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Back to Kenwood KCA-IP500 iPod Interface/Controller

Kenwood Kenwood KCA-IP500 iPod Interface/Controller
Price Range
$44.99 - $99.99

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Overall Rating
1 Star Review

Reviewed by: bmzero

Updated:03-31-08

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Charges while on the go

Weaknesses: Terrible interface

Overall Evaluation: I have a Kenwood KVT617-DVD and bought this adapter hoping to get full use out of the large touchscreen my head unit has. Man am I disappointed. On the KCA you can toggle between single or double digit playlists (allowing more than 10 as mentioned previously), but once you select your playlist you can't actually go into the song listing. What a waste. Now I have to toggle song by song to find the one I'm looking for. No good Kenwood. Save your money and buy an Aux-In cable. you'll be happier and less broke.
Overall Rating
3 Star Review

Reviewed by: NoodleTech

Updated:11-17-07

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: good sound, easy installation, charges ipod

Weaknesses: confusing user interface, only shows 10 playlist, some features did not work

Overall Evaluation: The Kenwood KCA-IP500 is a good addition to any car stereo, that is if you are willing to cope with its problems. First of all, installation was easy as I had some experience as a car audio technician, but it might not be for the average consumer. The interface is confusing to use and only shows 10 playlist. Also, some features did not work out of the box. On the good side, it pumps out better than average sound and charges my ipod on the go. I do not recommend this product to the faint of heart.
Overall Rating
4 Star Review

Reviewed by: tylercpeters

Updated:06-14-07

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Charges iPod, no messy wiring, great sound quality

Weaknesses: Weird iPod menu interface, more expensive than other options, should be installed by professionals

Overall Evaluation: Over the past few days I've done extensive research to find the best option to hook my iPod up to my Kenwood KDC-Mp425 car stereo unit. There are other options such as using an auxiliary input adapter (like the CA-C1AUX and the CA-C2AX), but I chose this one primarily because it can charge the iPod. Another great feature is that you don't have to fumble with the iPod menu on that tiny screen (which could distract you from the road). Instead Kenwood has designed their own interface utilizing your existing stereo unit. My Kenwood stereo came with a remote so I figured that would be the safest means to playing music from my iPod through my car stereo. The other options are significantly cheaper, but if your going on long trips, you might as well get this so your iPod doesn't run out of battery.
Overall Rating
5 Star Review

Reviewed by: lachlanmullen

Updated:04-09-07

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Works easilly, no set-up needed. Plug and play.

Weaknesses: Difficult to learn how to switch through things on the iPod using the deck, took a while, but works fine.

Overall Evaluation: The KCA-IP500 is an amazing product, I don't know how I lived without it. CDs? What are those? If you're REALLY attached to your CDS, make playlists in your iPod named after your CDs, that way you can flip through them like it ain't no thing, and listen to them just like a CD changer, only it holds 1000's of CDs!I used the Dremel to cut a small hole int he bottom of my cup-holders in the center console and ran the cord to the CD player, totally concealed. I can even still slide drinks into the cup holder with the cable hanging over the side, if i need to. If I did it again (think I will), I'd run it all the way to the arm-rest container int eh center console, so it's TOTALLY hidden. This will not be a problem as the cable it VERY long.Get this product, you will NOT regret it.
Overall Rating
2 Star Review

Reviewed by: Stinky_Pete

Updated:12-19-06

Duration of ownership:1 Weeks

Strengths: sound quality

Weaknesses: I have a 2003 vintage head unit and was surprised to find there was no text support. 10 playlist limitation is pathetic.

Overall Evaluation: I am depressed with the features of an upmarket and recent model head unit with this product. In comparison, I bought the equivalent Pioneer unit which I am using with a head unit I bought in 2000 - it has full text support on a model that is lower in the equivalent range to the crap Kenwood head unit!!!My advice is to give Kenwood a miss and buy Pioneer. Kenwood isn't even in the same universe let alone league.
Overall Rating
1 Star Review

Reviewed by: Shragazeev

Updated:08-26-06

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: charges the IPOD battery

Weaknesses: No songs and singers displayed. Limited playlists and Difficult to switch.

Overall Evaluation: Too much $$ for a poor performance. I could easily substitute it for a well recorded MP3 CD, and keep the IPOD with all its excelent features standalone. I am disapointed with Kenwood.
Overall Rating
1 Star Review

Reviewed by: deklof

Updated:07-10-06

Duration of ownership:30 Days

Strengths: Good sound

Weaknesses: Too many to list them all. Poor interface, only 10 play list, poor documentation, many features don't work.

Overall Evaluation: All I wanted to do is play my ipod through my Kenwood radio. The iPod interface and controls are so simple and intuitive, why did Kenwood need to try to do its own iPod controls? What they ended up with is a confusing, complex, poorly documented mess that prevents users from accessing their music without completely screwing up the iPod standalone functions. A complete mess as far as I am concerned. I will probably dump my Kenwood control unit and find another that will allow iPod interface without the illconceived Kenwood interface.
Overall Rating
4 Star Review

Reviewed by: Italianprince25

Updated:09-12-05

Duration of ownership:1 Months

Strengths: Very easy to install and navigate with the Kenwood DDX-7500

Weaknesses: Only shows 10 playlist and can't see song titles

Overall Evaluation: This is a great buy to avoid the static of radio connection when using your Ipod. It is extramely easy to instal-just plug it in behind the headnuit and hide the wires. I highly recomend!!!
Overall Rating
4 Star Review

Reviewed by: zip944

Updated:06-06-05

Duration of ownership:3 Weeks

Strengths: Great sound, Charges your iPod.

Weaknesses: Only 10 Playlists Show-up.

Overall Evaluation: Overall the Kenwood KCA-IP500 iPod adapter is a great accessory to any car audio system. The sound is great, it charges your iPod, and it's a modern approach to replacing the 6 or 12 Disc CD-Changer. In fact, it's like having 125- 12Disc CD Changers installed in your vehicle and thats if you just have an iPod mini, amazing. The only draw back of the unit I have noticed so far is you are limited to only 10 playlists, so you have categorize all your music in your iPod into 10 playlists or less. Kenwood should have made it unlimited or at least 20-30 playlists. Besides that I love it.