Clarion NX501 Test Report

T E S
CLARION
NX501
ver the last couple years Clarion has been working hard developing good looking, high performance products that
O
are in line with what technology thirsty consumers are looking for. In this review we'll have a look at a great example
of those efforts, the new Clarion NX501.
FEATURES
The Clarion NX501 is a full featured double
DIN sized source unit, incorporating an
AM/FM tuner, CD, DVD, MP3, AAC and WMA
playback. It also includes full 2D/3D onboard
satellite navigation, connectivity for your
iPod or iPhone and Bluetooth for hands-free
telephony and A2DP streaming audio. The
6.2" TFT touchscreen provides control and
customization capability for all your favorite
sources and the bright and easy to use GUI
makes day to day living with the NX501 a very
pleasant experience. The unit is priced right
around the $1000 mark in the US and Canada.
There are so many bells and whistles incor-
porated into the unit that listing them here is
impossible, but here are a few of the more no-
table features: The TeleAtlas based map data-
base was created using high resolution aerial
and land based data. The supplied maps cover
all of the United States, Canada, and Puerto
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TEXT AND MEASUREMENTS BY
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MULTIMEDIA RECEIVER
Rico. The mapping data and over 15 million
points of interest are stored on a 4GB Micro
SD card for fast data retrieval. Map updates
are available for purchase online from clarion.
naviextras.com. And, the maps are very cool
too. Just like an old school paper map the
2D mode will show you streets and elevation
by color. If you switch to 3D mode, you can
see the altitude and actual differences in
elevation. You can see valleys, mountains, and
even elevated roads. In selected cities, some
landmarks and buildings are also displayed
in 3D. If you're not into reading maps, simply
enter your destination on the touch screen
and follow the voice guidance that will route
you to your destination. When it's time to turn,
the unit will mute your music and announce
the upcoming guidance. The unit will also
alert you to the presence of hazards or school
zones, and you can even enter your own per-
sonalized alert points. Junction View, Signpost
GARRY SPRINGGAY
display and Lane Assist are also new features
found on the NX501.
The built-in Bluetooth connectivity is
powered by Parrot and offers comprehen-
sive compatibility with a vast array of mobile
phones, personal music players and PDA's. An
integrated microphone is built into the front
panel and an optional external microphone for
use in noisy environments is also available.
Don't think for a minute that the engi-
neers at Clarion neglected the unit's audio
and video playback capabilities. The NX501
boasts one of the most powerful internal
MOSFET amplifier ever used by Clarion, as
well as 3 pairs of RCA outputs (Front/Rear/
Sub) rated at a full 4 volts. There are also
two auxiliary inputs, one on the front panel
for easy access, and another rear mounted
input for more permanently installed sourc-
es. Speaking of additional inputs, the NX501
is "Made for iPod/iPhone", and is fully