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When it comes to marine and powersports source units, Rockford Fosgate has a solution! We previously looked at the affordable PMX-1. In this spotlight, we will check out the Rockford Fosgate PMX-3 to see why it’s an excellent choice for your boat, side-by-side, UTV or even a custom car or hot rod. Let’s check it out!

PMX-3 Design and Construction

The PMX-3 media receiver fits into a three-inch round opening. Its square face measures 4.5 inches wide and 4.2 inches tall. The face extends 1.5 inches forward, while the chassis reaches 2.9 inches behind the mounting surface.

The PMX-3’s face includes a full-color 2.7-inch TFT display, designed for clear visibility in bright sunlight. Rockford Fosgate enhances sunlight readability by using an optical wet bonding process. A large rotary encoder with an integrated button sits at the center of the lower section, allowing adjustments for volume, zone volumes, and menu settings. Surrounding the knob are buttons for menu, source, track selection, tracking, play/pause, and subwoofer-level access.

Importantly, the radio holds an IPX6 water intrusion rating, meaning it can endure splashes or hose washes without damage. Rockford Fosgate’s Element Ready™ design also tests for salt fog exposure (ASTM B117) and accelerated UV exposure (ASTM D4329). Along with impact and vibration testing, this unit withstands the harshest abuse from both trails and Mother Nature.

Features of the Rockford Fosgate PMX-3

The Rockford Fosgate PMX-3 is packed with of source options. First, there’s a digital AM/FM receiver with Weather band channels. The tuner includes RDS information display. A USB connection is provided on a pigtail to let you connect a memory stick up to 32GB in capacity to play MP3, WMA and FLAC files. You can also connect a smartphone to charge it at up to one amp of current. The PMX-3 includes wired USB support for Pandora on Apple devices, but Android users can use the integrated app over Bluetooth.

Wireless audio streaming over Bluetooth 3.0+EDR is built into it, so almost any mobile device can serve as the DJ. You can play music from that device, stream your favorite podcast or listen to music from Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music or YouTube Music.

Support for SiriusXM Satellite radio is included. Your installer can add an SXV300 receiver and antenna to provide uninterrupted entertainment almost anywhere in North America. The input for the SiriusXM receiver can be repurposed as an auxiliary input if you haven’t purchased a tuner module.

Audio and Connectivity Features

The amplifier built into the PMX-3 is rated to produce 25 watts of power into 4-ohm speakers and 50 watts of power into 2-ohm speakers. If you want more from your audio system, there are two sets of four-volt preamp RCA output jacks. These outputs can be configured as front and rear or front and subwoofer with subwoofer level control. High- and low-pass crossovers are built-in to optimize the internal amplifier or filter the preamp signals. The unit has source-specific level controls, so you can fine-tune everything to be the same volume – sweet!

A seven-band equalizer with several presets is included to let you fine-tune your audio system to your mood or listening environment. Being a Rockford Fosgate product, they’ve included a Punch EQ circuit. To give the system some extra sizzle, dial in up to 18 dB of boost at 45 Hz and 12 dB at 12.5 kHz..

Your installer can add up to two wired remote controls to the PMX-3. You could have a PMX-3 at the helm of your boat, then add a PMX-1R in the cuddy or galley. A PMX-0 on the swim platform is great when the family is playing in the water of the stern. The PMX-3 and its remotes also make a great audio solution for campers and motorhomes.

Camera Input and Power Connections

One feature you won’t find in many units in this class is camera input. If you have an ATV, a rear camera is perfect for maneuvering. The same applies to backing into your camping spot if you have a motorhome. You could even add a camera on the bow of a boat to help make docking easier. The camera input includes a reverse trigger that your installer can connect to a switch for manual activation.

The PMX-3 is commonly known as a two-wire unit. Typically, most radios have ground, power, and accessory connections, with the power connection constantly tied to the battery. The issue with this design is that even when the radio is off, it creates a small but continuous drain on the battery. If your boat or side-by-side sits unused for a week or more, this drain can deplete the battery. The PMX-3 addresses this by eliminating the need for a constant power connection, requiring only an accessory and ground connection. Additionally, the unit’s integrated flash memory stores all your audio and tuner settings, ensuring you don’t lose them when the power is off.

Speaking of batteries, the PMX-3 includes a digital voltage gauge. This allows you to monitor the electrical system voltage so you’ll always be able to start the vehicle and get home.

Premium Marine and Powersport Source Unit

There are many gauge-style radios on the market these days. Picking the right one isn’t easy. If you want a unit with all the premium source options, flexibility for expansion with external amplifiers and remotes, and durability that’s hard to beat, drop into your local Rockford Fosgate retailer and ask about the PMX-3. You can find a retailer near you using the locator tool on their website. Be sure to check out their Facebook, Instagram and YouTube feeds and channel to stay up to date with their latest product releases.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

As much fun as it is to check out top-of-the-line products, sometimes the right solution is surprisingly affordable. The marine and powersport audio experts at Rockford Fosgate offer a full line of digital media receivers. In fact, there are five stand-alone units, plus an add-on multi-zone unit with several controller options. There is, indeed, a solution for every application. We will highlight the affordable but full-featured PMX-1 Punch-Series marine-grade receiver in this spotlight.

PMX-1 Physical Design

When we talk about source units, we usually discuss single or double DIN units designed for cars and trucks. The PMX-1 chassis, designed for marine and powersports applications, is intended to be flush-mounted on a flat panel. Rockford Fosgate has several vehicle-specific audio upgrade kits for side-by-sides that include mounting provisions for this unit.

The face of the PMX-1 is 4.5 inches wide and 4.2 inches tall. It protrudes 1.5 inches forward of the mounting surface, and the chassis and heatsink extend 2.9 inches rearward. The kit includes a rubber mounting gasket to ensure the face seals perfectly against the mounting surface.

The radio can be installed in one of two ways. If you have a dash with a round three-inch mounting hole, your installer can mount the radio using the supplied aluminum U-bracket, just like a speedometer or tachometer in a boat. Alternatively, the kit includes a metal mounting bracket that can be positioned behind the mounting surface, and four screws secure the display to the plate and sandwich on either side of the mounting surface. An included trim ring conceals the mounting hardware once in place.

The radio is rated to have an IPX6 water intrusion rating, so you can blast it all day long with a hose or let it get hit by waves. This is crucial in Rockford Fosgate’s Element Ready™ marine, motorcycle, and powersport products. Further, the radio has been tested to exceed prolonged UV and salt fog exposure requirements. Few, if any, other brands talk about the durability of the overall design. Rockford Fosgate punishes their Element Ready™ products with impact and vibration testing to ensure you’ll always have tunes when on the trails or ripping the waves.

User Interface Design

The first feature you will see when you look at the PMX-1 is its 2.3-inch dot-matrix monochrome display. While this looks simple, the display is constructed with a wet-bonded process that makes it easy to read in bright sunlight. The glass screen over the display has a 9H hardness rating, so it’s scratch-resistant. Many competing products use plastic over the display.

A sizable rotary encoder in the center of the front panel allows for volume adjustments or navigating through different menu settings. Four buttons on either side of the encoder provide direct access to source selection, track adjustment, play/pause, menu access, and a dimmer control. Bass heads will love that there are subwoofer + and – buttons on the front panel.

Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 Source Options

You have four options for playing music from the PMX-1. The built-in terrestrial radio tuner includes AM and FM reception capabilities. It also has a weather band tuner for those near larger lakes or the ocean.

You can connect a 32GB or smaller USB memory stick to the USB port to play MP3 or WMA files. The system supports up to 255 folders with a maximum of 1,000 songs.

The radio has stereo RCA input jacks on the back as a third option. So, if you want your installer to connect it to a laptop, DVD player, or similar device, it’s ready to go.

Finally, the PMX-1 includes a Bluetooth receiver. The system uses Bluetooth 3.0+EDR and supports the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) version 1.3. You can connect almost any smartphone and play music stored on it or stream audio from Pandora, iHeartRadio, or Spotify. Album and artist information will scroll across the screen if your device supports sending this information over Bluetooth.

Power, Preamp, and Installation Considerations

The radio includes a four-channel amplifier rated to produce 25 watts of continuous power into four four-ohm speakers with less than 1% THD+N. It also has two sets of RCA jacks on pigtails, rated to produce up to 2 volts of output.

The radio includes a three-zone crossover set to high or low-pass modes with 60, 80, or 120 hertz filter frequencies. The crossovers work on the built-in amplifier and the preamp signals. For the second set of RCA outputs, your installer can select between the rear and subwoofer output functions in a nearby menu.

The radio has a seven-band graphic equalizer with Flat, Rock, Classic, Acoustic, Dance, Electronic, and Hip-Hop presets. A custom EQ mode allows you to fine-tune the system to suit your audio system design or listening preferences. Of course, Rockford Fosgate includes their famous Punch EQ in the PMX-1. You can dial up to 18 dB of boost at 45 Hz and 12 dB at 12.5 kHz.

Power conservation can be a concern for marine and powersports vehicles, so the PMX-1 includes a battery voltage display, so you can keep track of things. The radio uses non-volatile memory to store all setting information. As such, it only requires an accessory and ground power connection. There is no clock, so your installer doesn’t have to hook up a wire likely to drain the vehicle battery. If you turn the radio off but leave it powered, it draws under two amps of current. At the other end of the spectrum, the radio has a 20-amp fuse, so ensure your installer uses large enough wiring to power it.

Compact and Durable Audio Solution

If you are looking for a reliable, easy-to-use radio for a boat, side-by-side, ATV, or jet ski, the Rockford Fosgate PMX-1 is an excellent solution. If you’ve had a craving to build a portable boombox from an old ammo can, the PMX-1 is perfect for that as well. You can pick up a PMX-1 at any authorized Rockford Fosgate dealer. You can find a dealer near you using the locator tool on their website. Be sure to follow our friends from Tempe on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to keep up with new product releases and the events they attend.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.