Why Trust Our Opinion on Wakeboard Boat Tower Speakers?
First off, whether its automotive audio or marine audio – we’re all in. And just because we’re “CarAudioNow” doesn’t mean we don’t love boats and boat stereos too. When it comes to marine audio, we’ve got over a decade of experience documenting custom installs and product reviews. Our founder, Kameron, is particularly invested in boat stereos – just check out our stereo upgrades on a Nautique G23, Axis A22 and Lightning 247SX (to name a few). It’s dozens of installations like these that make us an expert in not only car speakers, but products like tower speakers on this list too.
CarAudioNow is also an award winning blog, founded and built from the ground up by car enthusiasts over a decade ago. We don’t use AI to throw regurgitated information about a few tower speakers on a list and say they’re “the best”. We’re dedicated to providing meaningful and authentic lists, with practical information that will help you make an informed decision on a product. And we do it because we genuinely enjoy or highly regard the stuff we add to our lists. Our readers and our reputation are both more important to us than a quick buck or the top rank on Google – although both of those would be nice! Read more about how we choose our top lists here.
In this article: We'll review 8 of our best pick tower speakers for your wakeboard (or other type of) boat along with specs, opinion, photos and more.
You probably already have a stereo system in your boat. But can the wakeboarder, surfer or tuber behind you hear what you can hear? With a set of the best wakeboard tower speakers, you can bring your favorite music to your favorite watersport.
Wakeboard tower speakers are designed to mount on boat towers. They’re meant to project long range while maintaining clarity and volume. They’re different from regular speakers because of their engineering inside and out. On the inside, the speakers need to be designed to carry the audio a long distance and cut through a lot of background noise. On the outside, they need to be waterproof so they can handle the outdoors. Salt, UV rays, and water are no match for these tough speakers.
Boat tower speakers can’t act alone. Ideally they’re used in conjunction with a really good marine stereo. Chances are, you already have a boat stereo along with marine speakers. Getting the a set of quality tower speakers can really complete the audio setup on your boat.
Why settle for subpar audio? Adding wakeboard tower speakers to a boat or a quad can really bring it to life. Once you realize what the a quality set of wakeboard speakers can do, you won’t be able to live without them!
Here Are Our Top Pick Wakeboard Boat Tower Speakers
- Best Overall Tower Speaker for Wakeboarding & Distance: Wetsounds Revolution Series Tower Speakers
- Best Tower Speaker for Wake Surfing: JL Audio M6-880ETXv3 Tower Speakers
- Best Heavy Duty & Aggressive Looking Tower Speaker: Kicker KMTC9 Tower Speakers
- Best Wakeboard Tower Speaker for LED Lighting: Fusion Signature Series 3 SG-FLT882SPC
- Best Wakeboard Boat Tower Speaker Package: Exile Audio XM9 Tower Speaker Package
- Best Entry Level Tower Speaker: Rockville RWB65B
- Best 4″ Marine Grade Tower Speaker: Boss Audio MRWT40
- Best Budget, Low Cost Tower Speaker for Your Boat: Pyle PLMRWB852LES
Recent Reviews & Articles
Best Overall Tower Speaker for Wakeboarding & Distance
Wetsounds Revolution Series Tower Speakers
Latest Prices
Key Features
- REV TEC™ Technology
- Wet Sounds™ EFG™: Epoxy Fiber Glass Speaker Cone
- Reinforced Composite Enclosure.
- Wet Sounds™ Extensive Crossover Network.
- Multiple clamp options: Patented Swivel-Quick Disconnect Clamp, Fixed Clamp, Custom tower clamps
- Stainless Steel Hardware
- HLCD: Horn Loaded Compression Driver
Wet Sounds REV Series Tower Speakers Quick Review
Wet Sounds is one of the top names in marine audio. They’re one of the best at what they do because it’s really the only thing they do. Their passion for marine audio is obvious in their products. The Wet Sounds Revolution Series is a high-end set of marine speakers. They can add a lot to the look and sound of your boat, and they come in both 8″ and 10″ options. The incredible sound of these speakers comes from their proprietary Rev TEC technology. Rev TEC was carefully engineered to perform well at long distances. That means the wakeboarder will be able to hear the speakers like he’s in the boat. They claim they can project volume 80 feet and beyond without losing any audio quality. Obsessive engineering, a cool look, and quality construction set the Revolution Series apart. They’re at the top of our list of best boat tower speakers. We love these speakers so much we even put these in our own Nautique G23, you can check out the install here.
Best Tower Speaker for Wake Surfing
JL Audio M6-880ETXv3 Tower Speakers
Latest Prices
Key Features
- 8.8″ 2-way marine grade tower speakers
- 5 RGB LED light choices with JL's Transflective™ speaker cones
- Control the intensity and color of the lighting with a separate LED controller MLC-RW
- Lightweight neodymium magnets
- Patented tweeter bridge allowing for easy removal and painting of the grille
- Swivel or fixed clamps available. Normally sold separately
- 200W RMS, 400W Peak power handling
JL Audio M6-880ETXv3 Tower Speakers Quick Review
JL Audio has really stepped it up with their M6-880TXv3 tower speakers. They were designed to provide not just loud music for far distances, they're designed to project well rounded and high quality sound. They feature mica-injected polypropylene cones that are super stiff to prevent any sort of flex and distortion at high volumes. What we really liked about these speakers is their Transflective cone technology, bringing built-in RGB LED lighting with a stylish look even when they're turned off. Combine the speakers with JL's MLC-RW RGB LED Controller and you'll be able to adjust the color and intensity of the LEDs to match the interior colors of your boat
Build quality is very high on these speakers too. They feature marine-grade stainless steel grilles, synthetic fibers and UV-resistent polymer baskets to prevent inner corrosion of the speakers. Nautique has chosen these as their upgraded option for their G series of wakeboard boats, which further speaks to the quality of these speakers.
When we listened to these speakers we got an overwhelming sense of well-rounded, high quality sound that left us with chills. And although they may not go the distance that the Wet Sounds horn drivers will, they're incredibly loud and project incredibly far distances without the harsh high frequencies.
Best Heavy Duty & Aggressive Looking Tower Speaker
Kicker KMTC9 Tower Speakers
Latest Prices
Key Features
- Power Handling: 300 watts RMS / 600 watts Peak
- HLCD 2-Way Design. Santoprene® surrounds
- Woofer Size: 9″. Woofer Composition: UV-treated Polypropylene
- Tweeter Size: 1 1/4″
- Impedance: 4-Ohms. Sensitivity: 92dB. Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz
- Heavy duty, 354 degree swivel mount
Kicker KMTC9 Quick Review
Kicker's KMTC9 tower speakers were built for longevity, usability and performance. We had the opportunity to get our hands on a pair of these and did a full writeup and review here, but here's the highlights of what you need to know about these speakers.
First off, they're stout. They're heavy duty, solid and they have an aggressive look that's modern and sleek (they also match their other KM series speakers and subwoofers). They're made with quality materials like UV protected poly cones and casings, stainless steel and aluminum hardware, and Santoprene rubber surrounds to make them a durable choice for the marine application. One of the nice things about this set of speakers too is that they all come with a heavy duty swivel mount. These swivel mounts are heavy duty (and a tad bit bulky) like the rest of the speaker and have an easy to install/use mechanism that's unique and really functional.
They all come with LED lighting too so no need to purchase LED lights separately or grilles with LEDs. And unlike some competitors, the LED lighting is hidden and faces the cone to reflect the light much more naturally than other LED rings. If you want to read more about these, check out our first look article here for a full overlook of these speakers.
Best Wakeboard Tower Speaker for LED Lighting
Fusion Signature Series 3 SG-FLT882SPC
Latest Prices
Key Features
- CURV technology woven polypropylene cone with rubber surround
- 1” silk dome tweeter
- Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) casing
- Power handling: 130W/330W (RMS/MAX) @ 4ohm
- Frequency response: 50Hz~20KHz
- Sensitivity: 91dB
- Overall diameter: 8.8″
Fusion Signature Series 3 SG-FLT882SPC Quick Review
Fusion's Signature Series 3 tower speakers are their latest line of tower speakers. Announced in December 2020, they're part of a larger line of new Series 3 products that were designed for performance and style. They're a coaxial style speaker (no HLCD), so although they are definitely designed for high volumes and long throw, they aren't going to have the distance that an HLCD speaker will have. We really like Fusion's CURV technology and the look of the woven cone. CURV technology is essentially a polypropylene composite material that's woven and then heat treated to strengthen the material. It's pretty unique and result is a lighter, stronger cone. The enclosure is also engineered to really maximize the performance of the speaker. Both JL Audio's M6 and these speakers share a similar shape and design if you look closely, which is a good thing.
Their CRGBW lighting is definitely worth pointing out here too. They're the only tower speakers right now with this feature. In a nut shell, these speakers have the traditional RGB lighting that fires onto the cone (no ring around the outside of the speaker) but also have two new colors: cool and warm white. And when you add these two additional shades it really gives you a much broader and brighter tone of colors. You can really get hundreds of shades of colors with this new LED lighting technology. We review it a little more in the video here.
If you'd like the full scoop on these speakers, take a look at our first look review where we walk you through the product features first-hand. Or watch the video!
Best Wakeboard Boat Tower Speaker Package
Exile Audio XM9 Tower Speaker Package
Latest Prices
Key Features
- Quick release rotating clamping system that can direct sound a full 360 degrees to put sound on virtually any target
- Capable of projecting full force Hi-Definition sound at 80 feet
- Compact enclosure
- Peak: 500 watts
Exile Audio XM9 Tower Speaker Quick Review
Exile Audio is one of the top competitors to Wet Sounds. Exile is another company that specifically specializes in marine audio. The XM9 is their flagship wakeboard tower speaker. It has a lot in common with the Wet Sounds Revolution Series. Particularly the amazing range and high-quality materials. The overall fit and finish on these speakers is unmatched. When you’re holding it in your hand or admiring it on your boat, it’s easy to see these are high-end speakers. They’re easy to aim thanks to their patented clamping system too. They allow for full 360-degree rotation to aim the sound wherever you want. They claim a range of 80 feet, which is the same as the Wet Sounds. These are a great set of speakers thanks to their long-range sound and superb overall quality.
Best Entry Level Tower Speaker
Rockville RWB65B
Latest Prices
Key Features
- 500 Watts (250 Watts per speaker)
- Color : Black. 6.5″ Two-Way High Fidelity Speaker System
- Adjustable Nylon Mounting Bracket
- Built-In Two-Way Crossover Network
- Y30 High Density Magnets
- Oversized 1.25” Kapton Voice Coil
- Large mounting screw accommodates roll bars found on many off road vehicles
Rockville RWB65B Quick Review
Another great pair of 6.5” tower speakers, these Rockville speakers are another great value. The speakers sound great, but our favorite feature is the mounting brackets. They’re reinforced with nylon for easy adjustment. They’re also reinforced with steel adding strength and reassurance. Also, the mounting screws are nice and long to accommodate a wide range of applications. Once they’re up on their sturdy mounts, they blast a crisp, clear sound at a long range. If you’re looking to use tower speakers for a PA system, these are specially tuned for PA voice over. Rockville did a great job thoroughly marinizing these speakers. They’re water and rust resistant and the terminals are sealed with rubber gaskets. You don’t have to worry about these speakers wearing out just from being outside.
Best 4″ Marine Grade Tower Speaker
Boss Audio MRWT40
Latest Prices
Key Features
- Weather Proof Enclosed System 4″ 2-way Speaker Pair
- 400 Watts MAX 200 Watts RMS Power Handling per Pair
- 130 Hz to 20 kHz Frequency Response and 94dB Sensitivity
- Polypropylene Woofer Cone and Rubber Surround
- Sold in Pairs
Boss Audio MRWT40 Quick Review
These Boss Audio speakers have a more compact design than the other three other models we’ve looked at so far. They’re only 4” in diameter so they’re less bulky than the bigger 6.5” speakers. Don’t let their size fool you. They still pack a powerful punch. It has a mylar tweeter which is more durable than paper cones you’d find on lower-end speakers. Speaking of durable, these are fully marinized. Every major component is sealed for protection from UV, water, salt, and humidity. These speakers are all black and look cool wherever they go. If you want a top notch set of towers, but don’t want too much bulk, check out these Boss Audio speakers.
Best Budget, Low Cost Tower Speaker for Your Boat
Pyle PLMRWB852LES
Latest Prices
Key Features
- Includes (1) Speaker Tower with (2) Built-in 8” Speakers
- Rugged Marine Grade Weatherproof Construction
- Sleek Bullet-Style Wakeboard Speaker Design
- 2-Way Audio Speaker System
- Built-in Crossover Network
- Built-in LED Lights With Color & Dancing/Flashing Speed Adjustment
- Included Remote Control
- Chrome-Plated Speaker Plug Terminals
- MAX Power Output: 600 Watts
Pyle PLMRWB852LES Quick Review
Add a light show to your audio with these Pyle speakers. There are a lot of unique features in these fun wakeboard speakers. The most noticeable feature is the programmable LEDs. LED rings sit inside both speakers and you can change the color with the included remote control. Not only can you control the color, you can make the colors dance and adjust the flashing speed. Another unique feature is how these are mounted. Rather than having two separately mounted speakers, both speakers are attached to one mount. That means they can take up less interior space in your boat leaving for more headroom. As for the actual speakers, they’re powerful 8” speakers with impressive low-end bass. They have titanium dome tweeters for supreme durability. If you want to add a party to your boat, these Pyles are a great option for the money.
Who Is This Review For?
This review is for anyone who wants to improve the audio on his or her boat. It’s for any wakeboarder who wants to hear more than wind and water. If you throw a lot of parties on your boat, tower speakers can really help get the party going. Or, maybe you just want to add a cool look to your boat.
Wakeboard tower speakers aren’t just for boats. They’re also for anyone with an ATV, RAZR, or other offroad vehicle. Wakeboard tower speakers are popular with off-road enthusiasts who want some extra sound and style on their vehicles.
Casual enthusiasts and die-hard audio junkies alike can benefit from a good pair of tower speakers. Keep reading to find the best tower speakers for you!
Best Tower Speakers | What to Look For
Since wakeboard tower speakers are so different than car, home, and even other marine speakers, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. If you’re confused, don’t worry! By the time you’re done reading this review, you’ll be a pro on wakeboard tower speakers.
Common Things to Consider
- Size – Size is a unique feature for tower speakers because of the flexibility. With car speakers, you just get whatever size fits in where your factory speakers used to be. With tower speakers, you get whatever size you want. Since they’ll be up in the air, you're free to pick the size that suits your wants and needs. Maybe you want big, loud sound and need the biggest speakers you can find. Maybe you’re going for a more subtle look and don’t want to worry about hitting your head on these things. It’s up to you. Size also affects the sound of the speaker. The larger the tower speaker, the better it will be able to produce lower frequencies and bass. The smaller the speakers, the better they are at producing the mid and high frequencies.
- Marinization – All of these speakers are marinized to some degree, but some more than others. Marinization doesn’t mean the speakers will survive forever outside. The higher end speakers with more obsessive waterproofing are more expensive, but give you a more durable, purpose-built product. That doesn’t mean cheap speakers can’t be good. You might be amazed at the level of waterproofing you can find on some budget friendly speakers. Also keep in mind that marinization goes beyond just waterproofing. It also encompases all other elements of nature the speakers will encounter like salt and UV rays. Consider the environment they’ll be in and get as much marinization as you need.
- Mounting – The mounting hardware on each speaker is a little different. They’re all flexible in their sizing to some degree. Although they’re flexible, they’re far from universal. This is something you want to pay close attention do before making the purchase. Measure, re-measure, and measure again. Make absolutely certain that the speakers you go with will fit where you want to mount them. We stress the importance of measuring and checking because none of the speakers on this list will do you any good if they can’t be mounted properly. Most of the newer wakeboard towers need specific mounting brackets in order to make them fit (e.g. Master Craft and Malibu). Also, some mounts have features like 360 degree swiveling, which is a great bonus.
- Aesthetic – While we can’t show you exactly what these speakers sound like, we can show you what they look like. If you’re in the market for aftermarket speakers, we don’t have to tell you how important it is for them to look cool. There’s a wide range of different looks out there. Whether you’re looking for a subtle, low-key look or an outrageous, lit up, showy audio system, the perfect looking speakers for your setup are out there. Typically tower speakers come standard in black and white. But sometimes, you can order custom colors if you’re looking to match your boat.
- Value – Obviously, your budgets is nobody’s choice but your own (and maybe the wife). However, no matter what your budget, you always want to get a lot of bang for the buck. It’s hard to say which speaker is the best value because it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a hard-core audiophile, you know that you often get what you pay for in the world of audio. The higher-end speakers on our list are an investment, but they’re truly phenomenal. If you’re just looking to add a boost to your sound system on a budget, the lower priced units on our list are perfect.
- Power Handling: Power handling is the measurement a manufacture gives to rate how much power a speaker can handle and operate at. It is given by two measurements, RMS and Peak (or MAX). RMS Power rating is the amount of power the speaker handles continuously. The Peak Power rating is the amount of power a speaker can handle in short bursts. When comparing speakers, RMS Power is the more relevant and important rating to look at.
- Sensitivity: Speaker sensitivity rating is a measurement of the amount of sound the speaker will emit from the power it’s given. The higher the sensitivity, the more efficient the speaker is with the power it’s given. For lower powered systems, you want a higher sensitivity rating. For a higher powered system, you want a lower sensitivity rating. Lower sensitivity rated speakers are meant to handle higher power.
- Frequency Range: Frequency range is the frequencies that the speaker emits sound at. It's typically measured in Hz. The ranges show from a low frequency to high, for example: 20 – 22,000 (22k) Hz. This measure how low and high the speaker can emit sound at.
Design & Materials
- Woofer: The tower speaker woofer determines the responsiveness, and quality of the speaker. The stiffer and lightweight the material used, the more effective the speaker is. Polypropylene is a common material used for the cone.
- Woofer Surrounding: The woofer surround also is an important aspect of the speaker system. It can affect the sound as well. Durable, lightweight, and free moving materials are used to allow the woofer to move with as little energy possible. The material is essential for a long-lasting speaker too. As speakers get older and used, humidity levels and wear-and-tear can crack and break the woofer surround. Rubber surrounding is typically the most long lasting a high performing. Foam and cloth surroundings are found on less expensive car speakers, with lower performance and shorter life spans.
- Crossovers: When you purchase a component car speaker set, a crossover is typically a part of the package. External crossovers are typically used to lessen the amount of distortion a speaker has. They do this by separating the frequency inputs. Signals can cross through coated wiring and cause distortion. So, an external crossover system will limit this.