Read full Clarion CZ500 Reviews
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Category: Electronics
Brand: Clarion
Model: CZ500
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Clarion CZ500 Product reviews
Clarion CZ500 Review by freetolio "freetolio"
I bought this based on all the good reviews here, and I am terribly disappointed that I shelled out over $100 for this. It is so bad that I am putting it up on Craigslist and buying a bluetooth FM modulator to use with my old stereo.
Problems (in order from most to least severe):
1.The quality of the bluetooth audio streaming is very very poor. It sounds passable for quiet acoustic songs, but when you have any highs or portions of the music with lots of instruments and varied sounds the audio falls apart with scratchy high-pitched distortion even with mp3 source material encoded at 256k and above. Using the line-in is easily twice as clear if not more. If you are used to having an audio device directly connected, the bluetooth will grate on your ears. Since this is the primary reason I bought the thing, this is totally unacceptable to me. Also, I tested several decent smartphones (Palm Pre, Samsung Epic 4g, HTC Hero) and all had bad sound quality and the scratchy sounds.
2.This unit seems to have overall bad sound quality. Bass notes are all that it can really push effectively. Highs sound clipped even at moderately high volumes, and the max volume is not as high as you would hope. CD's sound OK, but again are not as good as even cheaper units from other brands.
3.FM reception is not great. I got this unit after owning my last stereo (JVC KD-HDR1) for about 3 years which had great reception, and the tuner on this makes even local stations sound like they are coming from a hundred miles away.
4.The USB playback is useless for large storage media. I have a 32gb microsd card which is supposedly within the range this thing can handle, but it just stays on "reading" eternally. I didn't buy it for this use, so I am not too offended, but you should beware of this.
5.Terrible hands free microphone reception. Even when it is right in front of my mouth, I have to yell to get people to hear me.
6.Cheap buttons on the front mean you have to push right near the center of the "starburst" cluster where the plastic flaps flex. However, the jog dial is actually nice and rubbery.
Good Stuff:
1.It looks pretty nice if not basic.
2.It has a plethora of connectors.
3.USB cable for charging and a line input on the front.
Conclusion:
Absolutely do not buy this. I regret it so much. I am buying a Soundfly BT Ultimate BT->FM modulator and putting my old stereo back in, and then I am putting this thing up on Craigslist. I cannot believe people who are suggesting the BT audio quality is even passable on this thing and wonder if they all have hearing problems. I am not an audiophile, and I use cheapo earbuds and a decade old bookshelf cd player at home; but, this stereo has terrible audio quality. If I had to do this all over again, I would have bought one of the newer JVC units like a KD HDR60 and gotten a separate BT unit since JVC's BT addon boxes are overpriced and have mixed reviews as well.
If you are looking for bluetooth streaming, stay away. If you aren't looking for BT, there is much better gear for the money out there with HD Radio built in.
EDIT:
I am now using the Soundfly BT Ultimate fm modulator box with my old stereo. With the BT audio streaming from my phone to that device and through FM to the radio the audio is far clearer than this Clarion unit. Also, the included microphone with the Soundfly works great (no more yelling).
Clarion CZ500 Review by LazyGecko.net
I decide to replace my factory car stereo because I wanted hands-free Bluetooth
and to play MP3 files so I don't have to worry about the kids scratching the CDs.
I install the stereo and it works, Yay !
I pair my iPhone to the Bluetooth and it works, Yay !
Next day someone calls while I'm driving and the Bluetooth doesn't work.
I check the iPhone, and it is paired but not connected.
It will not auto-connect. I have to do it manually every time I enter the car,
making the feature completely useless.
I can't find a way to make it auto-connect.
I tried this with another iPhone, same result.
I plug in my USB drive with 20gb of music.
Finding an album to play is such a slow and tedious process,
it makes the feature completely useless.
For instance, if you navigate by folders, you can only do so by scrolling down
a giant list of all the folders on the drive. And each one is displayed as "Folder: XX"
and then you have to wait for it to scroll the text so you can actually read the
folder name. Argggg..
So, I'm back to where I started,
A car full of CDs and holding my phone while driving.
Not happy.
Clarion CZ500 Review by Zurab Machaidze (Georgia)
It's the worse stereo I have ever seen. I bought this clarion cz500 and it worked only 1 week.
It's China's rubbish, I hate this stereo
I strongly suggest not buying this rubbish
My friend ordered both for himself and for me his Stereo clarion cz500 was till healthy but yesterday his stereo also failed (both of them was burnt processor as stereo master said)I hate this stereo
More Reviews...
Clarion CZ500 In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB and Bluetooth:: Features
- Rear USB 18 FM / 6 AM
- iPod or iPhone connect with USB (Audio) Built-in Bluetooth
- Built-in Blutooth
- HD Radio Ready with THD300 (With iTunes Tagging) XM Tuner Ready with CCUXM1+ CNP2000UC
- Front AUX Input LCD13 x 10 2-Line
- Item Dimensions: 12 x 4 x 12 inches; 1 pounds
- Brand: Clarion
- Model: CZ500
- Product Type: Electronics
Clarion CZ500:Limited time offer!
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