Product Description
The CZ500 is Clarion’s premium single-DIN CD source unit, offering a 2-line display and unmatched connectivity to the music and devices you use most. The CZ500 offers simple connection and integration of your iPod or iPhone, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and stereo audio streaming, and USB and auxiliary connections to access music on portable devices. To top it off, the CZ500 even throws in a separate visor microphone to give Clarion owners, and callers,… More >>
#1 by analogking on July 2, 2010 - 8:42 pm
The unit works great Here is some important info:
Clarion THD309 HD Radio Tuner works with this unit. I picked up one on ebay for 24.99 shipped. Don’t waste your money on the THD300. It is more than 3x the price. The HD tuner uses your existing antenna. You don’t need a separate antenna.
Autoconnect does not work out of the box. You must turn off autoconnect off and back on. Otherwise, you will need to manually sync your Iphone every time you turn on the car.
The wiring harness was the same as my previous Clarion unit (DB365USB). No new cables needed.
The display on this unit is much better than my previous Clarion. I can actually see what I’m doing.
Thanks to Vucko Zagi for the bluetooth and HD info.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Vucko Zagi on July 2, 2010 - 11:13 pm
Works great, sounds great.
Bluetooth would not reconnect with my 1st gen iPhone so I went to the settings and set “automatically reconnect” to OFF, and then again to ON and it gets reconnected every time since then.
It sees my 4th gen ipod as mass storage and not as ipod?!? Works great with iPhone. If you want to access podcast choose Genre>Podcast>…
I purchased HD radio THD309 for $26 and it works with this unit.
Overall great buy.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by 5 happiness webmaster on July 3, 2010 - 1:27 am
i just purchased and installed (myself) a clarion cz500 in my ‘96 honda accord ex. installation was straightforward, as all required pieces were provided.
the unit sounds great, it snyced up with my first generation iphone in seconds, and the bluetooth works great. i found it pretty easy to program, but i’m something of a geek… still, it was far easier tweaking e.q. settings on this than my previous alpine.
i am amazed at how much technology we can get for so little, and wonder how manufacturers can make money at these prices.
i will do more testing on an upcoming road trip, and revisit this review if necessary.
AFTER ROAD TEST: i took an extended road trip, and was even more pleased with this unit. i was concerned at first because i couldn’t directly access podcasts on my iphone, but quickly discovered how to create ‘on-the-go’ playlists. the unit sounds great, is easy to use, and is still highly recommended. there are some minor user interface quibbles, but so what?
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Sean Graflund on July 3, 2010 - 2:51 am
I bought this player not through amazon but at mickey shorr and had them install it. I wanted a simple bluetooth player for my phone and my archos 5 internet tablet. The controls are quite simple, I had no problem figuring them out and it does everything well. The nice thing is I can have my archos tablet connected and listening to music through bluetooth, as well as my phone. When a call comes in or I make a call, the car speakers switch to the phone and pause the archos tablet. When the call is ended, it switches back to the music. I was wondering if this was an option and it is. All of the bluetooth commands work well, it shuffles through my phonebook memory, can make calls and end calls without having to use the phone. great little unit with no complaints yet.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Luis Ortiz on July 3, 2010 - 4:41 am
Great buy, sometimes have a little problem swtching from tunner to aux or usb when turned on…
Rating: 4 / 5