Clarion’s latest touch-screen in-car sound and vision maestro evolves from a world-first 12 years ago
Motorists looking for a full-blown bells and whistles answer to in-car entertainment and route guidance were firmly in Clarion’s sights when designing their latest sound and vision maestro, the NX706E, now available via the Clarion on-line UK store and dealer network.
Bristling with innovation, functionality and the biggest-ever range of features, this audio/video/navigation flagship comes twelve years after Clarion wowed the mobile entertainment world with the first-ever double-DIN CD/DVD/Radio/Navigation source unit. Unsurprisingly, Clarion’s long experience – punctuated with a continuous stream on evolutionary upgrades – shines through in the latest incarnation.
Notwithstanding its enormous capability, Clarion has placed a great deal of emphasis on simplicity when it comes to selecting functions and using the controls of this latest unit. To this end, the 7” full colour touch screen, featuring large, swipe-through animated icons and images to select specific functions, eliminates the need for a multitude of traditional push buttons and controls. Variable colour screen illumination also enables owners to tune the look of the display to match the vehicle’s instrument panel.
NX706E incorporates a radio tuner, integral CD and DVD player and a powerhouse of a GPS navigation unit, with mapping that covers the entirety of Europe. iGo Nextgen navigation software features realistic 3D landscape and en-route building renderings, a 360° display for optimal map viewing and, with turn-by-turn voice prompts, brings a new era of clarity and functionality to navigation.
The system is pre-loaded with a host of selectable POIs, and real-time TMC traffic management comes as standard. Map updates can be imported via the integral SD Card and the latest map data can be downloaded free of charge from the Clarion website on purchase of the unit.
Built-in Bluetooth provides hands-free call capability, with the import and display of the mobile phone book direct to the 7” full colour touch screen. Compatibility with a wide variety of mobiles enables the wireless stream of music libraries from Bluetooth-enabled Apple and Android mobiles and, with a compatible iPhone attached, one can seamlessly engage in Siri voice command to control the host of functionality, music choice, and further options including checking emails and messages.
NX706E also features dual USB terminals for wired connections to phone and mobile devices containing music libraries, whose songs and playlists will appear on screen, and can be selected and played instantly by touch.
For those hungry for even greater functionality, system expansion options include built in portals for a Clarion digital audio and TV tuner and Clarion rear view cameras. And the handy, in-built ‘two-zone’ technology also enables the selection of different audio or video content in the front and rear of the vehicle with additional Clarion rear seat or flip-down roof-mounted colour monitors.
Uniquely, NX706E also includes an optical digital output, enabling it to be connected to Clarion’s breakthrough Full Digital Sound loudspeakers launched very recently, which deliver unparalleled levels of fidelity from all digital sound sources.
Power output is more than sufficient to fill the car with great quality sound – with a 15-band graphic equaliser to tune it to your preference – but for those who want to create even more of a statement, NX706E can be significantly boosted in the powerstakes via three sets of RCA outputs to which additional Clarion amplifiers can be connected to drive a larger arsenal of loudspeakers.
To deliver the best sound quality, there’s a wide range of high technology Clarion loudspeakers – aside from the latest Digital additions – to suit any installation, and for those looking for expert help in fitting, Clarion’s network of appointed specialist dealers is at hand.
The Clarion NZ706E is priced at £799 inc VAT. For full details of this and the extensive Clarion range, visit www.clarion.co.uk. All Clarion products are sold by the UK appointed specialist dealer network and also on-line at the official Clarion store, www.clarion-shop.co.uk
