If you want 'Set It and Forget It' simplicity, but don't want to sacrifice clean, powerful sound to get it, then the Kenwood MP238 Receiver is for you!
fairemaiden's Full Review: 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 Receivereasy 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 BlueDisplay 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"
If you re looking for an affordable in-dash unit that can play CDs and your portable music player, the KDC-MP238 is a great upgrade. Play your CD, WMA...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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