Hertz Marine Audio Systems Offer High-Quality Sound

The Capri Source unit is designed to broadcast high-resolution audio throughout the speaker system on the boat. Courtesy Hertz Audio BUY NOW

In the not so distant past, boat owners had a much different audio experience on the water than while driving in the tow vehicle they used to launch it. In the auto, they had high expectations of crystal-clear sound, while on the water, most didn’t expect to even hear their music while the engine was running—and certainly not while underway.

Now, thanks to technological advancements, marine stereos have bridged the gap to bring quality sound on board. Enter Hertz Marine Audio, a relative newcomer to the boating industry that’s putting out some of the ­highest-quality marine stereo components available. Here’s how the company is trying to up the game.

From Cars to Boats

Hertz is owned by ­Elletro, an Italian audio company that’s been around since the 1970s and started making high-quality Hertz stereo systems for cars in 1998. After developing a reputation in the automotive ­market, Hertz started making marine stereos in 2016 and have been making inroads into the US market in recent years, both as an ­aftermarket upgrade and appearing as OEM offerings in boat lines such as Tige, Yamaha, and Sea Pro. The goal has been to bring the same high-quality sound that most people associate with their cars to the water.

Capri Source Unit

The Capri Source unit is designed to broadcast high-resolution audio throughout the speaker system on the boat. Its multizone functionality allows you to set up to four independent audio zones on your boat, where listeners can set the volume levels to their liking. So the speakers in the bow, stern, tower and cabin can all be set to different levels by ­different listeners. The Capri’s remote units also have the exact same ­controls as the primary source unit, so the user can go through the same intuitive commands, whether at the helm or the swim platform or lounging belowdecks. Hertz also offers a “black box solution,” where the software can be integrated into your boat’s primary MFD at the helm, eliminating the need for the primary source unit if helm real estate is at a premium for mounting on the dash.

The HTX line uses a smaller cannister to produce high-quality sound at a high volume. Courtesy Hertz Audio BUY NOW HTX Tower Speakers

The HTX line of tower speakers is built with a sturdy ­UV-resistant cannister that has an IP65 rating (protecting against water and dust) to withstand the harsh marine environment. What ­really sets these speakers apart is Hertz’s common motor technology, which allows Hertz to use a smaller cannister to produce high-quality sound at a high volume. It also ­produces ­excellent clarity.

“We solved the oldest challenge in boating stereos,” says Brian Power, VP of the Hertz Marine Division. “You used to have to choose between ­high-output and high-sound quality. Now you can have both.”

Power noted that the HTX speakers produce loud and clear audio—both for the people in the boat, as well as those “off axis,” ­either on the sandbar or enjoying watersports ­behind the boat.

The HMS subwoofer is built to deliver high-quality bass sound throughout the boat. Courtesy Hertz Audio BUY NOW HMS Subwoofer

The HMS subwoofer is ­designed to overcome one of the biggest challenges of open-space audio: getting a clear and consistent bass sound in an open setting. The HMS subwoofers can handle 500W of continuous power and don’t need to be housed in a dedicated enclosure to produce a high-quality bass sound throughout the boat.

HMX speakers provide a nice tonal quality throughout the boat. Courtesy Hertz Audio BUY NOW HMX Cockpit Speakers

The HMX coaxial cockpit speakers offer ­s­imilar high-quality casing and large 1.4-inch-diameter tweeter. The tweeter provides sound ­dispersion throughout the boat, covering a broader area and providing a nice tonal quality throughout the boat, while still handling low-end frequency.

Read Next: Installing a Marine Stereo In Your Boat

The Venezia V6 amplifier boosts the quality and fidelity of the speaker output. Courtesy Hertz Audio BUY NOW Venezia V6 Amplifier

The Venezia V6 is a six-channel marine ­amplifier that boosts the quality and fidelity of the speaker output, a necessity in an open-air boat setting. The die-cast aluminum casing withstands marine conditions and ­electromagnetic interference from the other onboard electronic components. Its plug-and-play ­input and output ­connectors make it easy to sync with the other stereo ­components.

What do you get when you put all the Hertz components together? According to Power, “You get a concert-capable product producing sound like you’re in an amphitheater.”

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