Kenwood to older stereo swap?

hst125 · 1st October 2020, 09:18

My 2004 has the factory Kenwood cassette head unit controlling what is now a 10 disc changer. I’m not a fan of these Halfords style dashes even though it’s OEM as it were.
Can I retro fit an OEM head unit that will still run the changer? I’ve a plug in Bluetooth adapter for internet radio, iTunes etc, I’ve gone off DAB as most of it was in mono and internet radio is more versatile. Prefer to keep SWCs active too.

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ADO282 · 2nd October 2020, 18:59

I believe it is a Kenwood changer and requires a Kenwood radio to operate it, my car originally had a Iovox CR80, with a six disc changer in the boot.

I replaced it with a Kenwood KDC3057U which looks very OEM, and not at all aftermarket, however I needed a SWC adaptor to make those work.

I only wish I had happened upon this thread before I embarked upon the swap.......https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=304112

I would have avoided the pitfalls, many of which were a little too far from my comfort zone.

As I understood it, the original, which is probably what you have fitted to your car, a Kenwood KRC-394??? didn't have a volume knob, rather buttons which I detest, however the sound quality of the Kenwood I replaced the original radio with is superb, and doesn't look like it was from a Halfords display with giant speakers in the boot.

My radio looks like this.....

hst125 · 3rd October 2020, 10:17

Thank you for the link, I did trawl the site but missed that.
You’re spot on with everything - I dislike buttons, always prefer a round volume control, yes it’s the model you mention too.
I knew I had a load of stereos in the shed removed from various cars over the years, usually I upgraded to Bluetooth and/or DAB. Must be my luck day as I found a Kenwood with what seems like the same socket on the back and it ticks all the boxes, also found a mag mount DAB aerial and a hard wired roof aerial kit.
Going to try a straight swap over the weekend!

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ADO282 · 3rd October 2020, 17:41

Wow, big pictures !!

It looks as if you might not need the SWC adaptor, I looked at the Kenwood site and it would appear your new head unit supports the IR remote.

If not, I bought one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252094912052 which works spot on with my head unit.

hst125 · 8th October 2020, 09:57

I fitted the CD player, straight swap apart from the cage so had to switch that too, all the SWC worked, cd changer too but no control over disc change and kept losing settings despite switching the red/yellow wires so I’ve put the tape back in! Strangely I’d just dug out my old Kenwood Stack System and all my vinyl and cassettes, I tried a few tapes in the car and it sounds superb - so I’ll be keeping the car as is now!
Still got a load of recent model head units going cheap if anyone wants one....

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1st October 2020, 09:18	#1
hst125 Loves to post 2004 ZTT CDTi manual, 2017 Fiat 500L MPW, 1946 MG TC Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reading Posts: 272 Thanks: 22 Thanked 27 Times in 23 Posts	Kenwood to older stereo swap? My 2004 has the factory Kenwood cassette head unit controlling what is now a 10 disc changer. I’m not a fan of these Halfords style dashes even though it’s OEM as it were. Can I retro fit an OEM head unit that will still run the changer? I’ve a plug in Bluetooth adapter for internet radio, iTunes etc, I’ve gone off DAB as most of it was in mono and internet radio is more versatile. Prefer to keep SWCs active too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ My other car's got 3 V12s under the floors.

3rd October 2020, 10:17	#3
hst125 Loves to post 2004 ZTT CDTi manual, 2017 Fiat 500L MPW, 1946 MG TC Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reading Posts: 272 Thanks: 22 Thanked 27 Times in 23 Posts	Thank you for the link, I did trawl the site but missed that. You’re spot on with everything - I dislike buttons, always prefer a round volume control, yes it’s the model you mention too. I knew I had a load of stereos in the shed removed from various cars over the years, usually I upgraded to Bluetooth and/or DAB. Must be my luck day as I found a Kenwood with what seems like the same socket on the back and it ticks all the boxes, also found a mag mount DAB aerial and a hard wired roof aerial kit. Going to try a straight swap over the weekend! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ My other car's got 3 V12s under the floors.

8th October 2020, 09:57	#5
hst125 Loves to post 2004 ZTT CDTi manual, 2017 Fiat 500L MPW, 1946 MG TC Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reading Posts: 272 Thanks: 22 Thanked 27 Times in 23 Posts	I fitted the CD player, straight swap apart from the cage so had to switch that too, all the SWC worked, cd changer too but no control over disc change and kept losing settings despite switching the red/yellow wires so I’ve put the tape back in! Strangely I’d just dug out my old Kenwood Stack System and all my vinyl and cassettes, I tried a few tapes in the car and it sounds superb - so I’ll be keeping the car as is now! Still got a load of recent model head units going cheap if anyone wants one.... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ My other car's got 3 V12s under the floors.

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2nd October 2020, 18:59	#2
ADO282 Banned ROVER 75 Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: BRACKNELL Posts: 270 Thanks: 125 Thanked 130 Times in 92 Posts	I believe it is a Kenwood changer and requires a Kenwood radio to operate it, my car originally had a Iovox CR80, with a six disc changer in the boot. I replaced it with a Kenwood KDC3057U which looks very OEM, and not at all aftermarket, however I needed a SWC adaptor to make those work. I only wish I had happened upon this thread before I embarked upon the swap.......https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=304112 I would have avoided the pitfalls, many of which were a little too far from my comfort zone. As I understood it, the original, which is probably what you have fitted to your car, a Kenwood KRC-394??? didn't have a volume knob, rather buttons which I detest, however the sound quality of the Kenwood I replaced the original radio with is superb, and doesn't look like it was from a Halfords display with giant speakers in the boot. My radio looks like this.....

3rd October 2020, 17:41	#4
ADO282 Banned ROVER 75 Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: BRACKNELL Posts: 270 Thanks: 125 Thanked 130 Times in 92 Posts	Wow, big pictures !! It looks as if you might not need the SWC adaptor, I looked at the Kenwood site and it would appear your new head unit supports the IR remote. If not, I bought one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252094912052 which works spot on with my head unit.