Our take on the JVC KD-R730BT
by Zak Billmeier
Why replace your factory radio?
Two good reasons - sound quality and cool features. A new car stereo offers power that's superior to most factory radios, along with more sophisticated tone controls. And most car stereos offer built-in or optional features that add safety and fun to life in your car, including inputs for your iPod or MP3 player, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cell phone calls, satellite radio or HD Radio reception, and connections for building an audio system in your car.

Bluetooth® for hands-free calling...and much more
Bluetooth is great for talking hands-free, but that's only the tip of the iceberg. Pair up JVC's KD-R730BT CD receiver and an iPhone®, Android™ smartphone, or Blackberry™, and you can harness the true potential Bluetooth has to offer — you'll be able to receive text message notification, stream music, or access Internet radio stations, depending on your phone's features.


Great for Android™ smartphones
JVC's Android app lets you use your compatible Android phone's touchscreen to control the action using finger swipes and gestures — for example, tap the screen to play and pause, or swipe right to skip forward a track. So pop your Android phone in a mount, and you can reach down and skip a track without taking your eyes off the road.

Pair two phones at once
The KD-R730BT's built-in Bluetooth lets you pair two phones at once — no need to choose between your personal and business phones. When a call comes in, the receiver will blink either blue or red, so you'll know at a glance if your call is coming from home or the office. To answer a call, just tap the volume ****.

Higher-power USB connection
JVC upped the power in their USB port, which lets you keep your smartphone charged, even when it's doing several tasks at once. And with your smartphone connected, you can listen to its internal memory as one source and access the little microSD card as another.

Control PANDORA® Internet radio
JVC makes it easy to play your favorite PANDORA Internet Radio stations. iPhone users can control PANDORA when connected to the USB slot, while Android and Blackberry owners get full control of Pandora over the Bluetooth connection, depending on your phone's features.


— over 15 million songs, available instantly
MOG is an award-winning online music service with one of the largest and best-sounding streaming catalogs in the industry. It's the only service to offer all of its music in the 320 kbps MP3 format — that higher bit rate translates to better sound. In fact, we use it frequently in the Crutchfield Labs to test high-end audio gear. MOG's "Primo" service ($9.99/month) gives you unlimited, ad-free access to their extensive music library of over 15 million songs on a wide range of devices including Sonos® and Logitech® Squeezebox™ network music players, Samsung TVs, your computer, iPad®, iPhone®, and Android™ devices. Just pair your iPhone to this JVC receiver, and you can control the music and view artist/song info on the JVC's screen.

Want to keep your steering wheel controls?
In most vehicles, you can use an adapter to connect your vehicle's steering wheel controls to this JVC stereo. Connect a few wires, then program the adapter for your particular car and the JVC, and you'll retain the convenience of your steering wheel controls. Check the "Accessories" tab for compatible adapters.

iPod note: If you're going to use your iPod with this receiver, be sure to check "Details" for specific iPod model compatibility with this receiver or its optional iPod adapter.

Bluetooth note: Use of this receiver's Bluetooth features will depend upon your phone's Bluetooth capabilities. Learn more in our article explaining Bluetooth profiles.

Installation Note: This JVC receiver does not include the mounting screws needed for some installations. If you plan to install the radio yourself, you should have four M5 × 8mm (M5 × 3/8") flat-head screws on hand.

See more info on this item
Highlights:
General features:
CD receiver with AM/FM tuner
included Bluetooth adapter for hands-free calling and audio streaming
USB 1A connection charges devices quicker
built-in iPod control
control PANDORA® from your iPhone, Android, or Blackberry smartphone
works with Android app for gesture control over music playback
built-in MOSFET amplifier (20 watts RMS CEA-2006/50 peak x 4 channels)
Separated Variable Color display
remote control
Audio features:
24-bit digital-to-analog converter
high- and low-pass filters
3-band parametric equalizer
Expandability:
works with satellite radio tuner (subscription required)
inputs: front and rear USB ports, front auxiliary input
outputs: 6-channel preamp outputs (2.5-volt front, rear, subwoofer)
Other features and specs:
CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
compatible with most factory steering wheel audio controls (adapter required)
warranty: 1 year
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