djacko2

Anyone out there using the Fusion Amp model MS-DA51600, 5 Channel 16000 watts? I realize the 1600 watts is going to be overstated, but I like the fact it is 5 channel and a class D amp. I've read nearly every thread on here about audio, and have seen people say they've installed them, but haven't really found any solid feedback on them. I think I've seen enough comments on amps from JL audio, Clarion, Alpine, etc. to go off of, but would love to know if anyone's using this one and how it has held up. It will be installed under the console of a 20 ft. CC boat.

It will be pushing a pair of JL MX 7.7's and a pair of JL MX 6.5's. I may want to add a sub or a 2nd set of speakers in the future.

My first post on here so go easy on me, haha!

I'm on a boat

This amp is stupid good. That is all you need to know.

I have a pair of JL M6600 amps running 4 sets of JL speakers + 2 subs on one boat, and the MS-DA51600 with 2 pairs of JL's on the other. The fusion amp is hands down louder.

djacko2

Cool - thanks for your feedback!

Itteldoo

Overstated is putting it mildly. Fusion does not publish proper CEA-2006 power ratings (at least not for this model); but they claim 80W x4 plus 250W x1, both at 4 Ohms with 1.0% THD+N (but no frequency bandwidths are stated). That adds up to 570W, if you believe them. That's surely still more than enough power for what you want to do; but power is hardly the only important parameter, and Fusion is woefully silent on virtually all other specifications.


You say that as if you think "Class D" is a good thing. It isn't, at least from an audio quality standpoint. Perhaps you need to read up on exactly what a "Class D" amplifier really is; I suggest you start with this elementary overview:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class-D_amplifier

Note particularly the section entitled "Advantages". Nowhere in there is there anything about audio quality. It's all about manufacturing cost and power-efficiency (which BTW is not at all the same thing as "power output", so please don't confuse them). And the former is THE big reason it has become popular in low-end designs, particularly now that it can be (at least mostly) implemented on a single monolithic IC.

As for it being five-channel... Why spend a bunch of money for that feature now, if you're not sure if/when you might use it? If and when you ever add a subwoofer (and finding a proper place for one on a 20-foot CC is going to be a difficult task, at best), you can buy another amp to drive it at that time.

If you want a higher-QUALITY amp to drive those four full-range speakers, look at:

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/product...559425193.html

If/when the subwoofer ever comes to pass, add this:

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/product...559425202.html


If you have not already bought these, or even if you have, but have not yet cut the big honkin' holes in your boat needed to install them, reconsider. No open-frame speaker can be counted on to produce even marginally decent sound as installed, because you have no way to control the "enclosure" it winds up being installed in -- and that enclosure is CRITICAL to how the speaker system as a whole will perform. I strongly suggest you actually go LISTEN to a variety of open-frame speakers installed in different-size enclosures with different amounts of uncontrolled venting. Then do the same for something like these:

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/US/Pr...stonAcoustics)

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/US/Pr...stonAcoustics)

http://www.polkaudio.com/products/atrium8sdi


Cross that bridge if and when you get to it. I suspect you won't, especially if you make the right choices for the main speakers


Welcome!

djacko2

Ittledoo - thanks for the information.

From what I've understood (and I'm no audio expert) is that class D amps will draw less power and create less heat. Is that correct? That is the main reason for preferring a class D as opposed to A/B if that's the case.

I got the 7.7's for a great deal. A buddy took them off his boat before selling, and his new boat already had a solid sound system so he practically gave them to me. The JL website says the "woofer design is optimized to operate with a large volume of air behind it (at least 2 cu. ft. / 57 l)" and there's an area in the bow with plenty of space. I'm not too concerned with cutting the holes because didn't really pay a whole lot for the boat to begin with.

Regarding your advice to consider the subwoofer setup.. I'm still evaluating whether or not to do that and am going to run the system with just the 4 speakers to start and see how that goes, just wanted to decide whether or not that Fusion amp is a decent option or not.

Thanks again for the advice.

Itteldoo

Yes, but it comes at a price. Go back to that Wikipedia page, and review the section entitled "Design challenges". Because of these issues, plus the overall complexity of any Class-D design, these amps inevitably wind up trading audio quality for design expediency and power-efficiency.

Do you really care all that much if the amp runs slightly warmer? Besides, assuming a properly designed product, the Class-AB design will have additional heat-sink area to control this anyway. As for power consumption... In theory yes; but again, in practice when comparing actual products of similar specification, the difference is not all that significant. For example, those Clarion Class-AB amps I pointed you toward earlier are spec'd to draw 14.5A per channel at full output. Their Class-D cousins (the XC6210/XC6410) don't actually specify this; but their fuse requirements (30A per 2 channels) strongly imply a similar draw.


It's your money. But if it were mine, I certainly would not waste it on an amplifier for a subwoofer I wasn't sure I was ever going to install.

bradv

you want him to mount a bunch of box speakers on a boat?