Kenwood KDC-122 Car CD Player
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Kenwood KDC-122: Low price, NOT low end!
Pros
Bang for the buck, great sound, neat features
Cons
No detachable faceplate
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
If you are on a tight budget and need a CD player that will sound great and be built well, the Kenwood KDC-122 for $99 is for you!
I have a 1993 Ford F-150. I needed a car stereo/CD player to be installed, and had a budget of $150.
After researching, I picked the Kenwood KDC-122 for the price. I paid $156.73 with installation and wiring harness I needed. I got it from H.H. Gregg and will even get a $40 mail-in rebate back for installation! After driving away with my new CD player, here was my summary of it:
INTRODUCTION
The Kenwood KDC-122 is the companies least expensive and lowest end model. It had no detachable face and no remote, keeping the price low.
FEATURES
The unit has a decent amount of controls on it. Various buttons are listed below and explain their function.
SRC/Off: Hold it for at least 2 seconds, the system turns off, if you just push it and let go, push twice to switch from CD to TUNE, or vice versa; a third time goes back to original playback mode.
ATT: A great feature. Push it and the music automatically reduces volume to near zero. I find it handy for when you get a phone call or will make a phone call, or if there is a road emergency of some sort. Push it again to resume normal playback.
LOUD: Push this and the music will still achieve adequate highs/lows at low volume.
1-6 Presets: (6 AM, 12 FM) Tune to your station of choice then press your choice of 1-6 for a preset for at least 2 seconds. When done, you can hit 1-6 for your station you had in memory!
AUD: This changes your audio settings. MID, BAS, TRE go from 0-8, and BAL, FAD go from L# to 00 (or equal to both sides), and R#. To change the settings above, hold AUD for at least 2 seconds. Then you use the band controls (AM/FM) to change what setting you want to change. When you find the setting you want to change, use the track controls to change that setting level. If you push the AUD button once and let go, six different equalizer settings will be available. I have not applied this function to my settings, however. When you are done with your audio settings, hit the AUD button once again to return to the regular screen (clock, etc.)
CLK/ADJ: Default setting is when the time clock appears on the screen, if you hit this button once and let go, the track time count will show if you are playing a CD. Hold the button at least 2 seconds to change the time, by using your band/track controls accordingly.
AUTO/AME: This is a feature most will probably turn off. Default setting is it turned on. This button if you track through the radio stations will automatically scan CONTINUOUSLY until it finds an adequately signaled station. A (1) will appear next to AUTO on the LCD for this. If you hit this button again, a (2) will appear, and will scan until it finds an adequately signaled PRESET. I turned this function off, because I like to manually flip to stations, and I find this automated scan annoying.
** Volume controls are on the left of the unit and is a vertical button that is pushed at the top to increase volume, and pushed at the bottom to decrease volume. I keep my volume at 19, although I do not know what maximum is. At this volume, sound is very clear and active.
** Band/Track controls are at the right of the unit and are smaller and a little bit out of arm's reach for me, but I am in a truck that is more space to travel with my arm anyway. This may not be the case with particular cars.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
** You can SCAN a track while playing a CD, each song will play 10 seconds until you find one you like.
** You can REPEAT a song. (RPT)
** You can hit RDM to play the CD randomly, not in order.
DISPLAY:
The LCD is a black background with white lettering. It is easy to read when sunlight is not shining on it, but if there is sunlight on it, it can be hard to read. At night time, it is just "white", and is simple and easy to read. The SRC/Off and AUD buttons are blue in daylight, red at night. I find the overall physical appearance of the unit nice, not ugly and overbearing with finesse like more expensive units.
SOUND:
Considering the fact my vehicle is ten years old and with factory speakers, I didn't expect superb sound, but BOY WAS I WRONG! Although I don't "boom boom", the clarity, even at a higher volume level (like 19) is amazing. I have the MID, TRE, and BAS all at 8 (highest level), and the BAL/FAD at 00 (even). I hear absolutely NO distortion. Playing CD's come alive with this unit, and I much enjoy it. My area radio stations come in clear and static-free like my factory radio did, which I much appreciate. Not all aftermarket radios get the reception with stations like factory units do. Radio playback sounds great, like always, just better. What else can I say? Kenwood means great sound.
BUILD QUALITY:
For $99, this is a nicely built unit. I must say this is the nicest built unit for under $100. Those other "brand you never heard of" radios look, feel, and operate cheap. What I mean is how playback is while driving. With the Kenwood, I have NO skipping whatsoever, even on the bumpy stretch of 40 miles of road I traveled each way to get my CD player. It didn't even skip over potholes, although they were minor. I do not know how it handles a large pothole, as I only drove once with this new unit, and haven't experienced large potholes. The buttons, although mostly small, feel solid and nicely push to the touch. They do not feel cheap to the touch. Build quality was one of my concerns at this pricetag, but the Kenwood has not failed me in that category either.
OTHER LIKEABLE FEATURES:
When you turn off your vehicle and turn it back on, the stereo plays where you left off on a CD. The eject mechanism is automatic, as well as the insertion. Another praise for quality at this pricetag. I like how you can switch from CD to TUNE without ejecting the CD. I like how this unit looks, also.
NON-LIKEABLE FEATURES:
Only one thing bothers me about this unit: if sunlight is directly on the unit, the screen is hard to read unless you angle your head the right way. Some units have a bright blue LCD which may be easier to read. Another possible gripe (but not to me), is that this unit being cheap in price means NO DETACHABLE FACE.
CONCLUSION:
I feel I made the right choice buy purchasing the Kenwood. Kenwood has been known for excellent sound and build quality. Plus, I've got all the features I need, nothing I don't. I am glad I was able to get a quality name, and not a brand I never heard of. For $99, it is hard to beat.
*** I RECOMMEND ***
After researching, I picked the Kenwood KDC-122 for the price. I paid $156.73 with installation and wiring harness I needed. I got it from H.H. Gregg and will even get a $40 mail-in rebate back for installation! After driving away with my new CD player, here was my summary of it:
INTRODUCTION
The Kenwood KDC-122 is the companies least expensive and lowest end model. It had no detachable face and no remote, keeping the price low.
FEATURES
The unit has a decent amount of controls on it. Various buttons are listed below and explain their function.
SRC/Off: Hold it for at least 2 seconds, the system turns off, if you just push it and let go, push twice to switch from CD to TUNE, or vice versa; a third time goes back to original playback mode.
ATT: A great feature. Push it and the music automatically reduces volume to near zero. I find it handy for when you get a phone call or will make a phone call, or if there is a road emergency of some sort. Push it again to resume normal playback.
LOUD: Push this and the music will still achieve adequate highs/lows at low volume.
1-6 Presets: (6 AM, 12 FM) Tune to your station of choice then press your choice of 1-6 for a preset for at least 2 seconds. When done, you can hit 1-6 for your station you had in memory!
AUD: This changes your audio settings. MID, BAS, TRE go from 0-8, and BAL, FAD go from L# to 00 (or equal to both sides), and R#. To change the settings above, hold AUD for at least 2 seconds. Then you use the band controls (AM/FM) to change what setting you want to change. When you find the setting you want to change, use the track controls to change that setting level. If you push the AUD button once and let go, six different equalizer settings will be available. I have not applied this function to my settings, however. When you are done with your audio settings, hit the AUD button once again to return to the regular screen (clock, etc.)
CLK/ADJ: Default setting is when the time clock appears on the screen, if you hit this button once and let go, the track time count will show if you are playing a CD. Hold the button at least 2 seconds to change the time, by using your band/track controls accordingly.
AUTO/AME: This is a feature most will probably turn off. Default setting is it turned on. This button if you track through the radio stations will automatically scan CONTINUOUSLY until it finds an adequately signaled station. A (1) will appear next to AUTO on the LCD for this. If you hit this button again, a (2) will appear, and will scan until it finds an adequately signaled PRESET. I turned this function off, because I like to manually flip to stations, and I find this automated scan annoying.
** Volume controls are on the left of the unit and is a vertical button that is pushed at the top to increase volume, and pushed at the bottom to decrease volume. I keep my volume at 19, although I do not know what maximum is. At this volume, sound is very clear and active.
** Band/Track controls are at the right of the unit and are smaller and a little bit out of arm's reach for me, but I am in a truck that is more space to travel with my arm anyway. This may not be the case with particular cars.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
** You can SCAN a track while playing a CD, each song will play 10 seconds until you find one you like.
** You can REPEAT a song. (RPT)
** You can hit RDM to play the CD randomly, not in order.
DISPLAY:
The LCD is a black background with white lettering. It is easy to read when sunlight is not shining on it, but if there is sunlight on it, it can be hard to read. At night time, it is just "white", and is simple and easy to read. The SRC/Off and AUD buttons are blue in daylight, red at night. I find the overall physical appearance of the unit nice, not ugly and overbearing with finesse like more expensive units.
SOUND:
Considering the fact my vehicle is ten years old and with factory speakers, I didn't expect superb sound, but BOY WAS I WRONG! Although I don't "boom boom", the clarity, even at a higher volume level (like 19) is amazing. I have the MID, TRE, and BAS all at 8 (highest level), and the BAL/FAD at 00 (even). I hear absolutely NO distortion. Playing CD's come alive with this unit, and I much enjoy it. My area radio stations come in clear and static-free like my factory radio did, which I much appreciate. Not all aftermarket radios get the reception with stations like factory units do. Radio playback sounds great, like always, just better. What else can I say? Kenwood means great sound.
BUILD QUALITY:
For $99, this is a nicely built unit. I must say this is the nicest built unit for under $100. Those other "brand you never heard of" radios look, feel, and operate cheap. What I mean is how playback is while driving. With the Kenwood, I have NO skipping whatsoever, even on the bumpy stretch of 40 miles of road I traveled each way to get my CD player. It didn't even skip over potholes, although they were minor. I do not know how it handles a large pothole, as I only drove once with this new unit, and haven't experienced large potholes. The buttons, although mostly small, feel solid and nicely push to the touch. They do not feel cheap to the touch. Build quality was one of my concerns at this pricetag, but the Kenwood has not failed me in that category either.
OTHER LIKEABLE FEATURES:
When you turn off your vehicle and turn it back on, the stereo plays where you left off on a CD. The eject mechanism is automatic, as well as the insertion. Another praise for quality at this pricetag. I like how you can switch from CD to TUNE without ejecting the CD. I like how this unit looks, also.
NON-LIKEABLE FEATURES:
Only one thing bothers me about this unit: if sunlight is directly on the unit, the screen is hard to read unless you angle your head the right way. Some units have a bright blue LCD which may be easier to read. Another possible gripe (but not to me), is that this unit being cheap in price means NO DETACHABLE FACE.
CONCLUSION:
I feel I made the right choice buy purchasing the Kenwood. Kenwood has been known for excellent sound and build quality. Plus, I've got all the features I need, nothing I don't. I am glad I was able to get a quality name, and not a brand I never heard of. For $99, it is hard to beat.
*** I RECOMMEND ***
