Garmin announced it is shipping a new top-of-the-line Fusion Apollo RA800 high fidelity marine head unit. It offers Hi Res lossless audio and Wi-Fi connectivity for better quality audio streaming.
Compared to earlier generation models, the deck has improved WiFi. It also embeds an amplifier with 50 percent more power and has a processor eight times faster than the previous generation model.
Like the earlier RA770, the new RA800 offers audio streaming over Apple AirPlay.
The new deck has a 4.3-inch LCD screen with wide viewing angles and readability in bright daylight. The internal amp is rated at 40 watts by 4. The display is high resolution edge to edge and the deck has HDMI (instead of the optical port in an earlier model).
Users can connect multiple Apollo stereos to share audio sources across different listening zones.
Suggested retail price is $999.99.
According to Garmin, which owns the Fusion and JL Audio brands, Fusion is a close number two in marine audio sales behind JL Audio.
Fusion is known mostly for its source units and integration with other marine electronics, Garmin said. One of the most common setups you see on boats is a Fusion radio and JL speakers, amps and subs, said Garmin.
While the RA800 streams music via Apple AirPlay, we asked Garmin why it does not offer CarPlay. Garmin said, “Car play doesn’t translate to the marine market like it does in cars. There are limitations for displays and how the information is presented when you use Carplay and as of now there are not many (if any) marine MFDS (Multi Function displays) that work with CarPlay.”
Garmin said it’s the largest marine electronics manufacturer based on 2024 sales.
See the full press release here.
