Simple yet effective. Kenwood's KDC-MP142 CD receiver starts with a driver-friendly control panel, including a large jog dial that gives you instant access to all major functions. If you're bringing a portable music player along for the ride, this receiver features an illuminated auxiliary input that you can find in the dark without fumbling around. Kenwood also includes a full-featured remote control, so you can concentrate on the road while your passengers adjust the sound and choose the tunes.

Play all your CDs
The KDC-MP142 plays your prerecorded and recordable CDs, even discs filled with music files. The jog dial combines with a "Search" key to blaze through your MP3 and WMA files, so you can find the song you want in a flash. The stereo's built-in amplifier delivers plenty of punch, and you can mold the sound with a 3-band equalizer, six preset tone curves, and a potent bass boost.

Adding a sub?
A set of preamp outputs allows easy connection to an outboard amplifier. If you're adding a subwoofer, you can switch the outputs to sub mode, activating a low-pass filter and level adjustment for hands-on control over your bass.