In this new video series presented by KICKER Marine Audio, Randy Vance offers sound advice on what to look for when upgrading the audio systems on your boat.

Now that we’ve covered upgrading your boat’s head unit and installing new speakers, how do you make sure you get that big sound you’re looking for? In this third installment of Sound Advice, Randy walks through what you need to look for in order to pump real sound through your boat’s speakers.

Randy uses the KICKER Marine Audio KXMA900.5 five-channel marine amp, the KMA800.1 mono KM-Series marine amplifier and the KMPK4 Amplifier Wiring Kit for demonstration. Check out KICKER’s website to learn more and start shopping: kicker.com.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Sound Advice with Randy Vance.

The post Sound Advice: Choosing an Amp & Subwoofer for Big Sound appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

In this new video series presented by KICKER Marine Audio, Randy Vance offers sound advice on what to look for when upgrading the audio systems on your boat.

In the first installment (watch it here), Randy Vance explores why you should consider upgrading your boat’s head unit and what to look for when considering options. Now that you’ve upgraded your source unit, chances are your current speaker setup might be a little out of whack. In this second installment of Sound Advice, Randy reviews key things to consider when upgrading your boat’s speaker system, including:

• Do you want to hear your speakers over the noise of your engine?
• Will you need to adjust speaker volume throughout different areas of your boat?
• Do you need a subwoofer and/or an amplifier?
• How much customization do you want with LEDs?

Randy uses the KICKER KM654L coaxial speakers for demonstration. UV treatments on injection-molded cones, Santoprene® surrounds, baskets and grilles all help maintain top-shelf performance. KM speakers will endure almost any weather conditions with splash-and-spray-resistant sealed motors, cones and Locking/Sealed Terminal Covers. Speaker hardware is forged from rustproof, 316L stainless-steel. Check out KICKER’s website to learn more and start shopping: kicker.com.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Sound Advice with Randy Vance presented by KICKER Marine Audio where Randy explores choosing tower speakers for your boat.

The post Sound Advice: Replacing Your Boat’s Speakers appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

In this new video series presented by KICKER Marine Audio, Randy Vance offers sound advice on on what to look for when upgrading the audio systems on your boat.

In this first installment, Randy Vance explores why you should consider upgrading your boat’s head unit and what to look for when considering options. Key considerations include:

• Bluetooth capability
• USB compatibility
• Space used both on and behind dash
• Screen readability in bright sunlight

Randy uses the KICKER KMC3 for demonstration. Equipped with an easily readable screen, rotary encoder and over 200 watts of total peak power into four channels, the KMC3 comes equipped with plenty of power. Check out KICKER’s website to learn more and start shopping: kicker.com.

Stay tuned for the next episode of Sound Advice with Randy Vance presented by KICKER where Randy explore upgrading your boat’s speaker system.

The post Sound Advice: Replacing Your Boat’s Head Unit appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

There are five ways to experience the world around us: what we see, touch, taste, smell and hear. When it comes to boating, all these senses come into play and ultimately impact our experience on the water.

While onboard, imagine for a moment the unbridled joy of viewing a spectacular sunset … or watching dolphins dancing in your wake. Consider the touch of your hands on the wheel and the throttle, the sheer power and adrenaline pumping as you shift forward, open up and unleash the horses! And, who among the boating community doesn’t love the enticing freshness of a cool breeze, the sun on your face or warm salt air? And finally, we’d all agree that everything simply tastes better when you’re boating, from icy cold beverages, to refreshing fruit or delicious picnic lunches enjoyed on a sandy beach.

When it comes to the magic of sound, boaters thrill to laughter of kids splashing in the waves, or the roar of the engine, or the mesmerizing lullaby of water gently slapping the hull. For many, boating is inextricably connected to the sound of music. That universal language transcends space and time, instantly setting the mood for fun and adventure.

So the million dollar question: how good is YOUR sound system? Do you love what you hear?

Since its launch in 1973 by music aficionado Steve Irby who remains actively engaged at the helm, KICKER Marine Audio has always been about the sound. A well-known player in the mobile car and truck market for nearly 50 years, KICKER has brought its years of experience to benefit the boaters. Today, the company sets the benchmark for product innovation, quality, durability and performance in each of the unique markets it serves.

In the marine space, KICKER Marine Audio currently offers a wide array of products, ranging from subwoofers and speakers with LED lighting, to amplifiers and its signature horn-loaded tower systems. With dozens of patents on its product line, KICKER Marine Audio consistently pushes the boundaries of product excellence, backing it with extensive training for its dealers and installers nationwide, along with plenty of customer support for the DIYers.

One major distinction KICKER delivers is an industry-best warranty to ensure customer satisfaction and enjoyment for years to come, the result of exhaustive R & D with products thoroughly tested against the rigors of the harsh marine environment.

According to KICKER executives, it all begins with the thought process.

As KICKER’s engineers and designers consider what is required to set the bar in the recreational marine space, they analyze everything in the process, including the product design, material selection and resistance capability vs. the elements. The team focuses on key concerns like corrosion and UV resistance, along with ensuring sealed designs, drainage and electrical connections.

For example, KICKER’s team developed a proprietary method to maintain dryness inside of its speakers, while simultaneously allowing pressure – caused by temperature changes – to escape. This is just one example of the type of thorough thought processes, backed by extensive factory-mandated testing, that every product undergoes prior to release.

KICKER amplifiers also feature conformal coated circuit boards, gasketed screw-down control covers, and gasket sealed input connections, all important characteristics and unique distinctions. Every design component has been strategically designed and produced to provide crucial protection that creates high-quality sound while ensuring product longevity.

In today’s world of high-tech bells and whistles, the audio experience extends far beyond audio. LED lighting and ambient effects are just as much a part of the overall boating experience as the sound itself. KICKER deploys a mix of rock-solid music, plenty of fine-tuned vibration and your own custom LED light show. Lighting packages feature completely potted and encapsulated RGB lighting elements that are fully sealed, protected from corrosion and moisture. The controller and associated electronics are designed with performance in mind; noise from high-speed circuit switching is completely hidden within the audio system.

When you’re ready to tune in and upgrade your boat’s audio system to maximize your music experience, visit your local dealer to explore KICKER Marine Audio. For a full list of available products, current patents, dealer locator and other information on the brand, cruise on over to KICKER’s website: www.kicker.com/marine-audio.

The post Boaters and Their Music appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Loud and clear, the Kicker KM8 Marine Speakers are built to pump out the tunes – and the fun – for years to come! Check out more Kicker products at bestmarineelectronics.com/kicker or visit their website at kicker.com.

The post Marine Electronics Guide 2021: Kicker KM8 Speakers appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

When choosing a sound system for your boat, there are a lot of choices and considerations. Aside from the hostility of the wet, salty and foggy marine environment on electronics, your boating lifestyle plays a role as well. Since boaters tend to blast their music, to hear it over engine and wind noise, pure, good quality sound is key. That is where KICKER Marine Audio enters as an important player in your sound system choice.

Founded in 1973 by a musician who sought excellent bass for his own sound system, Steve Irby pioneered the mobile audio market and has long been known in the “12-volt” world as the leader in sound quality. The company’s marine division, KICKER Marine Audio, now heightens its reputation in the boating industry with its line of solid marine-grade components, including the KMFC and KMTC HLCD Horn-Loaded Tower Systems. The HLCD Systems serve the hot and growing segments like wake and surf boats and all those who love projecting sound.

KICKER Marine Audio’s HLCD systems provide the most sonically accurate reproduction available for the HLCD tower speaker category. Key to this sonic purity is the mechanical geometry of the horn itself, according to Phil White, Unit Director, Marine Audio Systems. The KMFC and KMTC horn features a constantly changing cross-section from the horn’s driver to its flare. KICKER Marine Audio’s superior horn geometry eliminates problematic standing waves and resonances found in other HLCD tower speakers that have “straight section with flare” horn design.

As the largest tower speaker currently available on the market, the KMFC11 and KMTC11 speakers also provide the greatest cone area on the market, further enhancing the sound quality and efficiency. Match it with a powerful KICKER Marine Audio KXMA1200.2 amplifier and your boat’s sound will out-play any other on the water!

KICKER Marine Audio offers two mounting options that simplify installation: The KMFC11 speaker and mounting system features “factory” or “flat” surfaces that work with OEM hard points and can bolt right to the tower’s factory tower speaker mounts. All wiring is hidden, as it is routed through the mounting, providing a marine grade connection system for ease of installation. The KMTC11 mounts easily to round tubes, which constitute the majority of boat towers on the market; it also features an even slicker plug-and-play connection system.

All KICKER Marine Audio’s can enclosures are tough, UV-treated and come in black and white to complement a boat’s color scheme. The white or black speaker grilles likewise are UV-treated, and have 7-color LED lights, upgradable to 20 colors and 19 lighting modes by adding the KMLC remote. KMFC11 and KMTC11 speakers have 1.4″ titanium horn drivers and meet or exceed ASTM, UV, salt/fog exposure standards.

When you want to “Kick” up your sound system, rely on the brand that delivers the finest quality acoustics and marine-grade components—KICKER Marine Audio.

kicker.com/kmfc-11-inch-coaxial-tower-system, MSRP: $1,379.95

kicker.com/kmtc-11-inch-4-ohm-coaxial-tower-system, MSRP: $1,579.95

Check out the latest marine electronics at bestmarineelectronics.com.

The post On My Dock: An Inside Look at KICKER’s Tower Speakers appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Our sister publication, Boating Magazine produces a YouTube series known as Boating Roundtable where they bring you behind the scenes with your favorite marine products, boat manufacturers, and more. They invite special guests for rousing discussions about topics important to boaters.

We’re sharing this week’s episode as the editors of Boating Magazine sat down with the Discover Battery team and got the scoop on lithium marine batteries, their history and where lithium ion might fit into your boating plans. For more on Discover Battery’s lithium batteries for wakeboard boat, please visit Discover Lithium Wakeboat Batteries.

The post Boating Roundtable: Discover Battery appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Ever since their launch in 2004, GoPro has been the industry leader in hand-held action cameras. For over a decade GoPro has been improving each model from its last, and the HERO5, both the Black and the Session, are no exception. As GoPro puts it themselves, “Simply the best GoPro, ever.”

First and foremost, the most important feature of any camera is image quality. The HERO5 Black shoots stills 12 MP/30 FPS, burst, time lapse, and films 4K30/1440P80/1080P120. It also has the ability to shoot stills in RAW format, so when it comes to image quality, this is the most advanced GoPro by far. That’s a crazy concept considering that GoPro was able to shave $100 off the price of the previous model, meaning you can get your hands on the HERO5 Black for $400.

The most notable exterior feature of the camera is the touchscreen on the back. This is where a single swipe can bring you to intuitive menus that allow you to adjust anything, such as changing from photo mode to video mode as well as more advanced settings like adjusting the ISO. The single record button on the top of the camera is also worth noting. Whether the camera is on or off, a single touch will make the GoPro start recording. Gone are the days of missing that shot that you weren’t quite ready for. With the HERO5, it now only takes a moment’s notice to be prepared and recording.

Of all the new features on the HERO5, the most badass and most practical for anyone in watersports is that it’s waterproof up to 33 feet. That means that as long as you aren’t going any deeper than that, no case is required. This allows for greater sound quality on the water as well. One piece of advice though for the HERO5 Black – make sure to lock your touchscreen while in use. Those water droplets on the screen have a tendency of adjusting the settings on you.

If it being waterproof is its coolest new feature, its voice activation has to be a close second. You never realize how many times you are reaching for buttons on a helmet cam until you no longer have to do it. Simply say, “GoPro record,” and it will do as told. This also saves you from having to edit around unwanted footage between tricks. A bonus feature of the voice activation really comes to life when editing in the GoPro editing suite. The HERO5 has the ability to recognize interjections while you record with it. That means next time you’re recording and let out a “YEWWW” or a “Hell yeah!” it will bookmark it and let you know to look at those clips first for bangers.

If you want a camera that shoots almost the same quality but need it to be half the size, the HERO5 Session is what you’re looking for. It’s just as waterproof and has the voice controls as well but ditches the touch screen on the back. There is truly a beauty in simplicity on this camera. With just a single button and a red light to let you know it’s recording, this no-nonsense design makes it easy to get that up-close and personal shot. If you wish to adjust the standard settings, don’t worry. All the adjustability that you get from the HERO5 Black can be done on the Session through an iPhone app that connects via Bluetooth.

The post GoPro HERO5 Black & HERO5 Session: Gear Review appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

If you have used Kicker products in the past, you are familiar with their quality in both structure and sound. The Kicker Bullfrog is no exception. You get what you pay for, and if you’re willing to dish out the $400 for this speaker, you know that your cash is most certainly buying a product that justifies the cost. It boasts a Bluetooth range of 100 feet and can last 20 hours on a full charge, as long as you aren’t charging your other devices from it. You can connect your device via Bluetooth or standard AUX cord, or you can simply listen to FM stations through its built-in antenna.

From the moment I picked the Bullfrog up, it was clear that this thing’s a tank, weighing in at roughly eight pounds. With its rubber exterior, this speaker was built to be tossed around and take a beating. The Bullfrog even claimed to be waterproof, and after a little test, we were convinced that this is the ultimate outdoor Bluetooth speaker.

When it comes to sound on the Bullfrog, this thing is loud, even for Kicker’s standards of Bluetooth speakers. Using this speaker in places where there is competing noise is no problem. Whether you’re vacuuming the house or mowing the yard, you’ll still be able to hear your jams. You could probably take this to a shuttle launch and still hear the Bullfrog. One of the raddest sound features of the Bullfrog was the placement of the speakers. With speakers on both sides, you get a true 360-degree sound that packs a punch.

Aside from volume, the sound quality of the Bullfrog is also great. It doesn’t matter if you’re listening to talk radio or techno, the sound comes through clear and crisp. If you wish to adjust bass or treble, that can easily be done through the Kicker connect app that can be downloaded for iPhone or Android. The app also allows you to choose more specifically through radio stations, since there is no viewing screen on the speaker itself. The coolest feature through the app has to be the Double-Kick feature. This allows you to take a second Bullfrog speaker and wirelessly synchronize it to the first one. This means two speakers, one device, and twice the party.

The post Kicker Bullfrog Speaker – Product Review appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.

Building on the high-performance elements the original model was best known for, the ADII sets a new industry standard by combining advanced intelligent tracking technology with durable design and the most cutting-edge autonomous, all-terrain flight performance in the market.

The only camera drone on the market built for hands-free from the ground up, the ADII eliminates the need for manned operation, giving the user complete active freedom with perfect content capture. Customizable flight trajectories allow for more dynamic angles and obstacle avoidance, and scenic-capture modes for unique filming perspectives. Its pro-grade camera stabilization and auto-record system guarantee smooth, framed, professional-grade footage even in the most challenging elements, such as high speeds, wind, water, and abrupt elevation and terrain changes.

“At Airdog, we constantly remind ourselves of our humble roots and appreciate this amazing journey we’ve been on,” says Edgars Rozentals, CEO at Airdog Inc. “The reception we received from our first campaign far exceeded our expectations. Countless hours of user content that flooded our channels, independent Airdog forums as well as a steady stream of flight log updates, have led the path to our newest release, the ADII.”

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Designed to meet the needs of extreme sport performance, the ADII is the perfect companion for a wide range of adventure and outdoor recreational sports, including trail running, surfing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wake-boarding, and motorsports.

The durable, lightweight, waterproof “AirLeash” tracking device allows for hands-free action with simple controls. The backlit LCD interface is loaded with easy flight, start-up tutorials and preset, sport, and customizable modes plus a series of automated creative modes for capturing scenery.

From pro to joe, the ADII is an essential tool in both creative production and high-performance, capturing content completely hands-free and to exact desired settings.

“This is about the freedom from the constraints of having to operate flight and the camera manually. Whether you are alone or with friends, now everybody is part of the story. Human-like intelligence brought to self-shot video creation is the mission the Airdog team is on,” Rozentals shares. “The ADII is one step closer, but we’re just getting started.”

About Airdog: Built for hands-free, from the ground up. The Airdog ADII is the first auto-flying camera drone technology that lets you go hands-free in elements as demanding as outdoor sports (terrain, high speeds, wind, water, extreme motion). Other camera drones are still manually piloted with follow added as a feature to assist the pilot with capturing motion shots.

The post Camera Drone: The Future Is Hands-Free appeared first on Wakeboarding Mag.