A detailed review of the Kenwood DDX373BT double DIN Monitor Bluetooth DVD Receiver and an in-depth look at all of its features, specifications, and disadvantages.
When searching for a replacement double-DIN radio for your vehicle, you’ve probably discovered that there is a wide range of options with an array of different features that they offer. It can be difficult to narrow down your selections and find the right one to fit your needs.
Today we will take an in-depth look at the Kenwood DDX373BT Double Din Monitor In-Dash Bluetooth DVD Digital Receiver and go into detail about its specifications and what sets it apart from its competitors. Kenwood is a staple brand in the car audio market and consumers have grown to expect a high-quality user experience when purchasing their products.
Let’s get into exactly what the DDX373BT has to offer and see if this model lives up to the Kenwood name. Read keep the details of the Kenwood DDX373BT DVD receiver reviews
Why We Like this
There are several reasons why we would recommend the DDX373BT to someone looking to replace the stock double-DIN receiver in their vehicle:
- User-friendly interface:
With this model, Kenwood improved its interface to make it much more readable and easy to navigate. The 6.2” LCD touch screen display has great sensitivity and responsiveness. The menus themselves are very straightforward and easy to navigate and you also have the option to purchase an adapter (sold separately) that allows you to connect it to the controls on your steering wheel.
- Customizability:
The 13-band equalizer allows you to adjust the audio controls to your exact specifications, making for an ideal listening experience. This way you can calibrate the output to different audio sources when watching DVDs or listening to different kinds of music. The unit also features built-in digital time alignment.
- Connectivity:
The Bluetooth features give you access to hands-free calling as well as a wireless connection to the music player of your choice. If you share your vehicle or want to give a passenger the power to connect, you have the ability to connect two devices at once. An icon on the interface indicates which device you currently have connected to.
- Range of Media:
The DDX373BT gives you the ability to play CDs, DVDs, and MP3 through either Bluetooth or a USB thumb drive and even has the capacity for XM radio. Though it does not come equipped with XM, you can purchase a SiriusXM tuner (sold separately) that is easy to install. Aside from a cassette player and AUX cord connection, this unit allows you to play just about any form of media you wish to.
The Kenwood DDX373BT Features and Specifications
The Kenwood DDX373BT Double Din Monitor In-Dash Bluetooth DVD Receiver is an after-market replacement receiver designed to be compatible with vehicles that already support a stock double-DIN receiver. It has a 6.2” wide VGA Color LCD Display with an LED backlight that is easy to see. The touch panel control is sensitive to your fingertips making it easy to navigate while you are driving. It also offers Siri Eyes Free technology so you can always make sure to keep your eyes on the road.
As mentioned above, Bluetooth offers a dual phone connection, making hands-free calling and music control a breeze. The interface has a USB plug that can be used to either connect a thumb drive for access to more music or charge your phone with Android Rapid Charge. The rear of the unit also has a video input so that you can connect your vehicle’s backup camera or install one if you wish to.
The DDX373BT supports a whole array of media options; CDs, DVDs, AM/FM radio, SiriusXM radio (tuner sold separately), MP3 via USB, and Bluetooth. The screen will even display the song title and album artwork as long as the CD or MP3 file is new enough to support that data. One complaint some customers have expressed is that it does not have an AUX input, but this shouldn’t matter if your music player supports Bluetooth connectivity. The remote control is also included in case you wish to give your passengers in the backseat the power to control the radio from a distance.
For a screen of its size, this model offers pretty great video quality when watching DVDs. If there is any drawback in this department, it is that the screen can sometimes be difficult to see depending on the lighting. On a bright day, it can be tough to even see the basic menu, never mind watch a movie. This is certainly something to consider if you are considering purchasing this receiver.
For those who prefer AM/FM/Digital radio over more modern forms of media playback, the DDX373BT offers 24 stations presets (18 for FM and 6 for AM). The frequency range is 87.9-107.9MHz for FM and 530-1700kHz for AM. The screen will display what song or program is playing on each station so you can quickly find one you like or even learn the names of songs you may have never heard. It also has Automatic Memory Entry and Up/Down Seek Tuning so channel surfing is incredibly simple.
The sound quality is both powerful and highly customizable. The 13-band equalizer allows you to adjust the output to your exact specifications. You can easily adjust the subwoofer level, phase, and low-pass crossover controls to find your sweet spot. It offers 50W of output power and has 6-channel preamp outputs in the rear of the device to connect to your speakers and subwoofer. All this power gives it the ability to play very loud so that you will feel like you are in a concert hall or cinema when you are playing your music or movies.
- This is a nice feature and a clear head-unit for the price
- The sound quality is excellent
- It is easy to use as well as easy to set up
- Great for the price to get Android support, Bluetooth, and DVD but sometimes Bluetooth doesn’t always connect to Pandora with my S7
- Has a sweet radio setting for deep bass for the system
- Better than factory by a mile
- This is the great-looking deck
- Size is 12 x 9.8 x 6 inches
- Weight is 5.5 pounds
- This is Touch Screen
Final Thoughts of Kenwood DDX373BT reviews
For an aftermarket double DIN receiver in the $200-300 price range, the Kenwood DDX373BT is a solid choice that delivers on its design and intentions for the most part. As mentioned, it offers a very wide variety of features that enable you to connect almost any form of media and navigate them with little effort. The sound quality is both powerful and customizable, so depending on the speakers and subwoofers in your vehicle, you can really achieve excellent output with this receiver. Overall, it is a great-looking deck that allows for all kinds of playback options and listening variability.
On the other hand, it also has some serious drawbacks that could potentially be a dealbreaker for someone considering purchasing it. One of the most frequent complaints about this receiver is that it is difficult to see in bright sunlight unless you are staring directly at it, which isn’t quite safe while you are driving. The issue of screen glare is common to many double-DIN receivers on the market, but if you do a lot of daytime driving in bright sunlight, you may want to search for an alternative that specifically functions well in this department.
Many customers have also reported issues with it freezing or resetting, causing them to lose all of their presets and equalization settings. This can be extremely frustrating, especially if you are behind the wheel and stuck in traffic during your morning commute.
Hopefully, this review of the Kenwood DDX373BT has given you a useful assessment of all that this receiver has to offer as well as some of its weaker points. When making a large purchase of this kind, you want to consider what aspects of radio really matter to you and which you are most likely to utilize on a regular basis. In the case of the DDX373BT, the variety of features and sound quality seems to outweigh actual usability and functionality, so be aware of this if you are going to purchase it.
Related: The Kenwood DMX7706S Review
Any Further Questions?
Q-1. Will this receiver play DVDs while the car is in motion?
Though the DVD function is designed to be disabled while driving, you do have the option to ground the wire that is meant to be connected with the brake sensor so that the receiver won’t be able to detect whether you are in motion or not. This is a common workaround for car DVD players.
Q-2. Does it come with a mounting kit or do I have to purchase that separately?
Though it has standard double DIN dimensions, if you are going to purchase this receiver, you will have to separately purchase the mounting kit designed specifically for your vehicle.
Photo: amazon.com
