Clarion FB275BTB Video Review

[felipealvescarvalho]

does it tune AM?

[Placido31335150]

how are these at night? isnt there alot of glare?

[duduzerah]

Don't buy this device. I bought and got several problems. Very difficult to accept MP3 and incompatible with Mac OS.

[dadosal]

the LCD display color also can be changed? or just de buttons? Great review!

[mpbsmithaa]

@dadosal I was also wondering whether the LCD color could be changed. I would want an orange/red lcd to match bmw interior lighting.

[madalikmadi]

Code unlock cdplayer clarion pu-2294A S/N CL040130899965C pls contact maditza_anyse@yahoo.com please contact :((

[lstrindade]

Do I need to install the external mic to wear it in speaker mode with my phone? or does it have an internal mic?

[lstrindade]

What a great equipment! Can I keep the lights always in one color only without changing? like always orange, for example, to match with my Honda Civic panel?

[daveqb14]

So you can't fast forward and rewind tracks?

I assume that means when you turn the car off and then later back on, the track doesn't pick up where it left off last? I mean same track and same seconds into the track???

I hope not, this is the show stopper for me if that's the case.

[OuweOop]

This convinces me to buy this radio!

Clear review.

[tmebutuoy]

Can you remove the facia?

[variant1974]

Yes, you can!

[YourThunderstick]

Excellent review, I think I may be purchasing one of these.

[usarmyboi91]

does it have a seperate subwoofer output???

[greatonyak]

I have one question, I notice it plays MP3's. Does it support WMA , WAV and any other format on the SD card?

[PK3DNow]

Only MP3. There is a new unit the FZ709 which supports USB/MP3/WMA/AAC.

[toyotaboyhatman]

This is tempting for my iphone. It's a shame it doesn't have usb, or support ID3 tags over bluetooth. Seems like the mic is pretty good though.

[dangelo87]

Hey, if I save my songs in different folders to divide the category of music, I will not have problems? That button should smash into the car to change the folder? Thanks

[PK3DNow]

I did not have a BlackBerry I was using a Motorola Q. I now have a Samsung Omnia and it works even better than ever.

[cmhippy]

I have a BlackBerry Curve and I can't get Hands Free Voice to work. Everything else seems to work fine. I see you have a BlackBerry also. Am I missing a BlackBerry Bluetooth setup option?

[AdDaManGT]

Ive heard you cant fast forward through the tracks?! is this correct?

Thanks

[PK3DNow]

That is correct.

[SDGwrestling]

does this have a usb outlet?

[PK3DNow]

No it does not.

[zotshaft]

You are the man! I actually created a folder called "root" and placed my sub-folers inside that instead of putting in directly on the card as you said. Duh! Thanks again for helping out.

[zotshaft]

Thanks for the helpful review...much appreciated. Quick question for you. On your SD card how do you have your folders set up. I created a "Root" folder and placed 58 sub-folders in the Root. Each of the sub-folders have 2-10 songs in them. For some reason now, when I insert the SD card I get an error. How do you have your folders set up? Thanks.

[PK3DNow]

I placed the folders directly in the root of the SD card. Some folders have folders inside of others and it works fine. Have you tried placing some files directly in the root (not the folder but directly on the root of the SD card). Also it could possibly be your SD card if you keep getting errors. Try another if you've got one. And remember only NON SDHC cards will work in this player.

[quefula1]

Hi i thanks for the video it was really helpfull. i was wondering about how many songs does your 2gb sd card holds

[CDNicecube]

Hi there

I have a sub/amp. Can I control the sub amp with it, separatly from the "bass" control? Thanks!

[PK3DNow]

Unfortunately no, this unit does not have a separate controller for the sub.

[dateran]

Do you know if 4gb non-sdhc cards work on this stereo?

[PK3DNow]

The Clarion specs at the time of my review stated a 2GB Max (listed to the right of the video, click "more info"). But at the time of the review I'm not even sure if a 4GB non SDHC card existed. If I had a 4GB card I would test it for you but considering they are only about $9 on NewEgg I don't think you've got much to lose if you wanted to give it a try.

[LexiVSM]

I have just bought this head unit and I think it is fantastic apart from the following problem. Whenever I set the headunit to automatically detect my bluetooth phone, the media player starts on my phone and streams music. I find this EXTREMELY ANNOYING. If I turn off automatic bluetooth pairing I can't receive calls via the headunit. Anyy help would be greatly appreciated.

[PK3DNow]

That depends on your phone and is not caused by your head unit. I've used multiple phones with my Clarion and some do exactly what you are talking about but with my current phone, a Samsung Omnia, I do not have any issues like that.

[psycosquirrel789]

Can I install this in older cars?

[PK3DNow]

I don't see why not. Might want to do yourself a favor and see if Crutchfield has a install kit for your car. They really make it easy to install.

[Verevolf]

Hi, I've just bought the FB289RBT and like it. When i paired the unit with my Touch Diamond the A2DP worked right away, but i cant seem to get it to work again. i can call and except calls but i cant seem to get it to appear as a head set again unless i delete the pairing and repair? any ideas?

[PK3DNow]

Make sure that when you connect via bluetooth you have the Stereo Headphone service running on your phone. My Motorola Q was like that too, every time I connected it I would have to re-enable the A2DP on the phone but making calls was a breeze. So far my new phone, Samsung Omnia, connects both services without a hitch so it may have a bit to do with the phone too. But with that being said I believe both of our phones run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and should be setup very similarly.

[Verevolf]

Hi, Yup, got that working, though i think its a weird bug with the HTC mp3 player (called audio manager) if i play media player it works. Very weird.

Thanks for the reply though.

[delldimension2345]

Have Seen This Unit At

premier-audio co uk

[smanettonipuntonet]

i forgot to say i really appreciated

your choice of music. All of the videos around show some rapp-ish playing, garbage sounding music. that's style.

[PK3DNow]

Thank you! I wanted to find something that wasn't obnoxious and provided decent background music while doing the review. Glad someone enjoyed it :).

[bezthechicken]

Hi

I'm looking into getting this unit, could you please let me know if the radio station name appears on the display, It seems it doesn't on yours?

[smanettonipuntonet]

One of the most WELL MADE rewiews ever seen.

Well spoken, good video quality and extensive rewiew.

One of the things i wasnt' sure was about device control thru AVRCP: it does control the unit.

Now i just have to choose between this model, the 278RBT or 289RBT and find wich are the real differences among these,

and the Parrot RK8200, wich is cleaner in design yet sports a colour LCD.

I did already rule Alpine models out, i'm not an Apple fan.

[ZutiGufu]

Oh snap, i just read the description, sorry!

[ZutiGufu]

Does this unit support SDHC?

Anyone with help, thanx!

[ekhangel]

Nope.

[raulthesloth]

Awesome review. just found this reciever today, been looking for a good review on it, wasn't too hard thanx.

quick quesion, did you install it yourself, and do you know where i could find a mounting bracket that won't make it stick out 1/2"?

[PK3DNow]

Sorry to be getting back to you so late on this but I did install it myself and unfortunately a mounting bracket that makes it flush will depend on you're vehicle and what is available out there.

[mmorg9591]

can you control the mp3 player via the receiver? and may i have a link to where you bought your sd cards?

[ian67camaro]

I have this deck and I can control the Samsung P2 with it. As long as the Mp3 Player has the AVRCP profile it *should* be controllable. Walmart usually sells a 3-pack of 2GB SD cards for like $10-15.

[vEnmEn]

thanks for the review, i got it for $105.xx after my associate purchase discount.. original price is $139.99.. saved alot! xD

[adomolis]

I have this one too! Its awesome. But i don't understand, i was unable to fast forward/rewind my mp3 files, is it possible or not?

[ian67camaro]

Excellent review BTW! I noticed that when you used the bluetooth feature from your phone it says "streaming" on the display. I was wondering if their was a way to have it display either the filename or the ID3 tag info while streaming via bluetooth?

[PK3DNow]

It does not display file names or ID3 tags while streaming.

[nimze]

thanks, forgot to also ask, does this have any dedicated setup for a subwoofer like subwoofer level/frequency as you find on alpine units or just basic bass / treble as you have shown, thanks again

[PK3DNow]

As far as I've seen there are no controls for an external subwoofer such as cut offs and volume settings. There is a set of pre-amp outputs but the levels are all controlled as shown in the video. I've got two Polk 12" Subs that are being fed off of the pre-amps into a Kenwood amp, I just use the settings on the amplifier and external puck controller to adjust levels, boost and cut-off. Any amplifier should have those settings, it just makes it more convenient to have it on the deck itself.

[nimze]

cool review, been looking for one for ages! quick question tho, does it come with a sd card or will i have to buy one seperateley?

[PK3DNow]

You will need to buy one or in my case many :). Check around the net and you can easily find 2GB SD Cards for under $10

[nimze]

thanks for the advice, bought the unit today, quick question, everything is wired up & workin fine (havent tested the bluetooth yet though) but im stuck on connecting the amp remote (blue) cable . . . dont know wher to connect it :(

[stinkybear]

hey i have a question

if the aux is in the back then where does the wire come out from?

[PK3DNow]

The wire comes out from the back.

[datawarrior]

Great review, help a lot. This is exactly what I was looking for. I found it in Crutchfield for $149.99, but it's free shipping. Then yow google "crutchfield offer" or "crutchfield coupon", and get the code for the $20.00 off coupon. So it's $129.99 free shipping, free installation kit and a few more goodies they give you to install it like antenna adapter and harnesses. Really, this review helped me to make my final decision. Thanks again!!!

[JamKury]

Thankyou for this awsome review. I went for the funky silver one. being britsh, would mean its the europian version not american. Either way your review has been so helpful ive ordered one. So thankyou you for a great review and making me buy a great headunit =p

(if every1 made reviews like this we would nver buy the crap stuff)

[PK3DNow]

Thanks mate. I appreciate it. I'll have to start reviewing all my gadgets :).

[RX7Flash]

Thanks for the review. Question for you: I've seen various site pictures from retailers, where some pictures show the screen color as blue with white writing(for lack of a better term) and others with black background and white writing (like yours appears to be). I don't trust my monitor, so could you tell me which is it?

Same goes for the lit up symbols (like snd or phone icon), some sites show it as white and others as blue.

Could you tell me what color it really is?

[PK3DNow]

It is more black than blue. It actually looks like a very dark gray. As far as the color of the icons mine are white (except the BT icon). The difference you are seeing on different websites are for other countries. In Europe they have the FB289/288/278RBT (displays icons primarily in blue) which is different from the stateside model FB275BT.

[RX7Flash]

Awesome! Thanks for such a fast reply. And thanks for taking the time to post the vid and explain it all. It's so valuable to get a word-of-mouth review as there's so much marketing fluff. 5 stars.

Now I'm definitely decided as my Audi a4 has all red and white illumination for everything, so this will fit in perfectly.

Thanks!

[PK3DNow]

You're welcome buddy. You happened to catch me right before I went to work hence the quick response. Now keep in mind that my review is for the black model (which like I stated is a bit more of a black with brown trim). I'm not 100% sure if the white model would have the white icons.

[winkosmosis]

Does it support SDHC cards or is 2gb the max?

[PK3DNow]

This unit does NOT support SDHC in its current state and you're max is 2GB unless Clarion releases some form of firmware that allows larger cards (I wouldn't count that out).

[winkosmosis]

Does it support SDHC or is the max size for cards 2gb?

[PK3DNow]

*UPDATE* - I have since installed the external mic, I noticed that for the first couple seconds of using the internal mic it would be hard for the person on the other end to hear me. I think it was because it was auto adjusting the gain but caused some issues. I still give the unit a 9 out of 10 mainly because Clarion includes the external mic. Also an update, the FM tuner hasn't been a big issue. Not sure if I just don't notice it as much but it seems to lock into the stations better now.