LAS VEGAS —
Clarion is adding control of Pandora’s Internet
radio app on USB-connected iPhones to eight of
nine new head units launching here at International CES,
where the company is also unveiling its first heads that
connect to the SiriusXM universal tuner.
One of three new A/V-navigation units, the NX702, will
also be the company’s first product with voice control.
Clarion’s introductions also include:
• the company’s first A/V-navigation unit with embedded
HD Radio;
• expansion of stereo Bluetooth streaming and Bluetooth
AVRCP (audio video remote control profile) to more
head units, all with Parrot Bluetooth technology; and
• the company’s first Class D amps.
The eight head units that control Pandora on a USBconnected
iPhone include three CD receivers, one of
which was originally slated to ship late last year but will now
ship in February at a suggested $129. The others consist
of three A/V-navigation units with built-in navigation, one
“mech-less” digital media receiver, and one mech-less marine
head unit, said marketing VP Adam Thomas.
All of the Pandora-controlling head units control a Pandora
Internet radio app on a USB-connected iPhone.
From all eight head units, consumers will be able to control
basic Pandora functions as well as the app’s thumbs
up feature. A/V navigation models starting at a suggested
$999 will let users create a new Pandora station based on
the current song or artist playing.
In adopting a dedicated connector to the SiriusXM
SXV100 hideaway universal tuner, Clarion is adding the
feature to seven of the nine new head units. They consist
of two CD receivers starting with the $199 CZ302, all
three A/V-navigation systems, and both mech-less receivers.
One mech-less receiver, the M502, is Clarion’s first
mechless marine unit.
The opening–price Pandora-controlling head is the single-
DIN $129-suggested CZ202 CD receiver, shipping in
the first quarter with detachable face, iPod/iPhone USB
port with slide cover, and ability to capture iPod/iPhone audio
in digital PCM form.
In products with HD Radio, the company will carry over
its existing CZ401 single-DIN CD receiver with built-in HD
Radio at a suggested $179. To that, the company will add
the double-DIN NX 702 A/V-navigation unit at a suggested
retail of around $1,200. It will be the company’s first
A/V-navigation unit with built-in HD Radio, having previously
offered HD Radio as an add-on option to nav units.
The NX 702 will feature 7-inch motorized display that slides
down to reveal a CD/DVD slot. It also features real-time traffic
via FM RDS from Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network.
The NX 702 will be the company’s first nav system with
voice control of calling and navigation functions.
The NX602 nav system features fixed 6.2-inch screen.
The single-DIN NZ502 features motorized 7-inch QVGA.
Here are the details on other new products:
Digital media receivers:
The two mech-less heads
are the M502 marine unit and the car FZ502. The M502
features SiriusXM universal connector, Pandora control,
Parrot Bluetooth, and compatibility with Clarion’s marine
wired remote controls.
RF remote:
The MF-1 one-way RF remote is designed
for marine and in-car use. It communicates with an RF
dongle that plugs into a head-unit interface designed
to connect heads to OEM steering-wheel
controls.
The $199-suggested remote controls on/
off, volume, track up/down and play/pause.
Amplifiers:
The company’s first two
Class D amps, designed for marine and car
use, incorporate RCA audio-signal sensing
technology to turn them on when they detect
audio signal from a head unit. Both feature
high- and low-pass filters and will retail from
$300 to $400 on an everyday basis.
Speakers
: The company is improving the
sound quality of its speakers and adding two
new sizes.
