Kenwood KDC-MP238 Car CD / MP3 Player

First, let me qualify my review with the fact that I really don't know squat about electronics, so can't give any kind of assessment regarding amps, voltage, ohms, or whatever kind of verbiage is used when speaking intelligently about stereo electronics. All I can do is post what the Box, and the Instruction Booklet, says regarding these things. I will post this at the bottom of this review.

I first went shopping for new Speakers to replace the factory Dash Speakers in my 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport SUV, as they were crackling and such; but decided that if I was going to replace the Speakers, I might just as well replace the whole factory Stereo System. To this end, I found the Kenwood MP238 Receiver at a popular retail store and liked it better than the others there. I liked the bright display especially, (which pretty much sold me), as my eyesight is not the best.

I purchased the unit online for a much better price and, along with the Kenwood MP238 Receiver, also purchased new Dash Speakers (Lightning Strike 4" S4.40's) and Front-door Speakers (Kicker 6.5" KS650's). My husband had a never-used set of Blaupunkt Speakers (6.5"), that he'd stored in our closet from I-don't-know-when, so we decided to put those in the Back-doors.

I had all this professionally installed as, again, neither I nor my husband knows squat about these kinds of things.

I am happy to report that the whole system sounds FANTASTIC! I didn't realize how bad the factory sound-system was until I heard the new system. (I can just hear all the men out there muttering, 'women!' *lol*)

The Kenwood MP238 Receiver has performed outstandingly. I can't tell you why, exactly, since I don't understand electronic components and what makes one thing sound better than something else, but I have found the Receiver easy to use and easy to navigate. You will have to read the Instruction Booklet that comes with it, of course, else you'll be lost. But after this learning curve, the machine will perform flawlessly for you.

The Blue Display is very bright, altho you can dim it, (two settings: high and low), but I find the brightness so helpful for my eyesight. I can read it easily during the day with my sunglasses on!

There is also a Blue brightness around the Volume Knob which cannot be dimmed. People have complained that it is distracting when driving at night, but it doesn't bother me.

The Pre-set Radio Station buttons on the bottom of the Receiver light up at night too. The numbers are coloured Red and are not as bright as the Blue. I wish they were tho. The Blue shows up so much better for me.

The Volume Knob is also shallow in that there isn't a whole lot of it to grab onto to turn the volume up or down and so, if you accidentally push it in, you will go into the 'Settings' mode and have to keep pushing it to get back out. The remedy for this is to not approach adjusting the volume in a straight-on fashion. It's best to train your hand to touch underneath the Knob with the side of your index finger, then with your thumb, to adjust the volume. In this way, you won't inadvertently 'push' the button in.

Now, some people, like my husband, don't like 'Knobs', they like push-buttons, (which he got in spades in his Boss Receiver, *lol*). But, I have long nails and don't like push-button anything. Knobs work much better for me.

Alas, if push-buttons are your thing, you can use the Wireless Remote Control that comes with this unit to make your adjustments. It is small and easy to use, and the buttons are quite raised which makes them easy to feel and push. The batteries for it are included in the box (two double AA's).

I only play CD's, so cannot comment on the other features this unit offers, such as iPod, Satellite Radio, or Bluetoooth, etc., sorry. But the CD features are great. I have been able to track/skip, pause, fast forward/rewind, random, repeat, etc. without a hitch.

I must admit that the Instruction Booklet is not the most well-written. Alas, once it's gotten thru, and the Receiver played with, it will all be worth it. However, don't lose the booklet! Keep it in the glove-box of your car.

The Receiver seems most able to supply enough power to all the Speakers, (I also have 1" Tweeters- whatever that is -in the front doors, but didn't replace them... the installation guy said they were just fine). Anyways, the volume can be turned up very loud without causing any distortion. It won't give you that crazy, throbbing bass like the really souped-up car stereo systems from the 'hood', *lol*, but when I play 'Led Zeppelin' I'm blown out of my car, so I'm more than satisfied, *vbs*

I'm very happy with my purchase of the Kenwood MP238 Stereo Receiver. I didn't have to buy an amplifier or subwoofer or god-knows what else to get wonderful sound in my car. Nor did I have to spend a fortune to do so. I purchased it for $99 online at Crutchfield. This price included the Dash Kit and the Wire Harness Kit. A great deal!

THE FEATURES OVERVIEW
CD player with built-in MOSFET amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)
Plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RW discs including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA music files
Detachable face
Remote control
System Q Sound Control (6 EQ curves and a 3-band equalizer)
Supreme Setting function restores high frequencies in music files
Low-pass filter
Compatible with Kenwood's iPod and Bluetooth adapters, satellite radio and HD Radio tuners
Inputs: front-panel auxiliary input
Outputs: two sets of preamp outputs (one set is switchable to subwoofer mode)

THE TECHNICAL STUFF
Chassis Size Code: IEJ
CEA-2006 Compliant: NO
RMS Power Output: 22 Watts
Peek Output: 50 Watts
RMS Power Bandwidth: 20-20kHz
Preamp Outputs: 4-Channel
Sub Preamp Outputs: NO
Preamp Voltage: 2 Volts
Display Color: Blue
Key Button-color: Red/Blue
EQ Bands: 3
Sound-shaping Type: System Q
Wireless Remote: YES
Steering-Wheel Control Compatible: NO
Security: Detachable Face, Security Code option
Flip-down Face: NO
Parts Warranty: 1 Year
Labor Warranty: 1 Year
Ipod Connection Control: Optional audio
AUX Input: NO
USB Input: NO
Memory Card Slot: NO
A/V Inputs: NO
Bluetooth Compatible: Optional
Satellite Radio Ready: BOTH
HD Radio: Y
Navigation: NO
Changer Control: YES
Tuner Type: CR-2
FM Sensitivity: 9.3dBf
FM Presets: 18
AM Presets: 6
European Tuning: YES
Seek/Scan:SEEK
Radio Data System: NO
CD Frequency Response: 20-20kHz
CD Signal-to-Noise: 105dB
CD-R Playback: YES
CD-RW Playback: YES
MP3 Playback: YES
WMA Playback: YES
DVD Playback: NO
AAC Playback: NO

THE PARTICULARS
Detachable Face
MP3/WMA Playback
Supreme Setting
AUX Input
Auxiliary Display
Selectable Preamp Output
Low Pass Filter
Subwoofer Level
Rotary Volume Control
Speaker Settings: Bass, Midrange, Treble
System Q Sound Control: Pop, Rock, Jazz, Easy, Top 40, Natural
Bass/Treble/Mid Control
Bass Boost
Fader/Balance Control
Source Tone Memory
Volume Offset
Remote Control
Attenuator
CD Playback Options
Text/Title Scroll
Last Position Memory
Off Eject
CD Force
CR-2 Advanced Tuner
Auto Memory Tuning: 18 FM pre-sets, 6 AM pre-sets
Clean Reception System Circuit (CRSC)
Tel Mute
Security Code Option
Display Illumination/Clock Display
Display Dimmer
Demo Mode
iPod Ready
Bluetooth Ready
HD Radio Ready
Satellite Radio Ready
Changer Controls
Rear Auxiliary Input "Ready"