Clarion FZ409 MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port

by Clarion

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 6 x 11 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001OQGE0Y
• Item model number: FZ409
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,246 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description If you've given up CDs for the convenience and economy of MP3, WMA or AAC files, then Clarion's future-forward FZ409 is for you. Why bother carrying around CDs if you've already ripped them to your PC anyway? The FZ409 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. Expand your options by adding SAT radio or Bluetooth, 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.

Cutting-edge features and looks to match. Click to enlarge.

Touch sensor operation with only the buttons you need displayed.

Connect your iPod directly and enjoy the tunes.

Stream music from USB devices.

Includes wireless remote.

Sleek Touch-Sensitive Front Panel
The FZ409 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 FZ409 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.

Bluetooth Ready
Keep your cell phone or Bluetooth Audio enabled playback device safe and sound in your pocket or purse while enjoying crystal-clear sound through optional BLT370 Bluetooth transceiver.

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 FZ409 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.

Remote Control Included
Control the action with the included wireless remote.

What's in the Box
Clarion FZ409, trim ring, wiring harness, remote control, installation hardware, owner's manual, installation guide.

Product Description

If you've given up CDs for the convenience and economy of MP3, WMA or AAC files, then Clarion's future-forward FZ409 is for you. Why bother carrying around CDs if you've already ripped them to your PC anyway? The FZ409 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. Expand your options by adding SAT radio or Bluetooth, 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The good and the bad, October 1, 2009

By 

Wha? - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Clarion FZ409 MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port (Electronics)

The Good: Nice options (internal amp on/off, HPF and LPF, USB interface and 1/8" jack interface in the rear, front/rear/subw preamp outs, good power). The unit has a clean look when turned off.

The Bad:
From an ergonomic standpoint, this unit does not completely succeed. Regarding the touch-sensitive controls, there is no positive tactile feedback that, for instance, smartphone designers have tried so hard to emulate on their touchscreens. Also, there is a reason that most factory stereos include large dials and big buttons. Because of these shortcomings, I found myself trying to make sure I was hitting the correct button by looking at the unit more often, instead of the road. Also, the unit did not always respond to my finger presses, as a normal button-based interface does.

The following quotes are from the description of the interface:
"Only the buttons you need for your current task are displayed, so there's less fumbling for the right button." There is more fumbling because of the reasons stated above.
"...multi-line OEL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) display that responds to your touch" This phrase is misleading, because you cannot touch the display itself, you have to touch the up/down sliders that are vaguely close to the corresponding icons in the display. A larger display would help this problem as well as the next issue: The OEL display is too small to see. For a unit with no CD slot and fewer buttons than most other DIN untis, there is wasted real estate that could be used to make the display bigger. It is difficult to read some items from the driving position, such as the top row that shows folder number/track number.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very unsafe to use while driving. Major POS., August 31, 2010

By 

Jeremy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clarion FZ409 MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port (Electronics)

Do not buy this. I guarantee you will spend wasted time and money on this receiver as you return it. It is not at all user friendly/intuitive. It is hard to read, small old-school font, and my biggest complaint...That damn "touch screen." How annoying. Im used to my iphone touchscreen which I love and is very responsive. This thing is a major driving hazard. I almost hit another car trying to turn down the volume because the button would not respond. You must hit the screen slowly, firmly and precisely and with luck, it will respond. The menu will not remember where you left off so you have to go through the whole procedure just to pick an artist on the ipod. Also, 1.8 Volt amp preouts??? Seriously? This is 2010.
Its so frustrating to use this. I usually enjoy tinkering with electronics but this is annoying!!!!! I wasted $20.00 for shipping minus 15% restocking fee, 2 hour installation/removal and trip to post office. I am buying the Clarion MVH-P8200.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very unsafe to use while driving, February 16, 2011

By 

Pavion - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Clarion FZ409 MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with USB Port (Electronics)

I have Clarion FZ409 Car Deck, which I bought at Amazon.com about a year and half ago.
Two days ago while driving on a highway with my wife and 7 years old son the volume-up button automatically activated and kept going until I could pull over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. There was no way to turn the deck off neither manually nor with the remote. The deck simply did not respond to any action. The sound from the deck became so loud that we almost got deaf.

Clarion FZ409 Car Deck is very unsafe to use while driving. The volume-up button can get automatically activated at any time. This car deck should be recalled to my strong opinion.