New Kenwood Excelon(TM) Z828 Offers Most Advanced Sound Quality Features

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Kenwood USA Corp., America's first supplier of MP3-capable CD receivers for car audio, announced two new in-dash CD/MP3 receivers at the International Consumer Electronics Show, which opened here today. Demonstrating the first car audio receivers that play CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs containing either conventional Compact Disc digital audio or MP3-encoded audio files, the company unveiled its top-of-the-line Kenwood Excelon(TM) Z828 and the Kenwood KDC-MP8017. Both models feature high power 4-channel amplification, and the fastest disc access time of any MP3-capable in-dash player.

The Z828 also incorporates all the advanced audio features found in other Kenwood Excelon receivers, including System Q EX Sound Control contouring technology and System E's +, Kenwood's exclusive crossover network for use with external amplifiers and customized speaker configurations.

Top of the line Kenwood Excelon Z828

This year's top-of-the-line MP3/CD receiver is the Kenwood Excelon Z828, which offers numerous improvements over Kenwood's first MP3/CD receiver. Most apparent is the new front panel design, capped by the 4-Tone Fine-Dot, color fluorescent display. Offering remarkable resolution, the display shows text and animated 3D graphics with exceptional clarity. The faceplate is also one of the easiest to read and most configurable found in any car audio receiver.

Kenwood has also increased the speed with which the player accesses MP3 files over last year and has improved how it reads embedded ID3 tags in MP3 files.

Sirius Satellite/ iBiquity Digital Radio Capability

The Z828 has an input that is compatible with future digital radio tuner hardware designed to receive satellite broadcasts from the Sirius Satellite digital radio service, as well as locally broadcast digital programming based on iBiquity digital radio technology.

General Features

The new Z828 also offers Dual Zone listening and control. When used with an optional adapter, Dual Zone audio control allows the receiver to operate its front and rear channels independently and play two different stereo sources simultaneously. The Z828 has a maximum power rating of 47 watts x 4.

KDC-MP8017: Affordable Kenwood Quality

The Kenwood KDC-MP8017 CD/MP3 receiver is an affordable alternative for those who want their in-dash receivers to read MP3-encoded CD-R and CD-RW, and standard CD, CD-R, CD-RW discs plus Kenwood-exclusive features. The MP8017 uses much of the same MP3 technology as the Z828, including the use of increased speed with which the player accesses MP3 files, and improved embedded ID3 tag reading.

The faceplate uses a 12-character dot matrix, high-resolution LCD color display, with a white LED backlight. To keep the faceplate safe the MP8017 features the anti-theft deterrent D-MASK which offers the ability to manually rotate the faceplate for self-hiding or remove the faceplate altogether and place it in the included carrying case.

Additionally the new MP8017 includes a higher maximum power output, with a maximum power rating of 47 watts x 4.

The Kenwood Excelon Z828 will have a MSRP of $650, while the KDC-MP8017 will have a MSRP of $360. Both models will be available in January through authorized Kenwood dealers.

SOURCE: Kenwood USA Corp.