A few years back, I spent a long weekend at a rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and wound up walking through about forty rigs over two days. What struck me wasn’t the slide-outs or the kitchen layouts—it was how many RV owners had completely gutted their factory entertainment systems and replaced them with something better. One couple had rigged a marine stereo into their Class C using zip ties and electrical tape. Another had a home theater receiver wedged behind the dinette with speaker wire running along the ceiling. Creative? Sure. Safe and reliable? Not exactly.
The reality is that factory-installed RV stereos are often the cheapest component the manufacturer could source. They’re an afterthought—bolted in to check a box on the spec sheet, not to deliver a genuine entertainment experience. And when you’re spending weeks or months living in your rig, the quality of your audio system matters a lot more than it does in a house where you can just walk to the next room.
I’ve spent considerable time evaluating the stereo and speaker options we carry at the RV Upgrade Store, and this roundup covers the best options for upgrading your RV’s entertainment system—from full-featured wall-mount head units to individual speakers that can handle the vibration, temperature swings, and moisture that come with life on the road.
Best for: Full-featured entertainment upgrade with multi-zone audio control
The Jensen JWM62A is the stereo I recommend more than any other for RV owners looking to do a straightforward, no-headaches upgrade. There’s a good reason this unit has become the industry standard in the RV world—it’s designed specifically for the way RVs are built, wired, and used, which means you’re not trying to shoehorn a car stereo or home receiver into a space it was never meant for.
The JWM62A is a direct replacement for the older AWM968 and JWM60A models that came factory-installed in thousands of RVs. Same footprint, same wiring harness, so the swap is genuinely plug-and-play. Pull the old unit out, slide the new one in, connect the existing harness, and you’re done. I’ve had customers complete the entire upgrade in under thirty minutes, and most of that time was spent carefully removing the old unit without scratching the wall panel.
What sets the JWM62A apart is the three-zone speaker control. You can run independent audio to three separate areas of your RV—say, the main living area, the bedroom, and an outdoor speaker setup—and control volume and source for each zone independently through the Jensen jControl app on your phone. That means you can have music playing at the campsite while your partner watches a DVD up front without the two competing with each other. It’s the kind of feature that sounds like a luxury until you actually use it, and then you can’t imagine going back.
The built-in DVD/CD player handles virtually every disc format you can throw at it—CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, and MP3 discs. Video output goes to two RCA jacks so you can connect to a TV or monitor. Bluetooth streaming has a solid 33-foot range, which covers most RV interiors with room to spare, and the dedicated Bluetooth pairing button makes connecting your phone quick and painless.
The 8-speaker output at 6 watts per channel isn’t going to rattle windows, but it’s clean, clear sound that fills an RV interior very nicely. If you want more power, the RCA outputs let you connect an external amplifier. The 10-level LED dimming is a thoughtful touch for overnight driving or when you’re trying to sleep with the alarm clock set.
One common mistake I see: customers forget to remove the shipping screw from the back of the unit before trying to load a disc. Jensen installs a transport screw that locks the DVD mechanism during shipping. If your disc loads for a few seconds and then ejects, check for that screw before assuming the unit is defective.
Pro Tip: When upgrading from an older Jensen wall-mount, take a photo of the wiring connections before disconnecting anything. The harness should be identical, but having a reference photo saves time if any wires have been modified by a previous owner.
Buy the Jensen JWM62A Bluetooth Stereo
Best for: Compact installations, newer RVs with Furrion-compatible cutouts, and dual-zone setups
Furrion has been making serious inroads in the RV appliance market over the past several years, and their entertainment systems reflect the same design philosophy as their air conditioners and cooktops—purpose-built for mobile environments, compact, and engineered to handle the unique stresses of life on the road.
The DV7200S is a 40-watt, 2-zone entertainment system that packs a surprising amount of capability into a very small package. At just over 5 inches wide and under 5 inches tall, it fits into tight installations where a full-size Jensen wouldn’t work. But don’t let the compact size fool you—this unit delivers clean, solid audio through dual independent zones, so you can run different volume levels in separate areas of your RV.
What really impresses me about Furrion’s approach is their testing methodology. Every unit goes through what they call Climatesmart, Vibrationsmart, and Signalsmart testing—basically, they subject the electronics to the temperature extremes, constant vibration, and signal interference that are everyday realities in a moving RV. A home stereo receiver would shake itself apart on a rough highway. The Furrion is built to take it.
Connectivity is comprehensive for the price point. Bluetooth with NFC quick-touch pairing, USB input for charging and playback, auxiliary input, headphone jack, subwoofer output, and AM/FM radio. The 2.7-inch LCD display is clear and readable, and the interface is straightforward—no deep menu diving required to change sources or adjust settings.
I particularly recommend this unit for RV owners who are already in the Furrion ecosystem. If your rig came with a Furrion air conditioner, range, or other appliances, the DV7200S fits the same design language and mounting style. It looks like it belongs, rather than looking like an aftermarket addition.
Pro Tip: The Furrion has a subwoofer output, which means you can add a small powered sub to really fill out the low-end response. A compact 8-inch marine subwoofer mounted under a dinette seat makes a massive difference in overall sound quality without taking up visible space.
Buy the Furrion RV Entertainment System
Best for: Campsite audio, outdoor entertaining, and grab-and-go versatility
Sometimes you don’t need a whole entertainment system—you just need good sound at the campsite. The Drive Portable Bluetooth Speaker fills that role perfectly. It’s the speaker I keep recommending to RV owners who want music outside their rig without running speaker wire through the walls or cutting holes in their exterior panels.
The beauty of a portable Bluetooth speaker in the RV context is versatility. Use it at the campsite in the evening, bring it to the beach, take it to the camp store pavilion—wherever you go, your music goes with you. When you’re done, it stows in a cabinet and takes up almost no space. For RV owners who are tight on storage or don’t want to commit to a permanent outdoor audio installation, this is the practical solution.
Pair it with your phone’s Bluetooth and you’ve got access to every streaming service, podcast, and audiobook in your library. No wiring, no mounting, no installation. It’s the kind of simple, effective product that makes you wonder why you didn’t pick one up sooner.
Pro Tip: Keep a portable speaker in your outdoor gear kit alongside your patio mat, chairs, and string lights. It rounds out the campsite atmosphere without any setup effort.
Buy the Drive Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Best for: Permanent outdoor audio installations with integrated lighting
For RV owners who want a permanent outdoor sound system—not a portable speaker they have to remember to bring outside—these Drive waterproof recessed speakers are the answer. They mount flush into your RV’s exterior panel or awning housing, creating a clean, built-in look that doesn’t scream “aftermarket.”
The waterproof rating is essential for outdoor RV speakers, and it’s something a lot of people overlook when they try to mount regular indoor speakers outside. Regular speakers will sound great for about one rainstorm, and then the cone starts deteriorating, the surround rots, and you’re replacing them within a season. These Drive speakers are built for full exposure to the elements.
The integrated LED light is a clever dual-purpose feature. Mounted under the awning, these speakers provide both ambient lighting and music for your outdoor living area. It eliminates the need for a separate porch light in that location, which keeps your exterior cleaner and reduces the number of holes you need to cut in your RV’s skin. Every hole in an RV is a potential leak point, so fewer penetrations are always better.
At 5-7/8 inches, they’re a standard size that fits most aftermarket speaker cutouts. Wire them to any of the speaker zones on a Jensen JWM62A or Furrion system, and you’ve got a proper outdoor audio zone that you can control from inside the RV. Pair two of these under your awning, and you’ve got a campsite setup that will make your neighbors jealous.
Pro Tip: When mounting outdoor speakers, apply a bead of Dicor self-leveling sealant around the mounting flange after installation. Even “waterproof” speakers can let water behind the mounting surface if the cutout edge isn’t sealed properly.
Buy the Drive Waterproof Outdoor Speaker
Best for: Replacing worn-out factory speakers with a proper-fitting upgrade
Upgrading your head unit without upgrading your speakers is like putting premium fuel in an engine with fouled spark plugs—you’re not getting the full benefit of the investment. Factory RV speakers are typically the cheapest paper-cone units the manufacturer could source, and after a few years of temperature cycling and vibration, they sound about as good as you’d expect.
The Drive 6-1/2 inch indoor speaker is designed as a drop-in replacement for standard RV ceiling and wall speaker locations. The recessed mount design sits flush, the standard size fits existing cutouts without modification, and the build quality is a noticeable step up from what came out of the factory. You’ll hear the difference immediately—cleaner mids, tighter bass response, and better clarity at higher volumes.
I always tell customers to replace their speakers in pairs. If you’re doing the living area, do both sides at the same time. Mismatched speakers create an unbalanced soundstage that’s more distracting than two equally worn-out factory units. And while you’re behind the wall panel, check the speaker wire. Factory RV speaker wire is often 22-gauge or thinner, which restricts the amount of power your new speakers can actually receive. Upgrading to 16-gauge wire while you have access is cheap insurance for better sound quality.
Pro Tip: Before ordering, measure your existing speaker cutout carefully. “6-1/2 inch” refers to the speaker cone diameter, but the mounting hole and depth vary. Pull your old speaker out and measure the actual hole diameter and the depth behind the mounting surface to ensure a clean fit.
Buy the Drive Indoor Speaker
The products in this roundup aren’t just individual purchases—they work together as a complete entertainment solution. Here’s how I’d approach a full upgrade if you’re starting from scratch or replacing a worn-out factory system.
Start with the head unit. The Jensen JWM62A gives you the most flexibility with its three-zone control, or go with the Furrion if you need a compact form factor. Either unit provides the Bluetooth connectivity, disc playback, and amplification you need to drive the rest of the system.
Replace your indoor speakers next. Swap the factory units for Drive 6-1/2 inch speakers in the main living area and bedroom. This is where you’ll hear the biggest improvement in everyday sound quality. The head unit can only sound as good as the speakers it’s driving, so this upgrade is essential.
Add outdoor speakers if you spend time under your awning. A pair of Drive waterproof speakers with LED lights gives you ambient lighting and music in one installation. Wire them to your head unit’s third zone (on the Jensen), and you can control outdoor volume independently from inside.
Finally, keep a portable Bluetooth speaker in your gear kit for times when you’re away from the rig—at the beach, on a hike, or sitting around a campfire where your RV’s speakers can’t reach.
RV entertainment is one of those categories where a relatively modest investment makes a disproportionate difference in your daily experience. A $200–$250 stereo upgrade and a pair of new speakers transform your rig from having forgettable background noise to having genuinely enjoyable audio. When you’re spending weeks or months on the road, that quality-of-life improvement adds up fast.
Every product in this roundup is designed specifically for the mobile environment—built to handle vibration, temperature extremes, and the electrical quirks of 12-volt RV systems. Don’t be tempted to install a home stereo receiver or car audio head unit. They’re not built for this application, and they won’t last. Stick with purpose-built RV entertainment equipment and you’ll have reliable, great-sounding audio for years to come.
If you’re not sure which combination of products is right for your specific rig, give us a call at the store. We’ve helped thousands of RV owners put together the right entertainment setup, and we’re happy to walk you through the options.
I’m Bill Rowell, the founder of RVupgrades.com. In 2002, I launched the business to help fellow RV enthusiasts find unique and hard-to-find products. Over the years, it’s grown to offer more than 15,000 items, with a warehouse in Eastlake, Ohio. Having owned and repaired nearly every type of RV, I bring over two decades of hands-on experience to the table. For me, this isn’t just a business—it’s a passion and a way of life that I love sharing with the RV community.
Follow me on LinkedIn