Kenwood's KDC-MP232
Appearance: A very sharp-looking stereo that features a decently large display, a huge volume knob on the left, and a unique joystick-style control knob on the right.
CD Playback: The Kenwood took a little longer to read a CD than the other three stereos, as long as 5 or 6 seconds — a minor point, but one that can become annoying over time. With the tone controls set flat, the Kenwood's sound is brighter and a little less full than the Pioneer. Kenwood rates the built-in amp at 22 watts RMS per channel, but this is not a CEA-2006 compliant rating. It sounds great, but bring up the volume and you can tell that the Kenwood doesn't have quite as much power (45 watts peak) as the other three. The amplifier sounds a little bit harsh when it's pushed really, really hard.
The Kenwood's EQ curves are really well-voiced, much less dramatic and more usable than those on the other three stereos. And that's a good thing, because when you change an EQ curve, it reverts back to the factory setting once you leave it. Maybe there's some way around this, but I sure didn't want to open up that manual to find out. You have to push the volume knob in order to access the audio menu, not exactly intuitive. The "Pause" button is also well-hidden — it's incorporated into the joystick control — but it works great once you find it.
MP3 Playback: It took some experimenting to find my way through the files and folders in my disc. It turns out that you navigate with the joystick control, and it works very well once you figure that out. I could not figure out how to get the stereo to display folder and song titles.
AM/FM: AM and FM reception are both very good, and the little joystick knob really worked great for getting from station to station.
Ergonomics: Audio controls are split right and left, so you have to move your hand across the faceplate to make changes. The audio menu is accessed through the volume knob, so once you make a change, you have to continue all the way through the menu to adjust your volume again. Annoying. I could never figure out how to access the loudness feature, even after I broke down and opened up the manual.
The joystick control works very well, but it's a little tough to make fine adjustments when you're bouncing down an interstate at 70 mph, and I worry about its long-term durability. The remote control is the best of the bunch — it's easy to use and it boasts a full number pad. I will say, after looking through the manual, that this Kenwood has a lot to offer if you're willing to spend a little time getting to know it. I found a bunch of useful features mentioned in the manual that are not visible on the faceplate.
Connectivity: The strongest of the bunch. The KDC-MP232 works with a CD changer, HD Radio™ tuner, SIRIUS and XM satellite radio, and an iPod® interface. You'll find one set of preamp outputs for an outboard amp, and you can also buy an adapter that converts the CD changer connection to an auxiliary input.
