Features
Changer Controls
Minimum Computer Requirements
Warranty Note

Features

Display Modes: The Kenwood KDC-X790 features a large, bright, 64-color fluorescent display with 5 selectable display modes:

• Graphic Display (Display Type A): You can choose between 3 "movies" or a slideshow of 6 still images. Text information is displayed briefly for tuner and CD functions before graphic reappears.
• Graphic + Text Display (Display Type B): The same Graphic Display is shown, plus one line of text is displayed. Selectable text information is available for each source.
• 3-line, 2-column Text Display (Display Type C): Three lines of text information are displayed, each with a text label icon and the text display. You can choose what information to display for each line (clock, frequency, playback time, CD text, ID3 tags, etc.), plus choose a text display color between white, red, or blue.
• Text + Source Icon Display (Display Type D): Two lines of text information are displayed (selectable information and colors). On the right end of the display is an icon to indicate the currently selected source. The bottom line features function labels for the multi-function keys located directly below.
• G-Analyzer Display (Display Type E): Measurements of G-forces (gravity) on the vehicle are displayed. You can select between "G-Graphic", G-Meter (Graphic), G-Meter (Text), or G-Counter display.

Picture Downloading: You can download one movie, one wallpaper image, and one G-Graphic from a special Kenwood website for use in the above Graphic Displays. New images can be recorded onto a CD-R or CD-RW disc, and loaded into the receiver.

G-Analyzer: This unit is equipped with a sensor that measures the forces of gravity on the vehicle. This sensor enables the receiver to calculate G-forces during acceleration, braking, and cornering. The G-Analyzer has a stop watch that can be automatically started when forward or reverse G-forces are detected. The G-Analyzer also has a horsepower analysis tool that measures your vehicle's horsepower and displays a graph with max power. Setup and calibration for acceleration and braking must be performed before using the G-Analyzer.

AAC/MP3/WMA Playback: The receiver can play AAC, MP3 and WMA files recorded on CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs in ISO9660 Level 1/Level 2, Joliet, and Romeo formats. Each disc should have a maximum of 8 directory levels, 100 folders, and 4096 files per folder. During MP3/WMA playback, the unit displays any recorded ID3 Tag information. AAC ID3 tags cannot be displayed.

Kenwood Advanced CODEC Drive: The KDC-X790 features Advanced CODEC Drive (ACDrive) to help you organize your digital music files and burn CDs with advanced features. With the PhatNoise Media Manager (on the supplied CD-ROM software), you can browse compressed audio files by playlists, artists, albums or genres. The receiver's built-in Voice Index will "announce" artist, album, and genre names when an ACDrive disc is played. The software will also help you rip music from CDs and encode them as AAC files. To help you keep up-to-date, the Media Manager software allows you to download new CODECs and features and download them to a CD for upgrading the receiver. (See Minimum Computer Requirements below for installing the software on your computer).

Motorized Angled Faceplate: When inserting or ejecting a disc, the motorized faceplate automatically slides down and out to expose the disc slot. Furthermore, you can set the faceplate at one of three angles for best visibility of the display, in addition to the fully closed position.

24-Bit Burr-Brown D-A Converter: The KDC-X790 features an audiophile-quality 24-bit Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converter for superb CD sound. The Burr-Brown D-A converter maximizes the musical resolution of CDs, CD-R/Ws, and AAC/MP3/WMA-encoded discs.

Satellite Radio Ready: The head unit is directly compatible with the SIRIUS SIR-KEN1 Satellite Tuner for Kenwood (item # 607SIRKEN1). The Terk XMDirect universal XM Satellite Radio tuner (209XMD1000) can be connected to and controlled by the head unit when used with the XMDirect Smart Adapter for Kenwood (209XMDKEN1).

Speaker Settings: The Speaker Setting function tailors the System Q Sound Control settings according to the type of speakers in your vehicle. You may select a Speaker Setting of "SP Off" (flat), "SP OEM." (for OEM factory speaker systems), "SP 6x9/6" (for systems with 6" and 6"x9" speakers), or "SP 5/4" (for systems with 4" and 5" speakers).

System Q-EX Sound Control: Six EQ curves are preset into memory, allowing you to recall the best preset EQ curve for different types of music: Rock, Pops, Easy, Top 40, Jazz, and Natural. In addition, you may store your own settings under the "User Memory" EQ curve. Each preset has its own bass center frequency, bass level, bass Q factor, bass extension, middle center frequency, middle level, middle Q factor, treble center frequency, and treble level settings. You may adjust the bass center frequency (40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 120 or 150Hz), bass level (-8 to +8), bass Q factor (1.00, 1.25, 1.50 or 2.00), bass extension (On or Off), middle center frequency (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0kHz), middle level (-8 to +8), middle Q factor (1.0 or 2.0), treble center frequency (10.0, 12.5, 15.0 or 17.5kHz), and treble level (-8 to +8). The System Q EX can be turned off in the menu, still allowing you to adjust the bass, middle and treble levels only.

Subwoofer Preamp Output: The KDC-X790 is equipped with a pair of subwoofer preamp outputs. The subwoofer outputs can easily be turned on/off. When the subwoofer output is turned on, you can adjust the volume (-15 to +15 in increments of 2), set the low pass filter cutoff (50Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, or Through), and the phase (normal, reverse).

System E's+: In addition to System Q Sound Control, the KDC-X790 features the System E's+ crossover system for the speaker and preamp outputs. You can make the following adjustments:

• Front High Pass Filter: 40Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 150Hz, 180 Hz, 220Hz, or Through (no filter)
• Rear High Pass Filter: 40Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 150Hz, 180 Hz, 220Hz or Through (no filter)
• Low Pass Filter: 50Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz or Through (no filter)

Source Tone Memory: This feature allows you to store System Q bass, middle and treble tone settings for each source (CD, FM, AM, Satellite, and CD changer).

Volume Offset: The level of each source may be independently adjusted to prevent radical leaps in output volume when switching from one source to another. The available settings range from -8 to 0.

Built-in Amp Switch: If the audio signals are output to external amplifiers, you can turn off the internal amplifier to improve audio quality.

Dual Zone System: The KDC-X790's Dual Zone System allows you to output one source to the front channels and another source to the rear channels. The main source can be the internal disc player, tuner, or a source connected via the 13-pin CD changer input. The sub source is a device connected to the rear RCA auxiliary input. You can assign the sub source to either the front or rear channels. When the Dual Zone System is activated, the volume of the front channels is controlled by the volume knob, while the volume of the rear channels is controlled in the Audio Control menu.

CR-2 Advanced Tuner: This unit uses Kenwood's CR-2 Advanced tuner for clear radio reception. You can choose one of three tuning modes: Auto 1 (seek tuning), Auto 2 (cycles through and tunes the selected band's preset stations only with each button press), or Manual.

HD Radio Ready: With an optional Kenwood HD Radio tuner (item # 113HR100TR), you will be able to receive digital AM/FM broadcasts from local stations where available. This new technology will significantly improve audio quality and reception, as well as include information such as artist name and song titles or traffic news, viewable on the receiver's display.

Radio Data System (RDS): The unit's tuner features RDS (Radio Data System). RDS is a service used by some radio stations to transmit data outside of normal radio broadcast signals. When an RDS station is received, you can immediately find out what kind of data is being transmitted by looking at the program service name. RDS features an emergency transmission function that interrupts regular programming to broadcast an emergency announcement (such as a tornado or severe storm). There is also a switchable Traffic Information function, which will automatically tune a traffic bulletin when it is broadcast, even when you're not listening to the radio.

Clean Reception System Circuit (CRSC): This circuit controls multi-path distortion by reducing stereo separation. As stereo separation is reduced, multi-path has less effect on the radio signal, improving reception in areas with tall buildings and mountains. The CRSC circuit can be turned on or off.

Disc/Station Naming: You can enter and store names of up to 12 characters for CDs and radio stations. Characters can include upper case letters, numbers, symbols, and special accent characters. The memory can store names for up to 30 stations and 10 discs in the internal CD player. The number of disc names you can store for an external CD changer depends upon the capability of the changer.

Disabled System Indicator: A red indicator will blink on the unit after the faceplate is removed, warning potential thieves. This feature can be turned On or Off.

Security Code: You can enter a 4-digit security code which must be used when the unit is removed from the vehicle, or the constant power source is disconnected from the unit. When constant power is restored to the unit, the security code must be entered before the unit becomes operational. The security code may be disabled if desired.

Bass Management System (B.M.S.): You can remotely adjust the bass boost of a compatible Kenwood amplifier with the Bass Management System (B.M.S.). When properly connected, you can set the bass boost to Flat, +6dB, +12dB, and if the amplifier is capable, +18dB. In addition, you can set the B.M.S. frequency offset to "Normal" or "Low." The "Low" setting drops the bass boost normal center frequency by 20%.

Remote Control: The KDC-X790 comes with the RC-527 wireless remote control with a full numeric keypad. The remote includes volume control for the rear channels when the unit is operating in the Dual Zone mode. It is powered by 2 "AA" batteries (supplied). The dimensions of the remote are: L=5.369", W=1.968", D=1.198".

Display Illumination/Clock Display: When the unit is in Standby mode, the face/button illumination is "keyed." In addition, while the unit is in Standby mode, you can turn the clock display on or off. When the Clock Display is turned on and the unit is in Standby mode, the Clock Display is also "keyed." Pressing and holding the source button turns the unit off completely.

Display Illumination Control: When this function is active, the display turns off after 5 seconds if no operation is performed. This reduces the glare during night driving.

Display Dimmer: When the dimmer control is set to "on," the display automatically dims when the vehicle lights are turned on. When set to "off," the display doesn't dim.

Auxiliary Input: The KDC-X790 is equipped with a built-in auxiliary input. There is a set of stereo RCA jacks on a 10" pigtail on the back of the receiver for connecting an external audio source. The Auxiliary input can be activated/deactivated through the menu. When it's activated, you can select one of six names for the source: Aux, TV, Video, Game, Portable or DVD. When deactivated, Auxiliary does not appear as a source. With an optional adapter (item 113CAC1AX or 113KCAS220), you can also turn the unit's CD changer input into a second auxiliary input.

Steering Wheel Remote Compatibility: The KDC-X790 has a "steering remote control" lead on the back panel. When used with the optional SWI-ALP interface (item #127SWIALP), you can retain the use of your steering wheel and/or rear seat radio controls when replacing the factory head unit in select vehicles. The SWI-ALP is compatible with over 95% of the vehicles made from 1986 to the present. Compatible vehicles include many Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen vehicles and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Please consult "What Fits My Car" to see if your vehicle is compatible.

Optional iPod Adapter: This receiver is compatible with the optional Kenwood KCA-iP500 iPod control interface (item # 113IP500). When an iPod is connected to the interface, all of the iPod's controls will be disabled and it will be controlled from the receiver. With this interface, you'll be able to play your iPod music files through your Kenwood receiver and in most cases have all the titling information appear on the receiver's display.

Changer Controls

Warranty Note

Warranty Note: The unit comes packed with a warranty card that offers a 1-year parts and labor warranty. Per Kenwood, this unit has a 2-year parts and labor warranty.