Clarion NZ500 7″ In-Dash Single-Din Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth
Jul.07, 2010 in
In dash
Amazon.com
Clarion’s NZ500 is a premium audio/video navigation unit with built-in GPS navigation, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free control, and audio streaming and USB iPod and iPhone compatibility. iPod video playback is also available using an optional cable (CCA748). The unit is also Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio Ready (including the iTunes tagging feature) with additional hardware. With built-in GPS navigation, the flash memory allows for quick response and access to (more…)
July 10th, 2010 at 2:26 am
I acquired the Clarion NZ500 after studying numerous distinct in-dash dual-din receivers. I discovered the smallest cost at the time (March 2010) for $574 utilising [...] – which finally took me to the trader on Amazon. If seeking for the NZ500 exactly on Amazon, the trader I acquired from wasn’t recorded and the smallest cost I could find was $585. What actually traded me on the NZ500 is a speedometer feature. I only glimpsed this on one other unit and that too was from Clarion. See my pics above.
Anyhow, I considered the cost was very healthy a 6.5″ computer display, storage disc contestant, constructed in Navigation, HD Radio prepared and Sirius Sat ready. What I actually admired about the NZ500 is that there are no wires/cables approaching out the back of the unit. For demonstration, the back of the unit is clean, with no wires/cables suspending out. What you manage is PLUG in the essential wires/cables that you require, like the wiring harness that proceeds to your vehicle, and the SAT antenna or the Sirius connector. I didn’t require to attach the wires for an external amp, so I didn’t require to close those wires into the back of the unit. Unlike other head flats, you don’t have a choice. The back of the unit is cluttered with wires that may not be needed. Not with the NZ500. Other flats I have glimpsed (Dual, Eclipse, etc) all have the cable connectors in the back of the unit if you require them or not. This makes for a untidy throughout install.
I established the NX500 in my 2007 Kia Sorento. The hardest part of the establish was eliminating the artificial panels on the dash. As for the genuine NZ500…well, I just acquired a wiring harness and then agreed the tinted wires simultaneously and utilised shrink tubing to join them together. Took nothing less than 10 minutes to do.
I furthermore bought the Sirius SC-C1 satellite receiver add-on. I furthermore got this from Amazon utilising [...] and got it for less than $40. With the NZ500 all you require to manage is purchase the SC-C1 and close them in together. You DO NOT require any supplement add on to get this employed, different other in-dash units. However, you will require to subscribe to Sirius for service.
I am so very satisfied that this setting up went without any problems. I had it established and employed in less than 30 minutes. The sound of the NZ500 is unbelievable with my supply scheme, although, I did observe there was no EQ command for my mid-range speaker, only Tweets and Woofer. There is a LOUD command and this thing actually increases the sound loud; So blaring that I likely won’t be utilising it as it falsifies the bass TOO HEAVY. I estimate I could adapt the bass, but so far, I didn’t. I did a made-to-order establish of the Sat antennaes of both the Navi and Sirius. I established them with double-sided strip on the dash board overhead the wireless and it works large (while I had the dash opened, I furthermore installed/hardwired my radar detector cable, too), the greeting is fantastic. See pics above.
The Navigation works large and the pointer was selected up when I turned on the NZ500. I’m not too thrilled with the hue design but possibly it looked the way it did because it was dusk? I understand Navi’s colors will change with the time of day, so possibly the hue design emulated that it was getting dark. However, that didn’t detract away from the presentation of the Navi. No require for a storage disc or recollection business card, just turn the unit on and it’s all good. I actually like that.
The supply wireless passages arrive in pleasant and clear and I get far more positions than my vintage supply radio. Not certain why, but I’m not complaining. I didn’t opt for the HD Radio add-on as I have HD Radio constructed in my other vehicle and it’s not all that and for anything causes, most of the positions in my locality stop broadcasting the 2nd HD signal. But I digress, the NZ500’s supply wireless pointers are very clear and sound large with my supply 12 speaker set up. The NZ500 has constructed in controls for the Sirius SC-C1, too. Once I subscribed to the service (online, had to use my computer first), the pointer was obtained and I was hearing to SAT radio. Quite honesty, I thougt it would be more clear than this, in addition to there is a blaring hissing disturbance that isn’t very mutable by reducing the high’s (tweeter) command through the EQ. I was a little let down in this, but still joyous that I got this scheme established and everything was employed from get proceed, different other times I’ve finished Do It Yourself and had not anything but problems.
I didn’t establish the hand brake cable for the DVD. I’m not certain where the cable would proceed anyhow, so I bought a bypass kit off Ebay and it should reach in a couple of days. I will require this in alignment to get the storage disc to work because even in reserve, the video would not show; I could discover it, but there was a alert note on the screen. For now, I had the parking brake cable grounded, but this did not work (like my Jensen head unit, just ground the parking brake cable and you’re good to go). Anyhow, one time I establish the bypass, I’ll furthermore establish the permit plate camera I acquired last week. I didn’t establish it this night as it was getting dark and I didn’t desire to tinker with the establish all night.
Overall, I am very very satisfied with the NZ500. For the cost and alleviate of establish, I’m not certain if I could have finished better with another brand. I did have my heart set on a comparable JVC, but when that got traded out, I discovered the Clarion. Installed in my Kia Sorento, it examines so clean and expert that it examines factory.
Pros:
1) Easy to install.
2) Connectors on the back of the unit to “plug” in cable connections. No untidy unused wires like other units.
3) Built in Navigation. Once unit is established and antenna is closed in, that is all you require to obtain Navigation. No DVD’s or recollection cards needed.
4) Receive more coherent wireless positions that my vintage supply radio
5) Clear, crunchy sound. Perfect for my supply speakers
6) Easy to use interface
7) SPEEDOMETER
Cons:
1) High hissing sound from Sat Radio. Can be modified somewhat by utilising the EQ settings.
2) EQ only had High and Low settings. No midrange. Perfect for my other vehicle, but my Sorento has 3 speakers per doorway, not two, so I would admired to have had midrange control.
3) Need to attach the brake cable in alignment to outlook DVD. Wiring to ground will not make this work at all.
4) Not numerous cons. This is overall an awesome receiver!