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The Kenwood KDC-BT742U is a car audio receiver released by Kenwood in January 2009. It has Bluetooth™ connectivity, designed for Kenwood by industry leader Parrot, giving users hands-free calling. The receiver mutes the music for an incoming call, then users can speak through the built-in microphone while listening to their caller over their car speakers. Music can also be streamed from the phone through bluetooth and other bluetooth enabled devices. It plays the traditional audio formats: CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RW discs including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA music files, and is compatible with Kenwood satellite radio, HD Radio tuner, and CD changer. The step up Kenwood KDC-HD942U is $30 more but has a 4V 3 Preouts vs 2.5V 3 Preouts of this model, the rest of the features are pretty much identical.
MSRP $220.00
Release date January, 2009
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Pros & Cons12
Reviews7
Details
Buy It8
Competitors9
Related
Gallery1
Pros & Cons
4 positive
0 mixed
3 negative
![[i]](/images/info.png)
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The ProSCORE is calculated based on the ratio of Pros & Cons about this product as voted by
approved reviewers from the ProductWiki community.
ProSCORE = 100 x (Pro votes) / [(Pro votes) + (Con votes)]
Numbers used for this ProSCORE:
Pro votes = 23
Con votes = 15
Total votes = 38
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Details
Features
- CD player with built-in MOSFET amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)
- Built-in Parrot Bluetooth technology
- One wire iPod hookup -- search files alphabetically or by jumping
- Plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RW discs including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA music files
- Compatible with Kenwood satellite radio, HD Radio tuner, CD changer
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This report was started
March 28, 2009 at 12:16 pm by
abbood
with the last edit occurring
November 1, 2009 at 10:10 pm by
eurrea
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Buy It
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
• Kenwood KDC-HD942U USB/AAC/WMA/MP3 CD Receiver with Built-In HD Radio
• KDC-942U In Dash CD/MP3 Player
UPC: 019048183255
EAN: 019048183255
MPN: KDC-HD942U
Competitors
MSRP $210.00
Released January, 2009
Pros
- affordable
- dual USB inputs for use multiple audio devices / USB keys
- includes remote control
Cons
- iPod cable sold separately
- Blue illumination not the best in bright light
- No preset buttons
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Pioneer DEH-P5100UB
MSRP $300.00
Released June, 2009
Pros
- front AUX and USB input
- Bluetooth connectivity
- iPod and AVRCP-compatible Sony Walkman compatibility
- Satellite / HD radio ready
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Sony MEX-BT5700U
MSRP $230.00
Released January, 2009
The Alpine CDA-105 is an in-dash controller that allows you to enjoy music from CD's, iPods, iPhones, USB sticks and other portable media players over your car stereo. The CD player plays standard CD/CD-R/CD-RW discs with MP3/AAC/WMA playback. The included USB cable connects to the rear of the unit to be placed in your...
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Alpine CDA-105
MSRP $230.00
Released January, 2009
Pros
- fast flash drive load times
- display is readable and highly configurable (colours and brightness)
- includes USB and AUX input for use with iPods, MP3 players and other audio devices
- USB and AUX inputs are on the rear of the unit, making a much cleaner looking install
Cons
- tend to push the select knob while trying to navigate the 4 way knob
- USB and AUX inputs are not on the front of the device
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Sony CDX-GT930UI
MSRP $219.95
Released January, 2009
Pros
- Two USB jacks, allows the use of the bluetooth device and a secondary external device.
- Awesome mp3 decoder. Very dynamic. Great clear bass. No mushiness.
- rear USB allows you to hide USB devices in the glovebox
Cons
- NO PRESET BUTTONS!
- LCD display is small
- Bluetooth garbled 95% of the time. Tested with Motorola Razor V3 & Samsung i730 phones.
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
JVC KD-R800
MSRP $179.95
Released January, 2009
Pros
- HD/satellite radio ready
- front USB/Aux connections - allows users to play audio off of their iPods, standard MP3 player or other USB/headphone jack devices
- variable-color illumination display - match the colour of your unit to the dash lights of your car
Cons
- poorly implemented radio presets
- remote is a little small
- No loudness enhancement.
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
JVC KD-HDR50
MSRP $180.00
Released January, 2009
The Alpine CDE-102 is an in-dash controller that allows you to enjoy music from CD's, iPods, iPhones and other portable media players. The CD player plays standard CD/CD-R/CD-RW discs with MP3/AAC/WMA playback. Connect your iPod or iPhone using the KCE-433iV cable and you can access all your music from from the head unit. The...
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Alpine CDE-102
MSRP $200.00
Released February, 2009
Pros
- front USB and aux inputs
- built-in Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling and audio streaming
- affordable price
- built-in iPod control
- external microphone available
- satellite and HD radio ready
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Sony MEX-BT3700U
MSRP $200.00
Released February, 2009
Pros
- the quality is great - upgrade from stock and find a tremendous improvement from the speakers
- many options to change the sound quality using the EQuizliers
- illuminates blue, red, and green
Cons
- the faceplate is a bit difficult to align when attaching
- Can't adjust the bass and treble with this model.
- when turning off the ignition, the stereo makes a beeping sound that gets annoying
Kenwood KDC-BT742U
vs.
Sony CDX-GT730UI
Reviews
May 21, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
- built-in Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling and music streaming
- front USB and AUX inputs
- affordable price
- includes remote control
- built in iPod control
- satellite and HD radio ready
- easy to install
- good value - low price unit with a good variety of default features
Cons
- horrible manual
- microphone pickup is horrible
- lack of buttons make interaction with the unit complicated and unbearable
- pairing with Bluetooth devices is difficult or impossible
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/
No
August 15, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
- built-in Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling and music streaming
- front USB and AUX inputs
- affordable price
- includes remote control
- built in iPod control
- satellite and HD radio ready
- good value - low price unit with a good variety of default features
Cons
- horrible manual
- lack of buttons make interaction with the unit complicated and unbearable
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
September 30, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
- built-in Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling and music streaming
- front USB and AUX inputs
- affordable price
- includes remote control
- built in iPod control
Cons
- horrible manual
- microphone pickup is horrible
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
November 1, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
Did not agree with any pros
Cons
- horrible manual
- microphone pickup is horrible
- lack of buttons make interaction with the unit complicated and unbearable
- pairing with Bluetooth devices is difficult or impossible
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
May 25, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
- built-in Bluetooth compatibility for hands-free calling and music streaming
- front USB and AUX inputs
- easy to install
Cons
Did not agree with any cons
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
September 8, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
Did not agree with any pros
Cons
- horrible manual
- microphone pickup is horrible
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
September 21, 2009
approved
reviewer
Pros
Did not agree with any pros
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
/
No
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This product is also known as:
KDC, BT, 742, U, KDCBT, BT742, 742U, KDCBT742, BT742U, KDCBT742U
