Kenwood Z828

Price Paid:  $700.00 from GoodGuys

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 z828

Strengths:
Great Sound!. Plays CDR,CDRW = Keeping adding mp3s to it. Looks great!. 3 seconds pause inbetween mp3s.

Weaknesses:
Graphics on the face panel. Can't fast forward in a song using the remote. Face panel doesn't come down easily.

Summary:
I got this stereo as a gift and installed before going on a road trip to Palm Springs from Los Angeles. I fell in love with the way it looked as i was browsing thru the Goodguys catalog, though in the picture the face panel was chromed, in real its clear, that was a bit disappointing. I think the pic was of a demo unit, maybe the chrome face panel would reflect light in your face while driving? - Anyhow i was shocked by its sound while playing mp3s! i couldn't freakin tell the difference! and trust me i am picky when it comes to the quality of sound this is a great stereo. I've had it just when it came out thats 3 years ago? no problems what so ever - except someone broke into my car window and took only the face panel(nothing else no cds no nothing just the face panel) wonder what good that did them. Wish they took the car Lojack ;) Had to get a new face panel for $230. So now i remember to detach it and place it in the trunk with the trunk locked (so it can't be opened without the key).

Price Paid:  $70.00 from ford dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 z828

Strengths:
It has nice lights.

Weaknesses:
It sucks

Summary:
This unit will not play any mp3,s and when it does play it playes for a while then it starts making a very loud sound on the speakers like it will not reconize my mp3,s. Whats up with that. I just bought a 40,000 plus ford truck and this unit is in it . I,m thinking of getting it taken out and put something in that will play mp3,s.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Strengths:
Cool display (when it's working), good sound, scroll feature for ID3 tags, AUX input

Weaknesses:
Faceplate malfunctions, weak spring on faceplate when opening

Summary:
I have had this head unit for just over two years. Although I like the features present in this head unit, I am having to return it for the second time due to a faulty faceplate. The display goes in and out and you have to push on it to get it to come back on. Sometimes that doesn't always work either. I have already sent this HU back once, and the problem was supposedly bad solder joints on the pin connectors. It's going back again, and I'm not too happy!

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Kenwood Outlet

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Kenwood eXcelon Z828

Strengths:
Sound adjustment with internal crossover. MP3, CDA, CDR, CDRW. Looks. Controls my Kenwood KAC-X401 (eXcelon) mono amplifier. Controls eXcelon disc changer (but do you need one with MP3 function?) Remote. Front, Rear, and Subwoofer 4.5 volt amp outputs. Sirius sattelite ready.

Weaknesses:
Faceplate doesn''''t really want to open. Takes a couple seconds to scan every time you put in a CD to check for MP3 files. Sound cuts out sometimes. (Again, maybe overheating?) Some dual button fuctions are not grouped logically. You accidently push a button and screw up your user presets. Price.

Summary:
I bought this item refurbished. (Actually, the first one Kenwood outlet gave me didn''''t work, but they replaced it no questions.) This is a quite nice HU. The setup options are huge if you have a full system. You can adjust the internal crossover for highs mids and lows as well as the gain on each. Really nice display, but not really a selling point. It''''s awsome at night, but glare still makes it difficult to read in the day. The ''''demo'''' animations get real tired, however the spectrum analyzers are nice. You can also program disc names, and it scrolls your MP3 file names. Ok, problems I''''ve had with it. The face does not like to open when you push the button. (Weak spring as mentioned in other reviews.) Also, I have a problem with the audio signal cutting out every once in a while. The spectrum analyzer is still going so it''''s obviously processing the signal, but no sound is transmitted to the speakers. Maybe overheating? Sometimes it fixes itself quickly, sometimes I have no tunes for a couple of minutes or have to try hitting the little factory reset button on the back of the faceplate (which wipes out all user settings.) Also afraid that the ''''clearcoat'''' that covers the entire faceplate is going to get scratched to pieces over time. I love this radio. I''''m considering though if I have to use my two year warranty that I''''ll pay the difference and upgrade to Kenwood''''s newer eXcelon MP3 Head Unit. (Though the Z828''''s looks beat all other headunits hands down.)

Similar Products Used:
Other aftermarket headunits. Including Alpine (nice). Sony Xplod (sucks) Blaupunkt (awright) None had the features that the Z828 offers though.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Strengths:
Looks, sound, possibilities, ease of using,... So much good points!

Weaknesses:
No MASK, rather expensive ( but I managed to get a good deal on it). That''s all folks!

Summary:
After comparing of bunch of HU, I finally bought the Z828 after playing with it in my local shop. I liked it from the start: the looks, the buttons, the sound, the possibilities. I read some reviews before buying. I honestly don''t knwo where the bad review come from. I guess tey''re having the wrong model... ;) It is not cheap, but worth it!

Similar Products Used:
Sony ES C90 (sounded more natural - but sucked overall), Alpine 7875 ( very good but not good enough), Kenwood 9050 (liked it also), and some older HU