Which Car Stereo did I buy for the Toyota?

The Kenwood KDC-X5100BT was the one the seller recommended 

me, especially since I said i would prefer a rear USB port. Just 

because I think it looks so much better. And it becomes so 

much easier to remove the face and take it with you.

Rear USB, remembers 5 phone connection (paired), 2 at the same time.

A post about Car Stereos..

I've been research a lot lately about todays car stereos. I need to replace the original car stereo in one of my Toyotas. Oh man is it a jungle out there!. It's pretty hard to find good comparisons between stereos today. Now adays it seems to be a small market. It really takes a lot of effort to narrow down the amount of interesting car stereos. This is why I try to help you with this post. :) There were post like this I was searching for in the hunt for a good car stereo. I do not go into depth in this post but you get a feel for what I did finally choose. (After a lot of research!)

In my younger years I was a car stereo enthusiast, loved to build and try to get better sound. Driving to a lot of car stereo competions and so on. At the time there actually were 3 pure car stereo magazine at the same time. This in little Sweden. Those were the days. :)

By the way I've written a post about my consideration on my sister site (the Previa site) also. Check it out here. The final choice comes down to how long you research, I can tell you it has changed for me a couple of times before finally came to this choice.

I decided to choose a Single DIN size. Removable / detachble  front and so on.

Mainly I've comed to focus on 3 brands. Kenwood, Alpine and Pioneer. These have been the ones I liked of some reasons. And I've have been very pleased with Pioneer earlier and have had a few bunch of them. Perhaps time to try something diffrent this time..

I've also checked the cheap ones from China and decided they were not for me.

Yesterday I went to Bilstereohörnan here i Sweden, Västerås where I live. Why? Just to get a feel for what they are selling and are promoting. These is what I found:

The Alpine CDE-178BT is also a nice stereo with high finish. But it seems to be getting a bit old and therefore lacking some of the features that the KDCX5100BT has. For example lacking FLAC and not the most updated Bluetooth version and so on.

Kenwood KMM-303BT is also a nice stereo, lots of features, but a bit older than the KDC-X5100BT., Radio / Front USB / Front AUX, You push a little plastic thing a side to get to the USB and Aux. Bluetooth that support mediastream and phone, 1 x preout 2,5V, Price 995 SEK.

Kenwood KMM-303BT, Radio / USB / AUX, Bluetooth that support mediastream and phone, 1 x preout 2,5V, Price 995 SEK

Kenwwod KDC-BT53U, CD / USB / AUX, Bluetooth support mediastream and phone, 3 x preout 2,5V, variable illumination / led, 1695 SEK

Pioneer MVH-280FD Radio / USB / AUX, red illumination, Class FD 4 x 100W, 2 x preout 2,5V, 1395 SEK

Sony MEX-XB100BT. It has nice carbon fiber look, the illumination flashes and so on, but mayby just too much. CD / USB / AUX, Bluetooth support mediastream and phone. Varible illumination / LED. NFC, Power 4x100W, 3 x 5V preout (RCA), Price: 2695 SEK

This is my choice! The Kenwood KDC-X5100BT. Packed with features. I'll try to do a review on Youtube sooner or later. Keep your eyes open.

Receipt of the transaction. Also bought an ISO-adapter for Toyota. Fits most Toyotas.

JVC and Kenwood are now one company. This Stereo is made in Indonesia. Manufacture may 2017 so pretty new.

The car stereo installed in the Toyota Previa. So far everything is working and am pleased with it. There are so many functions to explore!

KENWOOD KDC-X5100BT, 1495 SEK, Rear USB, 5 phone connection (paired), 2 at the same time. NFC and the list goes on.. This stereo really is packed with features for its price. The seller told me he like to sell Kenwood for over 25 years now because they are so reliable. He told me that this stereo is almost like a competing stereo, like they were a couple of years ago (and then also cost a small fortune). So this was the stereo he was pushing to sell me. It was one of Kenwood latest models so very updated he said.

Alpine CDE-178BT, CD / USB / AUX, Bluetooth that support mediastream and phone, 24-bit DAC, 3 x 4 V preout.

Here's a video where I visit the Car Stereo shop Bilstereohörnan.