Fusion is D.O.A

[Dani-Lu]

@Dani-Lu

Yes, you will have to remove the proprietary clarion connector and wire in the proprietary Fusion connector. Good news is, most head unit wire colors have been standardized for about 20 years, so its mostly color for color.

I like color for color . Hope it is that straight forward.

Can I use crimp connectors, or will I need to solder?

Thanks Wylie.

 

[Dani-Lu]

Shamrock, I didn’t mean to hijack your thread. Should I start a new one?

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Dani your fine, I was going to suggest the srx 400 as it also has a built in router(WiFi)


I’m waiting till the NY and Miami boat shows to see if I can save a few bucks
Let us know what you end up with

 

[Dani-Lu]

Will do.

 

[JVM225]

I was just checking out the 2 Fusion wifi models (RA770 and SRX400), $650 and $350 respectively. Looks like I can get what I need from the Fusion SRX400. I am mounting this in the cabin, so don’t care about lack of large touch screen. As long as it has wifi and the link app, I should be ok.

All input appreciated!

The previous owner of my boat replaced the original head unit with a Fusion, and I replaced that Fusion with another this past summer and the factory on/off rocker switches near the cabin door still control the speakers for the cockpit and cabin so you’re good on that.
Touchscreen wasn’t important to me either since the head unit is mounted inside a cabinet.
As previously stated, the wires should be standard colors so splicing in the Fusion Harness is no big deal.
Also: My boat had a round Fusion Remote between the MFD’s and the cabin door. It appears as though that one was about the same size and shape as the original Clarion that Sea Ray installed. Yours is probably in the same place. The new Fusion head unit I installed over the summer wouldn’t work with that older Fusion remote so I installed the new kind. Fusion makes an adapter plate that the new remote sits in and their adapter plate covers the old hole nicely.
The remote was important to me because I use that more than I go near the head unit, I don’t have to have the MFD’s powered up to use the NMEA feature, and I don’t have to have my phone on me to control the music with the Fusion App.
Plus, I couldn’t think of anything else to do with that hole anyway.

 

[JVM225]

I like color for color . Hope it is that straight forward.

Can I use crimp connectors, or will I need to solder?

Thanks Wylie.

Mine are crimped. No problems with that behind the panel in that cabinet.
Since we have the same boat, I’m guessing your head unit is in the same place as mine.
As far as the streaming goes, here is an alternative to WiFi if you want to think about it:
I stream XM, Amazon Music, and Pandora from my iPad (unlimited data plan) to the head unit all the time via Bluetooth while that cabinet door is closed and it works perfectly. The only thing is that the iPad has to be in the cabin somewhere. Unlike our brethren with the bridge style boats, the fiberglass surrounded cabin in our express style boats blocks the Bluetooth signal a bit.

 

[Dani-Lu]

Mine are crimped. No problems with that behind the panel in that cabinet.
Since we have the same boat, I’m guessing your head unit is in the same place as mine.
As far as the streaming goes, here is an alternative to WiFi if you want to think about it:
I stream XM, Amazon Music, and Pandora from my iPad (unlimited data plan) to the head unit all the time via Bluetooth while that cabinet door is closed and it works perfectly. The only thing is that the iPad has to be in the cabin somewhere. Unlike our brethren with the bridge style boats, the fiberglass surrounded cabin in our express style boats blocks the Bluetooth signal a bit.

Thanks for the response. Yeah, my head unit is in the same spot as your’s. But, I like being able to pick music from the cockpit, so the wifi is a home run for me. I usually have my i-pad mounted on dash for navigation, so controlling the music will be easy. We too have the unlimited data plan on phones/ipads, so streaming music from cockpit via wifi to head unit in cabin should work great - I hope. If my local West Marine has it in stock, I may buy and install the unit tomorrow.

Did you replace the old amp, or are you using it with the Fusion head unit?

 

[Jeremygavin]

Built in wifi router to stream airplay which is more reliable than Bluetooth. Full touch screen with edge swipe to change songs etc. And partybus mode I will add a Fusion Ms sxr 400 to the salon and the two can play from the same source or stand alone. I will remove the Bose DVD/tuner as we don't watch DVDs.

Interesting, I might have to look into that. I would love to get the music to stream through the salon as well as the exterior.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Jvm225. Actually the BT to the bridge was pretty good the real reason I want the Apollo with wifi 1. You can use Airplay over wifi to the head unit 2. The RA770 And SRX400 both have the routers built in so I'll install both and they will operate in "partybus" mode they can play the same source
The touchscreen is just where all devices are going.

 

[dtfeld]

Thanks for the response. Yeah, my head unit is in the same spot as your’s. But, I like being able to pick music from the cockpit, so the wifi is a home run for me. I usually have my i-pad mounted on dash for navigation, so controlling the music will be easy. We too have the unlimited data plan on phones/ipads, so streaming music from cockpit via wifi to head unit in cabin should work great - I hope. If my local West Marine has it in stock, I may buy and install the unit tomorrow.

Did you replace the old amp, or are you using it with the Fusion head unit?

My local WM didn't have it in stock at the store, but I ordered through Crutchfield and their tech service and customer service were superb. Price was the same, but I think I would still buy from Crutchfield even if a few buck more. And the are not giving away the Fusion products!

I have a thread on here somewhere, but I had major noise issues swapping out the Clarion XMD1 for the Apollo, so Dani-Lu let me know how your install goes, maybe I got one of the first ones and possible issues?? I'm willing to try again.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

BOE Marine was the first to send out emails to the new Fusion remote. It's wireless and waterproof if your looking for a remote for the platform just another option to controlling your unit.

 

[JVM225]

Thanks for the response. Yeah, my head unit is in the same spot as your’s. But, I like being able to pick music from the cockpit, so the wifi is a home run for me. I usually have my i-pad mounted on dash for navigation, so controlling the music will be easy. We too have the unlimited data plan on phones/ipads, so streaming music from cockpit via wifi to head unit in cabin should work great - I hope. If my local West Marine has it in stock, I may buy and install the unit tomorrow.

Did you replace the old amp, or are you using it with the Fusion head unit?

The amp had already been replaced by the previous owner with a Fusion model.
Since you already use the mounted iPad at the helm for navigation, then using it to for the music will be great. As an added benefit, depending on your electronics setup, you may also be able to tie your new Fusion in to the network and have the ability to control music from the screen of your MFD’s too.
I didn’t bother with it for now because my remote is so close to them that it made little sense for me.
You shouldn’t have a problem with WiFi between the iPad right at your helm and the head unit in the cabin. My iPad communicates easily from anywhere in the cabin with my MFD’s via the built in WiFi in them.
I can also easily stream music via Bluetooth, and control the head unit in the cabin from my iPad with the Fusion App while lounging at the helm seat at the dock, and often do so while checking email or on the internet and enjoying an adult beverage or two.
I can also stream via WiFi from the helm to any of the smart TV’s down in the cabin.
But if I get any further aft in the cockpit beyond the helm I lose that ability quickly.

 

[Cocktail Time]

Dani-Lu- I love the new Apollo head units, and for $350 the SRX400 looks great. I have a similar boat and installed the Fusion msra70N. It is only $250 and the bluetooth connection lets me stream from my iPad or iPhone anywhere on the boat and three or four slips away easily. The apollo's party mode sounds amazing but if you don't want to spend a $100 to $400 more for the new apollo series, check out the 70N. It works with my garmin chartplotter too. BTW-crimping the wires is fine and they are all color matched, (12v+ red, memory 12v+yellow, Black -, Blue/white remote turn for your amp and then the four cabin speakers are connected directly to the head unit).

 

[dtfeld]

For future reference, according to Crutchfiel tech...the Apollo Series can network up to 8 units including multiple MS-RA770 and/or MS-SRX400's in any combination. To use the Party bus feature, you have to have at least 1 MS-RA770 in the system.

I was thinking about having 2 RA770's each fed by a TV, one downstairs and one up, both utilizing the SPDIF input, but I think I'll try the SRX400 with a RCA line for 1/2 the $$.

 

[Dani-Lu]

The amp had already been replaced by the previous owner with a Fusion model.
Since you already use the mounted iPad at the helm for navigation, then using it to for the music will be great. As an added benefit, depending on your electronics setup, you may also be able to tie your new Fusion in to the network and have the ability to control music from the screen of your MFD’s too.
I didn’t bother with it for now because my remote is so close to them that it made little sense for me.
You shouldn’t have a problem with WiFi between the iPad right at your helm and the head unit in the cabin. My iPad communicates easily from anywhere in the cabin with my MFD’s via the built in WiFi in them.
I can also easily stream music via Bluetooth, and control the head unit in the cabin from my iPad with the Fusion App while lounging at the helm seat at the dock, and often do so while checking email or on the internet and enjoying an adult beverage or two.
I can also stream via WiFi from the helm to any of the smart TV’s down in the cabin.
But if I get any further aft in the cockpit beyond the helm I lose that ability quickly.

I assume I don’t need to replace the original amp? If I do, which one is recommended and how will it improve the sound over the original 18 year old amp?

I only wish the stuff we bought today was designed to last as long as the stuff from yesteryear. Obviously not a good thing for the manufactuers working on the next best thing, hence even a 10 year life span is too long!

 

[Dani-Lu]

Dani-Lu- I love the new Apollo head units, and for $350 the SRX400 looks great. I have a similar boat and installed the Fusion msra70N. It is only $250 and the bluetooth connection lets me stream from my iPad or iPhone anywhere on the boat and three or four slips away easily. The apollo's party mode sounds amazing but if you don't want to spend a $100 to $400 more for the new apollo series, check out the 70N. It works with my garmin chartplotter too. BTW-crimping the wires is fine and they are all color matched, (12v+ red, memory 12v+yellow, Black -, Blue/white remote turn for your amp and then the four cabin speakers are connected directly to the head unit).

For $350, the wifi srx400 sounds like the way to go. You just edumucated me - I did not know the cabin speakers were not connected to the amp. Which is probably a good thing, when we are blasting the cockpit JL’s. I am always concerned we will blow the cabin clarion speakers. As you guys can read, I am no audiophile! But I am learning - Thanks!

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

@Dani-Lu

A head unit upgrade wound not dictate that an existing functioning amp also be changed.

Can there be some benefits to upgrading an 18 yr old amp? Sure. There have certainly been some advances in audio processing and power consumption since then. Over time, oxidation/corrosion can begin to grow in the adjustment POTs, resulting on less then ideal sound quality. Depending on the wattage output, number of amp chnls, number of speakers its driving and what model speakers they are, there can be some advantage to upgrading the amp.

 

[Dani-Lu]

For future reference, according to Crutchfiel tech...the Apollo Series can network up to 8 units including multiple MS-RA770 and/or MS-SRX400's in any combination. To use the Party bus feature, you have to have at least 1 MS-RA770 in the system.

I was thinking about having 2 RA770's each fed by a TV, one downstairs and one up, both utilizing the SPDIF input, but I think I'll try the SRX400 with a RCA line for 1/2 the $$.

I think when we move up to a larger sedan, the RA770 party bus feature will become important. Until then, the SRX400 should be perfect.

 

[Dani-Lu]

@Dani-Lu

A head unit upgrade wound not dictate that an existing functioning amp also be changed.

Can there be some benefits to upgrading an 18 yr old amp? Sure. There have certainly been some advances in audio processing and power consumption since then. Over time, oxidation/corrosion can begin to grow in the adjustment POTs, resulting on less then ideal sound quality. Depending on the wattage output, number of amp chnls, number of speakers its driving and what model speakers they are, there can be some advantage to upgrading the amp.

Understood. Thanks.

 

[JVM225]

I assume I don’t need to replace the original amp? If I do, which one is recommended and how will it improve the sound over the original 18 year old amp?

I only wish the stuff we bought today was designed to last as long as the stuff from yesteryear. Obviously not a good thing for the manufactuers working on the next best thing, hence even a 10 year life span is too long!

If it’s working properly then I wouldn’t change the amp, but I'm not that much of an audiophile.