The Clarion CZ500 is an affordable quality single-DIN car stereo offering a range of extras like Bluetooth capabilities, HD radio, Satellite radio, and the ability to play a collection of formats.

The Power of Bluetooth

Connect your mobile phone, MP3 player, PDA,and other Bluetooth capable devices to the CZ500’s via the Bluetooth interface for an easy playback of all your favorite music.

Ever get frustrated whenever you’re on the freeway and an important call comes in through your mobile? Fiddling through your jean pockets and driving with one hand on the wheel may land you a ticket to the hospital if not in jail. The Clarion CZ500 lets you take those important calls without having to shift your hands’ attention. The receiver even mutes currently playing music so that you can focus on your calls.

With the built-in Bluetooth interface, communication is made easier and clearer as you talk with a client, your boss, or your wife/husband through a wired microphone. You can place the microphone, that comes ready with the package, wherever is most efficient. Hear your caller’s voice clearly through the speakers and feel as if you’re conversing with them in the passenger seat.

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Play Music from a Range of Sources

The CZ500's cd player can play music from recordable and rewritable CD’s with audio files in a collection of formats including AAC, MP3, and WMA. USB drives, with audio files in the same formats, can also be connected to the front USB port. Finally, MP3 players and other external audio devices can be connected to the front AUX input.

iPod and iPhone Connectivity

The rear USB port allows you to connect your iPod or iPhone to the Clarion CZ500 giving you control over your entire music library while at the same time keep it hidden and safe.

Included Remote Gives Extra Mobility

A remote control is included allowing to to control the music from outside the car. You can also pass the remote giving your passengers control of the radio,though I am not sure who would give such power to a mere mortal.

Clarion CZ500 Customer Comments

“I bought the CZ500 for a replacement of the factory stereo in my Land Rover. I liked the ipod controls & the bluetooth connectivity paired with a simplistic (clutter free) design.” See Full Reviews

“I am amazed at how much technology we can get for so little, and wonder how manufacturers can make money at these prices.” See Full Reviews

“It's hard to imagine a more feature-laden unit below $100. It sounds very good, with very decent FM range, but easily the primary strength of this unit is its versatile connectivity…” See Full Reviews

This product received 19 5-star ratings out of 49 reviews and 20 4-stars. It seems the biggest negative issues are the Bluetooth connectivity on the iPhone and the difficult to navigate linear screen.

==> Click Here To See All The Reviews <==

HD and Satellite Radio Ready for Crisp Broadcast

HD broadcasting is available with the Clarion THD300 as an optional add on device. Some reviewers mention the THD309, a cheaper option, works as well. It takes advantage of your car’s factory antenna so there’s no need to get a dedicated satellite antenna and broadcast your new addition.

A nifty addition to the HD Radio is an iTunes Tagging feature which shows complete information about the song that’s being played. With this feature, you can tag the song for later downloading from the iTunes Store. Especially with those stations that broadcast new release singles and albums, you’ll be up-to-date with modern music even when away from your computer and the internet.

The XM Satellite Radio Receiver CNP2000UC instantly upgrades your system so you can listen to digital quality audio straight from satellite broadcasting. Get the best of the radio at the dash of your vehicle.

The CZ500 provides 24 (18 FM and 6 AM) channel presets for easy tuning to your favorite stations.

Noteworthy Little Setbacks

It is important to note that the receiver does not automatically pair with iPhones when you get it out of the box. You’ll have to manually set up the connection by finding the Auto-Connect Setting in the system.

The first thing you need to do is go to your iPhone’s Bluetooth settings and manually pair it with the receiver. From the receiver, you next have to set the audio source to Bluetooth, after which you hold down the “D” button located at the bottom right of the unit. Some options should appear at the screen. Press the right arrow until you reach the Auto-Connect option. Turn the option off, back out of the menu, turn off the receiver, turn it back on, go back to the Auto-Connect option, and then turn that back on. This should allow the unit to automatically connect with your iPhone flawlessly throughout.

Another note is that the two-line screen has only one line that moves when you’re browsing through your USB device for music. If you have a substantially large folder in your drive then finding your desired song can be a tedious process. Its more advantageous to use smaller capacity drives or sort your folders so that you don’t have too many songs in them to sift through.

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Tweak Your Music with Magna Bass and a 3-Band Equalizer

With Magna Bass EX to enhance your bass and the 3-band parametric equalizer - giving you control over bass, midrange, and treble - the Clarion CZ500 allows you adjust your music to your liking. There is no need for additional components.

There is a built-in 19W x 4 RMS amplifier to give you a boost without having to purchase an additional amplifier. Though, with 3 sets of RCA outputs (6ch/4V front, rear, subwoofer) you can still customize your system by adding external amplifiers.

Where to Buy

At the time I did this research Amazon.com was the lowest priced option. In my personal experience they offer the best customer service, some of the quickest shipping, and have always allowed things to be returned when I was not happy.

What’s in the Box

Clarion CZ500 Receiver, Remote Control, Visor Microphone, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

Disclaimer: This review is based on my research and not me owning it. Purchasing this item through the links above allows me to fund this site and to take the time to do honest research so you do not have to. Any comments please use my contact form. Thank You.

The double-DIN JVC KW-XR810 is a fully featured head unit with all the all the basic features a typical driver should ever need along with some advance and convenient features that move it beyond typical. These multiple USB ports, include variable light color, 3 preamp outputs, built-in Bluetooth, a 3.5mm front auxiliary input, and is ready for the addition of an HD or satellite radio.

Intuitive Navigation

The KW-XR810 was designed with exceptionally easy and intuitive navigation in mind. Starting with the large preset buttons for storing your favorite radio stations. You will also find the Menu key and Back key provide smooth operation as you glide through your USB library and the various nested menus.

In addition you are able to use the Setup and customize the navigation like removing unused menu options. Once you Setup your stereo it will be very simple to use, at least for you. Not sure what to say to the passengers.

JVC KW-XR810 Color Options

Nothing will ruin a factory or custom dash like mismatched lighting. The JVC KW-XR810 provides an answer to this with a Full-Dot LCD with JVC’s Separated Variable-Color. This allows you to personalize the lighting color of the deck by using two colors. And with 30,000 options you practically have a limitless selection of colors.

Other color settings include:

• Separate settings for the buttons and for the display.
• Different setups for night and day.
• Negative and Positive backlighting for the display.

Go Wireless with Built-in Bluetooth

The build-in Bluetooth allows you to stream audio and use hands-free calling. This provides a safer and maybe even a legal way to talk on the phone while you drive. You are able to manually transfer up to 400 phone numbers from compatible phones. With the iPhone you can use the PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile) without transferring the numbers. You can also dial out using your cell’s phonebook on the Bluetooth paired phone.

An added Bluetooth feature is being able to switch between 2 phones. This could be business and personal, multiple drivers, or driver and passenger.

Users claim the sound is great similar to using a headset. No distractions from road noise or echoes.

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Multiple File (MP3/WMA/WAV) and Storage (CD/USB/3.5mm) Formats

There is a whole range of ways to get you music into your car with the JVC KW-XR810. Your CDs can be an original CD or a burned CD with MP3, WMA, or WAV files for hours of music. You can also skip over the burning and just move your files onto a USB thumb drive. Just plug the USB drive into either of the USB ports (one in the front and one in the back) and your ready to play.

If you have the ID3 tags filled you will be able to see the artist and track information. You can also listen to must from any device with a 3.5mm jack through the head unit’s own front-panel 3.5mm jack.

The KW-XR810 Equalizer

The 3-band equalizer actually offers 3 different adjustments for each of 3 different frequencies in the High, Mid, and Low ranges. This gives 9 actual adjustment points. Seems that JVC may be selling its product short by calling it a 3 band EQ. Perhaps there is a technical qualifications. Either way the EQ allows for plenty of tweaking to get the sound to fit your presence and your car’s own characteristics.

Helpful Hint: Someone offered this to simplify setting EQ presets as opposed to using the Audio Menu that they found to be cumbersome. Select a preset close to what you like. While continuing to hold this down, make the fine tune adjustments manually. This manual adjustment will be saved as a user preset that can be later accessed through that EQ button.

50W max (20W RMS) x 4 MOSFET Amplifier

An external amplifier is not with the JVC KW-XR810 as it has a built-in 20W RMS x 4 MOSFET amplifier. This built-in amp should deliver more than enough power for your everyday listening at least for many of us. However, if you already have an amp, are looking for more power, or have plans to purchase one there are three 2.5V preamp outputs (front, rear, and subwoofer).

Sound Quality

Based on the many reviews the JVC KW-XR810 Head Unit will provide quality sound. Just some the comments regarding sound quality from the reviews include, great sound, 10x better than factory, clean, awesome quality sound, won’t disappoint, sound quality is superb, certainly not "over-rated" , and even made the factory speakers sound better.

If you take a moment to make adjustments with the equalizer and replace your factory speakers with just basic after market speakers you should get a nice bump in sound quality. Remember the KW-XR810 can power these new speakers with its built-in 20W x 4 Amplifier without the extra time and cost of an external amplifier.

Some Things to Look Out For

The file and folder names have a limit of 25 characters so you may want to take a quick glance at your file names. The good thing is that the information displayed when the song is playing is based on the ID3 tags which allow up to 128 characters. Also the face is glossy so finger prints may show better than a matte finish. Though one has to admit it is hard to beat the looks of a shiny car stereo.

So What Are Others Saying

“The improvement in sound (not counting flexibility of two USB inputs, AUX, HD radio, etc.) over the stock single-CD system is simply incredible.” Read More...

"After many months of researching to find the best mix is price and connectivity, I finally decided on this unit." Read More...

Of the 29 reviews on Amazon there was only one review had less than 4 stars and it was because of some problems with shipping. The buyer received a refund instead of the radio.

==> Click Here To See All The Reviews <==

AM/FM Radio

What is a head unit without the basic AM/FM radio? Well thankfully the AM/FM tuner in this JVC head unit is not basic. Equipped with 6 AM presets and 18 FM presets you will always have quick access to all your favorite channels.

Then HS-IVi tuner has extra features to increase the tuner quality like having 3 IF bandwidths (wide, middle, and narrow). The wide filter often produces the higher quality sound while the narrow filter will help reject interference from adjacent channels.

HD and Satellite Radio

If FM and AM just isn’t enough you can easily add HD or satellite radio. This does require the purchase of either the HD tuner or the XM/SIRIUS satellite tuner.

What's in the Box

The box contains the JVC KW-XR810 Receiver, a Bluetooth Microphone, Sleeve/Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Instruction and Installation Manuals, and the Warranty Information.

Where to Buy

At the time I did this research Amazon.com was the lowest priced option. In my personal experience they offer the best customer service, some of the quickest shipping, and have always allowed things to be returned when I was not happy.

==> Click Here To See More Details or Purchase the JVC KW-XR810 <==

Disclaimer: This review is based on my research and not me owning it. Purchasing this item through the links above allows me to fund this site and to take the time to do honest research so you do not have to. Any comments please use my contact form. Thank You.

The Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD provides a nice selection of media options, has nice aesthetics and good quality.

Multiple-Color Display

This Pioneer head unit has a 5.8-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD display giving you enhanced image quality. Combining this with a pixel resolution of 1440 x 240 provides for a pleasant viewing experience. This is an improvement over the P3100 LCD.

The LCD is a touchscreen providing smooth navigation and allows for some customization to suit your needs. You only need to swipe, tap, and drag to take complete control of your music and videos.

What’s more, there are plenty of preset LED colors and adjustable screen controls that further give one a feel for their own moods and styles, a perfect way to show personality from the comforts of their car’s interior. Setting the brightness, contrast, hue, and color becomes an enticing option for the particular passenger.

High Quality Multimedia

We all have our preferences and the AVH-P3200DVD offers a wide selection of options for music and video formats. You can play MP3, WMA, and AAC audio file formats giving you plenty of choices between file size and sound quality. For videos you can select from Video CDs, DVD-R, and DVDs. In addition you can play DivX videos from a DVD, CD, or USB. Though, it would be a good idea for the driver to not watch any format.

The Choice of AUX, USB, or SD Input

A very handy feature of this receiver is its USB and SD memory card accessibility. Enjoy your personalized music playlists, photo album slideshows, and movie collections stored in flash drives, external hard drives, and SD memory cards you otherwise will not be able to store in a single disc. Furthermore, external devices such as digital portable players and video game systems can be connected to the rear AND front A/V inputs for the children to enjoy on those long trips.

==> Click Here To See More Details or Purchase the AVH-P3200DVD <==

iPod Connectivity for Music, Videos, and Apps

With the popularity of the Apple iPods (I know there are 5 in my house) most aftermarket radios include some type of interface and the Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD is no different. With your iPod connected you can listen to your music and browse through your photos. You can also browse your video however this will require the use of the Pioneer CD-IU50 USB iPod Interface cable.

The option to directly control the receiver from your own iPod/iPhone appeals to relaxation and hassle-free navigation – you wouldn’t have to bend over and manually tap the deck’s controls (implying even that is a hassle in itself what with touchscreen technology making lives easier). In fact, using the iPod direct control provides greater flexibility and control especially if you’re a seasoned iPod user. The nice thing about this is that you can still use the deck’s control manually at the same time if you like so you may switch back to whichever at your own leisure.

The bonus of iPod connectivity does not end here. Users of Navigation apps will find that the direction narrator can be heard through the speakers; initially one would think it might not carry over to the receiver but it does, and that’s one addition the auditory person will be particularly pleased about, especially when said apps utilize that useful feature of providing the choice to either pause or turn down the volume of the music that’s currently playing (controllable by the user of course).

Advanced Sound Retriever for Compressed Audio

To save on file size many file formats are compressed. Unfortunately the process of compressing files often reduces the quality especially at the higher frequencies. To compensate for this the P3200 has an Advanced Sound Retriever system that enhances this compressed audio. Considering the popularity of digital audio this is a nice feature to have at your disposal. Just press the virtual “S.RTRV” button to engage.

Well There You Have It From the Public

“This receiver is fantastic! I've been looking for a touchscreen iPhone-compatible receiver in the right price range for over 5 years and this is definitely it.” See Complete Reviews

“I couldn’t believe what Pioneer offers you in features at this price point.” See Complete Reviews

“You can't beat this unit, especially for the price. Great picture, sound, and easy to use.” See Complete Reviews

This product received 39 5 star-ratings out of 70 reviews and 22 4 stars. Most of the comments hailed it has being exceedingly worth the price. Most of the lower rated reviews tackled the technical under-performance of the satellite radio upgrade as well as the Bluetooth accessory.

==> Click Here To See All The Reviews <==

Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner

The Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD boasts a feature of outstanding digital and analogue cross technology – the Supertuner IIID, which reduces signal distortion from multi-path noise that occurs when signal reverberates off tall buildings, enhances signal strength even in signal-weak areas, and tunes in to your favorite stations with its 18 FM and 6 AM presets.

Adding to this delicious triad is the Best Stations Memory function of the Supertuner IIID, which automatically seeks out and remembers (presets) the 6 strongest stations in an area. This is rather helpful as you reach a new area and you don’t know which frequencies the radio stations there are or which of those stations are most well-known.

One fun extra plus is that it shows the name of the song, the artist, and the album on stations that support this feature and so it’s easy to follow the song if you want to download it afterwards and you don’t have to fret if you missed hearing the title and the name of the artist.

Customizable Equalizer and Powerful 50Wx4 MOSFET Amplifier

Fiddle with the 8-band parametric equalizer to acquire the modulation of your heart’s content – be it a booming bass or a mellow touch – and grab that perfect melody.

Its MOSFET 50Wx4 amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient while carrying a clean blast of power volume boost minus distortion and switching noise. This is definitely the boom for the rocker in you.

Add-On Perks to Accessorize

As if the above mentioned features are not enough to overwhelm you, Pioneer has engineered the Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD to be upgraded for a Bluetooth function for convenient and safe hands-free operation as well as phone calls through your head unit’s microphone and your car’s speakers. It even focuses on incoming and outgoing calls by automatically muting any other audio. This is hands-free technology exploited for the benefit of even the very busy.

Another useful addition to safety and maneuverability is the ND-BC2 Rear View Camera which instantly views the rear end (no, not that rear end) when putting your car in reverse. It’s a handy option for the careful driver and the protective family man or woman.

Other possible add-ons include the HD radio tuner, XM and Sirius satellite radio, CD/DVD changer, and a TV tuner.

==> Click Here To See More Details or Purchase the AVH-P3200DVD <==

What It Doesn’t Have… At First

Of course, with benefits come some nuisances. For one, it does not have High Definition radio although it is available for an additional $100 as well as a satellite radio via Sirius Connect Bus Interface. Some people may argue that even low-end car stereos worth that much already have HD radio installed. However, most low-end car stereos don’t have MP3/DVD playability, USB/SD inputs, iPod connectivity, and touchscreen display. Not to mention that for its price, the P3200’s customizability is much more extensive than decks that cost a grand. Indeed, you get the most out of your money.

Potential Glitches to Keep in Mind

For another, I mentioned a while back that you may switch from the deck’s manual controls to iPod control if you so choose. A potential glitch is that after you change songs, it cuts out the playback of the current song. To prevent this from potentially worsening, using the iPod control exclusively may be the dependable choice.

Some people are rather confused as to what the limit of SD card capacity the unit supports. They can’t get their 16-32gb cards to run. The thing here is that the unit supports only Class 2 SD cards, those whose speeds are only up to 2Mb/s. The tedious part about this is that filling a 32gb Class 2 SD card will take hours to complete and so most people, especially those in the know, would have Class 4 and above cards which will not work on the unit. So be in the know about which Class your SD card belongs to.

Where to Buy

At the time I did this research Amazon.com was the lowest priced option. In my personal experience they offer the best customer service, some of the quickest shipping, and have always allowed things to be returned when I was not happy.

What’s In the Box

Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

Disclaimer: This review is based on my research and not me owning it. Purchasing this item through the links above allows me to fund this site and to take the time to do honest research so you do not have to. Any comments please use my contact form. Thank You.