Feels So Good
Clarion are the biggest mobile electronics company in the world and they are more than aware that the world is changing. So as well as continuing to provide some of the best quality 12V units around in all sectors, from single DIN CD to No-Mechanism units and Double DIN dinners, (all seasoned with USB holes and iPoddery in varying amounts) they are also creating a whole new category which I reckon is seen as the future ‘roadmap’ for the company’s entire eventual output. Ever yet more digital convergence and right now, ever yet easier web access while out and about.
The Clarion MiND was released in the USA at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show last January but has not yet got its European release. Talk Audio will be covering this new product and all it implies as soon as we are given the go-ahead that it is here and is something you can go and check out yourself.
In the meanwhile, we were invited along to go learn about the new infotainment stuff from Clarion and can now bring you some details about what’s hot and new for this season. We’ll start with the five new single DIN Audio offerings.
CZ109E
Display: Blue Buttons, White LCD, New cosmetic with integral rotary control for volume
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA & CD-R/RW ready
Audio: 2V/2Ch RCA output, 50wx4, Z-Enhancer, Magna Bass EX, front aux input
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Remote control sensor for optional remote control, removable panel
CZ209E
Display: Blue Buttons, White LCD, New cosmetic with integral rotary control for volume
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA & CD-R/RW ready
Audio: 2V/2Ch RCA output, 50w x 4, Z-Enhancer, Magna Bass EX, front aux input
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General:Rear USB, iPod direct control, remote control sensor for optional remote, removable panel
DXZ588RUSB
Display: Flip down panel, Sidetrack operation, 2 line LCD with 3 colour illumination
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA/AAC & CD-R/RW ready, 24 BIT DA conversion
io:6ch RCA output, 53w x 4, HPF/LPF, Sound Restorer, Z-Enhancer Plus, Magna Bass EX, front Aux in
Tuner:RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Ce-Net Control: BLT583, Front USB with iPod control
CZ509E
Display: Blue Buttons, White LCD, New cosmetic with integral rotary control for volume, flip-down panel, 2-line display
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA/AAC
Audio: 2V 6Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, BBE MP, Beat EQ, HPF/LPF, front Aux in
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Built in Bluetooth, HFP & A2DP, Rear USB (DRM10 compatible), iPod direct USB control, RCB176 remote & external mic included
DXZ788RUSB
Display:Motorised sloping panel, Sidetrack operation, Full DOT LCD, 728 variable colour
Mech:CD/MP3/WMA/AAC, 24-Bit D/A Converter
Audio:6V 6Ch RCA preouts, 53w x 4 MOSFET, 3-way digital crossover, Time Alignment, HPF/LPF, Sound Restorer, Z-Enhancer Plus, Magna Bass, Aux in
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General:Rear USB, iPod direct USB control, Ce-Net control BLT583
And no less than three ‘deckless’ single DIN units – so no CD hole at all for those as leave their discs at home and buy the odd bit of music on a USB wristband for novelty value every now and again perhaps…..
FB288RBT
Display:Centre rotary volume control, 728 variable colour
Audio:2Ch RCA preout, 50w x 4, Aux in
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: MP3 & WMA compatible, SD card slot, Built in Bluetooth, A2DP & AVRCP
FZ409E
Display:Full dot OEL (OLED) display, Sensor Switch operation
Audio: 2V 4Ch RCA preout, 50w x 4, HPF/LPF, BBE MP, Aux in
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
Rear USB: for MP3/WMA/AAC, iPod direct control via USB, iPod focussed HMI, microphone included
FZ709E
Display: Full dot OEL (OLED) display, Sensor Switch operation
Audio: 4V 62Ch RCA preout, 50w x 4, HPF/LPF, Aux in
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Rear USB for MP3/WMA/AAC, iPod direct control via USB, built in Bluetooth for A2DP, iPod focussed HMI, microphone included
Double DIN & AV
There are four double DIN decks, of which two are for the expanding Marine market. (Hey, “The rich are getting richer” is no new thing…..)
CX609E
Display:OEM Style, big rotary volume control, 728 variable colour
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA/AAC, CD-R/RW ready
Audio: 2V 4Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, HPF/LPF, BBE MP, Aux in
Tuner: RDS, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General:Rear USB, iPod direct USB control, HFP & A2DP, Built in Bluetooth, External Mic included
WXZ468RMP
Display: Aluminium faceplate, VF display with 23 band spectrum analyser, four rotary controls
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA, built in six disc CD changer
Audio: 4Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4 MOSFET, 9-band graphic EQ, Listening position optimiser, Z-Enhancer, Aux in
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/L three banks of six
General: CATS Clarion Anti Theft System, Ce-Net control EA1251
CMD-6 (marine)
Display:Special waterproofed stainless steel chassis with rubberised controls
Mech: CD/MP3/WMA/AAC
Audio:6Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, BBE MP
Tuner:RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: USB, iPod direct USB control, optional wired waterproofed remote, RCA A/V input and 2x video output
CMV-1 (marine)
Display: Special waterproofed stainless steel chassis with rubberised controls, 3.5in LCD tft
Mech: DivX/DVD/CD/MP3/WMA/AAC
Audio: 6Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, BBE MP
Tuner: RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Rear USB, iPod direct USB control, optional wired waterproofed remote, RCA A/V input and 2x video output
Also new for 2009 on the Multimedia front are these three sexy beasts….
VZ509E
Display: seven inch touch screen LCD, motorised
Mech:CD/DVD – MP3/WMA/DivX/AAC
Audio: 2V 6Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, 24 Bit DAC, A/V input, HPF/LPF, CCD camera input via RCA, Z-Enhancer Plus, 2-zone
Tuner:RDS, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Rear USB, iPod direct USB control, NP509E black box navi input, Bluetooth BLT373 ready
VX709E
Display: seven inch touch screen LCD, motorised
Mech: CD/DVD – MP3/WMA/DivX/AAC
Audio: 6Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, 24 Bit DAC, 3 band parametric EQ, HPF/LPF, A/V in, 2-zone, CCD camera input via RCA
Tuner: RDS, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: Rear USB, iPod direct USB control, Built in Bluetooth for HFP/HSP/A2DP, Ce-Net connection, HDD navigation
NX509E
Display: seven inch touch screen LCD, motorised
Mech:DivX/DVD/MP3/WMA
Audio: 2V 6Ch RCA preouts, 50w x 4, HPF/LPF, 3-band parametric EQ, 24 Bit DAC, A/V in
Tuner:RDS TMC, FM/AM/LW, 18 presets in three banks of six
General: 54GB flash memory fro navigation, no speed pulse req’d, rear USB connector, iPod direct control through USB
Navigation
Satnav isn’t left out and there’s a PND called MAP680 and a black box called NP509E
MAP680
4.3in LCD touch screen with anti reflect finish, built in RDS TMC tuner, Bluetooth with A2DP, Sirf GPS 111 module with 20ch receiver, 400MHz CPU, 1GB flash memory, SD/MMC card slot.
3D building & Landmark directory, lane Control info, text to speech, ‘Safety’ camera POI compatible, Zoom control, big POI database, Movie and music player, digital photo album.
NP509E
4GB flash memory, no speed pulse req’d, 400MHz CPU, serial Bus connector, USB port for data transfer, SD/MMC slot for updating maps, FBAS video output. 
Lastly but by no means leastly, there are a trio of flip-down monitors in 8 inch, ten inch and a mighty fifteen inch size and two types of headrest monitor as well.
All called OHM for Over Head Monitor, there are 1588, 1088 and 888 models. All have a slot in CD/DVD mechanism and play MP3 and WMA files. Buttons light up in blue and they have a dome LED white lamp in them, too. Wireless IR headphones are included.
2 A/V inputs, 1 A/V output, adjustable display modes twixt 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen, and infra red remote with On screen display interface.
The Headrest Monitors have two A/V inputs, and a front A/V input on microjack that has a pigtail wire connector included to use it with, and they come with a mounting bracket.
More information can be found at Clarion’s website:
www.clarion.co.uk