I’m intrigued by the Left Coast Simple Stereo, which I learned about thanks to Boat Bits. This seems like a really great idea, particularly for smaller boats where space is at a premium.
If you want to avoid a typical car stereo (or “marine” car stereo) installation aboard you boat, but you’d still like to play music from time to time, play it off your iPod through the Simple Stereo.
The main unit is waterproof, but the connector panel (the part with the plugs) is not. There is no “faceplate” in the conventional sense. Just plug your iPod in and use its interface to control what you listen to, and how loud.
There’s a USB jack for standard 5V charging of your iPod, or indeed your cell phone or any other mobile device that charges off USB.
The wiring is dead simple, with color-coded wires from the connector panel. Wire it up to 12V from your boat’s electrical distribution panel, and a pair of speakers capable of handling 50 watts output (conventional car-stereo speakers will work), and fill your boat with oceans of beautiful music.
I like it! What I don’t like, however, is the price. $186 plus shipping seems a little expensive, when the big marine discounters offer plain old car-stereo-style “marine” stereos with auxiliary inputs and USB charging jacks for around $100, speakers included. And they play CDs and receive AM & FM, to boot!
I like the Left Coast concept, and I understand that they’re a small operation without the economies of scale and overseas fabrication facilities other manufacturers enjoy. I’m sure there is a market for this product, and I hope they find it.
Be sure to check out the rest of the Left Coast website, while you’re there. Very interesting project!
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One important spec is not immediately obvious, and helps justify the price – the amplifier is Mode D. Being all-digital, it doesn’t spend time idling in active regions of semiconductor junctions, which means it doesn’t waste power. That 60 mA standby is great for a sailboat application… and when it does draw power, it is turning it all into sound. Compared to typical modular car stereo amps, it’s night-and-day when it comes to efficiency.
(Kind of like LED vs incandescent, but of course not for the same reasons.)
Cheers,
Steve
I have a this from Poly-Planar on my C-Dory 22:
http://polyplanar.com/productSingle.aspx?prt=MP3-KIT_A
I paid about $100 for it and it sounds fine. I connect it to either my iPod, laptop, or Sirius unit. Like most people these days, I don’t care about CD’s, and I can get a more reliable signal and better sound quality through satellite radio than AM or FM. It’s also great for watching movies on the laptop at night since the sound is much better than through the laptop speakers. Using a single group 24 house battery I have no problem going two nights at anchor without recharging using the Wallas, stereo, and lights as much as I want.
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