Grady-White Speaker Replacement — Exact Fit Guide

Your Grady-White's factory speakers have given out. Or they're sounding thin and distorted — the tweeter gone, the crossover corroded, the surround cracked from years of offshore UV exposure. You chose Grady-White because it's built to last a lifetime offshore. Your speakers weren't.

DC Gold Audio has a design lineage dating back over 40 years. DC Gold speakers are designed to match Grady-White's standard factory cutouts — no modification required. And unlike every coaxial speaker Grady-White has ever installed, DC Gold has no tweeters, no crossovers, and nothing that salt water can destroy.

Why Grady-White's Factory Speakers Keep Failing

Grady-White builds one of the finest offshore fishing hulls in the world. Their factory audio is sourced to a price point, not built to the same standard as the hull. Grady-White has historically equipped their boats with Clarion and JL Audio OEM speakers, with JL Audio becoming the dominant factory supplier on most models in recent years.

• Tweeter corrosion. Salt air destroys tweeter voice coils. Every coaxial speaker — JL Audio or otherwise — has a tweeter that will eventually corrode in an offshore environment. Grady-White owners who fish in saltwater regularly typically see tweeter failure within 3–6 seasons.
• Crossover degradation. Passive crossover components corrode in salt-humid air. The signal path degrades gradually — the speakers sound progressively worse until they fail entirely.
• UV surround failure. Offshore UV exposure breaks down foam and rubber surrounds over time. Bass disappears first, then overall output drops.

The harder you use your Grady-White offshore, the faster the conventional speakers fail. The only solution is a speaker with no tweeters and no crossovers to corrode.

The DC Gold Difference — Built for Offshore

Every marine speaker failure you've experienced started with a tweeter. DC Gold doesn't have one.

• No tweeters. No crossovers. Every DC Gold speaker is a single full-range driver. One cone, one coil, one signal path. Nothing to corrode in salt air.
• Aluminum and magnesium alloy cone. DC Gold cones don't absorb moisture, warp in UV, or lose stiffness offshore. Combined with a UV-stabilized foam surround and ferrofluid-cooled voice coil, every component is specified for what Grady-White owners actually face on the water.
• Handmade in Palmdale, California. Every speaker is hand-assembled to order. Not mass-produced. Not offshore.
• Built to be overhauled. Most DC Gold models can be returned to the factory in Palmdale for a full overhaul — new surround, new voice coil, refreshed components — for a fraction of replacement cost.
• 3-year warranty. Every DC Gold speaker carries a 3-year manufacturer's warranty.

What Size Speakers Does My Grady-White Use?

Most Grady-White models use standard 6.5" speaker cutouts in helm, cockpit, and console positions. DC Gold's N7C and N7R have a 6.23" cutout diameter and a 7.4" face OD — they drop directly into those positions with no modification.

Series	Common Models	Cutout Size	Location(s)	DC Gold Match
Canyon	271, 306, 336, 376	6.5" standard	Helm, cockpit, cabin	N7C or N7R — direct drop-in
Freedom	235, 255, 275, 285, 307	6.5" standard	Helm console, cockpit	N7C or N7R — direct drop-in
Express	270, 305	6.5" standard	Helm, salon, cockpit	N7C or N7R — direct drop-in
Fisherman	180, 200, 216, 226, 236	6.5" standard	Helm console	N7C or N7R — direct drop-in
Pursuit	270, 325	6.5" standard	Helm, cockpit	N7C or N7R — direct drop-in

Not sure what your Grady-White uses? Pull one speaker and measure the hole in the fiberglass — not the speaker, the cutout. Contact DC Gold before ordering — fitment is confirmed on every order before a speaker is built. If your factory hole is slightly smaller than the DC Gold cutout, fiberglass enlarges easily with a standard hole saw. If slightly larger, a trim plate covers the gap — available at West Marine or any marine hardware supplier.

Model-by-Model Guide

Grady-White Canyon — 271 / 306 / 336 / 376

The Canyon series is Grady-White's offshore performance flagship — bluewater center consoles built for serious fishermen who run hard in rough conditions. Canyon owners demand the most from every component on their boat. In-hull helm, cockpit, and cabin positions are standard 6.5" throughout. The N7R Reference is the right call — a Canyon owner expects the best from everything on the boat.

Recommended: N7R Reference — $994/pair. High-output offshore: N7C Classic — $738/pair.

Grady-White Freedom — 235 / 255 / 275 / 285 / 307

The Freedom is Grady-White's dual-console series — versatile, family-capable, and built for coastal and nearshore fishing. Helm and cockpit positions are standard 6.5" throughout. Classic line delivers the durability the Freedom buyer needs without the premium of Reference.

Recommended: N7C Classic — $738/pair. Reference available at $994/pair.

Grady-White Express — 270 / 305

The Express is Grady-White's cabin boat — a serious offshore platform with overnight capability. Helm, salon, and cockpit speaker positions are standard 6.5". Cabin positions benefit from the Reference's cleaner midrange at lower volumes.

Recommended: N7R Reference — $994/pair for salon and cabin. N7C Classic — $738/pair for cockpit and helm.

Grady-White Fisherman — 180 / 200 / 216 / 226 / 236

The Fisherman series is Grady-White's inshore and nearshore lineup — the working fishing boats. Helm console positions are standard 6.5". These boats get used hard and the speakers should keep up.

Recommended: N7C Classic — $738/pair.

A Note on Older Grady-White Models

Grady-White production before approximately 1998 shows more variation than later models. Speaker positions and cutout sizes varied by production run. If your Grady-White predates 1998, measure the cutout before ordering and contact DC Gold with your model and year.

Classic or Reference — Which Is Right for Your Grady-White?

If you're not sure, order Classic. For a boat running offshore at speed in wind and spray, Classic and Reference are indistinguishable. The difference becomes audible at the dock, at anchor, or drifting — where Reference delivers cleaner midrange detail.

Feature	N7C Classic	N7R Reference
Cutout diameter	6.23"	6.23"
Face OD	7.4"	7.4"
Mounting depth	3.33"	3.33"
Cone material	Al/Mg alloy	Al/Mg alloy + carbon nano-tube dust cap
No tweeter / no crossover	✓	✓
Ferrofluid-cooled voice coil	✓	✓
Built for serviceability	✓	✓
3-year warranty	✓	✓
Sensitivity (1W/1m)	92 dB	92 dB
Best for	Offshore, high output, running speed	Anchor, dock, sound quality first
Price per pair	$738	$994

Frequently Asked Questions

Will these fit without cutting my Grady-White's fiberglass?
Yes, for virtually all models. The N7C and N7R have a 6.23" cutout that drops directly into Grady-White's standard 6.5" helm and cockpit positions. The 7.4" face OD covers the factory grille ring cleanly. Measure your specific cutout before ordering.

What speakers did Grady-White install from the factory?
Grady-White has used Clarion and JL Audio as primary OEM suppliers. JL Audio M-series coaxial speakers are the current factory standard on most models.

Can I use my existing wiring?
Yes. DC Gold speakers are available in 2Ω, 4Ω, and 8Ω. DC Gold confirms impedance match before building.

Do I need an amplifier?
No. DC Gold speakers are 92 dB efficient and perform well from a quality marine head unit.

What happens after I place an order?
DC Gold contacts you to confirm your specific model, cutout dimensions, depth clearance, and impedance match before building. Nothing ships until fitment is confirmed.

Is DC Gold made in the USA?
Yes. Every speaker is hand-assembled in Palmdale, California.

Order Your Grady-White Replacement Speakers

DC Gold builds each pair to order. After you order, DC Gold contacts you to confirm your exact model, cutout dimensions, and impedance match. Nothing ships until fitment is confirmed.

For all standard 6.5" positions — Canyon, Freedom, Express, Fisherman (all years):

• N7C Classic — $738/pair
• N7R Reference — $994/pair

Not sure which fits your specific Grady-White? Contact DC Gold before ordering.

DC Gold Also Fits These Offshore Brands

The same offshore durability story applies across the saltwater fishing market. DC Gold waterproof speakers replace factory audio in Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Chaparral, and other premium brands. See the full boat replacement guide.