Why Fusion

[JPGator]

Admittedly I am not an audiophile so I'm posing this question to the experts.

Full disclosure - we are replacing the stereo system on the boat and have budgeted for the cost but I am having a little difficulty discerning why I should spend around $600 for a unit that appears to do the same as a less expensive unit. We entertain on the boat as most do and at speed its difficult to hear the radio anyhow.

If anyone could give me a logical breakdown the education would be greatly appreciated.

Currently our 340 has the standard CDMA4 head unit and 8 speakers.

 

[Stee6043]

$600? You can get a Fusion RA-70N for sub $300.

After upgrading a Clarion to another Clarion I ultimately went with Fusion last year. Why - it's soooo easy to use. I become increasingly frustrated with the 83 menus I had to navigate on the Clarion. The UI on the Fusion couldn't be much more straight forward.

Another good reason - the new stick-on cheapo Fusion remotes are awesome. A really fantastic solution to wanting remotes and not wanting to run extra wires.

 

[JPGator]

$600? You can get a Fusion RA-70N for sub $300.

After upgrading a Clarion to another Clarion I ultimately went with Fusion last year. Why - it's soooo easy to use. I become increasingly frustrated with the 83 menus I had to navigate on the Clarion. The UI on the Fusion couldn't be much more straight forward.

Another good reason - the new stick-on cheapo Fusion remotes are awesome. A really fantastic solution to wanting remotes and not wanting to run extra wires.

Thanks Stee6043

Did you simply replace the clarion unit or move the Fusion to the helm? Does the BT signal work throughout the boat? What did you do speaker wise?

 

[Stee6043]

Thanks Stee6043

Did you simply replace the clarion unit or move the Fusion to the helm? Does the BT signal work throughout the boat? What did you do speaker wise?

I left the Fusion in the stock location on my boat. The bluetooth reception is 88times better than the Clarion...roughly . On my 400 my head unit is nearly all the way forward in the cabin. I can still control the music with my iPhone connected from the swimplatform. With my Clarion on my 340 I couldn't control the music more than 2' past the cabin door. I could barely maintain connection at the helm.

I went with JL speakers and Rockford Fosgate amps. I'm not an audiophile though. There are many more qualified to give you solid advice around these parts. Wetsounds are very popular speakers too.

 

[JPGator]

I left the Fusion in the stock location on my boat. The bluetooth reception is 88times better than the Clarion...roughly . On my 400 my head unit is nearly all the way forward in the cabin. I can still control the music with my iPhone connected from the swimplatform. With my Clarion on my 340 I couldn't control the music more than 2' past the cabin door. I could barely maintain connection at the helm.

I went with JL speakers and Rockford Fosgate amps. I'm not an audiophile though. There are many more qualified to give you solid advice around these parts. Wetsounds are very popular speakers too.

Thanks Stee, much appreciated.

 

[Craig]

Same reason we buy Yeti coolers and Searay
Boats
I went with a new Clarion w/BT. No issues here. Streams great from the helm.
I like Fusion stuff but the Clarion used all the existing harnesses. If you need individual zones and different sources etc. Fusion is the cats a$$. It's really just a personal preference. Enjoy the music whatever you choose.

 

[JPGator]

Same reason we buy Yeti coolers and Searay
Boats
I went with a new Clarion w/BT. No issues here. Streams great from the helm.
I like Fusion stuff but the Clarion used all the existing harnesses. If you need individual zones and different sources etc. Fusion is the cats a$$. It's really just a personal preference. Enjoy the music whatever you choose.

Thats why I asked. I like my XM(don't judge) and my wife lives her BT music. The speakers need to sound decent and last and that's about it. I can appreciate a high end sound system but price and functionality is higher on my list.

 

[ZZ13]

Pretty much on this site if you don't install Fusion and JL speaker stuff, then there is something wrong with you. That's why I installed Alpine BT unit with their RF remote and Polk speakers.

 

[JPGator]

Pretty much on this site if you don't install Fusion and JL speaker stuff, then there is something wrong with you. That's why I installed Alpine BT unit with their RF remote and Polk speakers.

That's just 'cause your'e a Vols fan. Its cool though.

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I'm going to go with the AV650 during this impending facelift. I just wish the Clarion would fail like my E120 did so my conservative voice in my head would justify the upgrade. I really want to be able to adjust audio zones from the bridge. It never fails... I get underway reach over to turn up the tunes and the bridge speakers are turned off and the control is in the salon!

 

[ZZ13]

That's just 'cause your'e a Vols fan. Its cool though.

Yup. That's been one tough job the last 10 years or so.

 

[JPGator]

We haden’t been much better ‘till last year. At least we have hope now.

 

[yobub]

On my 400 my head unit is nearly all the way forward in the cabin. I can still control the music with my iPhone connected from the swimplatform.

Interesting. I have a 755 in the same stock location in the cabin, and on my 400 I can barely hold a bluetooth signal at the helm. I ended up installing a wifi network exclusively for the Fusion, just so I could hold a signal throughout the boat.

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

Admittedly I am not an audiophile so I'm posing this question to the experts.

Full disclosure - we are replacing the stereo system on the boat and have budgeted for the cost but I am having a little difficulty discerning why I should spend around $600 for a unit that appears to do the same as a less expensive unit. We entertain on the boat as most do and at speed its difficult to hear the radio anyhow.

If anyone could give me a logical breakdown the education would be greatly appreciated.

Currently our 340 has the standard CDMA4 head unit and 8 speakers.

Nothing to go on, considering you only mention one brand. No 2nd brand an no actual models to compare.

There may be a valid difference in price. With that said, those difference may or may not be a benefit to you, but they are still valid differences.

 

[JPGator]

Nothing to go on, considering you only mention one brand. No 2nd brand an no actual models to compare.

There may be a valid difference in price. With that said, those difference may or may not be a benefit to you, but they are still valid differences.

Im particular to XM and I was looking for a marine model that incorporated that. During my initial search I failed to see the less expensive models

 

[Wylie_Tunes]

SAT ready is a very common feature. JVC has a marine unit thats SAT ready for $125. The Clarion M508 is a solid unit and SAT ready for about $200. The new Fusion MS-RA70NSX is SAT ready, supports N2K, 2 zone volume and is about $300.

Sirius XM receiver is sub $40.

 

[JVM225]

Interesting. I have a 755 in the same stock location in the cabin, and on my 400 I can barely hold a bluetooth signal at the helm. I ended up installing a wifi network exclusively for the Fusion, just so I could hold a signal throughout the boat.

The Bluetooth on my Fusion is pretty bad outside my cabin too rendering the iPhone app essentially useless for me. Not the end of the world though. I’ve got the Fusion remote at the helm and rarely change a station anyway.
The Bluetooth does work perfectly in the cabin. My iPad is usually set up in the cabin and streaming XM to the Fusion.

 

[bobeast]

I installed the RA-70N which is way less than $600. I have a Garmin helm so being able to integrate with the chart-plotter over NMEA 2000 was a driving factor. Their iPhone app to control it is a little clunky, but is functional. I also like that I can sprinkle ARX70 remotes around the boat and have tactile control at strategic locations.

 

[JPGator]

Bobeast I have a full Garmin helm as well and I'm trying to figure out exactly what from the Fusion unit can you see on the MFD?

 

[Stee6043]

Bobeast I have a full Garmin helm as well and I'm trying to figure out exactly what from the Fusion unit can you see on the MFD?

If you look around for a poster named "RollerCoastr" you will see some photos of the audio interface on the Garmin. I also hope to share some in the next few weeks