New headunit incoming !

[pegase747]

Hi all,

I just went for it, new head unit, KENWOOD KMM-357SD, which is the Euro version of the KMM-100U in the US, plus variocolor for the buttons ( great for matching the dashboard !! ) and SD card slot.
Bought this unit for 75 Euros ( roughly USD100 ), and it seems to be a GREAT unit !

http://www.kenwood.eu/products/car/receivers/all/KMM-357SD/

Most important features is the fact that it can play FLAC files, which a basically compressed files that are EQUAL to CD quality, how good is that ?

Also comes with a 3 band parametric EQ, Sub control ( Volume control just after 2 clicks ! ), LPF adjustment, etc etc.

It can controls my Ipod, can take any size of USB stick, and up to 32GB SDHC cards.

It is quite simple in design and should not be too bad in my Alpina after color adjustment of the buttons to a rich amber.

I always remember Stereoinstaller emphasizing the important of bit rate for an MP3 file to have a decent quality, well this thing will play CD quality, without CDs, I am happy, but will have to rip all my CDs now !

Will install it in july when back home in the B3 !!!

What do you guys think /

Cheers
Pierre

[StereoInstaller1]

Pierre, The deck is a perfect example of the lack of foresight that has pervaded this industry. First, a nice touch SD card slot, hooray! The, even better...it plays FLAC, the very first deck I know of to do so, Then , even better yet...a shallow mount depth!

Then...single pre-out.

Pierre, just wait, there will be a dual or triple pre-out from them...single is unacceptable.

I sure like it otherwise, FLAC playback is awesome.

Luke

[pegase747]

Hi Luke,

I know what you means, only 1ea pre-out...
BUT, I will run the speakers high into a ( I suppose ) high-quality LOC, the MTX RE-Q5, so I can hope that the signal out will be nice, ready to feed my 4-ch amp.

I will feed later the sub amp ( dont have any yet ) directly from the pre-out from the head unit.

In any case I am confident that FLAC files from HU to AMP via the RE-Q5 will sound better than compressed 128bps MP3 into 3 RCAs.

I will hardly notice the difference anyway, but it is good to know that I will be able to rip my CD collection into FLAC files anyway, as a good back-up from CD cracking, breaking etc...

Also it will fit nicely enough in the E30.

Cheers
Pierre

[dwvw]

The ReQ5 is way overkill for what you are doing. I would just solder RCA ends onto the speaker outputs, and feed those into an amp.

[Cabriolet]

Pierre, look into the CDE-HD149BT
After installing a kenwood for a local guy i will never install shit like that again.
power to antena and amps are on the same line. WTF! stupid.
the interface is crap and painful to use on the fly.

[bmwman91]

I sure like it otherwise, FLAC playback is awesome.

Luke

Amen! This missing functionality is the last barrier to me removing a 10lb Case Logic CD binder from my E30! Decoding FLAC audio is very expensive, computationally, so it may just be that the industry has been waiting for more powerful embedded controllers that can handle the decoding.

[5Toes]

FLAC playback.. AWESOME!!!!

[pegase747]

The ReQ5 is way overkill for what you are doing. I would just solder RCA ends onto the speaker outputs, and feed those into an amp.

My Amp has speaker input, so I would think there is a kind of LOC buit-in ? maybe better than using the RE-Q5 ??

[pegase747]

Pierre, look into the CDE-HD149BT
After installing a kenwood for a local guy i will never install shit like that again.
power to antena and amps are on the same line. WTF! stupid.
the interface is crap and painful to use on the fly.

To each his own. I don't listen to radio, so antenna Power is not a concern for me.
I have reviewed the manual on the KW and seems easy enough.

Pierre

[pegase747]

Amen! This missing functionality is the last barrier to me removing a 10lb Case Logic CD binder from my E30! Decoding FLAC audio is very expensive, computationally, so it may just be that the industry has been waiting for more powerful embedded controllers that can handle the decoding.

Yes, pretty sure Kenwood opened the door with this FLAC reading, and many more will follow.
Of course the one I bought only have RCA out, but even feeding the speaker hi level output to my Amp, and a Sub amp from the RCA out, will sound million times better than my old Clarions and Pioneers with CD changers from the 80-90's !!

Design is clean enough and I like the fact that the color can be made to match the interior, for that price !

Pierre

[dwvw]

My Amp has speaker input, so I would think there is a kind of LOC buit-in ? maybe better than using the RE-Q5 ??

Yeah, I would just do that. The ReQ is only really needed if there is bass roll off on a factory head unit like a factory GM deck.

[pegase747]

Yeah, I would just do that. The ReQ is only really needed if there is bass roll off on a factory head unit like a factory GM deck.

Yes, and I guess less processing means less loss too...and if there was any roll off bass from this aftermarket headunit, then there is an independant sub control and pre-out on the unit, so probably not the case.

I guess I will ditch the RE-Q5 ( sell it I mean ).

So it will be the HU to the Amp ( Alpine 4-ch ) using speaker wires, then 4 speakers, minimal gain on the rear ( just some filling ).

Then later, addition of a Sub if I find it required,with its amp directly connected from the HU pre-out, controlled from the HU.

Simple system, and should be good enough to decently play the FLAC files.

Pierre

[R3Z3N]

You had me looking to see Kenwoods latest, and IMO they took a huge step back. Last years KDC-X996 is awesome, and their newest 997 just disappoints. I really don't see anything new this year that is appealing.

[pegase747]

You had me looking to see Kenwoods latest, and IMO they took a huge step back. Last years KDC-X996 is awesome, and their newest 997 just disappoints. I really don't see anything new this year that is appealing.

Good,

Luckily each have their own opinion.
The models you refer to are the top end of the range, so I am not sure that it is relevant in this thread.

cheers
Pierre

[R3Z3N]

Mainly agreeing with Stereo Installer, that our choices are terrible, even with the better decks.