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(More customer reviews)I've used the Clarion NX700 for more than a month, having replaced my beloved Panasonic Strada that saw its final demise at the hands of the cruel, 15-minute-torrential-rain gods of the southeastern United States. Lesson learned: even when it's 90 degrees and virtually cloudless in the south, keep your moonroof closed during your 45 minute meeting indoors!
The Clarion NX700 -- at the time of purchase a nearly brand new product -- won over its Kenwood, Alpine, and JVC competitors. (Sadly, Panasonic has left the entire car navigation/audio market and was therefore not an option.) The Clarion won for its comprehensive flash memory-based maps, its range of functionality built into the system, and its purported ease of use. The final package I purchased and had professionally installed included the NX700 navigation receiver and a rear view/backup camera integration. Bluetooth phone support was supposedly built into the receiver, and I opted to defer buying at a later date both the iPod/iPhone video cable and an integrated module for Sirius or XM satellite radio. Out the door including installation, taxes, etc., this purchased system was approximately $1500 new. ($200 was the professional install.)
At the time of purchase, there were no units available for me to try in person. The dealers I went to didn't have any on display, and so my decision was based entirely on their recommendations and what very little information could be found about the brand new product online. The lack of a demo unit was probably a good thing for Clarion as I'm not sure it would have positively impacted my purchase decision. The unit is exceptional in many regards, and downright frustrating in many others.
NAVIGATION
Presumably the most important aspect of the system for most users is the navigation, so I will start there. It is the strength of the Clarion NX700. Clarion's navigation antenna and software has excellent reliability; measurably improved over my 2007-era Panasonic Strada. It tracks my routes and destinations without issue and with reasonable speed. It is not the fastest unit I've used in calculating directions, but it's speed is not a problem; on the contrary, I'd say it's above average. The use of fast, Flash memory for storing the map database is a huge boost to its speed (and a point of soreness for the audio system, but more on that in a bit).
The map engine has three basic methods of display: (1) a traditional 2-D, flat birds-eye look at the area in which the map rotates as your vehicle does; (2) the same view with North always at a fixed position; (3) a 3-D map. In both 2-D and 3-D views, the map can show road elevation, points of interest, roads of many types, and all the different elements you would expect of any electronic map.
Like many navigation systems, the NX700 has the capability of displaying its map in normal colors and brightness, as well as in a "night mode" designed to reduce glare and eye strain in the dark. You can manually select day or night mode, or set it to "automatic". Ostensibly, this automatic setting will adjust between day and night...well...automatically. However, as of the date this review was written more than a month after installing the system, I have yet to be able to get the automatic function to work.
The unit comes with a POI database of approximately 12 million businesses, government offices, gas stations, restaurants, airports, and virtually any other type of location you might find in, say, a Yellow Pages. It is easily searchable and browsable, and is fast, and accurate. Updates to the database can be purchased online from [...], though I have yet to see any instructions or support for doing so on that site for US-based NX700 models. (As of the date of this review, the only instructions on the site apply only to European models, the NX700E specifically.)
The normal means of entering one or more destinations is through an obvious touchscreen button with a picture of binoculars on it. WIthin it, you can select a destination by entering it manually, finding it in the POI database, retrieving it from your list of previously taken routes, or from a list of your "Favorites". On screen you are given a natural, intuitive touchscreen keyboard that is highly responsive; fast to the touch -- much faster than any other in-dash navigation system I have used. When you are unclear about the full address of a manual entry, you can enter as much as possible and search from there, or specify street intersections or the center of a city. If you are driving long routes and know what general course you want to take from city to city but don't need to go to specific places within each city, this is an eminently useful function. Overall, I couldn't be happier with the system's ability to let you enter your destination quickly.
Selecting an entry from the POI database also displays the general information about it, including phone number. If you have your bluetooth phone connected, ostensibly it will place the call if you click on this. However, Bluetooth is still not working for me after more than a month, so I can't vouch for it. More on that in a bit.
But there is where my happiness with the navigation interface ends. The user interface for the map system is very stable, and generally acceptable (note that I only stipulated the map system; the audio system's user interface -- entirely different in style, colors, and function -- is leaps and bounds more clunky, cumbersome, and counter-intuitive). However, the navigation UI will take even the most experienced navigators some getting used to as things change in ways that seem somewhat counter intuitive. For example, you cannot enter multiple destinations all at once while creating your trip. Instead, you must enter your farthest end point first, let it calculate the route to get there, and then enter each of your intermediary locations as a "Via Point". One by one: each time you select a new via point, it will recalculate the entire route and take you back to the map with your turn by turn guidance. If you have more to enter, you must go back into the menus, add a new entry, and so on. If most of your trips are simply from Point A to Point B, this won't trouble you much. If you do a fair amount of long distance driving, or even short distance with multiple stops, however, this will feel a bit "odd" until you get used to it.
An additional oddity about the navigation interface is that the place you go to access certain functions actually changes depending on whether or not a route is active. For example, once you enter a route and it's active, clicking on the aforementioned binoculars touch button does not take you back to the same screen where you would enter an address, select a POI, change map settings, and so forth. It takes you instead to a detailed overview of your trip, how far you've gone and have left to go, a function for displaying the whole route fitted to the screen, and 3 different trip computers. While I admit all of this I've found very useful on many occasions, changing the expected behavior of a major button in the user interface is poor design, and is a constant frustration. For example, if you're driving along and decide you want to modify your route, change to a different route method (fastest, most economical, shortest, etc.), or add a new "Via Point", you'll find yourself clicking that button since that's where you did those things before, only to find it replaced by these new functions. (The button, oddly, still looks the same as it always did, however, hence the expectation it will always be the place you should go to find/enter addresses). Once a route is active, those destination and map settings functions relocate themselves to a much smaller, semi-transparent touch button on the lower right side of the display. It's labeled "Menu", and be sure to strain your eyes to see it as it fades to a semi-transparency while the route is active. It's a nice touch and it looks kinda neat, but something that important should not be moved from its normal location, nor should it be hard to see while driving.
Other elements of the navigation user interface that are worth mentioning are: zoom buttons that are large and easy to work with, but unfortunately disappear entirely while driving. To get them back takes only a quick touch of the map, but zoom strikes me as an important feature that Clarion might want to consider making available from a single touch. The NX700 also has a "Position" button for identifying exactly where you are (city, state, latitude, longitude, and so forth), a 2D/2D North/3D button for changing map views, and small, medium, and large area pre-set zoom levels. A neat feature of those zoom levels is that you can change their defaults to your preferred zoom levels and restore their factory defaults quite easily.
While driving, the NX700 can also optionally do an automatic zoom that changes the angle of the map, the zoom level, and other characteristics to more easily show you where you should be turning. On long stretches of road, it then zooms back out to give you a view ahead. Many devices have an automatic zoom, but the Clarion's is much easier to follow.
Like many more modern navigation systems, the NX700 also shows you lane information so you can easily identify what lane you should be in and from which lane to turn, as well as street names. Miss your turn, and the system confidently and quickly gets you back on track by recalculating your route. However, the NX700 does NOT have the ability to read out street or highway names with its voice guidance. The voice guidance is clear and easy to listen to (and selectable between a variety of male and female voices), but the lack of reading...Read more›
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Clarion NX700 7" In-Dash Double-Din Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and BluetoothClarion's NX700 is a two-DIN video navigation unit with a seven-inch motorized touch-screen and sleek and innovative GUI, with only three hard buttons on its smooth front panel. The NX700 features on-board GPS to guide you to your destination, complete with vivid 3D cityscape graphics. Built-in Bluetooth allows users to call a searched POI destination, and conversations come through loud and clear using the included visor-mounted microphone. The NX700 is satellite radio ready (Sirius/ XM), plays all versions of DivX video files, and is an all-around navigation and entertainment powerhouse. It incorporates BBE MP technology, 24-Bit D/A converter, Magna Bass EX, subwoofer control and built-in High Pass and Low Pass filters for unsurpassed sound quality. Enjoy full iPod and iPhone control, or view your video content when used with the optional iPod video cable (CCA748).
Built-in Navigation System Nothing to add--it's all there from the get-go. Count on GPS accuracy and the efficient Clarion Mobile Map engine to guide you to your destination. Navigation data is pre-stored on the internal flash memory for quick access. And with 3D-rendered graphics including landmarks, You will have an intuitively familiar view of the navigation route you are taking.
3D Rendering for Added Realism and Driving Accuracy
3D City MapCityscapes are realistically rendered in 3D, with buildings close to you drawn transparently to avoid obstructing the next intersection.
3D Landmarks3D landmark data are seamlessly integrated into 3D graphic renderings, realistically depicting key points along your travel route.
3D Elevation MapTo make it easier to maneuver through complex junctions, roads and bridges are drawn using actual height information.
Built-in Bluetooth for Hands-free Calling Bluetooth provides a seamless communication environment with the outside world and enhances driving safety. Support of Bluetooth protocol HFP enables you to connect your Bluetooth capable cell phone to listen to calls through your car's audio system.
Superior iPod and iPhone Connectivity USB connection enables complete control of your iPod including ABC search without the need for a converter box--simply use the USB cable that's supplied with your iPod. NX700 is also "Works with iPhone" certified to bring its communication and entertainment capabilities into your car.
Sirius Ready Connect a Sirius Tuner via the CLA-SC1 CeNET interface to receive over 130 channels of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with digital quality sound throughout the USA and Canada. Applicable subscription required.
XM Mini Tuner Connectivity Also connectable is the XM Mini Tuner CNP2000UC via CNPCLA1 interface. This combination will let you enjoy the high-quality multi-channel programming that XM Satellite Radio has to offer.
6ch RCA Output For system expansion beyond the built-in 4-channel amplifier, NX700 is equipped with 3 sets of RCA line level outputs for adding external power amplifiers to gain more dynamic sound from your speakers.
New Graphical User Interface The Clarion H.M.I. concept takes a unique form in the NX700's touch-panel graphical user interface with high-resolution on-screen display. A wide variety of functions, from car navigation to AV entertainment, are consolidated into this intuitive user-interface so there are only 3 physical buttons present on the front panel, contributing to the clean looks of this model. No steep learning curves, so you can enjoy it to the fullest from day one.
Digital Media Ready (DivX) DivX is a common media language that delivers a pure digital experience, Clarion has provided DivX playback on most AV products. DivX enriched video files deliver superior video quality and allow more information on a single disk. Once again Clarion delivers the features you expect.
Rear Vision Camera RCA Input This RCA input enables you to smoothly connect a rear camera to display the area behind your vehicle. The increased view encourages and facilitates safer driving.
24-bit D/A Converter Fully enjoy the sonic impact of DVD movie soundtracks or music videos. 24-bit technology actually oversamples the digital signal, providing excellent results that just weren't possible with older 16-bit systems.
BBE MP for Better Sounding MP3/WMA/AAC Files BBE MP (Minimized Polynomial Non-Linear Saturation) Process improves digitally compressed sound such as MP3/WMA/AAC by restoring the harmonics that are lost through compression, thereby reproducing the warmth, details and nuances that you would otherwise miss. BBE MP enhanced harmonics even serve to make regular CDs sound better.
Enhanced Sound Performance Beat EQ's 3-band parametric equalizer helps you customize your sound, while MagnaBass EX boosts ultra-low frequencies so you can enjoy more solid bass performance.
Built-in High-Pass and Low-Pass Filters The internal High Pass and Low Pass Filters allow your music to be played at the precise levels that they were meant to be heard. Enjoy bass with more muscle and highs with more clarity.
2-Zone Entertainment This allows rear seat passengers to enjoy a DVD movie or iPod Video while the front seat passengers enjoy their favorite radio station or music from a USB memory device.
What's in the Box NX700 Receiver, Remote Control, Hands-Free Microphone, Installation Hardware, User's Manual
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