Clarion DXZ585USB - opinions please.

[E30 Cabrio]

About $170.00-$220.00 from various online retailers.

Best price I found was $168.76 delivered: http://www.hookedontronics.com/show_...rion_DXZ585USB



Front USB input, Rear Aux input, iPod controller, Bluetooth & Sat radio ready, 6CH/6V (Actually 5.7v) RCA Outputs, plays CD-R's/MP3's, 24-bit DAC, 53Wx4 peak power output, CD/DVD changer controller, Hi/Lo pass filter, Remote control, etc...

You can also play MP3's with a USB stick, which is nice as an 8gb USB stick can be had for about $30.00 these days.

Bluetooth kit is extra, but I will probably buy one eventually as the law in Calif. changes July 1st which requires hands-free kits for cell phone usage will driving.

Looks bad ass as well, none of this Silver, Red, Blue, bling-bling BS although it probably does not fit flush on the dash of the E30, it still looks really awesome.

Black with white lettering and adjustable colors for the display, but I think only White and Blue. I might shoot Crutchfield an email and ask them if they know.

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2008/audio/source_units/cd/DXZ585USB/us-en-product-pf_1172385079010.html

Bigger pics here:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=020D585USB&tp=5684&tab=features_and_specs

I'll probably order this unit at the end of the month and bypass my factory amp and maybe rewire my front speakers if needed.

I think this HU would look great in an E30 and I like the specs and the price on it as well.

I was going to go with a CD43, but for almost half the price ($169.00) this is a far more versatile unit and looks really cool.

I believe it has a 2 year Parts/Labor warranty as well.

Opinions?

[AndrewBird]

I've heard nothing but good from Clarion. I've always wanted one of their DXZ745MP's (no longer in production). If you like it, I'd say go for it.

You are right though, it doesn't really fit with the e30 interior, but not many radios do, so...

[E30 Cabrio]

Actually, the Black plastic with the White buttons would match the OBC color and the OBC button lettering, as well as the Check panel but the lack of Red-Amber LED lighting would not.

Still, it looks better then 99% of the aftermarket HU's out there, especially the ones that have all the 4th of July type colors, and I don't know what's up with Silver plastic on everything nowadays from Computer Monitors to LCD/Plasma TV's and Audio components, but I hate the way it looks, especially in an E30 with a Black interior.

Silver plastic just looks cheap and tacky.

Basic Black with the White lettering matches well with many of the other controls on the E30 interior.
If only the display had an option for Red/Amber to match the lighting on BMW's.

Still, this HU has a lot of nice options and a good price. I was going to go with a CD43, but this HU costs much less and I can use an iPod or a USB stick or play MP3's burned to a CD-R which can't be done on a CD43

I was also considering a C43, but again, the price would be about the same but the Clarion HU has many more options and is more versatile. I especially like the USB port and the Bluetooth compatibility and although the Bluetooth Phone Kit does cost extra, I will need it for when the law changes in Calif in July.

If anyone has any alternatives to this HU that are similarly priced with the same features and doesn't look like something that would be found in a ricer or a low-rider, please feel free to post it.

I like the basic black with white buttons and my only negative is the possibility that the only dot matrix display colors are Blue and/or White. The Crutchfield web site states that it has a Multi-Color display, but I downloaded the user's manual from Clarion and couldn't find anything in the manual about changing the display color.

Still, that is not a deal-breaker but I would like some feedback from some of the experts as well as any suggestions for alternatives in this price range.

I'm looking to swap the HU first, then eventually the speakers but I will be going with the stock Premium sound Speakers for a while as finding good speakers to fit in the back of the Cabrio are few and far between, and I don't want to rewire the rear speakers just yet, not to mention the expense of new speakers.

I only drive about 4500 miles per year, so having a top tier sound system is not a priority, but I would like to replace the stock HU as they tend to fail after 20 years and even when I find one that works, something breaks on it after a short time of use. Scratchy volume adjustment, cassette player that won't eject my cassette adapter, AM and/or FM not working, buttons that don't work, lights that don't work, etc...not to mention the sound isn't all that great and no options for Bluetooth, iPod, Satellite radio, USB, etc...

Thanks.

[E30 Cabrio]

Any other opinions on this HU?

BTW Nitro, the DX745MP is still available:
http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?...product_id=904

[Sean]

Any other opinions on this HU?

BTW Nitro, the DX745MP is still available:
http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?...product_id=904

I have that deck! LOVE IT!

The Mandrian color scheme matches PERFECTLY! It fits the interior really well. Got it for $199 shipped back in like 06 or something. Crutchfield was offloading their stock of them. Great deck! :)

[StereoInstaller1]

I would never willingly own a Clarion for one dumb reason: Every damn one I have ever installed turn the tuner on when you eject a CD. I FUCKING hate that.

[BBY1104]

I like that it is mostly black, I hate radios with 55 blue buttons and 15 red lights. It distracts me

[Sean]

I would never willingly own a Clarion for one dumb reason: Every damn one I have ever installed turn the tuner on when you eject a CD. I FUCKING hate that.

Really? I guess I never experience that, because I never listen to the radio, just MP3 cds. hehe

[AndrewBird]

Clarion no longer makes the 745, but you can still buy it from places that still have them in stock.

[StereoInstaller1]

Really? I guess I never experience that, because I never listen to the radio, just MP3 cds. hehe

Every Clarion (and there have been hundreds and hundreds) has the same damn issue...when you eject the CD the fucking radio turns on, no matter what you do.

Does yours NOT do that? If so, Clarion might find its way into my dashboards again.

[Sean]

Every Clarion (and there have been hundreds and hundreds) has the same damn issue...when you eject the CD the fucking radio turns on, no matter what you do.

Does yours NOT do that? If so, Clarion might find its way into my dashboards again.

OHH - when you eject the CD the radio turns on. You're right, it does! I've always wondered why it did that. LOL I'll double check when I get home, but I think you're right.

[StereoInstaller1]

I abso-fucking-lutely hate radio. No antenna on my car, and when I build the car-puter, no AM/FM capability at all. I also have a Sirius sattelite box with a free lifetime subscription sitting on my shelf, I can't even stand radio with no commercials...thus my dislike for Clarion, which are otherwise fine units.

[Sean]

I abso-fucking-lutely hate radio. No antenna on my car, and when I build the car-puter, no AM/FM capability at all. I also have a Sirius sattelite box with a free lifetime subscription sitting on my shelf, I can't even stand radio with no commercials...thus my dislike for Clarion, which are otherwise fine units.

Radio drives me nuts too. It's like, ya know, if I wanted to listen to the same 10 songs all day, I would. Thanks. Soo annoying. And it's ALWAYS top 40 too! Play something else to god sake!

[Turf1600]

I have radio for sports radio only.

[E30 Cabrio]

Well, I like to listen to AM and FM, and MP3's
Sat radio quality isn't that great, but the Clarion HU shown above is Sat ready so I can always add one if I want.

I live about 1.5 miles from my job, so I don't drive all that much and don't spend a lot of time in the car. I just hit 117K on the clock, and I bought the car end of August of 2006 with 110K on it, so that gives you an idea of how much I drive.