Power
Selecting the Source
Volume
Attenuator
Loudness
Audio Control
System Q
Speaker Setting
Speaker & Woofer Setting
Display Mode Switching
Switching Full Screen Display
Switching the Standby Display
Switching Upper and Lower Part Display
Station/Disc Naming (SNPS/DNPS)
Auxiliary Input Display Setting
Non-fading Output
Dual Zone System
Theft Deterrent Faceplate
Tuner features ...........................17
Tuning Mode
Tuning
Direct Access Tuning
Station Preset Memory
Auto Memory Entry
Preset Tuning
SNPP (Station Name Preset Play)
Frequency Step Setting
CD/MP3/External disc
control features .....................19
Playing CD & MP3
Playing External Disc
Fast Forwarding and Reversing
Track Search
Album Search
Direct Track Search
Direct Album Search
Track/Album Repeat
Track Scan
Random Play
Magazine Random Play
Album Select
Text/Title Scroll
DNPP (Disc Name Preset Play)
Menu system.............................24
Menu System
Security Code
Touch Sensor Tone
Manual Clock Adjustment
Date Adjustment
Date Mode
DSI (Disabled System Indicator)
Selectable Illumination
Font Color Select
Dimmer
System Q
Built-in Amp Mute Setting
Dual Zone System Setting
B.M.S. (Bass Management System)
B.M.S. Frequency Offset
Auto Memory Entry
CRSC (Clean Reception System Circuit)
Text Scroll
Built-in Auxiliary input Setting
Basic Operations of remote......29
Loading and Replacing the battery
Basic operations
In Tuner source
In Disc source
Accessories ...............................31
Installation Procedure ..............31
Connecting Wires to Terminals
...32
Installation ................................33
Troubleshooting Guide .............35
Specifications ...........................40
— 2 —
Safety precautions
2WARNING
To prevent injury or fire, take the
following precautions:
• Insert the unit all the way in until it is fully
locked in place. Otherwise it may fall out of
place when jolted.
• When extending the ignition, battery, or
ground wires, make sure to use automotivegrade wires or other wires with a 0.75mm
(AWG18) or more to prevent wire
deterioration and damage to the wire
coating.
•To prevent a short circuit, never put or leave
any metallic objects (such as coins or metal
tools) inside the unit.
• If the unit starts to emit smoke or strange
smells, turn off the power immediately and
consult your Kenwood dealer.
• Make sure not to get your fingers caught
between the faceplate and the unit.
• Be careful not to drop the unit or subject it to
strong shock.
The unit may break or crack because it
contains glass parts.
2
2CAUTION
To prevent damage to the machine,
take the following precautions:
• Make sure to ground the unit to a negative
12V DC power supply.
• Do not open the top or bottom covers of the
unit.
• Do not install the unit in a spot exposed to
direct sunlight or excessive heat or humidity.
Also avoid places with too much dust or the
possibility of water splashing.
• Do not subject the faceplate to excessive
shock, as it is a piece of precision
equipment.
• When replacing a fuse, only use a new one
with the prescribed rating. Using a fuse with
the wrong rating may cause your unit to
malfunction.
•To prevent a short circuit when replacing a
fuse, first disconnect the wiring harness.
• Do not place any object between the
faceplate and the unit.
• Do not use your own screws. Use only the
screws provided. If you use the wrong
screws, you could damage the unit.
• Do not apply excessive force to the moving
faceplate. Doing so will cause damage or
malfunction.
• Do not apply excessive force to the open
faceplate or place objects on it. Doing so will
cause damage or breakdown.
Do Not Load 3-in. CDs in the CD slot
If you try to load a 3 in. CD with its adapter
into the unit, the adapter might separate from
the CD and damage the unit.
— 3 —
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
About the disc changer/CD player to
be connected:
To connect a disc changer having the "O-N"
switch to this unit, set the "O-N" switch to "N".
When you connect a model with no "O-N"
switch, the converter cord CA-DS100 available
as an option may be required. For details,
consult your Kenwood dealer.
A disc changer doesn't work when it is
connected without using these options.
If a model with no "O-N" switch is connected,
some unavailable functions and information
that cannot be displayed are generated.
Note that none of the KDC-C100, KDC-C302,
C205, C705, and non-Kenwood CD changers
can be connected.
You can damage both your unit and the CD
changer if you connect them incorrectly.
The marking of products using lasers
(Except for some areas)
CLASS 1
LASER PRODUCT
The label is attached to the chassis/case and
says that the component uses laser beams
that have been classified as Class 1. It
means that the unit is utilizing laser beams
that are of a weaker class. There is no
danger of hazardous radiation outside the
unit.
Safety precautions
NOTE
• If you experience problems during
installation, consult your Kenwood dealer.
English
• If the unit fails to operate properly, press the
Reset button. The unit returns to factory
settings when the Reset button is pressed.
If the unit still fails to operate properly after
the Reset button has been pressed, contact
your local KENWOOD dealer for assistance.
•Press the reset button if the disc auto
changer fails to operate correctly. Normal
operation should be restored.
Reset button
•We recommend the use of the Security
Code function (see p. 25) to prevent theft.
• The illustrations of the display and the panel
appearing in this manual are examples used
to explain more clearly how the controls are
used. Therefore, what appears on the display
in the illustrations may differ from what
appears on the display on the actual
equipment, and some of the illustrations on
the display may represent something
impossible in actual operation.
Lens Fogging
Right after you turn on the car heater in cold
weather, dew or condensation may form on
the lens in the CD player of the unit. Called
lens fogging, CDs may be impossible to play.
In such a situation, remove the disc and wait
for the condensation to evaporate. If the unit
still does not operate normally after a while,
consult your Kenwood dealer.
Cleaning the Faceplate Terminals
If the terminals on the unit or faceplate get
dirty, wipe them with a dry, soft cloth.
Cleaning the Unit
If the faceplate of this unit is stained, wipe it
with a dry soft cloth such as a silicon cloth.
If the faceplate is stained badly, wipe the stain
off with a cloth moistened with neutral
cleaner, then wipe neutral detergent off.
Applying spray cleaner directly to the unit may
affect its mechanical parts. Wiping the
faceplate with a hard cloth or using a volatile
liquid such as thinner or alcohol may scratch
the surface or erases characters.
Cleaning the CD Slot
As dust tends to accumulate in the CD slot,
clean it every once in a while. Your CDs can
get scratched if you put them in a dusty CD
slot.
— 4 —
About CDs
Handling CDs
• Don’t touch the recording surface of the CD.
• CD-R and CD-RW are easier to damage than
a normal music CD. Use a CD-R or a CD-RW
after reading the caution items on the
package etc.
• Don’t stick tape etc. on the CD.
Also, don’t use a CD with tape stuck on it.
When using a new CD
If the CD center hole or outside rim has burrs,
use it after removing them with a ball pen etc.
Burrs
Burrs
CD cleaning
Clean from the center of the disc and move
outward.
Removing CDs
When removing CDs from this unit pull them
out horizontally.
CDs that can’t be used
• CDs that aren’t round can’t be used.
• CDs with coloring on the recording surface
or that are dirty can’t be used.
• Don’t use CDs without disc mark
.
•A CD-R or CD-RW that hasn’t been finalized
can’t be played. (For the finalization process
refer to your CD-R/CD-RW writing software,
and your CD-R/CD-RW recorder instruction
manual.)
CD accessories
Don’t use disc type accessories.
CD storage
• Don’t place them in direct sunlight (On the
seat or dashboard etc.) and where the
temperature is high.
• Store CDs in their cases.
— 5 —
Notes on playing MP3 (KDC-Z838)
This unit can play MP3(MPEG1, 2, 2.5 Audio Layer 3). Note,
however, that the MP3 recording media and formats acceptable
are limited. When writing MP3, pay attention to the following
restrictions.
English
Acceptable media
The MP3 recording media acceptable to this unit are CD-ROM, CD-R,
and CD-RW.
When using CD-RW, do full format not quick format to prevent
malfunction.
Acceptable medium formats
The following formats are available for the media used in this unit. The
maximum number of characters used for file name including the
delimiter (".") and three-character extension are indicated in
parentheses.
• ISO 9660 Level 1 (12 characters)
• ISO 9660 Level 2 (31 characters)
• Joliet (64 characters)
• Romeo (128 characters)
Up to 200 characters can be displayed in the long file name format.
For a list of available characters, see the instruction manual of the
writing software and the section Entering file and folder names below.
The media reproducible on this unit has the following limitations:
• Maximum number of directory levels: 8
• Maximum number of files per folder: 255
• Maximum number of characters for folder name: 64
• Maximum number of folders: 50
MP3 written in the formats other than the above may not be
successfully played and their file names or folder names are not
properly displayed.
Settings for your MP3 encoder and CD writer
When you use your CD writer to record MP3 up to the maximum disc
capacity, disable additional writing. For recording on an empty disc up
to the maximum capacity at once, check Disc at Once.
Entering ID3 tag
The Displayable ID3 tag is ID3
version 1.x.
For the character code, refer to the
List of Codes.
Entering file and folder names
The code list characters are the only
file names and folder names that can
be entered and displayed.
If you use any other character for
entry, the file and folder names are not displayed correctly. They may
neither be displayed correctly depending on the CD writer used.
The unit recognizes and plays only those MP3 which have the MP3
extension (.MP3).
A file with a name entered with characters not on the code list
may not play correctly.
Writing files into a medium
When a medium containing MP3 data is loaded, the unit checks all the
data on the medium. If the medium contains a lot of folders or nonMP3 files, therefore, it takes a long time until the unit starts playing
MP3.
In addition, it may take time for the unit to move to the next MP3 file
or a Track Search or Album Search may not be performed smoothly.
Loading such a medium may produce loud noise to damage the speakers.
• Do no attempt to play a medium containing a non-MP3
MP3 extension.
The unit mistakes non-MP3
the MP3 extension.
• Do not attempt to play a medium containing non MP3.
files for MP3 data as long as they have
file with the
— 6 —
MP3 playing order
4 Button ¢ Button AM Button FM Button
Operation of the button
Current
folder number
AM Button FM Button
Operation of the button
Current
folder number
Current
file number
4 Button
¢ Button
Operation of the button
Beginning of file
Folder
Example of a medium's folder/file hierarchy
Level 2Level 4
Level 1Level 3
File
Root
When selected for play, Album Search, Track Search, or for Album
Select, files and folders are accessed in the order in which they were
written by the CD writer.
Because of this, the order in which they are expected to be played
may not match the order in which they are actually played. You may be
able to set the order in which MP3 are to be played by writing them
onto a medium such as a CD-R with their file names beginning with
play sequence numbers such as "01" to "99", depending on your CD
writer.
For example, a medium with the following folder/ file hierarchy is
subject to Album Search, Track Search, or Album Select as shown
below.
When a Track Search is executed with file ¡$ being played ...
When an Album Search is executed with file ¡$ being played ...
When Album Select is selected with file ¡$ being played to move
from folder to folder ...
— 7 —
General features
¢
SRC
ATT/
LOUD
Q/
AUD
S.A
FM
4
AM/
NF
DISP/
NAME.S
u
d
English
Release button
Power
Turning ON the Power
Press the [SRC] button.
When the power is ON, the <Security Code> (page 25) is displayed
as "CODE ON" or "CODE OFF".
• According to the Bass Q Factor setting value, the frequencies that
can be set in Bass Center Frequency change as shown below.
Bass Q FactorBass Center Frequency
1.00/1.25/1.5060/70/80/100
2.0060/70/80/150
• When the bass extend is set to ON, low frequency response is
extended by 20%.
•Volume offset: Each source's volume can be set as a difference
from the basic volume.
•* :Function of the KDC-Z838
5 Exit Audio Control mode
Press the [AUD] button.
— 9 —
General features
System Q
You can recall the best sound setting preset for different types of
the music.
English
1 Select the source to set
Press the [SRC] button.
2 Select the Sound type
Press the [Q] button.
Each time the button is pressed the sound setting switches.
Sound settingDisplay
Flat"FLAT"
User memory"User Preset"
Rock"ROCK"
Pops"POPS"
Easy"EASY"
Top 40"TOP 40"
Jazz"JAZZ"
• User memory: The values set on the <Audio Control> (page 9).
• Each setting value is changed on the <Speaker & Woofer Setting>
(page 10) or <Speaker Setting> (page 10). First, select the Speaker
and Woofer type with the <Speaker & Woofer Setting> or
<Speaker Setting>.
Function of the KDC-Z737
Speaker Setting
Fine-tuning so that the System Q value is optimal when setting
the speaker type.
1 Enter Standby
Press the [SRC] button.
Select the "ALL OFF" display.
2 Enter Speaker Setting mode
Press the [Q] button.
"Speaker Setting" is displayed.
3 Select the Speaker type
Press the [4] or [¢] button.
Each time the button is pressed the setting switches as shown
below.
Speaker typeDisplay
OFF"OFF"
For 5 & 4 in. speaker"5/4 inch"
For 6 & 6x9 in. speaker"6*9/6 inch"
For the OEM speaker"O.E.M."
4 Exit Speaker Setting mode
Press the [Q] button.
Function of the KDC-Z838
Speaker & Woofer Setting
Fine-tuning so that the System Q value is optimal when setting
the speaker and woofer type.
1 Enter Standby
Press the [SRC] button.
Select the "ALL OFF" display.
2 Enter Speaker & Woofer Setting mode
Press the [Q] button.
"Speaker Setting" is displayed.
3 Select the Setting mode
Press the [FM] or [AM] button.
Each time the button is pressed it switches between Speaker
setting mode and Woofer setting mode.
4 Select the Speaker and Woofer type
Press the [4] or [¢] button.
Each time the button is pressed the setting switches as shown
below.
— 10 —
In Speaker setting mode
Speaker typeDisplay
OFF"OFF"
For 5 & 4 in. speaker"5/4 inch"
For 6 & 6x9 in. speaker"6*9/6 inch"
For the OEM speaker"O.E.M."
In Woofer setting mode
Woofer typeDisplay
OFF"Woofer OFF"
12 in. A type"12in typeA"
10 in. A type"10in typeA"
12 in. B type"12in typeB"
10 in. B type"10in typeB"
12 in. C type"12in typeC"
10 in. C type"10in typeC"
8 in. type"8inch"
12 in. D type"12in typeD"
10 in. D type"10in typeD"
5 Exit Speaker & Woofer Setting mode
Press the [Q] button.
Display Mode Switching
Switching the display mode.
Press the [DISP] button.
Each time the button is pressed the Display mode switches as
shown below.
Display modeDisplay
Upper and lower division display type"Display Type A"
Type that mainly uses the display upper part "Display Type B"
Full screen display type"Display Type C"
• The display of each part can be changed.
- Switching Upper and Lower Part Display: (page 12)
- Switching Full Screen Display: (page 11)
• "Display Type C" can’t be selected in "ALL OFF".
Switching Full Screen Display
Switching the Full screen display.
Press the [S.A] button.
Each time the button is pressed the display switches as shown
below.