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Clarion CZ209 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with iPod Control and USB Port

Posted on | October 9, 2009 | 3 Comments

Clarion CZ209 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with iPod Control and USB Port

The Clarion CZ209 is a great way to get the basics but still leave room to grow. Enjoy playback of CDs, CD-R/RWs, MP3/WMA files, and AM/FM radio. Connect your iPod or a USB device for more digital audio options. If you need more, add a Clarion Bluetooth interface for hands-free calling, an OEM steering wheel remote, or more power using the two RCA preamp outputs. Get the basics and leave room to grow Click to enlarge. Detachable anti-theft faceplate. Includes wireless remote. Detachable Faceplate The CZ209 features a detachable faceplate with white 8-character display. Blue key illumination makes control in the dark a snap. CDs and More Play back your favorite CDs and CD-R/RWs, or burn your M (more…)

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Comments

3 Responses to “Clarion CZ209 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with iPod Control and USB Port”

  1. Odetta
    October 9th, 2009 @ 4:47 pm

    This stereo has made a wonderful replacment/upgrade to the factory CD player in my 2003 Subaru Outback wagon. It was very easy to install, thanks to the friendly staff at Crutchfield who can provide you with a wiring harness.

    The standard AM/FM radio isa available, but I honestly never use it these days. The ability to play MP3 CDs is excellent, and I keep one in the stereo with some of our favorites, for days we forget to bring the thumb drive.

    The AUX port is a great feature too, for those who have non-iPod MP3 players. iPods can be hooked up directly thru the USB.

    It’s the USB that makes this unit awesome. The port is on the back of the stereo in the form of a ~18″ permanently attached USB cable, with a Type A Female connection on the end (perfect for pluggin in things like Thumb Drives).

    We routed our USB cable to a compartment below the stereo that has a flip open door. Simply open the door, puul out the cable, lug in the thumb drive, stuff it back in the compartment, close the door and enjoy.

    This stereo will take a few seconds (5-10) to read your MP3 CD / USB drive. Once it does, you are set to go. If you unplug the USB drive, and don’t plug any different USB drives in, the next time you plug in that thumb drive, it will pick up playpack right were it left off. Nice feature.

    We couldn’t play music on our Sansa MP3 Player from the USB connection, but it may be something we are doing wrong. At any rate, thumb drives are cheap and smaller, and multi-purpose.

    The stereo will play WMA, MP3, WAV, and possibly others? Those are the three formats I’ve tossed at it so far.

    The display is okay. Easy read, but because it has to scroll the titles and other information across, it feels like you have to keep glancing down to read it as you drive.

    Asides from an amazing price and all of the features I needed, this stereo appealed over the slightly more expenisive models in one major area: There are buttons on the head unit to navigate and otherwise manipulate the stereo. Sure it comes with a remote, and sure you lose potential screen space when you start cramming on buttons… BUT, as the person driving the car and using the stereo, you’ll want the ability to quickly and easily execute each operation. The idea of a joystick style master knob appeals to my inner-geek, but it’d be too frustrating to operate.

    Speaking of operating, this stereo is a breeze. I’ve yet to look in the manual.

    So far I have only one gripe. Last night while driving home, the wife was trying to find a song. The process was: skip to next track. See the 2 second display of the track number, then see the title begin to scroll. About that time you’re in about 3 – 5 seconds and are starting to realize what the song is, and that it’s not the one you want. It’d be nice to be able to “browse” the songs and then select one for playing, instead of surfing through them. Maybe if I read the manual I’ll find that feature?

    All-in-all, this is an amazing unit. I wish I had bought into one of these a couple years ago (although the prices are great now).

  2. Edom
    October 9th, 2009 @ 7:26 pm

    the sound quality over my 2005 corolla stock stereo is noticeably much better. also, i won’t ever have to burn a CD again because i can put all my music on my USB flash drive. I thought my portable hard drive would work, but although it powers up it doesn’t read the files. I think this may be due to security software on it, which is mentioned in the clarion manual. I will try to buy another portable hard drive and delete all the security software on it. Hopefully then it’ll read the music. I should probably get an ipod too cuz it has direct ipod functionaltiy built in and it charges the ipod whiel plugged in. cool. go to my xanga (pizzadhut9.xanga dot com) to see detailed installation guide.

  3. Timur
    October 9th, 2009 @ 8:01 pm

    Just had this installed. Clearly noticeable sound improvement over my 12-year-old stock radio. Selected for the same functions as previous reviewer, plus the button layout seemed like it might be a little easier to use than other brands.

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