Clarion NX501 .. (un)installed

[crimsonryder]

Injecting a little life into the a/v section with pics and info about the unit.
The clarion NX501 is probably the lowest priced nav/bt/ipod unit out there. According to reviews, it appears to be holding its own against the higher cost competition. I recieved and installed the deck today. My early impressions of it are as follows:

Cons first-
The obvious blue buttons that dont change colors was a horrible decision at Clarion. Almost kept me away.
The slide movement of the touch screen is terrible, except the main menu screen seems to work well.
The eq is not what I expected. It is set up unlike anything I've ever seen and does not offer enough sound shaping options. (unless I'm missing something)

Pros-
All of the features work just as well as advertised.
The bluetooth is by parrott and works perfect. The b/t audio is very good!
The thumb drive audio is great as well. It doesn't have the same search capabilities as the ipod but it is as user friendly as it can be. (I have not tried the ipod control yet)
The wallpaper behind the main menu can be changed, although the other screens do not change.
I took the car for a little trip to test the navi and it worked perfect, however, the voice commands interfere so much with the music playing that I decided to just turn them off.

I know it's kinda premature but I'd rate it 7/10 overall.

[crimsonryder]

Actually, the bluetooth is acting quirky today. Is okay to call but when I switch back to audio it won't play unless I turn the bluetooth off on my phone then back on. It may be my phone as I use launcherpro, so I'm going to have to toy with it a bit to see if I cant resolve the problem.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Ive had a Clarion VZ409 installed for about a year and I HATE IT. If you have already found quirks in the BT, just wait until you try the iPod integration. TERRIBLE.

[crimsonryder]

The bluetooth is an issue with my phone (samsung fascinate). I've tried other phones and they work perfect. However, the ipod integration is so terrible that I have arranged to get a refund. There are a few other things I dislike about it but this is the deal breaker for me. It sucks because the nav is actually quite good. Is there any unit out there that functions well both navi and ipod? I'm considering the alpine ina-w900bt. Any input appreciated.

[DJ_B_Easy]

alpine ina-w900bt

Best in the biz for iPod integration. I wish I had waited a few months and saved a few extra dollars for this unit. Im still after it, but I may wait (as you may want to) for the 910BT which should be released any day now.

I dont know what Clarion was thinking (or me for that matter for purchasing it). The integration is horrendous. And you also mention the EQ above. I have "bass" and "treble"...and thats it. I have 1,200 combined watts of Kicker amp that bangs out lows, screams out highs, and nothing in between. Even the boot time for a simple CD is like 12 seconds. POS.

[crimsonryder]

Make that 'un' installed!

I was looking at the 910 a few weeks back. The release date keeps getting pushed back week after week.
Actually pacific stereo shows it as 'in stock'. The first 250 of them have been delivered, but I'm not sure that pacific stereo would have any in stock or when the actual full release will come. Either way it looks as if there are a bunch of upgrades over the 900. The only thing I can't confirm is the GUI. Are there any changes such as clearer/sharper/brighter images?

This could also be a good opportunity to pick up a 900bt for a steal with the new unit coming out.

Thoughts?

[DJ_B_Easy]

I can only assume that the display would be SLIGHTLY improved from previous models, I wouldnt expect anything major. The 900BTs is not the most dazzling UI but it gets the job done. I do know that they added Pandora integration (iPhone only) so Im thinking they are trying to compete with the Pioneer AVIC Z models which have had this since the previous model year, so who knows what they did for glamour and glitz. The beautiful thing about Alpine is the ability to upgrade your model in the future. I believe the 900 and 910 come with a 5 band EQ, but you can add on their Imprint module which gives you a whole ton of sound shaping options.

Im going to wait to see the price on the 910. There is a forum member Braodfield who deals audio and can get us pretty nice deals. He quoted me around $783 delivered for the 900BT, if he can keep the 910 under $1,000 I might go for it.

Broadfield if you are creeping around this thread, any news on the 910BT?

[crimsonryder]

Everything is compatible with the iphone. What about android phones? I know maybe 2 people with an iphone but dozens with android!
Any way, if the 910 could be had for under 1g wow, I might go for that. That price you stated for the 900bt is good as well.
Maybe I should contact broadfield and check on a release date
Thanks

[AppleBonker]

I do know that they added Pandora integration (iPhone only)

Not entirely true. With bluetooth streaming I can run Pandora on my W900 with my Android phone. I'm also pretty sure my old Alpine 505 could control Pandora on my iPhone when it was connected using the iPod cable (though I don't remember for certain). It has been mentioned that Pandora integration was added, but I'm not sure exactly what this means. It functions perfectly fine for me, but they might be referring to something more in the UI?

Also, other upgrades appear to include:
4v pre-outs (up from 2v in the 900)
better tuning/processing
better CD player (less distortion)
better radio tuner (again, less distortion)

I love my 900, and I don't think I could justify the price of the 910. Looks like a beast though...

[AppleBonker]

Interesting, I made a mistake. So let me clarify...

Apparently the W900BT does NOT have A2DP streaming capability. The KCE-400BT adapter I have on my W900, however, does. That is what they are referring to with Pandora integration now being available. Also, it doesn't look like the W910BT does A2DP streaming, so it must use some other method to integrate Pandora... I'm a bit confused. Especially considering I am pretty sure the 505 (and, presumably, my W900) will run Pandora off an iPhone (though, thinking back, I'm not sure if I was able to change the track through the headunit - I might have had to control that from the iPhone itself).

[crimsonryder]

better CD player (less distortion)
better radio tuner (again, less distortion)

I love my 900, and I don't think I could justify the price of the 910. Looks like a beast though...

Is there a problem with the radio tuner and cd player sound quality. I wouldn't expect that from Alpine.

Probabaly not worth upgrading from 900 to 910 but tough to decide if you are looking at both. Is the 900 going to be discontinued? I guess it's inevitable, just wondering if the release of the 910 = the end of the 900.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Pandora Integration meaning you can "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" (as well as all other Pandora functions as far as I researched) right on the touchscreen of the headunit, no streaming, direct connect through the iPod/Phone cable. No go on Android, although you can most likely still stream as you do now.

[AppleBonker]

Is there a problem with the radio tuner and cd player sound quality. I wouldn't expect that from Alpine.

There isn't an issue with the cd/tuner on the 900. They just improved it on the 910. Better? Yes. Required? Probably not. But I am seeing that the H701 may be able to be controlled by the 910. THAT is a major deal to me. Definitely makes things easier for me, but most people wouldn't need that ability.

Pandora Integration meaning you can "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" (as well as all other Pandora functions as far as I researched) right on the touchscreen of the headunit, no streaming, direct connect through the iPod/Phone cable. No go on Android, although you can most likely still stream as you do now.

That's what I'm seeing. And no, I don't think it would work as it functions for me right now. It appears that the BT hardware on the 900BT and the 910BT do NOT support A2DP. The guts on both are similar to the add-on module KCE-250BT. The KCE-400BT supports A2DP. That is kind of a bummer. And, definitely no capability to stream Pandora on an Android phone with the 910BT (unless you add the KCE-400BT like I have, but then you'd have two pieces of BT hardware and I'm not even sure if you can do this).

[Broadfield]

Ok fools, I'm here Let the questions begin! Oh, and I do have one 910 left in stock. The 900BT's will not be any cheaper. They are not being replaced by the 910... the 910 is simply an upgrade over the 900.

[crimsonryder]

What is the price for the 910? If the 910 is an upgrade then why is the 900 not cheaper?

Heres a decent video on the 910 mounted in an '11 altima. (although I have the cleaner oem dd kit, it still looks good)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wiz_dMzt ... re=related

[headhunt3r]

I do know that they added Pandora integration (iPhone only)

Not entirely true. With bluetooth streaming I can run Pandora on my W900 with my Android phone. I'm also pretty sure my old Alpine 505 could control Pandora on my iPhone when it was connected using the iPod cable (though I don't remember for certain). It has been mentioned that Pandora integration was added, but I'm not sure exactly what this means. It functions perfectly fine for me, but they might be referring to something more in the UI?

Also, other upgrades appear to include:
4v pre-outs (up from 2v in the 900)
better tuning/processing
better CD player (less distortion)
better radio tuner (again, less distortion)

I love my 900, and I don't think I could justify the price of the 910. Looks like a beast though...

Have you noticed that streaming music over bluetooth results in the music being streamed in mono? Is this a limitation of the current state of bluetooth streaming music?

[AppleBonker]

To be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of the quality of Pandora, so I don't really use it. Though, if I'm remembering correctly, I don't think it was streamed in mono. I'll check again if I get the chance.

[Broadfield]

What is the price for the 910? If the 910 is an upgrade then why is the 900 not cheaper?

I think you misunderstood me. The 900BT is not going to go down in price just because of the release of the 910BT.

[AppleBonker]

Toby, did you see that thread on DIY? Am I mistaken, or does it look like the 910 can entirely control the H701?

[Broadfield]

Toby, did you see that thread on DIY? Am I mistaken, or does it look like the 910 can entirely control the H701?

Correct, it can definitely control it according to those pictures. Hell, the 910 can't even control the new H800.

[crimsonryder]

I think you misunderstood me. The 900BT is not going to go down in price just because of the release of the 910BT.

Silly me, I did misunderstand.

[AppleBonker]

Toby, did you see that thread on DIY? Am I mistaken, or does it look like the 910 can entirely control the H701?

Correct, it can definitely control it according to those pictures. Hell, the 910 can't even control the new H800.

Do you have any connections that might be able to explain that? For some reason the H701 can be controlled by everything W505 and prior, cannot be controlled by the 900/900bt, but can be controlled by the 910bt. And the H800 can't be controlled by anything (as far as I can tell). I somewhat understand the move. Most people don't want to pay extra for the ability to control the H701/H800 (I assume they'd just leave that up to a shop). Those that do want to control it on their own can pay more for that ability (by buying a controller or whatever) rather than charging everyone who buys a 910bt/900bt that price premium (because how many people who buy the 910/900 are going to actually add the h701/h800?). But yet somehow the 910 has the controller for the 701 while the 900 does not. Seems like they did a 180 in terms of added features.

[crimsonryder]

I picked up a used INA-W900 with the KCE-400BT for cheap. I couldn't bring myself to spend the money for the 910 just yet. I also replaced the door and dash speakers with BA se65rc and se35. It sounds better than I expected-crisp and clean at high volumes. Just need to add a small sub and I'm good.

A snapshot of the stock and replacement speakers. I probabaly could have gotten by with a standard 6.5 instead of the smaller "reduced clearance". They actaually measure 5.25 inches at the woofer. I didn't know they would be so small.

When I finished the install I was unhappy with the outward position of the unit. I modified the mounting brackets so that I was able to use the trim ring that it came with, therefor filling the crack and sinking it in about 5/16 inch. Looks much better to me.