Kenwood KDC-MP442U WMA/MP3 CD Receiver with Satellite/HD Radio/Bluetooth/iPhone Ready Front AUX/USB Input
From KENWOOD
WMA/MP3 CD Receiver with SAT/HD radio/BT/iPhone ready, Front AUX/USB input
- Amazon Sales Rank: #972 in Car Audio or Theater
- Brand: Kenwood
- Model: KDC-MP442U
- Dimensions: 4.70" h x 10.00" w x 11.00" l, 4.20 pounds
Here's a perfect way to replace your stock stereo with a digital media solution. Enjoy your favorite CDs, a one-wire iPod connection, streaming of MP3/AAC/WMA files from USB thumb drives, a front auxiliary input, and Kenwood audio perfection in a 50W x 4 stylish tuner. And there's plenty of room to grow--add Bluetooth or HD/satellite radio with Kenwood peripherals.
 Replace your stock stereo with a digital-media-friendly solution. Click to enlarge. |
Dial in Your Music
The KDC-MP442U will play your favorite CDs or burned CD-Rs, as well as MP3/WMA/AAC files from data CDs or USB devices. Load your flash drive with your favorite tunes and hit the road.
iPod 1-wire Connection
If you own an iPod, simply connect it to a Kenwood CD receiver via the USB cable that comes with the iPod. Better yet, use the optional KCA-iP100 1-wire iPod Interface Cable for crystal clear digital audio playback. You'll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
 Add satellite radio or HD radio with Kenwood peripherals. |
 Includes IR remote. Click to enlarge. |
FM/AM Tuner
When you feel like letting someone else control the programming, switch to the radio. Features 18 FM and six AM presets for your convenience.
Bluetooth Ready
Add the optional KCA-BT200 to enjoy hands-free operation of the KDC-MP342U, allowing you to keep your hands on the steering wheel allowing you better concentration on your driving. Advanced Bluetooth technology provides wireless connection and operation of Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as mobile phones and even phones that can stream music via A2DP.
HD and Satellite Radio Ready
The KDC-MP442U allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports, and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You also can add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD radio tuner, features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Supreme
When a music file is compressed, some frequencies signals are lost, particularly if it is encoded using a low bit rate. The Supreme technology is a Kenwood-original audio compensation technology that compensates for this loss and reproduces music in a more natural form, thereby making it possible to play music recorded using low bit rates (64k to 96k) in an audio-quality equivalent to music recorded using a higher bit rate (equivalent to 128k). Enjoy a natural, rich sound, even with lower compression ratios.
 Front USB and AUX connectors for quick and easy access. |
Front USB/AUX Connection
The KDC-MP442U features a USB and AUX connector up front that makes connecting a USB mass-storage device easier than ever. For the auxiliary input, input sensitivity correction adjusts volume or input level depending on the characteristics of the input source.
Ready for System Expansion
In addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier, the DPX503 boasts three 2.5V pre-amp outs for expanding your system.
Remote Control
Let your passengers control the music from the back seat with the included remote.
What's in the Box
Kenwood KDC-MP442U, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, wireless remote, installation tools, installation manual, operation manual, warranty card.
good value, not great usability
I bought the KDC-MP442U to replace the stock radio in my 2002 Honda Odyssey. I found the adapter cable and dash mounting kit online and installed it myself in one evening. I liked the streamlined front panel and felt good about the Kenwood brand from my experience owning their ham radio equipment. However, while this unit contains a lot of features for the money, the user interface is not at all intuitive and needlessly complex.
First, the features I liked: It can play MP3s or WMA files from a memory stick! You can turn off many of the annoying (to me) features like the constant scrolling red dots. Many of the options are configurable, especially the audio quality adjustments (filters, speaker size, etc.). It has a lot of presets (18 for FM and 6 for AM). The audio quality is acceptable (actually not bad at all for the price). It has an internal memory for storing "Favorites" (not to be confused with presets which are different). You can enter a text description of your favorite radio stations and other content.
Now, the downside(s)...
Non-intuitive: The on/off button is labeled "SRC" (its other function is to switch between the tuner, CD player, and USB memory). You must press and hold it for two seconds to shut the radio off. There is no tuning knob, per se. To tune the radio you must press the "AUTO" button to select one of three tuning modes: MANUAL lets you push the volume control back and forth to change frequency, AUTO1 lets you push the volume control back and forth to seek to the next station with a strong signal, and AUTO2 lets you push the volume control back and forth to move between the presets. This brings me to the next problem. Setting the presets to your favorite radio stations is extremely complicated. On top of that, the manual is just plain wrong on this point. I had to call Kenwood customer service to figure out how to set the presets. (Ironically, it was one of the best customer service calls I've ever had - fluent English speaker, knowledgeable, friendly, great communication skills). Finally, fast forward / fast rewind is only mentioned once in the manual and again the manual entry is wrong. Rather than simply pushing the volume control [AUD] knob to the right or left as the manual says, you must simultaneously twist the knob while pushing it. Not at all obvious...
Needlessly complex: To illustrate, let me list the steps required to change a preset radio station:
1. press [SRC] until display says TUNER
2. push [AUD] up or down to select set (FM1, FM2, ...)
3. press [AUTO] until display says MANUAL
4. push [AUD] left or right to select station
5. press [FAVORITE] once
6. press [SEARCH] once
7. turn [AUD] to select preset number
8. press [AUD] and hold until PRESET message appears
On my the stock Honda radio, there was a single button press to accomplish the same thing. Good grief! It also comes with a remote control (do we really need a remote control for a car stereo?). I have not had great luck with the remote control. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
So in summary, if you want a solid car radio / USB / CD player and if you like a good deal, like solving brain teaser puzzles, and don't mind spending some extra time to accomplish some basic configuration tasks (hopefully, NOT while driving!) then this may be the car stereo for you.
Over-complicated and difficult to change settings.
I should have done much more research before purchasing this stereo. I admit I bought it solely for the usb port on the faceplate, and I now regret the decision. If you want to leave everything at the factory settings and never adjust the sound or display you may be okay. The first problem is there is no main menu, many settings can only be reached when the stereo is in certain settings (such as standby or tuner). To adjust anything you have to push multiple buttons, and push and hold the large control knob, which is a pain because as soon as you tilt the button the setting changes and you have to go back and start all over again. The manuel appears to be written with the goal of having as little text as possible, as a result nothing is fully explained and you have to guess the intermediate steps to accomplish anything.
Good, but confusing documentation.
I bought this car stereo to replace my old Kenwood car stereo. The big draw to it was the iPod connectivity, and frankly, that's the main reason I bought it. I was stuck with Kenwood because I already had the Kenwood Sirius module, and didn't want to go through the hassle of getting a new one for a different brand.
Pros:
*Good sound quality, bright display
*When the iPod connectivity finally worked, it worked very well.
Cons:
*I had a 4th gen, black and white, 20gb iPod, which is what I was intending to use with this product. I had the radio professionally installed so I could be sure everything was working correctly. When I plugged the iPod in for the first time, the stereo wouldn't play it. I read the instruction manual, and it referred me online to see which models were compatible. I went online and got a really confusing flow chart that showed the 4th gen wouldn't play, but a 5th gen (first with video) would. I sold my old iPod to a friend, and bought a used 5th gen iPod online. When it got here, it played, but only in shuffle. I called Kenwood this time and explained the situation. They told me that the 5th gen iPods will ONLY play in shuffle. I had to send that iPod back to the seller, got a refund and bought a brand new 120gb iPod classic. THAT iPod finally worked and was fully supported and I still use it to this day.
*The menus are a little tough to navigate, but it's a lot like my old radio, so I was already kind of used to it.
*Occasionally, when I turn on my car, the radio doesn't immediately turn on too. This could be a wiring problem or something, but again, I had this radio professionally installed, so I don't know. It usually turns on in under a minute, and it doesn't do it all the time, so it's just a minor annoyance.
Summary:
It's a good radio for the money, and if you have a SUPPORTED IPOD, it's great. Please though, make sure yours is supported if that's why you're buying this radio, otherwise, you're going to be in for a real disappointment.
