Joseph Palenchar On Feb 11 2013 - 1:00am

Clarion Cooks Up Baker's Dozen In Marine Market

CYPRESS, CALIF. – Clarion is launching four new head units, two Class D amps, two subs and five speaker pairs. They’re due late in the first quarter and in the middle of the second quarter.

All four heads control the Pandora app on a USB-connected iPhone, increasing the selection of marine heads with this feature from one in 2012. Two of the heads, the $449-everyday CMD9 with CD and the $499 CMS5 without CD, are the first marine heads to use Bluetooth’s serial port profile (SPP) to extend control of Pandora to more functions compared to Bluetooth AVRCP, which was available in one 2012 marine head.

Both heads are also the company’s first heads in marine or car with Bluetooth AVRCP 1.4, which enables the wireless selection of iPhone 5-stored music by folder. One Sony phone also features AVRCP 1.4, said Jason Lee, product planning senior manager.

The marine heads include the $449-suggested CMD9, a 1.6-DIN AM/FM/CD whose faceplate is larger than the head’s 1.6-DIN chassis to make the head water-tight. Features include CD, 2.8-inch color display, Bluetooth AVRCP 1.4 and Bluetooth SPP, universal SiriusXM port with iTunes tagging, and two rear USB ports (one capable of charging iPods/iPhones and the other capable of charging iPads).

The CMD9 is also is compatible with the J1939 databus on new boats, enabling the head unit’s display to appear on an OEM touchscreen that controls GPS, chart plotters and other boat systems. Other features include optically bonded LCD screen and glass cover to eliminate gaps between the two to improve visibility in sunlight and prevent moisture from getting in between.

The $499 CMS5 is a two-piece mechless head unit with J1939-compatible black box controlled from an in-dash controller that’s roughly double-DIN in size and features a 4.3-inch touchscreen. The black box will also be sold separately to boat builders to integrate with OEM touchscreen displays. Other features include optically bonded touchscreen, Bluetooth SPP and Bluetooth AVRCP 1.4, two-zone capability, dual RCA A/V input, dual Apple-certified USB ports (one capable of charging iPads), dedicated composite-video input for cameras and a composite-video output.

At lower price points, Clarion is adding the $299-everyday CMD8, a 1.6-DIN AM/FM/CD that features Made for iPod/iPhone USB, control of Pandora on a USB-connected iPhone, port for SiriusXM universal tuner and SiriusXM iTunes tagging, but no J1939-databus compatibility.

At $199, the single-DIN M303 features CD like its predecessor but adds Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3, control of Pandora on a USB-connected iPhone and a port for a SiriusXM universal tuner.

In marine amps, the company is launching its first six-channel Class D marine amp to complement a two-channel model and a four-channel model. The XC6610 at an everyday $519 is rated at 6x120 watts continuous into 2 ohms. The $129-everyday XC1410 is Clarion’s smallest marine amp at 7 inches by 2.75 inches by 1.4 inches and packs 4x75-watt RMS output in 2 ohms. It can also be used in motorcycle installs because of its size.

In marine speakers, the company plans four new coaxial models, one component model, and two subs. The marine line also gets a new remote with a 2.8-inch color display.