Fusion Stereo Upgrade

D

dbsea

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
1,063
Fluid Motion Model
R-23 (Outboard)
Vessel Name
HALCYON
MMSI Number
368365270
Has anyone upgraded the Fusion UD-755 (with the silly built in iPhone dock) to the new Apollo units? I want airplay and wireless for better audio quality, amongst other things. I'm trying to understand if it's a fairly plug and play exercise with the same wiring harness, or if I'm going to need to get out my heat shrink gun. 🙂
 
Can't speak for Apollo, but replaced my Fusion with Sony radio and was thrilled to find it was plug and play. Same connectors. Maybe if you are lucky, industry standard.

Larry
 
Switched from factory installed Fusion MS-IP700i to MS-UD755 and it was plug and play - no additional wiring required.
 
JeffreyAC77":kuzdptyq said:
Switched from factory installed Fusion MS-IP700i to MS-UD755 and it was plug and play - no additional wiring required.
Click to expand...

How much of an improvement was it?
 
Dramatic since the original unit died. I primarily use the bluetooth feature to play from my playlist or other apps.
 
Assuming it’s plug and play, if anyone wants my old fusion UD755 send me a message. 🙂
 
I got a BT100 bluetooth module and am happy as a clam -
 
I went to the apollo unit. My new airstream had the same one and I found out fusion sells a kit that comes with what you need to retrofit. Has a new dust cover as well. Love the apollo app and features. It came with Bluetooth but we use xm mostly. Can find a photo of the install without the dust cover. After Christmas we will be down in Florida and will try to remember to get a picture.
 
Brian 27 OB":10ndmj70 said:
I went to the apollo unit. My new airstream had the same one and I found out fusion sells a kit that comes with what you need to retrofit. Has a new dust cover as well. Love the apollo app and features. It came with Bluetooth but we use xm mostly. Can find a photo of the install without the dust cover. After Christmas we will be down in Florida and will try to remember to get a picture.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the heads up on the kit Brian. Ordered one on Amazon!
 
2019 C-28

I've found that the reception of the Fusion is pretty bad here in mid-Gulf Florida, both AM and FM, BUT, I've been mainly using it with my iPhone/Pandora. Perfect. (Be sure to check out "Brazil Chill Radio". Good background music.

Bob/Bradenton
 
I replaced the stock Fusion unit on our 2015 C28 with a Fusion MS-RA70NSX. The cost was $299.99 and it works great. I also upgraded the two small cabin speakers with Yamaha NS-AW190Wh 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor speakers. Huge difference. Much bigger sound.
 
Was it necessary to replace amplifier with new system ?
George
 
Gwkessel":3dm0h0rx said:
Was it necessary to replace amplifier with new system ?
George
Click to expand...

I plan to install mine this week, not planning to replace the amp. I’ll give an update once done!
 
All done. It was NOT plug and play. First, the wiring harness from the fusion ud-750 is not compatible with the new Apollo unit. Had to cut and re heat shrink the whole harness. Secondly, the retrofit kit is a bitch to install, but got it done. Really happy with the finished product, though! See final photo in album below:



https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0hG6XBubsGED9
 
JeffreyAC77":37mi3wm7 said:
Dramatic since the original unit died.
Click to expand...

Ha! 🙂

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
 
We, too, added the BT1100 Bluetooth module and play music/podcasts loaded on an Android cell phone using the Musicolet app. Or we can use streaming services like Amazon Music, etc. Simple, inexpensive "upgrade" with the ability to easily control the soundtrack of our lives from anywhere on the boat.
 
I did the MS-UD750 upgrade to MS-RA770 this past week on my Ranger Tug 29S. Fairly straightforward and like dbsea said you just have to cut the wires and buttconnect them all as the wiring harness plug is different. Exact same wires though so everything matched up perfectly. Just had to add inline fuse for power wire which I stole from old harness.

I also used the retrofit kit from garmin as the size of the 770 is different (more narrow) so the kit covers up the small gaps.

I also replaced the 2 channel Fusion amp that runs the Cockpit/Bow speakers and installed a 4 channel kenwood amp so I can control the Cockpit and Bow speakers separately.

Speaker upgrade next 😀
 
dexmot74":2mh2rlcl said:
I did the MS-UD750 upgrade to MS-RA770 this past week on my Ranger Tug 29S. Fairly straightforward and like dbsea said you just have to cut the wires and buttconnect them all as the wiring harness plug is different. Exact same wires though so everything matched up perfectly. Just had to add inline fuse for power wire which I stole from old harness.

I also used the retrofit kit from garmin as the size of the 770 is different (more narrow) so the kit covers up the small gaps.

I also replaced the 2 channel Fusion amp that runs the Cockpit/Bow speakers and installed a 4 channel kenwood amp so I can control the Cockpit and Bow speakers separately.

Speaker upgrade next 😀
Click to expand...

Thanks for the credit dexmot! I don't recall adding the inline fuse - hmmm. I should look at that. 😱 I would love to do the amp as well, but it is very, very diffcult to access in my boat. there's a hatch door that falls down where all the stereo wiring is in the top of the stateroom hanging closet /shelf, and way over to the right almost out of reach is the amp. I **believe** my amp controls the flybridge and bow speakers, whereas the headunit in mine is powering the salon (2) stateroom (2), and cockpit (2). When i adjust the flybridge zone it does the bow and flybridge speakers... Could be wrong. 🙂 Now you have me wondering and if I should change mine. I have updated my indoor speakers to much larger / better Polk Audio, and updated all the exteriors to Kenwoods.
 
I take that back, the external 2 channel amp is powering the cockpit, flybridge, and bow...
 
dbsea":vg6q10m6 said:
dexmot74":vg6q10m6 said:
I did the MS-UD750 upgrade to MS-RA770 this past week on my Ranger Tug 29S. Fairly straightforward and like dbsea said you just have to cut the wires and buttconnect them all as the wiring harness plug is different. Exact same wires though so everything matched up perfectly. Just had to add inline fuse for power wire which I stole from old harness.

I also used the retrofit kit from garmin as the size of the 770 is different (more narrow) so the kit covers up the small gaps.

I also replaced the 2 channel Fusion amp that runs the Cockpit/Bow speakers and installed a 4 channel kenwood amp so I can control the Cockpit and Bow speakers separately.

Speaker upgrade next 😀
Click to expand...

Thanks for the credit dexmot! I don't recall adding the inline fuse - hmmm. I should look at that. 😱 I would love to do the amp as well, but it is very, very diffcult to access in my boat. there's a hatch door that falls down where all the stereo wiring is in the top of the stateroom hanging closet /shelf, and way over to the right almost out of reach is the amp. I **believe** my amp controls the flybridge and bow speakers, whereas the headunit in mine is powering the salon (2) stateroom (2), and cockpit (2). When i adjust the flybridge zone it does the bow and flybridge speakers... Could be wrong. 🙂 Now you have me wondering and if I should change mine. I have updated my indoor speakers to much larger / better Polk Audio, and updated all the exteriors to Kenwoods.
Click to expand...
Do the grills of the fusion outdoor speakers just pull off? Haven't tried yet but will soon.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
 
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