One of the premier luxury yacht retailers in the lower mainland recently contacted the marine audio experts at Ralph’s Radio in Vancouver for help with rejuvenating the entertainment system on a Riva Aquariva Super. The original owner had someone install an upgraded sound system using Focal KRX speakers and Mosconi amplifiers. As nice as these products are for car audio applications, they aren’t designed to handle the harsh conditions of boating on the Pacific Ocean. We were tasked with removing all of the old equipment and installing new products before the boat was shipped to its new owner in Miami, Florida.
Fusion Marine Audio Speaker Upgrade
After removing and disposing of the damaged speakers, our installation technicians began the process of installing four pairs of Fusion Marine water-resistant speakers. The installation was more extensive than a standard speaker replacement because we had to remove all the wiring and run new weather-resistant cabling to the amplifier mounting location in one of the cabinets in the lower deck. We also assisted in the removal of several seating surfaces and accessories so the mahogany floors could be refinished for the new owner.
In all, there is a single set of 6-inch MS-FR6022 coaxial and three sets of 6.5-inch SG-C65W coaxial speakers in the boat. The smaller speakers are mounted to a panel just behind the helm and the three larger sets are under the main bench seats in the middle of the boat.
We also installed a pair of Fusion SG-S10-W 10-inch subwoofers to help reinforce bass-frequency performance from the system.
Marine Amplifier Installation
We chose a trio of Fusion SG-DA41400 four-channel amplifiers to power the system. Two of the amplifiers deliver as much as 150 watts to each of the coaxial speakers, and the third amp is configured as a two-channel to deliver an impressive 440 watts of power to each of the subwoofers. We upgraded all the power wire for the amplifiers and fed it to a central distribution block for optimum performance and reliability.
Fusion Apollo Source Unit System
We removed the existing radio from the boat and replaced it with a Fusion Apollo-series MS-RA770 digital media receiver and an MS-NRX300 wired remote control. Our fabrication team created a mounting adapter for the new radio that fills the space left by its predecessor.
The MS-RA770 is one of the unique radios on the market in that it is the only one that offers Apple Airplay to stream high-quality audio from an iPhone or iPad. Unlike Bluetooth connections, Airplay delivers the entire audio signal without significant compression or loss of high-frequency detail. The face of the MS-RA700 features a capacitive touch panel and a 4.3-inch color display. One look and you can see that this stereo system matches the pedigree of this amazing Riva yacht.
Our team also installed a new VHF radio for the client to ensure he would always be able to communicate with other boats while on the Pacific Ocean.
Marine-specific Products Ensure Reliability
With the owner of the boat being quite literally as far away from us as possible, we wanted to ensure that everything we used to upgrade this marine audio system would be reliable and offer exceptional performance. The Fusion speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers and source unit all feature the company’s True-Marine design. This designation means that the choice of plastics for the speaker and subwoofer baskets and paint for the grilles can handle long-term exposure to harsh sunlight and UV rays without yellowing, chalking, fading or cracking. The cone materials on the speakers are designed for excellent performance and use materials that deliver the same longevity. Circuit boards in the amplifiers, remote control and source unit are treated with a silicone coating that prevents corrosion in high-humidity, high-salt environments.
Riva Aquariva Stereo System Upgrade
After four long nine-hour days, our technicians had the Riva marine audio system installed, the new amplifiers configured and the system tuned using the DSP features of the new radio. Unlike most deliveries, the owner of this boat is more than 5,600 kilometers away from our shop. Once the boat was in his hands, though, he confirmed that everything worked flawlessly and the system looks and sounds excellent.
If you are interested in upgrading the entertainment system on your boat, drop by our store in Vancouver or Victoria and speak with one of our product specialists. You can also reach us by e-mail using our contact page.