Sunday, August 21, 2022

Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH Dual Din Sized CD Receiver with Bluetooth & HD Radio Review

When I’m driving in my truck, music is not an option. I have to have my tunes. Car receivers have gotten pretty fancy, with their HD displays. But for some, those HD displays may not be in your budget. Or, maybe, it just isn’t your cup of tea. Whatever your reason, Kenwood still has a receiver for you. Up for review is their Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH. It’s a more basic receiver, but still has excellent features.  MSRP is a budget friendly $259.

 

Features and specs:

 

Music Mix

Up to 5 Bluetooth® devices can be paired to the receiver at the same time. You can enjoy audio streaming just by switching the devices with your friends or family.

 

Dual Phone Connection

While you are connected through Bluetooth, with a touch of a button you can switch between two phones.

 

Remote App

A smartphone application can control most basic functions of the receiver over the Bluetooth connection of the paired phone (iPhone or Android).

 

Graphic EQ / Digital Time Alignment

13-Band equalizer and DTA gives optimal tuning enhancements for listeners.

 

Drive EQ

Boosts specific frequencies in the audio signal to overcome the negative impact of road noise.

 

DUAL USB

Multiple USB ports provide additional inputs for music sources or smartphone battery charging.

 

Variable Color Illumination

Bright variable color LEDs can be adjusted to match any

color dash lighting.

200mm ESCUTCHEON Included

A 200mm escutcheon is included to help make the fit seamless in many of the latest model Japanese and other select cars.

 

420 Segment 3 Line Text Display

Amazon Alexa Ready

Built-in HD Radio Tuner

Dual USB

13Band EQ & Digital Time Alignment

Variable Color Illumination

200mm Escutcheon Panel Included

3 Preouts 5.0V

 



The Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH came in a great looking color printed box with photos and specs of the receiver. Opening the box revealed a well-protected deck, held in place by custom Styrofoam. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal, with plastic on the face. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the wiring harness, wired microphone, as well as keys and manual.

 





I like the design of the receiver. The 3-line display is easy to read. The buttons are large and well laid out, with a rotary knob front and center. There’s also a front USB and auxiliary ports. And while it has a button for Alexa, Alexa is voice activated as well! Switching between two connected cell phones is also easy. Your family can also enjoy their own music as well, as you can connect up to 5 Bluetooth devices at the same time. I also can’t forget it being SiriusXM ready.

 

While the Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH has all of the functionality to enjoy your music from several different sources, it also has the features you need to make your music sound it’s best. It’s internal MOSFETS provide 50 watts to your speakers, and its built-in crossovers make sure your speakers get the right frequencies that they can handle. There’s even a 13 band EQ, Drive EQ, and time alignment. And if you want more power to your speakers, there’s RCA outputs for front, rear and subs with a full 5-volt output. Now let’s see how it sounds.

 


The Demo mode is fun, with the LED’s changing colors to give you an idea of how it can look.  The owner’s manual is well written and easy to follow.  The 3-line text display is also sufficient to follow what you are doing, and provide instructions for set-up. Just a heads up…the large rotary knob in the middle that rotates, also acts as a button.  Pairing my LG V40 smartphone for Bluetooth Audio was very simple.  My HD tunes from my Amazon Music service sounded great!  And the internal amps thanks to their MOSFETS provided good power.  Highs were crips and clean, mids were warm and smooth, and bass had nice depth with good punch. The internal tuner for HD Radio also worked sufficiently well.  And if you like to use Alexa, you are in for a treat.  The included microphone works great for hands free calls.  But it also helps to control your tunes. Thanks to the available app, you can use Alexa to control volume, go back and forth thru tracks, and even ask questions and have it read you the news.

 

The Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH was a bit of fresh air.  While the 3-line text display design was an obvious cost cutter, you still get all of the modern functionality.  Features such as HD Radio, Bluetooth Audio,  and Alexa, are all found onboard.  The front Aux input and dual front and rear USB inputs also gives usability with multiple devices. And all of this functionality comes at a bargain price point that does not break the bank.

 

The Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH provides a huge amount of functionality, at a bargain price point. It has all the features needed for your music to sound good. With the Music Mix feature, your family and friends’ music will sound just as good. And thanks to its eXcelon build quality, it will last you for years. It’s bang for the buck is huge. Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the Kenwood eXcelon DPX795BH has earned our Value Award. It you’re in the market for a budget double-din receiver, it should be on your short list. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.kenwood.com.  Reference gear: AudioControl DM-810, AudioControl In-Dash Epicenter, JL Audio XD600/6 Class D amp, Vibe Audio LiteBox Stereo4 CLass GH amp, Massive Audio Nano BLU BL1 Class D amp, German Maestro M-Line 3-way components, Alpine Type-X 2-way components, Image Dynamics subs. 


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