Kenwood KDC-MP345U In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iPod Receiver with USB/Aux Input Review
Purchased this for my husband to use in his 2003 Toyota Corolla. He has an iPhone, and this unit is advertised as working well with iPods or iPhones. It works great!
USB INPUT
You use the standard iPod cable that goes from the bottom, wide, data plug at the bottom of the iPod, and has USB at the other end (same cable you connect to your computer with). The Kenwood unit received the USB end.
CONTROLLING THE IPOD
Depending on the order you plug things in (if you are already playing music on the iPod, or not), you can use the iPod or iPhone to control your music selections (using click wheel, etc) OR you can use the Kenwood unit to control your music selections. My husband likes controlling the iPod by using the Kenwood unit. I prefer to control the iPod itself, since I'm familiar with its navigation. You can control the iPod even while it's plugged into the unit (unlike the Sony unit I have in my car, which once it's plugged in, you can't control the iPod without unplugging it - irritating).
CHARGES IPOD
Since you're using the data/charging port, it charges your iPod while you're driving, so you don't have to worry about draining your battery on a long road trip.
AUX INPUT
There is also an auxiliary input, if someone wants to play music in your car, but has a different mp3 unit. The aux plug-in receives a cable connected to the mp3 player's headphone jack. This of course, will not charge the player's battery, and will not give you data (song titles, etc.) on the Kenwood screen. So this is why the USB port is so great if you're buying this for primary iPod or iPhone use.
INSTALLATION
We did not purchase any special "kits" for installing this unit. My husband is relatively technical, and he had no problem installing this in his 2003 Corolla, using only the pieces in the box (well, some tools like screwdriver, and saudering iron to connect wires were also necessary). It took him a couple hours. I saw that some other people had purchased harness wires or install kits along with this unit, but that wasn't necessary for us.
And also, this is an amazingly low price for any car stereo, not to mention one that works this great with iPods!!!
Kenwood KDC-MP345U In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iPod Receiver with USB/Aux Input Feature
- AM/FM radio, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA, USB, iPod receiver
- 4 x 50 Watts maximum power; dual 2V RCA preamp outputs with low pass filter, rear/sub switch
- 13-digit, one line FL display; blue/red key illumination with manual dimmer
- Includes front auxiliary input and USB port; direct iPod control
- One-year limited warranty
Kenwood KDC-MP345U In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iPod Receiver with USB/Aux Input Overview
The KDC-MP345U is a full featured CD-receiver with USB port and a mini stereo input located on the front panel. The USB port provides simple connection of your iPod/iPhone allowing you to listen to your favorite music with your car stereo.
Kenwood KDC-MP345U In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iPod Receiver with USB/Aux Input Specifications
Kenwood's KDC-MP345U is a great replacement for that factory CD receiver, giving you both a USB port for simple connection of your iPod/iPhone or a thumb drive, an auxiliary input for other audio devices, playback of MP3/WMA files (via burnt CDs or from the USB port), and room to grow your system with dual preamp outputs.
 A solid replacement for your factory receiver. Click to enlarge. |
 Easy-to-read, one-line, 13-digit flourescent display. |
 Front-panel aux input and USB port. |
 RC-405 remote included. |
Removable Faceplate
The faceplate of this model can be removed and taken with you, to help deter theft. The control panel is equipped with an easy-to-read, one-line, 13-digit flourescent display for easy control and navigation.
CD and WMA/MP3 Playback
Enjoy your favorite CDs and CD-Rs, or burn a disc of WMA or MP3 files and enjoy hours of music on a single disc, along with ID-3 tag display for artist and title info.
Front-Panel USB Port
Plug in a thumb drive or other USB storage device for playback of your favorite MP3/WMA files, with easy folder navigation. The port will also charge portable devices, and offers control of some music phones via the receiver.
Enjoy Your iPod
The USB port also provides simple connection of your iPod/iPhone allowing you to listen to your favorite music with your car stereo. Then you'll get the added benefit of advanced search features designed to let you spend more time listening to your favorite songs instead of hunting for them: Alphabet Search, Reverse Browsing, and more.
FM/AM Tuner
When you feel like letting someone else control the programming, switch to the radio. Store your favorite stations as presets for instant access--mixed preset tuning allows both FM and AM stations to be preset on the same preset band.
Front Auxiliary Input
Listen to external audio devices like MP3 players using the front auxiliary input.
Room To Grow
The KDC-MP345U's 50W x 4 MOSFET amp is plenty powerful, but it also features dual 2V preamp outputs (front and rear/subwoofer) for system expansion. It includes a rear/subwoofer switch with a subwoofer level and adjustable low pass filter, so you can send just what you need for your system.
System Q Sound Control
Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) can be combined for extreme sound-shaping flexibility. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. The preset curves can also be combined with the unit's bass, midrange and treble controls allowing users to personalize the sound to their particular taste.
Bass Boost
Handy for listening at lower volume levels (or for those who just like a lot of low-end).
What's in the Box
Kenwood KDC-MP345U, Remote Control, Wiring Harness, Installation Tools and Hardware, Owner's Manual, Warranty Card
Available at Amazon Check Price Now!
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Customer Reviews
Kenwood Stereo Kdc-mp345U - Armando Vela -
The stereo looks great in my car. It sounds fantastic and I found it easy to use.
Chose this over a lot of others - K. Godshall -
I did a lot of research when looking for a receiver to replace my factory unit in my 2000 Miata. I wanted to be able to play my iPod video and use a USB thumbdrive without getting into a lot glitz. For the money this Kenwood is a solid buy.
Pros:
-I love the power this puts out. The clarity of the music that I get even with the top down is fantastic.
-The controls are fairly intuitive and I like that it has hard buttons which are easy to find and use while driving. There is a small learning curve as far as customizing your settings, but it's fairly straightforward. The main rotary knob has a solid feel to it and is easy to adjust while driving.
-The display is simple without a lot of dancing lights and so on.
-Hooks up easily with my iPod, scrolls through all the normal iPod settings: Genre, artist, albums, etc with ease.
-The Ipod also charges when hooked into the USB port.
-The USB port has a cover which feels solid when moving it.
-Don't know how much I'll use the remote, but it is nicely designed and feels well made.
Cons:
-Sunlight seriously wipes out the display screen, making it difficult to read without straining your eyes.
-The unit activates my power antenna whenever it's turned out, even if the radio isn't engaged. I don't love having the antenna constantly up.
For the price, I'm well pleased with this Kenwood. I looked around, and couldn't find a receiver that would solve all my wants in this price range. The Kenwood seems like it's well made, it handles lots of formats and is easy to use. All in all a good receiver.
Couldnt have expected less from kenwood - Cerezo -
I made a purchase from Nigeria on 20th July, got it delivered at a friend's place in Maryland third day.
Installation was quite easy, navigation is wonderful, works as designed. The only negative side is that when a thumb drive hangs on and you decide to listen to the tuner/CD, if you switch off engine and restart, the unit defaults back to USB even though you were not on USB mode. This is strange, hope Kenwood would do something about this. Notwithstanding, it's the best you can get for that price anywhere.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 12:33:57
