Product Description
Built-in Parrot Bluetooth for Hands-free Cell Phone Operation Interactive Illumination Effect with 5-line Text Display USB 1-Wire Direct Connect for High-speed Control of iPod/iPhone Audio My Playlist Function for iPod High Speed Search Key Direct Search Function for iPod Sound Excellence DSP 14 Segment Wide FL Display 3 4V Preamp Outputs and Rear Aux Port New Remote Control… More >>
#1 by TC on July 2, 2010 - 9:09 pm
Like the previous review (which I didn’t read), the bluetooth audio will only play on the front speakers, and the second tech support guy I spoke to gave me the same answer as in the previous review. Oddly enough, at first the unit worked great, with full sound for almost two days, when it switched to front speaker operation only. The first tech support guy I spoke to was unaware of the “front-speaker limit”, and provided me with a long list of things to try to correct the issue. After trying them, without success, I called back and I was connected to the second tech guy who told me it shouldn’t have worked in the first place. So buyer beware, but I’m hoping to return it.
EDIT: The above is my original review. It DOES work will all speakers, for BT audio and hands-free. It’s just that the settings for this are somewhat hidden. After spending some more time with Kenwood tech reps, I was told that there must be a defect, so I was referred to a local repair facility. This was an authorized retailer/repair – Suburban Audio in NJ near Philly – and the repair guy there knew exactly what setting was off and I had it fixed within minutes.
The proper setting can be found only while the radio is in BT hands-free mode (page 48 of the pdf manual). The setting to adjust is “Bluetooth HF/Audio”, where you can select “Front” or “All”. Even though the manual describes this for voice, is applies to both voice and audio streaming.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by James Knighton on July 2, 2010 - 10:46 pm
I am pleased with the Kenwood KDC-BT945U. The audio is high quality and I love the option of using CD, IPOD, or jump drive to store music. All three options work very well. Of course, the controls are by screen manipulation so there is a bit of button pushing/dialing whenever you want to change a setting, but it all works flawlessly.
I have only two complaints, both regarding the bluetooth. I have gone back to using my Motorola earpiece for hands-free cell phone use — the bluetooth through the stereo just chops up the incoming call way too much. The other complaint is the location of the bluetooth button. It’s located too close to the main control dial. When I turn the dial, my other fingers tend to make contact with the bluetooth button sending the stereo into bluetooth mode. It should be located on the far right side of the unit so that it can’t be activated unintentionally.
Other than the disappointing bluetooth, I don’t have much to complain about. It’s a nice looking, not gawdy, unit which fit perfectly into my Tahoe. The USB connection is hardwired — there is a cable coming directly from the rear of the unit — so I used a short extension cable to connect my IPOD or jump drive. That way, if anything were to happen to the end of the cable I can simply plug in a new (cheap) cable and it’s fixed.
Although it cannot display an IPOD video, it does play the video’s sound when I am watching a video on my IPOD in my car — it definitely beats having to put earphones on. The main control dial is a tad dainty for my fingers, but nothing I can’t get used.
I adapted it to a double DIN stereo space with a Scosche dashboard adapter with a nice little pocket space underneath the single DIN stereo opening. The Kenwood unit fit perfectly into the adapter, it looks great, and I brought my USB cable in through the back of the storage pocket so I can place my IPOD or jump drive neatly into the pocket space — it’s also a great place to store several CDs.
All in all, it’s a very nice stereo for the $218 I paid for it.
Rating: 4 / 5
#3 by Kirk Woll on July 2, 2010 - 11:02 pm
I just purchased this product from Best Buy and the audio from my cell phone when going over Bluetooth (via the A2DP Bluetooth Audio profile) _only plays from the front speakers_. I called Kenwood support and they were well aware of this, and explained to me that _this is a feature_!!! No joke, they actually insisted and rather vociferously argued with me that when you are trying to play music from your phone, it is BY DESIGN that it ONLY PLAYS OUT OF THE FRONT SPEAKERS. This is contrasted with CDs, USB, and Radio that plays out of ALL the speakers. Get a Sony MEXBT2800 instead as it reliably plays Bluetooth Audio through all the speakers and doesn’t have any curious “design” decisions like Kenwood. I repeat DO NOT BUY Kenwood products if you want to play audio from your cellphone via Bluetooth.
Rating: 1 / 5