Kenwood KDC-208U Review

Here is the Kenwood KDC-208U.

Third in line, from the KDC-108, is a cd player fm/am reciever from Kenwood. A couple of features have been added, and one lost.

Average retail is about $110.

The features listed on the Kenwood website list as follows:

Features:

•Easy to read 1-line 11 digit FL display

•CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3/WMA playback via CD transport

•Mixed preset tuning allows both FM and AM stations to be preset on the same preset band

•Single 2V RCA preamp output for optional external amplifier

--New Feature in the KDC-208U is Front USB--

--Feature lost in this model is the Remote Control--

Other Features:

Other features not listed, is the Radio sports 50Wx4 for power, and also includes a switchable subwoofer output on the 2 volt rear preouts, 1 Year warranty.

No Remote Control, that is almost a deal breaker. While the KDC-208U, doesnt come with a remote control, I'm still dizzy thinking about it, the unit is now equipped with a Front USB. The Kenwood website shows in its description that the radio comes with a remote, but after opening 5 or 6 cases of radios, there are no pics of remotes on the box or a remote in the box.

WOOHOO USB, universal serial bus, the Number port for all media devices.

EXCEPT Apple Users. iPods/iPhones are not supported, except through the AUX, on the KDC-208U. You would think, hey it's USB, it plays everything. Unfornuately, iPod/iPhone owners are not one of the lucky ones.

The front AUX, is great for any mp3 player, cell phone, or anything with an audio output, not just for iPod/iPhone users. So if you have one those, you can still play through the AUX.

Kenwood brought back the full red illuminated display. The buttons are still arranged for easy operation. Finding the right button, without pressing two or more at the same time, is not a problem. The AUX and Front USB also have a line of red around them, to highlight their location.

The cd player plays Mp3s and WMAs, and has a pretty good skip resistance. Burnt CDs play just fine. Just make sure you don't have those paper labels.

The volume knob, as usual, seconds as a menu operation and enter key. You can scroll through a short menu, of bass/mid/treble, fader, balance, and one or two other features with ease. Pressing the volume knob in selects your option to make additional changes. As with the last couple of receivers, the KDC-208U also includes the back button, to back your way out of Menus. Great for making a change and just wanting to go back to the menu before without pressing SRC and starting over.

The Play/Pause button that was previously on the KDC-108 and KDC-148, is now a Random Play button. Both that button and the Number 3 button do the same thing.

Installation:

Installing this is a breeze. Just make sure you have the proper kit, harness, and/or antenna adapter. The wiring harness, like most all modern aftermarket radio, is standard wiring colors.

Conclusion:

KDC-208U, well despite losing the remote, and not having the ability to play Apple Products, through the easily accessible Front USB, it is a decent radio. If you are a non-iPod/iPhone user, you might find the radio to have just the basic features that you might need.

Although Kenwood is a great company, I think their research and dev department bombed on this radio. If they would have just at least kept the remote, I would probably have given a better review.