I've been testing (and enjoying) a Fusion MS-IP700 and MS-NRX200 system since I installed them in June and I wholeheartedly support the 700 Series as NMEA's Technology Award winner of the year. And note that I wasn't a judge myself this year and unfortunately wasn't even there (especially as I've heard repeatedly that the 2012 NMEA Conference was the success hoped for). You can read all about it in this online version of the ME Journal, and further note that the judges didn't see the cool multi-manufacturer Fusion MFD interfaces that debuted in Fort Lauderdale...
The Fusion IP700, first announced at last October's NMEA Conference, is so shiny that it's hard to photograph, which is why you'll see reflections of Gizmo's dotty overhead if you click/enlarge the shot above. But you'll also see the IP700's terrific volume control and the fact that you can now give your speaker zones meaningful names. As shown by the green color I'm controlling three sets of speakers at once but I can just push the big knob to select individual zones. Actually it's even simpler than that because usually I have the Fly Bridge zone control shut off on this display as I'll be controlling it, and it alone, with a NRX200 remote that will be installed up there, all very easy to set up even without peeking in the manual...
The Aquatic AV AQ-DM-4B Media Locker is purportedly so waterproof and rugged that you could install it on a Jet Ski, and though the company is relatively new to the marine world, it does have years of experience making stereos for the highly humid and harshly chemical environment around hot tubs. Plus there's a nice simplicity to a black box iPod/MP3 amp run only by a wireless remote, especially when that's a two-way RF remote capable of 50 foot range and even of showing iPod tune titles on its little screen...
Pardon the lousy show booth photography, but you've got to see what Fusion Audio debuted at NMEA, and it's not fully online yet. The new MS-IP700 at upper right obviously has a color screen, but it also has both NMEA 2000 and Ethernet ports on its backside. Which means that it will be easy to install that new MS-NRX200 wired remote and it will even be able to display instrument info on its 2.7-inch monochrome screen (which is the same size as the 700 screen, because the collaged images are not to scale). And, yes, the Ethernet port is connected to a WiFi router which is being used by a Fusion app on that iPad at left to choose tunes, adjust volume levels on four possible zones, etc. But that is not all!...
My photograph could be better, but hopefully it's clear that the Poly-Planar MRD80i has its own solution for docking iPods and iPhones safely inside a waterproof marine stereo. Instead of supplying a variety of sleeves so that different-size iThings can be inserted into the dock, like Fusion does, the 80i uses a drawer with a cushioned pad, a hook'n'loop hold down, and a wired connector. The docking process takes a tad longer but you'll never have to look for a box of sleeves when a guest brings a different model of iPod aboard, or you change up. And that's just the beginning of what makes this digital-media-friendly stereo different from Fusion's...
Yesterday we saw the helm side of Gizmo's pilot house, but you may recall that recently I asked for advice about the components that might turn the lovely port-side cherry chart table into a 21st century navigation & work station (and entertainment center) when its lid is up. Panbots responded with enthusiasm, I took the majority guidance, and, boy, am I pleased. That 26" Vizio M261VP LED HD TV & monitor, purchased for $350 at Amazon, has been on the test bench for about 10 days, and it was joined last Friday by that minimal Mac Mini, also bought at Amazon
along with a Crucial 8GB RAM upgrade
. The setup and testing I've done so far all suggest that this is going to be a terrific solution to the project I've dubbed ChartTable21...
Seen above is the Sony head unit Jeffrey Schwartz installed as part of an elaborate stereo system on his Benateau. You may recall that Jeffrey has also installed the Mas-Tech M200 Yanmar-to-N2K system discussed here recently, which he wrote a thorough comment about. Now his thoughts on the Sony...
While Fusion's new MS_DA51600 marine audio amp is just being announced this week, a prototype was on display at the Miami Boat Show and I can tell you that the industrial design is even more striking in its cast aluminium and high-polish stainless flesh. But perhaps its real claim to fame is its ability to pump out 4 channels at 80 Watts RMS, plus 250 of sub woofer -- and a freaking peak of 1,600 -- all via Class D technology that purportedly requires less amps and causes less heat. Who needs that kind of power?...
Mid-sized yachts (and workboats) hungry for connectivity have to be pleased with KVH's introduction of the TracPhone V3 mini-VSAT in Miami. The appeal is fast "Internet access and e-mail for just $0.99 per MB along with crystal-clear voice calls worldwide for only $0.49 per minute with no fine print and no hassles" via an antenna only 14.5" in diameter and 25 pounds. The original V7 was way smaller than other VSAT antennas when it was introduced in 2007 -- still is, I think -- and check the difference. Note too how much KVH has extended its mini-VSAT service coverage. The hardware cost is still pretty high, but if you watch the animated V3 presentation, it's clear that KVH now sees mini-VSAT's low service prices as a real challenge to even Inmarsat's small Fleet Broadband systems (which it also sells)...
Clarion recently announced the "all new" CMD7 Marine CD Receiver (along with a pacel of other marine stereo gear) and its main new feature seems to be a direct iPod interface. According to the CMD7 product page, you "just connect your iPod's USB cable to the CMD7's rear USB input and you get complete key control of your iPod including genre/album/song title search and you can also use iPod's control wheel (simple control mode). The same connection can also be used to play back audio files stored on USB memory." Now this isn't truly new, given what Fusion has been up to for years now, but that sure is a handsome stereo and there are many Clarion fans out there. Maybe the next version of the mighty CMV1 (in action here) will easily manage iThing videos like Fusion's SonicHub and MS-RA200 do? Meanwhile, some boaters are pretty pleased to simply stream tunes into their existing stereo's aux port using a Bluetooth gadget...
, has been on the test bench for about 10 days, and it was joined last Friday by that 
along with a 
. The setup and testing I've done so far all suggest that this is going to be a terrific solution to the project I've dubbed ChartTable21...
