Also provided are low pass and high pass filters, which allow you to use separate external amps for lows and highs without using an external crossover. These cut off the lows at the front/rear line outputs and cut off the highs at the non-fading output. The highpass filters on the front/rear outs have eight selectable cutoff frequencies (40 Hz, 60 Hz, 80 Hz, 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 150 Hz, 180 Hz, and 220 Hz), while the low pass filter on the non-fading out has three (50 Hz, 80 Hz, and 120 Hz). There's also a separate adjustment for the level of the non-fading output relative to the front/rear outs. Dual zone control gives you the capability of sending a different audio signal to the rear outputs for video games, DVD playback, etc. With a 4.5V swing on these outputs, you won't have to worry about having enough signal-to-noise ratio feeding those amps in the trunk.
Kenwood's CR-2 tuner is included, which can pick up the weakest stations without any trouble and has great rejection of multi-path noise. Three FM bands and one AM band have six presets each, yielding a total of 24 stations that can be programmed. Custom names of eight characters can be programmed for each station preset, and you can search the stations by name. Auto programming of the stations in each band can be done for those times when you are away from home. The deck is also ready for Sirius Satellite Radio, expected to be online by October 2001. This is a digital radio broadcast that will be beamed to all corners of the continental U.S. from three satellites in orbit, supplemented by ground repeaters. You can sign up to receive it for $12.95 per month. The quality of this broadcast will be much better than analog radio in most cases, and you will never have to change the station because you have driven out of range of the transmitter. There will be up to 100 channels of music, news, sports, and entertainment with NO COMMERCIALS! The channels will be organized by genre, similar to DMX. It will require a separate controller (not yet available) that connects to the rear of the deck.
Remote control is provided by the RC-520, a large remote with an alpha-numeric keypad that makes entering names for radio stations and discs much easier than through the buttons on the faceplate. All major functions are accessible via the remote.
Connections to the piece consist of four sets of gold plated RCA jack pigtails and a wiring harness with a high density connector for all of the hard wiring so that you can make all of your crimp/solder connections before the deck is mounted. The RCAs provide stereo line level outputs for front/rear/non-fading, and an AUX input. Four powered outputs with 22 watts each of continuous power can be used if you don't have external power amps. Power control wires are available for turning on your power amps and deployment of your motorized antenna, and a dimmer wire connects to the light switch to dim the display at night. Also provided is a control line for Kenwood amps that have a built-in selectable bass boost.
Kenwood is leveraging the headstart they have on MP3 in the car audio industry, with what appears to be the most mature deck of its kind. If you have been saving your pennies for the MP3 deck of your dreams, you can't go wrong with the Z828.