Poly-Planar MRD-70/RD-44, multi-zone & multi-source

Ben Ellison

Ben Ellison

Panbo editor, publisher & chief bottlewasher from 4/2005 until 8/2018, and now pleased to have Ben Stein as a very able publisher, webmaster, and editing colleague. Please don't regard him as an "expert"; he's getting quite old and thinks that "fadiddling fumble-putz" is a more accurate description.

3 Responses

  1. John says:

    Jensen actually still has one 12 volt Marine DVD player that is a standard single Din. http://www.asaelectronics.com/detail.html?pid=172

  2. Ben Ellison Ben Ellison says:

    Thanks, John. I see from the manual that the Jensen DV2007 has dual video outputs and an auxilary A/V input. Could integrate nicely with a helm, and the head costs less than $200. Note that Jensen doesn’t list this unit in its “marine” line, though several marine outlets sell it. And I bet all those little buttons would be a pain to use in a seaway.
    By the way, I think the Fusion head unit also fits in single DIN hole, though the face is oversize.

  3. Kees says:

    Ben,
    I spoke to Fusion and Poly-Planar at METS.
    Poly-Planar did not push the MRD-70 as a “multisource” solution. The way it was described to me you can use multiple heads, amps and sources, but then you cannot control all sources from all heads (which is how I’d define true multi-source). This sounds all wrong compared to what’s on their website, which says you can do multi-source, although, if I read their documentation correctly, you do need an MZ-100 amplifier per zone.
    The RD-44 has intercom functionality between the zones, which could be very interesting depending on the boat & users.
    Fusion was also out in force. I liked the look of the unit and remote, very chunky and boat-like. The display impressed me less, it looked washed out at all angles.
    The way that changing the volume for all zones works where you keep the relative settings was also very good.
    Oh — before I forget: Fusion is coming with a DVD version! That may be worth waiting for those who are looking for a DVD solution at the helm. The size and overall styling will be the same, with slightly different buttons and colors. You can still add the separate “iPod dock”.

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