Bluetooth stereo

1132MM

1132MM

Member
Aug 1, 2010
184
Wantagh, NY
Boat Info
2004 Sea Ray 280 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 4.3 Liter Mercruiser w/Alpha One Gen 2 Drives
Can anyone recommend a replacement Bluetooth stereo for the stock Clarion that comes standard on a 2004 280 Sundancer?
 
If your looking for plug and play.
Screenshot_20190822-072351_Chrome.jpg
 
All you need is a $40 Bluetooth adapter for the clarion. Just put one on mine and it's older than yours
 
1132MM said:
Can anyone recommend a replacement Bluetooth stereo for the stock Clarion that comes standard on a 2004 280 Sundancer?
Click to expand...

I added the Fusion BT-100 to the AUX in of my 2004 Clarion - works great and simple job.

-Kevin
 
if you only need to add Bluetooth, I second the Fusion BT 100. Used one on my old stereo and it was fantastic.
I think you can still get them on Amazon for about $40.00.
That old stereo died on me last season and the new one I replaced it with has built in Bluetooth.
IMHO the BT 100 worked just as well as the built in Bluetooth on my new unit.
 
The dongles and modules work on older head units fine but I believe they stream in a2dp which is of lesser sound quality than the newer aptx technology. If your not an audiophile you may not mind but I like to get the most out of my bazillion dollar JL speakers and amps :)
 
I have the same Clarion you have likely in my 2004 340 Sundancer. I added BlueTooth to it and love it, Got mine from Crutchfield.com This is the one I got.
JL Audio MBT-RX
Marine-rated Bluetooth® adapter
I've installed the same thing in two other boats now after mine, everyone loves it. Just don't make the mistake of buying an adapter that is battery powered, they are out there, and since you have +12 in the boat for the head unit (Clarion) to operate anyway, there's no advantage to the portability of a battery powered adapter. This JL comes with like 6 foot of cable so you can route it up closer into the cockpit if you want more range. Mine works from anywhere on the boat (30 foot range is spec for BlueTooth anyway). It's if you are on the dock that you might want more range to reach your lounge chair :) Good Luck. It's easy to install as others said, no need for new radio.
 
Craig said:
The dongles and modules work on older head units fine but I believe they stream in a2dp which is of lesser sound quality than the newer aptx technology. If your not an audiophile you may not mind but I like to get the most out of my bazillion dollar JL speakers and amps :)
Click to expand...
While the fusion bt100 is the blackberry of blue tooth, all the other major players are running more current formats. JL, Kicker, Wet Sounds, Metra/Cerwin Vega, Memphis all offer universal BT's with better streaming.
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
While the fusion bt100 is the blackberry of blue tooth, all the other major players are running more current formats. JL, Kicker, Wet Sounds, Metra/Cerwin Vega, Memphis all offer universal BT's with better streaming.
Click to expand...

I would make sure to read the specs to ensure it has the latest BT versions and codecs.
 
Adding a Bluetooth dongle is one way to go. I did it to the original Clarion on our 280. That said where the stereo is located on a 280 you really don’t need to buy a marine grade stereo. So you can buy a reasonably decent automotive unit at substantially less. The down side is you will need to build a new dash board. I did this and in addition to Bluetooth we got usb plugs to charge stuff.

H
 
Craig said:
If your looking for plug and play.
View attachment 74112
Click to expand...
Craig,

Do you think the factory remotes on the helm and swimdeck will run that unit same as the old one? Someone put an aftermarket alpine in my 2004 240 DA. I've never been impressed with Alpine and lost functionality of remotes.
 
No. Need the new 8 pin cables and remotes. You can get an adapter that will allow the basic functions to work but not the more advanced stuff.
 
scoflaw said:
All you need is a $40 Bluetooth adapter for the clarion. Just put one on mine and it's older than yours
Click to expand...
Thanks! I’m leaning in that direction instead of paying $150 or more for a new receiver.
 
DennisWittig said:
I have the same Clarion you have likely in my 2004 340 Sundancer. I added BlueTooth to it and love it, Got mine from Crutchfield.com This is the one I got.
JL Audio MBT-RX
Marine-rated Bluetooth® adapter
I've installed the same thing in two other boats now after mine, everyone loves it. Just don't make the mistake of buying an adapter that is battery powered, they are out there, and since you have +12 in the boat for the head unit (Clarion) to operate anyway, there's no advantage to the portability of a battery powered adapter. This JL comes with like 6 foot of cable so you can route it up closer into the cockpit if you want more range. Mine works from anywhere on the boat (30 foot range is spec for BlueTooth anyway). It's if you are on the dock that you might want more range to reach your lounge chair :) Good Luck. It's easy to install as others said, no need for new radio.
Click to expand...
Thanks I ordered it online from Amazon.
 
Wylie_Tunes said:
While the fusion bt100 is the blackberry of blue tooth, all the other major players are running more current formats. JL, Kicker, Wet Sounds, Metra/Cerwin Vega, Memphis all offer universal BT's with better streaming.
Click to expand...

@Wylie_Tunes: how are the Memphis units? I was looking at their headless unit for my center console since I will basically use just BT and did not want to sacrifice helm space.

-Kevin
 
We run sirius radio mostly on the boat because of the remote locations we cruise. Only on Lake Monroe like we are at right now do we even have cell signal. Plus, an array radar on a 240 on inland lakes is way over-kill. Sirius weather to my Axiom-9 is a nice work-around. I do want to integrate the head unit to the axiom and would love to have a remote on the transom. I guess I could order a blank plate for the clarion remote on the helm since the axiom is already there. Right now we have patch cord stretched from the SR200 across the cabin door to the aux port on this Alpine.

Anyone have a suggestion for a head unit that will nmea integrate that would have a transom remote?
 
KevinC said:
@Wylie_Tunes: how are the Memphis units? I was looking at their headless unit for my center console since I will basically use just BT and did not want to sacrifice helm space.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Their MXABTR and MXABTRX are shared with better then half a dozen other labels, so they are good. They offer a bit more user function compared to the hide away universal BT receivers.

Depending on the helm layout, Wet Sounds offers a rocker switch style. If you have an unused rocker or space to add a slot, they are a great option that does not require a random hole to be cut in the helm. WW BT-RS
 
Kwik said:
We run sirius radio mostly on the boat because of the remote locations we cruise. Only on Lake Monroe like we are at right now do we even have cell signal. Plus, an array radar on a 240 on inland lakes is way over-kill. Sirius weather to my Axiom-9 is a nice work-around. I do want to integrate the head unit to the axiom and would love to have a remote on the transom. I guess I could order a blank plate for the clarion remote on the helm since the axiom is already there. Right now we have patch cord stretched from the SR200 across the cabin door to the aux port on this Alpine.

Anyone have a suggestion for a head unit that will nmea integrate that would have a transom remote?
Click to expand...

The new wirless remotes from Fusion are nice. You can mount them anywhere. They have some nice nmea stuff too.
 
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