Clarion M502 Marine Digital Media Receiver

[Dave K]

I need to replace my deck, and I have beening reading quite abit about marine and non-marine deck heads. Some say yes some say no... I just dont know if I want to spend $350 on a top line marine deck.

I came across this unit and though I would ask for opinions. We really only listen to the ipod, and an occasion CD in the past. I was thinking of going with ipod and sirrius sat radio.
Does anyone have an opinion on this head unit or could suggest another maybe??

I am installing a WS-420 also.



•Parrot Bluetooth Module •Made for iPod and iPhone
•PANDORA internet radio
•SiriusXM-Ready
•7-way rotary volume control and 20 key remote
•Sound
•13-segment 10x2-line display
•2V/4ch RCA Output

FEATURES

•Works withPANDORA internet radio Station via an iPhone /iPod touch USB Connection to access the Pandora Apps
•SiriusXM-Ready™ with iTunes Tagging (Optional SiriusXM-Connect Vehicle Tuner)
•USB/MP3/WMA Playback
•Built-in Parrot Bluetooth Interface (HFP, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP)
•Built-in Microphone and External Microphone Ready
•Audio Auxiliary Input (Rear)
•Rear USB Port with iPod Direct Connect Capabilities
•45 Watts × 4 MOS-FET Built-in Amplifier
•4-Channel / 2 Volt RCA Output (Front + Rear/Subwoofer)
•Subwoofer Volume Control
•Built-in High and Low-Pass Filters
•Magna Bass EX Dynamic Bass Enhancement
•3-Band Parametric Equalizer
•Beat EQ for Sound Adjustment
•OEM Steering Wheel Remote Ready

[bryce2320]

You could just use the ws420 and and a 3mm cord to your ipod. The ws420 has a switch on it where you can use its jack out instead of the head unit. It would be cheaper for now and take the time and money to put exactly what you want in there for a head unit. If that isnt an option, I was looking at replacing my clarion HU with that same radio. Looks to be a good buy! I figured out how to set my radio tho so the bass would be full throttle so there was no need for me to get a new one. Let us know which route you go!!

[bryce2320]

And you can always burn the CD's to your ipod I believe

[Dave K]

You could just use the ws420 and and a 3mm cord to your ipod. The ws420 has a switch on it where you can use its jack out instead of the head unit. It would be cheaper for now and take the time and money to put exactly what you want in there for a head unit. If that isnt an option, I was looking at replacing my clarion HU with that same radio. Looks to be a good buy! I figured out how to set my radio tho so the bass would be full throttle so there was no need for me to get a new one. Let us know which route you go!!

The only down side to suing the ws420 is the ipod does not charge off the 1/8"plug. I was planning on getting Sat radio also so it just might be easier to this receiver.

[chpthril]

The only down side to suing the ws420 is the ipod does not charge off the 1/8"plug. I was planning on getting Sat radio also so it just might be easier to this receiver.

There are Ipod specific cables that will charge @ 5V and convert to stereo RCA. These can be plugged into the WS-420 input ports if going head-unitless, or into the head-units AUX.

[Dave K]

There are Ipod specific cables that will charge @ 5V and convert to stereo RCA. These can be plugged into the WS-420 input ports if going head-unitless, or into the head-units AUX.

Thats excellent info Mike !!I ended up ordering all my equipment but I held off on the M502. I will have to look at ordering one of those. Im also going to grab a Sirius sat radio that I can simply plug into the front of the WS-420...and I should be good.

[ds@earmark]

Just a couple of things to consider on an ipod.
The ipod top 3.5mm output is an inexpensive amplifier that has a narrower bandwidth for the purpose of higher efficiency (longer battery life) and is only intended to be good enough for a set of earbuds.
The bottom ipod port has a superior signal with a wider bandwidth. However, the signal from the bottom multi-pin port is light on voltage.
So I like running an ipod into a quality source unit and then into the EQ. Sometimes it's to your advantage from a noise standpoint to deliver perhaps 2.0 volts into the EQ vesus 0.5 volt and take some of the gain multiplication responsibiblty away from the EQ stage.

David

[Dave K]

Just a couple of things to consider on an ipod.
The ipod top 3.5mm output is an inexpensive amplifier that has a narrower bandwidth for the purpose of higher efficiency (longer battery life) and is only intended to be good enough for a set of earbuds.
The bottom ipod port has a superior signal with a wider bandwidth. However, the signal from the bottom multi-pin port is light on voltage.
So I like running an ipod into a quality source unit and then into the EQ. Sometimes it's to your advantage from a noise standpoint to deliver perhaps 2.0 volts into the EQ vesus 0.5 volt and take some of the gain multiplication responsibiblty away from the EQ stage.

David

Whats a half decent inexpensive deck? All I need it for is the ipod and maybe sat radio.

If there is a usb rear connection on any deck... does that automatically mean playlist and song selection can be done off the ipod rather than the deck? I think thats how some deck work?

[bryce2320]

My stock clarion deck has pre outs in the back that let me run my iPod to the HU

[Dave K]

My stock clarion deck has pre outs in the back that let me run my iPod to the HU

Which model do you have? Also do you use the deck or ipod itself to change song selections?
Thanks

[shawndoggy]

I have a clarion m309 that I run my iPod through into one of the "other" eq's. you can set it to allow control from the iPod or deck. If it is set to control from the iPod I'm pretty sure the fwd and back buttons on the deck still work too (in addition to manual control from the iPod).

The nice thing about the m502 is that it has Bluetooth built in, so you aren't necessarily teathered to the deck or eq with a cord (or you can leave your iPhone charging in the glove box while streaming music or pandora to the deck).

[Dave K]

I have a clarion m309 that I run my iPod through into one of the "other" eq's. you can set it to allow control from the iPod or deck. If it is set to control from the iPod I'm pretty sure the fwd and back buttons on the deck still work too (in addition to manual control from the iPod).

The nice thing about the m502 is that it has Bluetooth built in, so you aren't necessarily teathered to the deck or eq with a cord (or you can leave your iPhone charging in the glove box while streaming music or pandora to the deck).

I think this unit would be perfect. I just didnt want to have to open arm rest and use deck controls everytime we wanted to change music/playlists.

Thanks for the help

[ds@earmark]

For me, with the BU starboard coaming source unit location being so far back and at your elbow I feel that an underdash wired remote control is essential in any case. Some people prefer over and outside their right or left knee and that might be dependent on whether or not you are using an EQ too.

David

[bryce2320]

Which model do you have? Also do you use the deck or ipod itself to change song selections?
Thanks

Cdm6 maybe. I'd have to double check but I run off the iPod. If I had a transom remote id want to b able to run it off that