Product Review: ATV85B Boss Audio ATV Sound System

Riding and enjoying music are usually two exclusive hobbies but they don’t have to be, a reality any Honda Goldwing rider will be all too happy to share. However, unlike your garden variety touring street bike, the trend of an ATV leaving the factory with a premium sound system hasn’t exactly caught on. Enter the ATV85B speaker system from Boss Audio: a fully marinized, off-road/ all-terrain ready, amplified sound system with 700 watts of power comprised of 8″ marine speakers, 1.5″ waterproof directional tweeters & Bluetooth audio streaming capable right out of the box. Factory audio? We don’t need no stinking factory audio.

Set Up

With its u-shape polyurethane shell and cylindrical form factor, fastening the ATV85B is a no-struggle affair, especially for ATVs equipped with front or rear racks thanks to the included pair of Velcro straps. Adequate torque on the center section and a bungee cord for good measure makes mounting the unit on an ATV’s wheelie bar a possibility as well. However, the main appeal here is certainly the UTV-set, as there are countless mounting opportunities present. Additionally, be aware that the unit requires 12-volts of battery power to function and includes a cigarette-lighter style jack as well as direct-post mounts for vehicles that lack power outlets. ATVs lacking batteries, however, need not apply.

Set-up is quick and painless and can be done in under 10-minutes. Because the speaker system is designed to function in boats as well as on off-road vehicles, little time need be spent selecting a position that will keep the elements off the ATV85B. When Boss says waterproof in this instance, they mean you can take the hose to it during post-ride cleanup and it’s no worse for wear.

In Action

700 watts of power may sound like the type of situation we’ve all grown to despise at stop lights when the distorted bass coming from a rusty 1987 Nissan Sentra drowns out your ability to think but rest assured in this case that’s the wattage required to compensate for the vibrato of your ATV’s engine across various RPM ranges. Never does it come off as distorted, rumbly or obnoxious. In fact even in its loudest reaches, the audio quality is surprisingly clear.

Users have their choice of audio sources here but be aware that a lack of a digital tuner means the unit is dependent upon a separate media device to bring the noise as it were. This media device can be anything from an iPod, cellular phone, MP3 player, laptop or tablet, even a Sony Walkman circa 1993 will work thanks to an integrated 3.5mm headphone jack input.

Most of us, however, will likely connect using the system’s integrated Bluetooth receiver that functions just like the Sync feature in a modern car. This allows for the audio source device to remain protected and out of the way in the driver’s pocket or contained within the UTV’s storage compartment for example. The ATV85B may be water and weather-proof but the same can’t be said for that $700 iPhone 6.

The Bluetooth connectivity proved painless and intuitive but be wary of the range as we did experience de-sychronization and recognition failure sometimes just a few steps away from the vehicle. Some users report Boss sending out a replacement Bluetooth receiver that has solved such problems so perhaps later models will leave the factory with updated internals accordingly.

Conclusion

Bringing your tunes along for the ride really opens up a new dimension to the very experience itself. After all, could you imagine driving home from work without the radio in your car? Sure, the experience isn’t for everyone and it’s always wise to respect the ears of those around you when riding on public land, we do have to say that the ATV85B offers a range of output that can satisfy just about any possible scenario.

The MSRP for the system is $269 though a little smart shopping on the web reveals no shortage of competitive deals out there that can bring that cost in at under $200. For that price point, the unit is undoubtedly a steal.

More information can be found on Boss’ official site though the unit is available through Amazon, Crutchfield and just about anywhere else electronics are sold.

Specs


General Enclosure Features:
All-In-One Sound System
Two Speakers
Two Tweeters
Internal Amp
Connector Straps & Zip Ties
Bluetooth enabled
Features
3.5mm input
Power via 12-volt power point or adapter for direct vehicle battery connection
Inline track control
1-year Manufacturer’s Warranty

Speaker Features:
8″ Waterproof Speakers (2)
1-1/2″ silk dome tweeter
Impedance: 4 ohms
Polypropylene injection woofer cones
Woofer surround type
Treated cloth surround
1-1/2″ silk dome tweeters
Marine-grade construction provides weather resistance
Frequency response: 15-25,000 Hz
Sensitivity: 90dB
1-year Manufacturer’s Warranty

Amplifier Specifications:
Two-channel stereo sound
Built-in design
Power Output:
RMS: 150 watts x 2 chan.
Peak: 350 watts x 2 chan.