Clarion NX500 (NX-500)

Nice unit

I have it for about 2 weeks now - installed it with Bose integration harness in Infiniti G35.
Good:
-Sound quality is excellent! I am using USB stick with MP3-very detailed sound. Even better with original CD's.
-Simple menus. Manual is not needed, very easy to set up and figure things out
-Great expandability-hookups for everything you can imagine these days
-Screen quality is excellent
-NAV is easy to follow-when you are approaching a turn, you get split screen with zoom. Distance and estimated time in seconds to next turn are also displayed on screen.
-Trip stats are cool-I wonder if I can use them on race track(average/max speed etc)
Not so good:
-NAV has spots with no coverage, and this is in not so new suburb of major city.
-Currently no NAV upgrade available
-Sound tuning is VERY limited, EQ is a joke.
-USB cable is too short. Just get an extension right away.

It would be nice to have different illumination options to match dash colours.

I did not notice any issues with screen visibility in daylight. It is just a bit worse in polarized sunglases, but everything is still visible.
Overall-very recommended. I put 4 stars for reliability, but it is too early to say how long it's gonna last.

good product

this product has everything i wanted including gps. there was so many cables while installing it in my 07 silverado that i just cut out a chunk of plastic behind where the dvd player sits and then easy install:) it works great

Nice Value

I've had my unit for about 4months.
- I don't really have an issue with the screen glare, but it is present.
- As the previous reviewer mentioned, the gps map is really out of date. It will get you from city to city, but address to address is about a 50% hit rate. Definately the worst of all features on this unit. The gps does work perfect, just way out of date. A map and places updated would fix this if there ever will be one.
- Ipod control is good, but could be better. When you go back a menu, it makes you start at the top of the list again.
- Bluetooth is perfect.
- Some have mentioned cold weather has been an issue. It's been in the 20 degree range where I live and have not seen any issue with cold.
Good unit at a great price and I would recommend it. If navigation is critical, I'd go with a different unit.

Great sound but just good overall

You can update the GPS through the USB. The company that makes the maps told me they were expecting their next update in a couple of months. But I wouldn't buy this for its navigation if you depend on this for your job or something. Buy a Garmin. Very poor resolution. Very plain blue background. If you can get this for under $500 it's not a bad deal. Great sound quality though.

easy to use with lost of features

among a wide array of GPS/DVD units available, this one has probably the best price/value ratio available on the market now.
pros:
- easy to use, self-explanatory menu and options. You dont need to read a manual to use all its functions
- good fast response touch screen
- quick boot-up
- very dependable bluetooth
- good sound
cons:
- my unit died after a week, probably a cpu issue and it wasn't booting up past a CLARION screen. waiting for replacement
- VERY short USB extension cable - makes almost impossible to place it where You want it
- wish screen had bigger resolution and more vibrant colors

Overall, I am very pleased with this unit (as soon as I will get replacement that is. Cant blame the company or model because of one unit dying after a week. Its a great stereo - that's why I wont exchange it for another model (like pioneer), but I wait patiently for the new Clarion NX500

Alot of features, dont buy for navigation

DVD, Dual zones, alot of nice features, but nav locks up or cant find destination about 50% have a $50 dollar portable nav that works better, no updates or support from Clarion or the company that writes the nav software. Going to sell and go back to the more expensive but much better Pioneer!

Does it all, does it well, makes it affordable.

I bought the NX409 sporadically when I saw a good deal, and I didn't know what to really expect. I have had a custom head unit in one other vehicle, but didn't know much else. After countless hours of install (my car is difficult, it required a custom dash kit and PAC OEM module due to the factory-amplified Bose system) everything is now working perfectly. I am very happy with this system, especially considering the price. It sounds great and works well. DVD playback is as expected - excellent. It is easy to use, and I love having a volume knob on the unit - to me it is worth the sacrifice of .5" of screen. Navigation looks a little old (the graphics are not very sharp), however my car is old so they look like they belong together! The unit also has a very clean look to it - I only wish the illumination colors were changeable like on some of the $1200+ units. Everything else is great - turn on is quick, switching between modes is fast, and the screen is simple and efficient. I am really enjoying having this unit in my car, and I don't feel like I spent an arm and a leg to get the features I wanted.

NOT worth it!

I have owned this unit for a little over 1 year. During this past year it has jumped songs on iPod mode, switched radio stations on its own and recently the screen froze so I couldn't use it for anything more than just the radio. Now it has been sent away for warranty and will not be back for approx 4-8 weeks I am told. What takes 4-8 weeks? I would like to get rid of this one and buy a Kenwood, heard they are more costly but WELL worth it!

Ok...Unit

I have had this unit for a few months now. Overall it has been pretty good. The GPS gets me where I need to go, radio an sat works great. I have tinted windows so I don't get much of a reflection; but this unit did not fit in my car. The unit it's self was too big for the double din slot in my Dodge Nitro; I had to take off the full cover and shave it down on the car.

Recently I started having sirius issues; where my presets would be deleted. This has begun to happen a few times a month and becomes very anoying. No one at clarion is any help, I have tried to reset the unit serveral times with no luck. With these 2 problems, and the lack of customer support, this has turned me off from the unit and plan on staying away from clarion.

GPS works ok; gets me from A to B, though the maps are not updated, and at times becomes very unclear on directions. The radio works as its supposed to; i find the iPod freezes on me and stops playing randomly.

Overall I would probably stay away from clarion after this purchase... I plan on buying a more reputable navigation for a few extra $$...

If anyone knows of a fix for the Sat radio, please let me know,

good to go

i love it and it looks good in my car