New Clarion HU: Very Interesting
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New Clarion HU: Very Interesting
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-5vJHloF...300#morephotos
Sleek, bold, and unique. The Clarion FB275BT Digital Media Receiver's design integrates simple and elegant controls into a totally functional faceplate. You can customize the look to match your car's dash by choosing from 728 different colors for the illumination and backlighting.
Clarion designed the FB275BT for music lovers who've moved beyond CDs. Instead of a CD player, you'll find a handy slot behind the face that accepts SD cards that you've loaded with your favorite MP3 files, plus a rear auxiliary input for connecting a portable music player or a plug-and-play satellite radio.
You can make and receive hands-free calls with your Bluetooth phone, using the included microphone. You can also stream music wirelessly from a Bluetooth® cell phone with music storage or from a portable player connected to Clarion's DGL370 Bluetooth transmitter.
Details:
General features:
» media receiver with built-in amplifier (21 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)
» plays MP3 files on SD cards (no CD player)
» fold-down, detachable face with 728 color illumination choices
Audio features:
» three preset tone curves with bass/treble adjustment and bass boost
Expandability:
» built-in Bluetooth with included microphone
» inputs: rear auxiliary input
» outputs: one set of preamp outputs
Clarion designed the FB275BT for music lovers who've moved beyond CDs. Instead of a CD player, you'll find a handy slot behind the face that accepts SD cards that you've loaded with your favorite MP3 files, plus a rear auxiliary input for connecting a portable music player or a plug-and-play satellite radio.
You can make and receive hands-free calls with your Bluetooth phone, using the included microphone. You can also stream music wirelessly from a Bluetooth® cell phone with music storage or from a portable player connected to Clarion's DGL370 Bluetooth transmitter.
Details:
General features:
» media receiver with built-in amplifier (21 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)
» plays MP3 files on SD cards (no CD player)
» fold-down, detachable face with 728 color illumination choices
Audio features:
» three preset tone curves with bass/treble adjustment and bass boost
Expandability:
» built-in Bluetooth with included microphone
» inputs: rear auxiliary input
» outputs: one set of preamp outputs
So, this unit is being marketed as a digital media receiver with no optical drive. I kind of like the idea, and i am kinda warming up to its looks too.
What do you guys think of it, and do you think you can live without a CD Player in your HU?
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Scinergy
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 487
From: Littleton, CO
The CD's days are numbered. Digital media IS the future. The trend is interfacing all the new gadgets - like Bluetooth, Aux input, Navigation, DVD, etc. The above is a great example. I'd like to see an internal hard drive, full speed iPod connection, better Digital Signal Processing (eq, time alignment, crossover).
Here's another one to consider:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=iDA-X001
Here's another one to consider:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=iDA-X001
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If digital media storage cannot handle an uncompressed CD audio, instead of compressed (lossy) mp3's.. then I don't care for it. Lossless, uncompressed is all I'd like for the future.. Not MP3's as a standard. They might be popular, but they're far from perfect.
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DeepSouth Scions
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I don;t like the look but would have no problem living without the cd slot, I use the radio and aux 99% of the time and only use my cd slot to hold one cd I keep with me for when my mp3 player's battery dies.
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teamNJCT
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lol MP3's have been around since the time of 8 trak tape players.. and have come back from the dead.
I like the look of that HU it has nice flow something i could mount in the center arm rest. open up the space for a screen in the center console..
I like the look of that HU it has nice flow something i could mount in the center arm rest. open up the space for a screen in the center console..
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its vinyl btw. lol 
my friend was thinking about getting that alpine deck, but we played with it for a bit and it felt cheap imo. not to mention not having a cd slot kinda sucks until everyone and their mom jumps to mp3s. mainly for versatility, having a cd drive helps alot. and as long as you rip at 320kbps it basically maintains cd quality, and for most people cant tell or just dont care (damn you iTunes with 128kbps).
i actually saw this deck in crutch field, caught my eye. i think it looks really cool, but that screen doesnt look like it can display that much.
my friend was thinking about getting that alpine deck, but we played with it for a bit and it felt cheap imo. not to mention not having a cd slot kinda sucks until everyone and their mom jumps to mp3s. mainly for versatility, having a cd drive helps alot. and as long as you rip at 320kbps it basically maintains cd quality, and for most people cant tell or just dont care (damn you iTunes with 128kbps).
i actually saw this deck in crutch field, caught my eye. i think it looks really cool, but that screen doesnt look like it can display that much.
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Scinergy
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From: Littleton, CO
CDs were great when they came out 25 years ago. They still are the king as far as sound quality, but digital media is gaining ground - fast! It IS going to require lossless formats (equal to or better than CD quality), which of course are larger data files, therefore requiring larger storage.
They're not without drawbacks though. CDs are easily scratched/damaged, and by today's standards are large for the amount of information that can be stored on them.
I digress - as I'm sure most of you already know this, and are in love with your iPods. Because it's 4:00am, here's a good read about MP3s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3#Development
Cheers!
They're not without drawbacks though. CDs are easily scratched/damaged, and by today's standards are large for the amount of information that can be stored on them.
I digress - as I'm sure most of you already know this, and are in love with your iPods. Because it's 4:00am, here's a good read about MP3s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3#Development
Cheers!
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oh yes, if they can come up with a better lossless digital storage system, I'm all for it. I just don't want to lose audio quality on the name of "convenience". and you're right, CD's are easily scratched and aren't that good for storage (takes a lot of space up).
something like a usb flash drive would be very durable. but i know i'm getting off the main topic a little.
something like a usb flash drive would be very durable. but i know i'm getting off the main topic a little.
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Originally Posted by rocketgyrl
CDs were great when they came out 25 years ago. They still are the king as far as sound quality, but digital media is gaining ground - fast! It IS going to require lossless formats (equal to or better than CD quality), which of course are larger data files, therefore requiring larger storage.
They're not without drawbacks though. CDs are easily scratched/damaged, and by today's standards are large for the amount of information that can be stored on them.
I digress - as I'm sure most of you already know this, and are in love with your iPods. Because it's 4:00am, here's a good read about MP3s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3#Development
Cheers!
They're not without drawbacks though. CDs are easily scratched/damaged, and by today's standards are large for the amount of information that can be stored on them.
I digress - as I'm sure most of you already know this, and are in love with your iPods. Because it's 4:00am, here's a good read about MP3s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3#Development
Cheers!
Still, I don't see true digital media fully replacing CDs, DVDs, or other types of burn once media, at least in the next 30 years. The cost of production is just too high. Plus, I'll never support it.
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Posts: 3,172
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another true lossless format would be the almighty .wav. most recordings are done with recording them as .wav. then they master it (still in .wav), and finally mix everything down into a single .wav before they burn it and send it to production. i know alot of players can play .wav files... but at 40+mb @ 44.1khz Stereo PER SONG, ill be happy with my 320kbps @ 44.1khz Stereo mp3s at maybe 7mb per song.... deng could you imagein that though... itll make my 30 gig ipod look like a nano. lol
SD Cards arent as popular for music storage imo. I use SD cards for music for my palm, but when i had my Jensen head unit that accepted SD's, i didnt bother with it. I think a headunit with a line it, thats it, would do best, but i would rather have full iPod only imo. But then if you wanna hear your friends CD, youre out of luck!
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Umm...CDs are digital storage media. 
In fact, all forms of storage today are digital, except the hard drives that come in the almighty "digital" iPod.
Besides, I paid almost $400 for my Alpine deck to listen to music. Why on Earth should I pay an extra $100-$200 for a good MP3 player and at least $40 on a cable to connect them, or even more for a Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth capable MP3 player just to "get with the times" and listen to your kind of music? Especially since I can burn an MP3 CD from my already purchased computer for around $0.50 and have the same result?
Just saying it's ridiculous how much people will rape you just so you can walk around all day with your own theme music.
In fact, all forms of storage today are digital, except the hard drives that come in the almighty "digital" iPod.
Besides, I paid almost $400 for my Alpine deck to listen to music. Why on Earth should I pay an extra $100-$200 for a good MP3 player and at least $40 on a cable to connect them, or even more for a Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth capable MP3 player just to "get with the times" and listen to your kind of music? Especially since I can burn an MP3 CD from my already purchased computer for around $0.50 and have the same result?
Just saying it's ridiculous how much people will rape you just so you can walk around all day with your own theme music.
Originally Posted by Nychold
Umm...CDs are digital storage media.
In fact, all forms of storage today are digital, except the hard drives that come in the almighty "digital" iPod.
Besides, I paid almost $400 for my Alpine deck to listen to music. Why on Earth should I pay an extra $100-$200 for a good MP3 player and at least $40 on a cable to connect them, or even more for a Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth capable MP3 player just to "get with the times" and listen to your kind of music? Especially since I can burn an MP3 CD from my already purchased computer for around $0.50 and have the same result?
Just saying it's ridiculous how much people will rape you just so you can walk around all day with your own theme music.
In fact, all forms of storage today are digital, except the hard drives that come in the almighty "digital" iPod.
Besides, I paid almost $400 for my Alpine deck to listen to music. Why on Earth should I pay an extra $100-$200 for a good MP3 player and at least $40 on a cable to connect them, or even more for a Bluetooth adapter and Bluetooth capable MP3 player just to "get with the times" and listen to your kind of music? Especially since I can burn an MP3 CD from my already purchased computer for around $0.50 and have the same result?
Just saying it's ridiculous how much people will rape you just so you can walk around all day with your own theme music.
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lol
you are right, CD's are forms of digital music, but to me at least, they are not as convenient as a memory card is or bluetooth audio is!
what beats walking around with a Verizon Chocolate with a 2 gig card, then getting into your car and streaming that music at near CD quality into your HU and getting the same effect as your MP3 CD, but more versatile and mobile?
you are right, CD's are forms of digital music, but to me at least, they are not as convenient as a memory card is or bluetooth audio is!
what beats walking around with a Verizon Chocolate with a 2 gig card, then getting into your car and streaming that music at near CD quality into your HU and getting the same effect as your MP3 CD, but more versatile and mobile?