Is Kenwood a good brand for a car stereo? Is this a good deal?

[WhipperSnapper]

What do you think of Kenwood? I can get this one installed for $100 (plus harness plug and tax):

http://www.crutchfield.com/App...113MP208&tp=5684&avf=N

Is Kenwood a good brand? This one seems like the best value for under $110 (locally installed). I've never installed one on my own before and I want someone who knows what they're doing to do it, so I'm limited to where I can get free installation. I also thought about getting a Sony XploD, but I've heard that they have awful build quality.

(Some punk smashed my passenger window and stole my Pioneer DEF-2400F a couple weeks back and I'm not sure if there'd be any issues besides changing the harness plug, otherwise I'd consider figuring out how to do it myself and then maybe ordering online.)

 

[chucky2]

The deck in my brothers stock '95 T-bird sux, so I did a bunch of research and bought him one for Christmas. After looking at many many reviews, and many many websites, I finally decided on the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X891 deck.

It's $220 shipped (make sure to choose the Free Shipping Over $200 option if you order from there), and if you look up the same deck on Crutchfield, you'll see how much of a rip off Crutchfield is; however they do have really good search features, which I did utilize.

Alpine, Eclipse, Kenwood Excelon, and Pioneer Premier lines are all good names and you can find good decks for not a lot of money.

Also, the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X591 is a pretty good buy for less $$$ (if that's what you're going for)...on MillionBuy.com it's $130+shipping. Pretty cheap for the features and quality...

EDIT: Added Eclipse as another good deck company.

Chuck

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Well, I want to keep this to under $110 if I can and I want to have it professionally installed. Perhaps even $110 is overkill. I listen to my CDs occasionally, but mostly I just tune in to NPR.

 

[chucky2]

Then for the deck alone you're talking the X591 instead of the X891. It sounds like what you're looking for is just a really basic CD player really. $100 installed isn't going to get you a better deck unless they've got some special going...

Chuck

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Well...what do you think of that Kenwood KDC-MP208 that I linked to in the first post? I can get it installed for about $106. I think it's probably the best deal (available locally with free installation) this week.

 

[chucky2]

I think it should be a good radio, especially for what you'll use it for. It plays MP3's and WMA's, and has a front AUX input so you can attach basically anything to it and it'll pipe it through your car speakers.

I'd say that's a pretty good deal...go for it!

(P.S. My years old Kenwood that's even been through a pretty good accident is still ticking along fine...they make good stuff...)

Chuck

 

[thedarkwolf]

I have two kenwood 632u headunits which are the older USB headunits. I love em. I have a 60gig 2.5" external drive I hook up to them with all my MP3s on it. No complaints about the sound either.

 

[alkemyst]

I have been a Kenwood fan a long while, I even had a Kenwood KRC-8001 in my 66 Mustang. I am running a KDC-X991 now.

Pioneer is a better bang for buck, but I don't like their styling.

It's really hard to go wrong with any Eclipse, Kenwood, Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, JVC today.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I've heard from a number of folks that the Sony's are junky. So, I went with that Kenwood 208.

 

[chucky2]

Well, how's it working?

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I like it. I just wish that the volume knob was a little less sensitive to being pushed in; 25% of the time I go to adjust the volume it ends up at the equalizer menu. Biggest problem is a lack of a sense of security. I find myself removing the face all the time and carrying it with me, and the chances of losing it or breaking it that way are probably much higher than the chances that someone will steal my stereo again, but ya never know.

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

I've heard from a number of folks that the Sony's are junky. So, I went with that Kenwood 208.

The Sony car stereo that I had worked quite well. I had one in my Escort for 5 years, and then gave it to my Dad who used it for another 5 before trading his truck in.

I'd avoid getting a Panasonic one, though... The one that my Dad had seemed to "eat" CD's.

 

[alkemyst]

if someone is going to break in your car I have found they still take the headunit if they were going to regardless of what's flashing or showing on it. Most know that everyone keeps their faceplates in the car or can get them from their 'source' easily.

I have found car break ins center around those in school where the break in is about who saw what in their car or who doesn't like who...as well as based on neighborhoods.

I would get an alarm. I learned to install mine myself and did a better job at hiding the wiring...90% of any alarm is the install. I found an older model on ebay without all the bells and whistles I didn't want (but I can add later on if I want radar, auto window control, etc).

Like $50 and about $25 in supplies and a couple days of my time.

If a pro wants my car/stuff though nothing is saving it.