Controlling Black Box Stereo

dtfeld

dtfeld

Water Contrails
GOLD Sponsor
Jun 5, 2016
5,551
Milton, GA
Boat Info
410 Sundancer
2001
12" Axiom and 9" Axiom+ MFD
Engines
Cat 3126 V-Drives
Looking at replacing the original 2001 Clarion XMD1 and 6 cd changer. Anybody running a black box stereo through a MFD?

I'm think about a Rockford Fosgate PMX-8BB, but don't want to use their display head, would prefer to use an Axiom 9 at the helm. I'd have a wired remote on the swim platform and reclaim the cabinet the current system is in.

Have considered the Fusion black box, but its fairly limited on zones and multiple input sources. I would consider that too.

Pictures of your setup would be great!
 
How many zones do you have? The Fusion BB300R will do 2 zones with the internal amplifier and the NR300X remote will work well on the swim platform. You could also use the AV650 to replace the XMD1 and then use the NR300X. I feel like fusion's have the best interface.
 
I agree fusion is the best interface. I would consider the MS-AV755 as it also has 4 zones but I’d have to have the unit in the original cabinet or at the helm. A possibility, but I’d rather have the space in the cabinet and the helm.

In this scenario the 755 would be in the cabinet, the axiom would be at the helm and a remote at the transom. However, I just don’t need a head unit in a cabinet.

The 4 speaker zones would be cockpit low (foot level) cockpit high (head high), cabin, and transom. The fusion black box has only 2 zones.

The Rockford fosgate has the 4 zones with 4 separate input each zone could listen to a separate source, this might be of minimal utility, but I would like the 4 speaker zones.

Curious if I can access all function from the axiom interface or is it limited to a few important function.
 
Why would you play different music at foot level and head level?
 
NickBOE said:
Why would you play different music at foot level and head level?
Click to expand...

I wouldn’t. But possibly music below with a game on the tv through the cockpit speakers. The different zones allow me to balance the sound level in different parts of the boat

The Fusion AV755 has the 4 zones and HDMI ARC, but the Fuion Black box only 2. The Rockford Fosgate has 4. I like Fuion And may still go that way, but curious what can and cannot be controlled via the MFD interface.

Pros and cons to all solutions...

However, I think having a head unit with a MFD is redundant.
 
You know the Fosgate will need the CAN adapter in order for you to be able to control it from the MFD through N2K.

Personally the Fusion 755 has so many more advantages over the Fosgate I wouldn't even consider the Fosgate. The Fusion has an awesome app for your phone and the Fusion remotes are all N2k as well and display more then just music. I couldn't tell from the Fosgate site if there remotes are N2k or not, but I am guessing not because you need an adapter for the N2k and that is not mentioned anywhere.

The Fosgate looks like a great Radio but when your done the Fusion is almost the same price. I Personally would take a 2nd look at the Fusion. I am upgrading to the 755 later this season. Great radio that sounds awesome. Good luck.
 
I am also a big fan of Fusion. I installed a Fusion AV700 in the salon of my 52' CPMY and did not install any remotes. I had the Fusion app on all of our cell phones and iPads and never needed additional remotes. Installation is a breeze.
 
I was aware of the RF needs a CAN adaptor...its $199. Not really a problem as long as I can control the things I want to control.
I'm on an older Sea Ray and helm space is limited, so BB solutions are high on my list, to include a BB VHF Hailer. Just want to clean up the helm.

Fusion still high on my list, but would really like a 4 zone black box offering...the current version looks to be a few years old, maybe an upgrade coming?
 
I just installed a Garmin 840xs and wired my Fusion MSRA-70N to the Nmea 2000 network. It has a great interface and I now use the Garmin as my helm remote. The app they have also controls all the Fusion functions. My head unit is only two zone, but the 700series will allow four zones and has all the inputs you could need including HDMI. I highly recommend the Fusion/Garmin combo.
 
BTW, I installed the Fusion in the same spot as the factory single din was in the cabin so all the connections were simple. Just a pain to run the rca's out from the TV and Nmea cable to the helm.
 
Cocktail Time said:
BTW, I installed the Fusion in the same spot as the factory single din was in the cabin so all the connections were simple. Just a pain to run the rca's out from the TV and Nmea cable to the helm.
Click to expand...

Did you have the clarion cmx1? Is that a single DIN, or is it bigger?
 
If it is the original Clarion or even the newer ones, they are a single DIN chassis with a larger face. Super easy to swap them out and they fit in the same factory opening. I don't even need to open that cabinet to turn the unit on anymore and my bluetooth reception is clear several boats away at the dock. The biggest pain is running the damn Nmea cable to the helm. I have a good guy on Lanier if you need help he only charged $180 to run the Nmea cable and a couple other speaker wires for me.
 
Cocktail Time said:
If it is the original Clarion or even the newer ones, they are a single DIN chassis with a larger face. Super easy to swap them out and they fit in the same factory opening. I don't even need to open that cabinet to turn the unit on anymore and my bluetooth reception is clear several boats away at the dock. The biggest pain is running the damn Nmea cable to the helm. I have a good guy on Lanier if you need help he only charged $180 to run the Nmea cable and a couple other speaker wires for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks... can wait to get her up here.
 
dtfeld said:
... Fusion still high on my list, but would really like a 4 zone black box offering...the current version looks to be a few years old, maybe an upgrade coming?
Click to expand...

I too would like a BB solution but there doesn't seem to be any out there with ALL of the RIGHT features not to mention you still need to fill the void where the original stereo was. In my case I have a double din spot to fill as well. And most BB options you still need to purchase at least one remote to get things setup right which is why the Fusion BB comes with one. I believe even in the case of the FG to connect up the N2K interface you still need a remote with a display for setup purposes. Although there can adapter manual doesn't mention any real information only a diagram not much better then a block diagram.
 
Here are the images someone was asking for of the fusion interface on the newer Garmin Gpsmap 840xs.

IMG_0137.jpg IMG_0138.jpg IMG_0139.jpg IMG_0140.jpg IMG_0141.jpg
 
I have no idea why those posted sideways or what that black line is on the image. Sorry. Also saw the specs on the Fusion 770, that looks awesome. The party bus feature to link multiple radios together to all play the same bluetooth source seems really cool. If that works while rafted up or at the dock, I see a bunch of new head units being sold...
 
Thanks for the pics. Good enough for me to get an idea of what to expect.

I need the 4 zones as that is what is in the boat now, so if that come out with a 4 zone black box solution, I’d be all in.

As it stands, I’m still leaning towards the AV755, with the HDMI ARC for connecting up to a TV in the cockpit.

I agree a raft up with a bunch of people jamming the same tunes would be awesome. Unless a dud gets to be the DJ
 
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