So I'm most likely picking up the Clarion C500 (not from here but so you can see which it is: Clarion CZ500 CD receiver at Crutchfield.com ) for my Altima tomorrow (purchased and installed for 250)....

It has both bluetooth and usb.

Has anyone plugged the Incredible into a Car Stereo via USB? I would love the option to mount the phone just like on the computer.... The choice of just getting power or mounting (figure I can use all the apps if I use bluetooth but would love to provide power through the usb). Is this possible?

Also if anyone else has plugged one of the Incredibles in through USB and tried to mount...which drive does the car stereo see? The internal 8 gig or the SD Card? Unlike a computer I doubt there would be a choice.

 

Thanks for the info...anyone else have any experience?

I'll definitely chime in with what I find out.

I have heard that the Alpine CDE-103BT which is roughly the same price, that it will auto connect the phone through bluetooth, and if you are listening to the radio interrupt it for an incoming phone call...while this one won't. You need to tell it to use the bluetooth source and then answer the call. Also the Alpine apparently has much better sound quality for phone calls over bluetooth.

Unfortunately though it doesn't contain the profiles for streaming audio, one of three reasons I'm picking up the Clarion. The other two being it has a clip on mic for the visor as well as a remote.

Just hoping I get the option to use the onboard storage through USB when I want (sdcard as I have a 16gb with my music on it) as well as the option to simply charge.

I will definitely update this thread with my experiences...but still would love to garner opinions.

 

Thanks. This is from my local guys who are also doing the install...so if there is an issue it will be covered. Mostly cause I just moved out of NYC and haven't done an install on my own for 15 years...let someone else do it for the money.

And its covered that way.

Also I'm surprised...most reviews I have seen on it are great.

 

Which drive mounted though? The sdcard or the internal?

 

Yep.....This is actually my father's car (hey..I just moved out of Manhattan and haven't needed a car in 15 years - lucky the ol' man is letting me use his).....And he has the stock system that the Altima came with. Not even an aux input.

So this is going to give me Aux, USB and Bluetooth streaming. Just wish it has the same bluetooth phone call quality as that Alpine one. Also read you can't keep the clock on the screen of the stereo.

Like I said. I'll update tomorrow (my local shop was out of them today and should get more either tomorrow or Friday). They are putting one aside for me and said install will take them about 30 min.

 

I doubt it. For that you would need a cable that guys from the usb to the aux input.

The USB port on these radios are for mounting a drive.

I was delayed today and should be getting it tomorrow for me to play with and report back.

 

Ok...so I just picked up and had installed the Clarion C500.

So far only had the chance to try it on the way from the place home, so I will give a more detailed review once the weekend is over (lot of Memorial Day driving).

Some phone specific first impressions though:
The bluetooth streams incredibly well. While streaming my own music collection I was using the navigation as a test. The navigation DOES NOT pause the music. It will speak INSTEAD OF the music. And then your music will continue.

When I plugged it into the USB connection of the stereo I DID get the option to either mount or charge only. I decided to charge only as I was testing the bluetooth streaming. It did charge, although at the same speed as charging through your computer. So I think an actual charger will give more power when using GPS (will be able to test on a longer drive)(that will probably be based on the Stereo's output of power through USB and not the phone)

I will give a more thorough review of both the phone and pairing with this stereo (it is one of the cheaper ones that support all bluetooth profiles as well as being both hd and sat ready with itunes tagging - it also is ipod ready with full controls .

Hope everyone is having a great long weekend. And remember why its called Memorial day and think of the ones who put their lives on the line for us. (and that's the end of my short soapbox rant)