Marine Speakers

[tomframe]

this might be another whinge post, but I seem to have hit a brick wall with the Fusion Speakers, I bought these for my new yacht and had them fitted, before the first year was out I noticed a slight rust mark on the face of the speaker units. I called Fusion and they said they where going to swap them over on warranty and that it apparently had never happened to them. Of course this would have been fine, but its now over a year now and I have sent too many emails to them and wasted phone calls - lots of promises and no fulfillment - time to change brands,

check out what they looked like when I removed them a few months back when we got back into the water.

bottom line, rubbish speakers that I would have been happy with a replacement, but their customer service seems to be worse than their kit.

 

[Loginname]

You may as well make one last attempt and E mail them a link to your posting!

 

[William_H]

Interesting is that rust on metal or is it a rust colored change to plastic material. If it is the latter then it is UV damage from sunlight. Assuming they are mounted in the sun. Not that that is any excuse they should be made of UV stable material for a boat or clearly state not to be mounted in the sun. good luck olewill

 

[VicS]

From a chandlers website:

"All FUSION marine speakers comply with the ASTM international standard for UV Stability (ASTM-D4329) and Salt/Fog Resistance (ASTM-B117) confirming the ability of FUSION marine speakers to withstand repeated exposure to the harsh marine elements. Each component of the FUSION marine speakers has been engineered to deliver years of trouble free operation."

 

[FullCircle]

Is it worth thehassle?

Lets just shame the Fusions, which are visibly not fit for purpose.

I have bought 2 pairs from EBay, mine have been fitted for 3 deasons wioth no problems, and there are a pair on Morgana fitted this year. No problems so far. I paid £26.99 a pair, so any effort you invest in this crusade against Fusion just aint worth it.

Best of luck with your audio for the coming seasons!

 

[jerryat]

This is why we packed up buying cheap speakers years ago. We bought three pairs of the £20-30 sort NONE of which lasted more than a couple of years. OK, we were in the Med/Caribbean and the UV degradation is severe, but we swallowed hard, opened the wallet and paid approaching £90 for a pair of Pioneer speakers.

Fantastic, and one of the best buys we've ever made. After over 5 years there's not the slightest sign of deterioration and, we have the best sound reproduction we've heard on cockpit speakers.

Lesson to us - don't buy cheap for something so exposed (assumed yours are mounted in the cockpit) it is just a waste of money allied to very inferior sound quality.

 

[tomframe]

Its not the kit, which was also not the cheapest around, the part that failed was just the separate tweeter - the most disappointing thing is the really bad customer service, especially for a company just launching a new marine range. I am busy replacing the speakers with what I believe is a better brand, its the fact that I thought these guys where serious, I bought a set that had separate tweeters, so when I replace them I now have 2 x 40mm'ish diameter holes in my lovely new cockpit - so not just as easy as replacing them I have to get somebody in to patch the holes.

check out the back of the unit

 

[Talulah]

I've not seen a review of marine speakers in any of the boating mags but it would be good to see some comparisons including longevity.

 

[Sailfree]

[ QUOTE ]
I've not seen a review of marine speakers in any of the boating mags but it would be good to see some comparisons including longevity.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would welcome that. On our boat charterers keep breaking the plastic covers on the cockpit speakers with their heels/boots.

Can anyone advise where you can get robust covers as speakers are OK.

 

[FullCircle]

from

www.xaudiocovers.com


$180 a pair. erk!

 

[colingr]

Blimey that's a biggun. Dan will be after you /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Cloona]

went to my local car parts shop - got an old car radio/cd player and two speakers GBP 25 -

 

[jerryat]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I've not seen a review of marine speakers in any of the boating mags but it would be good to see some comparisons including longevity.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would welcome that. On our boat charterers keep breaking the plastic covers on the cockpit speakers with their heels/boots.

Can anyone advise where you can get robust covers as speakers are OK.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Sailfree,

The appalling quality of the cheaper speakers we bought (see post above) was the main reason for buying higher quality units. In the heat and high UV levels we were cruising in, the grids just crumbled. The speakers all survived as far as producing sound was concerned though.

Before we bought the Pioneers, I'd made s/s 'straps' about 25mm x 2mm thick, spanning horizontally across the front of each speaker and cranked at both ends. Each end was screwed to the cockpit back. This stopped the odd foot or whatever bashing the flimsy plastic grids the 'cheapies' were fitted with and breaking them.

Didn't matter in the end 'cos the UV got the grids and they gradually disappeared anyway! If I could remember where I've stored them I'd post a piccy!