Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)UPDATE: After using this for a week I had to lower my review by a star. The lack of physical buttons has really made this receiver difficult to use while driving. With no station preset buttons you have to fumble around with the controls in multiple steps just to change the station. Unfortunately, you won't find a cheaper receiver with bluetooth and A2DP streaming. There's no dedicated Phone button, so once again you have to fumble around to make a call and because of the lack of a control knob, dialing a number is a lesson in frustration.
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This receiver is an unbelievable deal. Everywhere else it's almost $300 but I got it for $129 here.
This is a cd-less receiver and because there are no moving parts it generates little heat. I have not used a CD in years and I bought this unit because of that and because it has A2DP wireless bluetooth audio streaming. No more wires connected to my iPhone! If you have an internet audio App (I use TuneIn Radio) you can listen to any station on the internet.
It looks great and there are no physical buttons but unfortunately you have to actually look at the unit to see where the volume control is. I would have appreciated some sort of tactile feedback such as a texture so I can keep my eyes on the road.
As with most receivers these days, the FZ709 comes with a pointless remote control. What are you supposed to do with it? Tape it to the steering wheel?
Pro's: Great-looking, a bargain, sounds fantastic, A2DP bluetooth wireless audio streaming, no mechanical parts to break, packed with features.
Con's: No physical volume knob, can't change the OLED color to match your gauges, "buttons" are sometimes unresponsive, can't change the display during A2DP streaming, clock is barely visible.
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Clarion FZ709 MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB PortIf you've given up CDs for the convenience and economy of MP3, WMA or AAC files, then Clarion's future-forward FZ709 is for you. Why bother carrying around CDs if you've already ripped them to your PC anyway? The FZ709 does away with the standard CD player and instead offers a USB port for direct control of your iPod or streaming of your digital audio files from a USB device. Connect your iPod or thumb drive and enjoy hours of music and a clean touch-sensitive interface. What's more, the FZ709 features built-in Bluetooth, for hands-free calling or streaming of audio from compatible devices. Expand your options even further by adding SAT radio, connecting your steering wheel remote, or adding more power via the three preamp outputs. And if you really want to spin a scratched-up old CD, connect a portable player to the unit's auxiliary input.
Sleek Touch-Sensitive Front Panel The FZ709 features a clean, multi-line OEL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) display that responds to your touch. Only the buttons you need for your current task are displayed, so there's less fumbling for the right button.
Digital--Not Physical--Media The FZ709 plays MP3, WMA and iTunes AAC Compatible files directly from USB devices, complete with ID3-TAG display for track information like artist and song title.
AM/FM Radio No matter how futuristic everything else gets, sometimes you just want to listen to the radio. Store your favorite radio stations on the 18 FM and six AM presets.
Built-in Bluetooth Connect with various devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and MP3 Players via the unit's built-in wireless Bluetooth interface. Supports popular Bluetooth profiles including A2DP/AVRCP for audio streaming and HFP/OPP for hands-free operation, so you can easily communicate and listen to your favorite music to your vehicle�s audio system. Wired microphone is supplied for crystal clear telephony.
Direct USB iPod Control and USB Audio Streaming No adapter box required. Just connect the USB cable that's included with your iPod to the Clarion source unit's rear USB input and you get complete control of your iPod including genre/album/song title search using iPod's control wheel, with high quality sound reproduction through the car speakers. The same connection can also be used to play back audio files stored on USB memory.
What's more, using the optional CCA723 iPod video cable and additional monitor, your passengers can enjoy iPod video.
BBE MP for Better Sounding MP3/WMA/AAC Files BBE MP (Minimized Polynomial Non-Linear Saturation) Process improves digitally compressed sound such as MP3/WMA/ AAC by restoring the harmonics that are lost through compression, thereby reproducing the warmth, details and nuances that you would otherwise miss. BBE MP enhanced harmonics even serve to make regular CDs sound better.
Beat EQ for User Customizable Sound In addition to providing 3 preset equalization patterns--BASS BOOST, IMPACT, and EXCITE--Clarion's BeatEQ even lets you freely customize the level and range of the bass, midrange and treble portions of each pattern. You can tune the sound to your liking, depending on the category of music, for a more fulfilling listening experience.
Auxiliary Input With a rear auxiliary input, it's easy to plug-in a portable audio device, portable satellite radio, or other external audio gadgets (yes, including CD players) for instantaneous enjoyment.
Built-in High Pass/Low Pass Crossovers Crossover settings of 50Hz, 80Hz and 120Hz are available, letting you optimize the signal for high or low frequency reproduction when a subwoofer or tweeters are part of the system.
Ready to Expand The FZ709 gives you a 50W x 4 built-in amplifier to begin with, but if you'd like to add additional power to your system, three RCA preamp outs are provided.
It's also ready for an OEM steering wheel remote or XM/SIRIUS satellite radio, or Bluetooth to enjoy crystal clear sound and hands-free calling with supported devices.
Remote Control Included Control the action with the included wireless remote.
What's in the Box Clarion FZ709, trim ring, wiring harness, remote control, wired microphone for Bluetooth, installation hardware, owner's manual, installation guide.
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