Clarion CZ501 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB and Bluetooth

by Clarion

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 7.4 x 2.3 inches ; 2.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B004M4S73M
• Item model number: CZ501
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,403 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Clarion's CZ501 is a versatile CD receiver with room to grow, offering Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming, MP3/WMA playback, USB connectivity with iPod direct control, a 3.5mm auxiliary input, and a 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier to crank out the tunes. Ready to grow? The CZ501 offers six channels of preamp outputs for system expansion, and the ability to add SIRIUS or HD radio.

A versatile CD receiver with room to grow. Click here for a larger image

Built-in Bluetooth Hands-free Calling and Audio Streaming

The CZ501's built-in wireless Bluetooth interface supports HSP/HFP for hands-free operation and PBAP for phonebook download. You can easily communicate with the outside world by listening to phone calls through the car's audio system and talking through the embedded microphone. And with A2DP/AVRCP support, you can enjoy music streamed from your mobile phone.

CD and WMA/MP3 Playback

Enjoy your favorite CDs or CD-R/RW discs, or burn CD-R/RWs full of MP3/WMA digital audio files for hours of playback on a single disc.

Not feeling like waiting for a disc to burn? Throw a bunch of tunes on a USB thumb drive and play back directly, using the front-panel USB input.

Front-Panel Auxiliary Input

For your other MP3 players, or pretty much anything with a headphone output, a convenient front-panel 3.5mm auxiliary input is provided.

Front-panel USB for playback from USB thumb drives and iPod control.

Wireless remote included.

Superior iPod and iPhone Connectivity

Enjoy the familiar operational feel of your iPod and iPhone, with album/artist/song/playlist on-screen display and more. The simple control mode enables system operation using just the iPod/iPhone controls, including ABC search. For audio playback, just use a standard 30-pin to USB cable, like that provided with your iPod / iPhone. As an added bonus, iTunes Tagging via the HD Radio makes it easy to purchase the songs you like.

Beat EQ and MAGNA BASS EX for Precisely Powerful Sound

In addition to providing 3 preset equalization patterns, Beat EQ lets you customize the level and range of the bass, midrange, and treble of each pattern. In addition, MAGNA BASS EX boosts the 50Hz range, to deliver dynamic bass performance. You'll get full-range sound at any volume level.

50W x 4 MOS-FET Power Amp

CZ501 has a MOS-FET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) power amplifier capable of delivering 50W x 4 of high quality sound with superior linearity and less distortion than conventional power amps even with the volume cranked up.

Three 4V Preamp Outputs

If you still need a little more power, the CX501 provides three stereo pairs (six channels) of 4V RCA outputs (front, rear, subwoofer) for expanding your system, complete with high- and low-pass filters and a separate subwoofer volume.

Sirius and HD Radio Ready

The CZ501 also supports direct connection with an optional Sirius Satellite Radio tuner. The SCC1 Sirius Connect Vehicle Tuner plugs into the back of CZ501 with no adapters necessary. Enjoy high quality genre-specific programming from music and talk, to news and traffic, via direct satellite feed to your car. Similarly, you can expand your radio options by adding a Clarion HD Radio receiver.

What's in the Box

Clarion CZ501 Receiver, Remote Control With Battery, Trim Ring, Mounting Bracket, Case for Detachable Front Panel, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Documentation

Product Description

CD/MP3/WMA/AAC receiver with USB/bluetooth

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple to use, sounds great and loaded with features., May 12, 2011

By 

nsimps - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Clarion CZ501 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB and Bluetooth (Electronics)

While researching for a new stereo for our 1999 Toyota Tacoma there were a few things that were 'must have's'. Bluetooth, iPod and Aux were essentials. This head unit has all of those and more. One thing that surprised me was that the Pre-Amp outputs are 4volt, which makes a difference when adding amplifiers. With the Pre-Amp output there is an additional Subwoofer Pre-Amp. This makes a huge difference in the sound quality when adding a subwoofer. The other head units in this price range did not have a subwoofer Pre-Amp let alone 4 volt. One thing to note is the Bluetooth is BUILT IN. When you are researching for a head unit with bluetooth, make sure you know whether or not a separate accessory is required for it to work. Most of them in this price range are not built in. When using it in the car it sounds great. Sometimes I have to speak a little louder but not much more than normal speaking volume. There is an option to add a microphone which I may do eventually. After pairing my MyTouch 4G it connects and disconnects seamlessly. Playing my music from my phone via Bluetooth works very well with little or no static. When connected to Bluetooth you can listen to the radio, CD, iPod and when a call comes in it switches to the phone. This feature is one of my favorite because it makes driving and talking easy and safe. The iPod usability is great and easy to figure out and use. I have not used this feature much as I do not own an iPod but have tried it out a handful of times and I had no issues finding the song/artist/playlist I wanted. All in all Clarion has done a great job providing lots of options and features into a head unit in the mid/lower price range.

UPDATE:

Just bought one for my Dad's Father's Day gift and will buy another one for a new car we just bought.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome aftermarket radio, April 1, 2011

By 

A. Franco (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clarion CZ501 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB and Bluetooth (Electronics)

I purchased this unit at audio express here in Phoenix. I wanted out of my factory stereo which did not have an aux. port and ended up purchasing this one with bluetooth built-in. Now I stream my music from my Windows phone without any cords. Clarity is great...I would say CD quality if not close. And the Hands-free calling is great. You pair your bluetooth enabled phone once and thats it. Now, every time I get in my truck and start it up, it automatically detects my phone. For being a built-in mic, the quality is very good. I've had the opportunity to have several lengthy calls while driving and only my daughter noticed a slight background noise during the conversation. But she said it was something that she had to listen for. None of my other friends and family could tell the diffence. My only complaing so far is that the wiring harness that fitted my truck did not allow the dimmer switch to be connected so the display is on the brightest level...but that is no fault of the unit - only a wiring issue.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FEATURE RICH RADIO FOR THE $, June 27, 2011

By 

dhutchi "dhutchi" (Solon Oh) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Clarion CZ501 CD/MP3/WMA Receiver with USB and Bluetooth (Electronics)

I replaced an old not so great Sony CD receiver in order to gain a USB and Bluetooth interface. What a great decision to go with the Clarian CZ501. I've been looking at possibilities for months but couldn't justify the $. This receiver was very inexpensive and had all the features I was looking for. So far I haven't played around with the iPod connection bucause I put all my favorite music on a couple of tiny 8Gb thumb drives and now there is no real need for the CD drive though it works well. It took about five minutes initially to connect my phone to Bluetooth and it connects flawlessly to the radio within a few seconds of starting the car and the faceplace located microphone works quite well with no real need to add an external microphone. It even seamlessly transfers an active call to Bluetooth when I get in the car without any action on my part. Automaticly switching the audio to the car speakers and microphone without any call disruption. I couldn't be more satisfied with this receiver and the sound is quite acceptable on my 25 year old Porsche 944 factory speakers.