Kenwood EZ-500 Car CD / MP3 Player

This review will cover the Kenwood EZ500 as installed in my 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. The unit was purchased from Best Buy and Retails for around $249.00. I paid $235 tax included on sale.

The EZ500 is one of the newest head units designed by Kenwood. It's black with satin accents and has 2 BIG silver knobs with rubber edge grips on the faceplate (which is removable for security). The whole purpose of this unit is to provide you with a player that will look good in any car and has EZ control over the basic functions via the two big knobs. If you are the type that dislikes the small tiny buttons on most in-dash CD-radio players, you will find the EZ500 a joy to use.

The specs from Kenwood's site are as follows:

KEY FEATURES
- Flip-Down Removable Faceplate with Carrying Case
- High-Pass and Low-Pass Electronic Crossovers
- Maximum Output Power: 50 Watts x 4
- Plays MP3 and WMA-Encoded CD-R/RWs and Conventional CD, CD-R/RW Discs
- System Q EX Sound Control
- LCD Display: Color Multi-Mode, with White LED Backlight

GENERAL FEATURES
- Clock
- Display Contrast Adjustment
- Display Dimmer
- Display Readout: 5 x 7 Negative Dot Matrix
- Fingertip Rotary Volume Control
- Finish: Ebony
- Flip-Down Removable Faceplate with Carrying Case
- Iso-Mount Capability for Japanese Vehicles
- Sub Illumination: Red
- Illuminated Function Buttons: Red
- LCD Display: Color Multi-Mode, with White LED Backlight
- Touch-Tone Buttons: Defeatable

POWER RATINGS
- Full Bandwidth Power (less than 1%% THD): 22 Watts x 4
- Maximum Output Power: 50 Watts x 4

AUDIO FEATURES
- Attenuator with Smooth Volume Return
- Dual-Zone Audio Control
- Electronic Audio Control (Volume, Balance, Fader)
- Front/Rear Fader
- High-Pass Electronic Crossover: 100/125/170Hz/Through, 12dB/oct
- Loudness Control
- Low-Pass Electronic Crossover: 50/80/120Hz/Through, 12dB/oct
- Preouts: Front, Rear, and Non-Fading
- Source Tone Memory
- System Q EX Sound Control: with User Memory
- Telephone Mute
- Tone Controls: Bass, Midrange, Treble

COMPACT DISC FEATURES
- 0-Bit Mute: L/R Channel Independent
- Digital Filter: 8-Times Oversampling
- Digital Optimum Servo Control
- Intro Scan
- Play/Pause
- Plays MP3 and WMA-Encoded CD-R/RWs and Conventional CD, CD-R/RW Discs
- Precision Digital Timing (DPAC)
- Random Play
- Repeat Play

AMPLIFIER FEATURES
- MOSFET Power Amplifier IC
- Muting Circuit for Internal Amplifier: Switchable

CHANGER CONTROL FEATURES
- CD Text Display
- Changer Control: 2, or 1 + Aux (with KCA-S210A or Compatible Changer)
- Kenwood Music Keg Ready
- Random Play: Disc, Magazine
- Repeat Play: Track, Disc
- Scan: Track, Disc

TUNER FEATURES
- Automatic Memory Entry
- HD Radio Ready
- High-Speed Multipath Control (CRSC) with ANRC
- Kenwood CR-2 Advanced Tuner
- Seek Tuning
- SIRIUS Satellite Ready
- Station Presets: 24 (18FM, 6 AM)

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES
- Full-Function, 10-Key Grip-Type Remote

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
- Kenwood Music Keg
- KTC-SR902 Sirius Satellite RadioTuner

Installing the unit in any late model GM product will require an adapter due to the radio being tied in to the computer in the vehicle. GM uses what are refered to as "Class II" data bus radios. The adapter will vary for each GM vehicle. If you have to use the radio to control functions of the vehicle such as warning lights, door lock settings or to reset dash lights you will have to use a
re-location harness which moves the stock radio to another location in the vehicle so you can still use the radio to reset stuff. If you have on-star, it's more involved.

My truck only runs the door and key chime through the radio speakers so I was able to use the GMRC-01 harness from Metra. It is basically a box with small speaker that replaces the chime unit and has a harness that plugs into the new radio and the stock GM harness so you don't have to cut any wires in the vehicle. If you would to see a page on the install you can go here:

http://www.members.cox.net/carlm85/stereo/stereo.html

This shows my old unit (JVC) but the method is the same.

There were no snags with the install. The Kenwood sounds great even with the stock speakers. The 22 watts rms per channel will more than fill up your ride with decent sound.

There are so many features available on this unit that you will have to spend some time with the user manual to get it set up with the options you like. Once you get it finished you can control most basic functions via the two knobs on the front. The left one is for volume, attenuator, and loudness on/off. The right one controls all other functions such as System Q (preset and user EQ), balance, fader, bass, mid, treble and a couple of other items. A simple push of either knob moves you through the items and a twist right or left changes the settings. Very simple once you try it a couple of times. There is also a small "menu" button (OK they had to put at least a couple of small buttons on the thing) that takes you to the more advanced functions.

After about a week with this unit, I have no complaints (which is rare for me). The sound quality of this unit is fantastic even with stock speakers. The tone controls have a very full range. I mostly listen to current rock, classic heavy metal and 80's hair band stuff. With all the possible adjustments of the System Q and bass boost/loudness knobs I can get a really good punchy bass out of the stock 6 1/2's. There is a cool setting that matches the output to your speaker size for optimum sound. The inclusion of a midrange control on this unit gives me the ability to boost up the guitar tracks (great for some vintage UFO, Scorpions or Wishbone Ash). Treble is very clear and defined and should sound great with quality tweeters when I upgrade.

I throw in some AM talk radio as well. AM reception is good but you do get some bleed from stations close on the dial and static if close to power lines. Overall AM is pretty much on par with other brands. FM is very good on local stations with no fade or bleed over. I was able to pull in a couple of stations that were about 50 miles away and although they were fading somewhat they were still listenable.

My CD, CD-R discs play with no problems and no skips even on bumpy roads. On the 10 or so mp3 discs I tried so far, I had one that skipped. I might have had a burning error on that one disc or maybe I forgot to finalize it which Kenwood says to do on mp3's. Overall I'm pleased with the CD part of the Kenwood on the media I've played in it so far.

Still my biggest beef is with the manual. You WILL have to study it to get to know exactly all the things this unit will do. Trust me there are way too many to go into here, but you can do almost anything sound wise with this unit. The sub-woofer controls are very detailed and you should be able to get a great sound with external amps with the crossovers built in to the EZ500. The manual tells you exactly how to access the various functions of the unit but don't expect any detailed explainations of what each function does. You have to experiment to see what each does. Kenwood should really give the end user more detail on everything. I guess they figure that if you can install the thing yourself, you can figure it out. If a dealer installs it, they will set it up for you. So it's a toss up.

In closing let me say that for $250.00 you get a nice AM/FM, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, mp3, WMA player that sounds great and is easy to operate. What more could you ask for?

I know - how about a Sirius radio tuner? I hooked up the matching Kenwood KTC-SR903 unit to the radio (which controls the Sirius tuner) and it sounds awesome.

Try it!!

P.S. I forgot to add that the unit comes with a nice sized handheld remote that controls most functions. If you are tired of the tiny keyfob style remotes that come with some brands you will like the larger size of the Kenwood remote.