KW-X850BTS

The KW-X850BTS is a double-DIN digital media receiver with no disc mechanism, which shortens the chassis to 3-15/16 inches deep and cuts the weight to 1.8 lb. In a vehicle where the factory double-DIN pocket is shallow or full of wiring, that depth is the difference between a clean install and a fight.

The front USB port reads MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, and FLAC files and charges at up to 1.5A. Bluetooth 4.2 covers streaming and calls with HFP 1.7 wideband speech, automatic pairing for iPhone over USB, two phones connected full time, and up to five devices paired through JVC Streaming DJ. Amazon Alexa compatibility handles voice requests for songs, volume, and news, and the receiver is SiriusXM Ready with the separate tuner.

Three pairs of 2.5V preamp outputs cover front, rear, and subwoofer, with subwoofer level control from -50 to +10. Onboard power is 50W x 4 maximum and 22W x 4 full bandwidth at less than 1% THD. Tuning includes a 13-band graphic EQ, 11 presets, bass boost, loudness control, high- and low-pass filters, K2 processing, time alignment, virtual surround, Sound Response, Sound Lift, and Volume Link EQ for road noise.

The 2-line VA LCD is paired with 2-zone variable-color illumination covering 32,768 colors per zone, so the front panel can be matched to factory dash lighting. Spanish and French menu text are available, and factory steering wheel controls carry over with a third-party adapter (sold separately).