Kenwood KIV-700 Test and Review

To meet the demand of users of mobile sources in the car, turn out Kenwood car radios without CD. Not arriving first on the market, Kenwood made it big win for owners of iPod / iPhone. The KIV-700 moreover been awarded the EISA 2010-2011!

Compatible with the video files!

From a standpoint audiophile CDs are the best source of music, but we must recognize that MP3 players like the iPod are convenient by car. In a small device, we have all the disco and even its video library, which avoids constantly change CDs while traveling. The KIV-700 Kenwood has introduced a USB port and iPod control instead of the CD. This type of car is not new, but this model is particularly well equipped Kenwood by integrating the video and more music!

Benefits: Complete and scalable!

With its facade piano lacquer black color screen with QVGA resolution 3-inch, its keys with a choice of lighting color, the KIV-700 features a high-tech design very successful. With the rotary control with joystick, Kenwood married design and ergonomics. To not spoil the line of this unit, the auxiliary input and USB port are located on the rear panel. This USB cable is long enough to place the USB socket in the glove box or center console. This jack is used to get USB support, but also to control an iPod or iPhone. To control Apple devices, Kenwood series provides the specific cable. IPod control is complete and very well designed.

The KIV-700 can play video files on mobile media

IPod control manages the display of playlists with titles identical to Apple's player. In addition, it displays the album covers, can play podcasts and video files to iPod. The USB port can read USB drives and hard drives and is compatible with major formats (MP3, JPEG and MPEG4). Music Search function allows you to easily search a title in the playlists. More rarely, the KIV-700 can handle a USB hub, to connect both USB 2 and an iPod. The HUB USB are very easy on the shelf computer. Thus, there is no need to disconnect a plug in support for another. Kenwood has also provided an audio / video and a dual zone function, to allow passengers to view videos on a remote screen. Of course, the video driver can only stop. To complete the picture, we would have liked this handset has Bluetooth. But you can add this functionality with the optional KCA-BT300 box. For those who can not do without the CD and are seduced by this high-tech car, there's even a digital bus to control a Kenwood CD changer.

The KIV-700 can handle a USB hub to connect both key and iPod

For standard functions, it has an RDS tuner with 18 FM memory, an amplifier 4x50 Watts, an IR remote and is compatible with the original steering wheel controls. With 3 line outputs and a DSP equalizer and time alignment, the preamp is equipped to carry out a large facility with power amplifiers. To finish the presentation, and this is our main criticism, this handset is protected by an electronic code. It's less call, but we would have preferred a removable front panel (at least partial) much more secure!

Discover and use: simple to use and powerful!

In use, the handset shows relatively intuitive. Some functions such as audio adjustments need to browse the manual, but the nomadic media control is done with a breeze. IPod control is a wonder, we find exactly the Apple player rankings and navigates easily inside. With the Music Search, you can even search alphabetically. Although this is not essential, see album covers are very nice and fun. For media files contain nomadic quality, listening is very satisfactory musical and dynamic. The video playback is also carefree.

Whether for music or video, use the iPod is a pure delight

Admittedly, the screen is small to really take a movie, but the image quality is very good color and contrast. The DSP in this unit is not as complete as a standalone processor, but it already provides a lot of adjustments to correct the acoustics of the car (EQ, time alignment, size of the cabin, ...). It also helps manage a subwoofer channel. If these functions seem too complex, the KIV-700 also has preprogrammed sound effects (rock, pop, ...) and a classic setting balance / fader. The integrated amp offers a good momentum and lead smoothly to a conventional 4-speaker (preferably HP offers good performance). But it would be a shame not to enjoy the 3 line outputs to produce a powerful rig.

3 line outputs, DSP, the KIV-700 allows a beautiful high-tech facility

Finally, the tuner provides high quality reception and offers all the features of a good tuner RDS. By cons auxiliary input jack is a mini-jack on the rear frame, it will not forget to install a cable assembly if we ever wanted to connect the headphone output of an MP3 player. However, the iPod control is so nice, it would be a shame not to use an Apple music player with this high-tech unit. The KIV-700 is also compatible with leading iPod (Classic, Nano, iTouch), but also with the iPhone 3G and 3G.

The notice 

For his first car of this kind, Kenwood sign is an excellent product, well worth its price Eisa 2010-2011 in the car category. The KIV-700 is very pleasant to use and powerful. Fly his iPod with him is pure happiness. In fact, the only criticism we would have to be concerned with the lack two or three small functions. For example, we would have liked an entry reversing camera and Bluetooth is standard. But it was the absence of a detachable faceplate for security that we regret. With the rotary control, a detachable faceplate would be cumbersome, and often left in the glove box (thus the same risk of flight), which explains the choice of Kenwood. Anyway, for those who use only mobile sources is a very good product.

The KIV-700 can receive a Bluetooth module for telephony

In addition to its iPod function, it also appreciates its preamp for producing a hi-fi fun. Dual zone function is also welcome and will allow rear passengers to watch movies on the iPod screen remote. Finally, the price is average and is perfectly justified for a car of this type. Given its good quality screen and very good control of his iPod, we began to dream of a 2011 model that can take on the radio, the GPS of the iPhone and why not the Internet features for the webradio!