Comments on: Clarion DXZ385USB CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with CeNET Control, Front Panel USB Port, Satellite Radio Ready

By: B. Lantto

B. Lantto — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:08:27 +0000

Not very often is anything car audio a great value. This is certainly a great value. Sounds better than I ever imagined. I have a Nakamichi CD400 in my other car with a home made amp 9 from 41hz.com (absolutely amazing sound/imaging), but this thing being so cheap and easy to use is hard to beat at its price point.

By: Jovan Walker

Jovan Walker — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:59:54 +0000

I like this radio, It has plenty of features, including the USB jack(which charges an ipod) and AUX jack right on the front. The USB sometimes works with my iphone and other times it give me an error. Ipod works all the time. Aux jack also works well. This also has a detachable faceplate and the part with the USB and AUX jacks are not apart of the detachable part which is great because I never have to unplug anything. I have an amplifier connected alond with subwoofers and the lowpass filter works pretty good and allows me to also change volume of the subs. I love the red lights, it matches the theme of my car, but the display itself is extremely hard to read in direct sunlight! I have to close my sunroof in order to see, Not much of a problem for me tho. The biggest complain however and the reason why I gave it 4 stars is because its so difficult to navigate menus, I literally have to keep the manual in the car because it gets so confusing sometimes. Lucklily however, the manual is written well because when i do consult it, I always find my way.

By: Miriam Whittam

Miriam Whittam — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:10:31 +0000

This stereo does everything I wanted. I can play my Sansa Clip through the aux jack, and if I plug my Zune into the jack AND the USB port, it will charge at the same time! Got a great price from DiscountJungle.

By: William Lueg

William Lueg — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:14:42 +0000

I like the OEM styling of this head unit. I was looking for something that would play iPod content from my iPhone 3G, especially podcasts. I assumed that any head unit that featured a USB input for iPod control would recognize the Podcast category, but no such luck. And even with the limited ways to get at content, the controls are feeble for getting around on your iPod. Fortunately, I can hook it up to the AUX port on the front as well, but I wanted the line-level out that the USB port would have offered.

As I said, the styling is great and for all other functions, the controls work pretty well. But the display is too dim, even in indirect sunlight, especially if you have a light colored interior.

Installation was straightforward except for the antenna lead. The one built into my '96 Accord does not reach all the way out of my radio opening. Since antenna connection is flush in the back of the unit, I had to buy a $16 6" antenna extension (basically a pigtail that was built onto the previous Kenwood unit).

I wish all manufacturers would get off the Las Vegas style design like Clarion has. The was practically the only unit I wasn't embarrassed to put in the car.

By: Jeepster

Jeepster — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:12:36 +0000

The unit has descent sound. It’s an inexpensive way to hook-up an mp3 player to an auto sound system. But the user-interface is very confusing. The UI is non-intuitive, very hard to learn, and just as hard to use.

If you want to spend a mere $90 to play your mp3′s and you don’t feel the need adjust base/treble very often, then this is a unit you might like. However, if you like to adjust and control base/treble and such, get something else. (mucking with the buttons on this unit is an auto accident just waiting to happen.)