote complete with an LCD display, but how the heck will I get the two wired to each other? I'm no boat mechanic by ANY means. LOL

Davos old challenger had the fusion head unit and matching remote. They worked well together replacing the Jensen remote. The remote will wire into the back of the head unit.

 

[carfansince73]

Davos old challenger had the fusion head unit and matching remote. They worked well together replacing the Jensen remote. The remote will wire into the back of the head unit.

Wow, those are some nice radios. Those are a bit out of my price range though.

 

[Moejay]

I'm looking at the Clarion M502 with the MW1 remote to replace the Jensen. Bluetooth and a wired remote to fill the hole. Kenwood has a good unit with wired remote but no Bluetooth also. The wired remote just plugs into the matching unit.

 

[pwgsx]

I went with this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BU2M29O/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1#productDetails and you can add as many remotes as you want. You just buy the "Y" splitter and the extra cable for each remote. I love mine!!

 

[RFoster130]

Yeah i would totally toss that junk jensen in the trash. I am on my 2nd boat with a clarion and have been very happy with both of them. very reasonably priced too.

 

[carfansince73]

Well it looks like the head unit is the problem according to the SeaDoo dealer service department. I'm a little confused though at their reply as to who is covering the defective radio. According to SeaDoo, they do not cover the stereo even with my 4 yr extended warranty which is still good through 6/29/2014. Jensen says they only cover the radio for two years after initial purchase date. This is leaving me to cover the cost of the replacement radio. Has anyone heard of this limited warranty coverage? I never read the fine print on the extended warranty, but I just can't think of a reason they'd cover everything BUT the radio. I asked the service department to find out why. I'd call myself, but I don't get the idea they like talking to actual owners since I've never been able to find a customer service number.

Either way, I'm not getting another Jensen since the boat only has 23 hours on the engine and maybe 5 on the radio... What a piece of junk. I'm looking at a Clarion or Kenwood with a "REAL" remote that has a display.