Kenwood KDC-MP225 Car CD / MP3 Player
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Similar in In Dash Receivers
- MP3 / WMA Playback: MP3 Playback
- Anti-Theft Protection: Detachable Face Panel
- Player Type: CD
- Controlled Devices: CD Changer
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Decent Low-cost MP3 + Sirius Tuner
Pros
Sirius tuner only needs 1 cable. No problems with VBR MP3 files. Excellent FM reception.
Cons
Remote doesn't mount to steering wheel. Confusing controls. Aux input doesn't work with Sirius tuner.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Sirius in my car for under $300 -- why not!
After buying my 2004 Saturn Ion 2, I was very disappointed with the stock CD radio. The stock radio had only one redeeming quality, which was the ability to play CD-RW media.
I could have bought a MP3 CD player and XM satellite right from the factory or had the dealer install it, but after looking at the total price of doing that ($600) decided that I could buy a far nicer aftermarket unit.
I already receive the SIRIUS music channels as part of my Dish Network package at home, and after doing some investigation, decided that other benefits of SIRIUS (NPR channels, internet streaming) would lean me toward that service over XM.
At this point in time, aftermarket manufacturers have aligned themselves with either XM or SIRIUS.
My main requirements for an aftermarket radio were that it NOT have a fold-down face, have the ability to have a SIRIUS tuner added on, and be able to play MP3 files. An excellent FM front end was a plus as well.
My investigations led me to the Kenwood KDC-MP225. The MP225 met all the requirements I had, plus the silver color matched the center bezel in my Ion.
Initially I looked at a big box retailer to see what it would cost to install the MP225, SIRIUS tuner, and antenna. I just about fainted when they told me it would be $180 to install.
I wound up purchasing the unit from an internet retailer which included all the necessary installation directions and harnesses. Needless to say, I had the radio and SIRIUS tuner installed and activated in less than two hours.
The MP225 has a 22x4 RMS / 50 peak by 4 channels amplifier. This is more than adequate for my OEM speakers, and is par for the course with most aftermarket head units. Bass / Midrange / Treble settings are set at each source (AM, FM, Sirius, CD), which is very handy. The radio also includes the "system Q" presets, which I'm sure someone may like, but I prefer tailored sound. I've noticed a marked improvement in sound over the stock radio.
The MP225 also features Kenwood's excellent CR-2 tuner. I've noticed a significant improvement in FM reception over the stock radio. A unique feature is the ability to name each preset with a station name. Sure, some stations have RDS, but this feature really allows me to personalize what I call stations. There are settings for two auto tuning types as well as the usual manual tuning. 18 FM and 6 AM station presets are available.
The CD section of the stereo is excellent, with a 105DB Signal-to-noise ratio. This is on-par with most home equipment, and it really shows. Track-to-track time is excellent, and I've had no problems with skipping. MP3 files will show ID3 tag information, and the MP225 has no trouble with VBR files. I've been very impressed with the MP3 output of the MP225. Folder navigation is a little hard to figure out at first, but a good read of the manual will help alleviate any issues. The MP225 can control a compatible Kenwood CD changer as well, but with the MP3 capability, I don't see a need to add one.
The SIRIUS section is wonderful as well. The MP225 allows the KTC-SR903 tuner to be hooked up to the head unit with only a single cable. It literally took me 15 minutes to install the SIRIUS tuner box under my driver's seat, mount the antenna, and attach the control cable to the head unit. A caveat of using the Sirius tuner is that while it will allow a CD changer to be added in a daisy-chain fashion, the AUX input features are not compatible. The MP225 allows for 24 Sirius presets.
Learning to use the MP225 took me about two days of drive time plus a careful read of the manual. The biggest confusion for me was setting the source tone memories along with setting the station names as well as figuring out MP3 CD navigation. Programming presets for the tuner sections was straightforward.
Overall, an excellent value. With the head unit, sirius tuner, and antenna, I paid well under $300. Worth investigating if you're looking to have a decent MP3 CD player or want to upgrade to satellite radio.
--- UPDATE ---
After two years, four months in my vehicle, the CD player stopped reliably reading discs. This is ironic because there wasn't a lot of use recently of the CD player. I have since replaced it with a Panasonic unit.
I could have bought a MP3 CD player and XM satellite right from the factory or had the dealer install it, but after looking at the total price of doing that ($600) decided that I could buy a far nicer aftermarket unit.
I already receive the SIRIUS music channels as part of my Dish Network package at home, and after doing some investigation, decided that other benefits of SIRIUS (NPR channels, internet streaming) would lean me toward that service over XM.
At this point in time, aftermarket manufacturers have aligned themselves with either XM or SIRIUS.
My main requirements for an aftermarket radio were that it NOT have a fold-down face, have the ability to have a SIRIUS tuner added on, and be able to play MP3 files. An excellent FM front end was a plus as well.
My investigations led me to the Kenwood KDC-MP225. The MP225 met all the requirements I had, plus the silver color matched the center bezel in my Ion.
Initially I looked at a big box retailer to see what it would cost to install the MP225, SIRIUS tuner, and antenna. I just about fainted when they told me it would be $180 to install.
I wound up purchasing the unit from an internet retailer which included all the necessary installation directions and harnesses. Needless to say, I had the radio and SIRIUS tuner installed and activated in less than two hours.
The MP225 has a 22x4 RMS / 50 peak by 4 channels amplifier. This is more than adequate for my OEM speakers, and is par for the course with most aftermarket head units. Bass / Midrange / Treble settings are set at each source (AM, FM, Sirius, CD), which is very handy. The radio also includes the "system Q" presets, which I'm sure someone may like, but I prefer tailored sound. I've noticed a marked improvement in sound over the stock radio.
The MP225 also features Kenwood's excellent CR-2 tuner. I've noticed a significant improvement in FM reception over the stock radio. A unique feature is the ability to name each preset with a station name. Sure, some stations have RDS, but this feature really allows me to personalize what I call stations. There are settings for two auto tuning types as well as the usual manual tuning. 18 FM and 6 AM station presets are available.
The CD section of the stereo is excellent, with a 105DB Signal-to-noise ratio. This is on-par with most home equipment, and it really shows. Track-to-track time is excellent, and I've had no problems with skipping. MP3 files will show ID3 tag information, and the MP225 has no trouble with VBR files. I've been very impressed with the MP3 output of the MP225. Folder navigation is a little hard to figure out at first, but a good read of the manual will help alleviate any issues. The MP225 can control a compatible Kenwood CD changer as well, but with the MP3 capability, I don't see a need to add one.
The SIRIUS section is wonderful as well. The MP225 allows the KTC-SR903 tuner to be hooked up to the head unit with only a single cable. It literally took me 15 minutes to install the SIRIUS tuner box under my driver's seat, mount the antenna, and attach the control cable to the head unit. A caveat of using the Sirius tuner is that while it will allow a CD changer to be added in a daisy-chain fashion, the AUX input features are not compatible. The MP225 allows for 24 Sirius presets.
Learning to use the MP225 took me about two days of drive time plus a careful read of the manual. The biggest confusion for me was setting the source tone memories along with setting the station names as well as figuring out MP3 CD navigation. Programming presets for the tuner sections was straightforward.
Overall, an excellent value. With the head unit, sirius tuner, and antenna, I paid well under $300. Worth investigating if you're looking to have a decent MP3 CD player or want to upgrade to satellite radio.
--- UPDATE ---
After two years, four months in my vehicle, the CD player stopped reliably reading discs. This is ironic because there wasn't a lot of use recently of the CD player. I have since replaced it with a Panasonic unit.
