Latest double din?
My personal favorites are the Kenwood and JVC models. Pioneer has had alot of issues with their new units, even with the updates. Still a nice unit but I've heard things from my distributors about them and read a few things on the net to verify what I was told.
Kenwood's 8120 seems to be the leader right now with Garmin navigation.
The JVC KW-NX7000 is a great unit as well and uses the proximity sensor used on the Kameleon AVX44 so you don't have to actually touch the screen to make selections, just get near it with your finger. I heard something negative about the picture quality and I can assure you it is great. I've seen it up close.
If you don't need navigation but want a nice double DIN unit I also have the JVC KW-ADV790 for $419.00, Clarion MAX385VD for $399.00. I also include the shipping, harness, and antenna adapter with purchase of these.
Kenwood's 8120 seems to be the leader right now with Garmin navigation.
The JVC KW-NX7000 is a great unit as well and uses the proximity sensor used on the Kameleon AVX44 so you don't have to actually touch the screen to make selections, just get near it with your finger. I heard something negative about the picture quality and I can assure you it is great. I've seen it up close.
If you don't need navigation but want a nice double DIN unit I also have the JVC KW-ADV790 for $419.00, Clarion MAX385VD for $399.00. I also include the shipping, harness, and antenna adapter with purchase of these.
i have read a couple reviews about the Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 having issues with the GPS not locking on very well and the bluetooth/phone option is horrible. Do you have anything to back that or dismiss it?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,325
Likes: 342
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
There was a problem with an error message being displayed when the GPS lost its WAAS connection. The WAAS system is a supplemental signal that provides timing corrections for the GPS satellite signal to improve accuracy. Without it, the GPS must rely on the GPS satellite signal alone and accuracy is reduced to about 15 meters (about 50 feet) on average. With WAAS the accuracy improves to 7 meters (about 23 feet) on average with accuracy as close as 1 meter being quite common. This accuracy is required by the FAA for aviation but really isn't necessary for consumers. The Kenwood DNX series (5120, 7120, 8120) is one of the few in-dash GPS systems to have WAAS capability but the original firmware displayed a cryptic and annoying error message when the WAAS signal was lost. Firmware version 1.40 corrected this problem.
The Kenwood Bluetooth problems mostly relate to Blackberry and iPhone although there are a few other phone models that can't take advantage of all the available features. I have a Motorola RAZR and it works very well with my Kenwood head unit. The feature that many complain about losing with some phones is the automatic phonebook update that occurs every time the Bluetooth connection is established. Some phones have to have the phonebook updated manually by selecting contacts in the phone and sending them to the head unit. However, this is the only way that Pioneer AVIC models can do their updates so it really isn't that much of a loss.
The Kenwood Bluetooth problems mostly relate to Blackberry and iPhone although there are a few other phone models that can't take advantage of all the available features. I have a Motorola RAZR and it works very well with my Kenwood head unit. The feature that many complain about losing with some phones is the automatic phonebook update that occurs every time the Bluetooth connection is established. Some phones have to have the phonebook updated manually by selecting contacts in the phone and sending them to the head unit. However, this is the only way that Pioneer AVIC models can do their updates so it really isn't that much of a loss.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,325
Likes: 342
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I did a comparison of the Kenwood DNX5120 and the Pioneer Avic-D3 in this thread. The DNX series includes the 5120, 7120, and 8120 which are all 2008 models. All of them have basically the same electronics but the 7120 and 8120 have larger screens without the controls on the left side and the 8120 has built-in bluetooth (which can be added to the others using Kenwood adapters). The Avic-D series has been discontinued and replaced with the F series. I've heard that they have made significant improvements in things like diskless navigation and the user interface but that there are some problems with them.
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Brett Foote
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,325
Likes: 342
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
GPS is free. Once you buy a GPS receiver, there is no additional cost except (optionally) updating the maps to keep up with road changes.
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From: Eastern MA
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From: Dickeyville Wisconsin
You will be very happy with either 5120, 7120 or 8120 Kenwood units. The NAV is awesome and performance of the hea dunit itself it great too.
The kenwood units use a Garmin GPS system, which is the best. The GPS is flawless. The only issue ive had with my DNX5120 is everytime I turn on the lights, the NAV screen fades. To get it bright again I have to go back to the source screen and then back to NAV. Anyone have any ideas? Whitebird?
But in my honest opinion the kenwood cannot be beat. Picked mine up for $632
But in my honest opinion the kenwood cannot be beat. Picked mine up for $632
I would not leave out the JVC KW-NX7000 either. It has gotten some very good reviews and I have played with this unit several times at one of my distributors warehouse as they have one setup. It is a very nice unit and comparable to any of the above mentioned!
i would buy the kenwood DNX8120, another thing that u have to remember is with the two lower models. the screen doesnt tilt, being that in our f bodys when there in there it is very flat. and we would be looking on an angle
the two lover versions do not have that so along with the screen it will have a glare and be a pain in the *** to see...... from our angle
just somthin to think about
if not get a flip up with nav, my opinion is that alot of people cannot tell its a flip up if your car is parked and some peeks in they cannot tell the difference,
with the Double din, its alot more apealing when some one is gonna break into your ****
the two lover versions do not have that so along with the screen it will have a glare and be a pain in the *** to see...... from our angle
just somthin to think about
if not get a flip up with nav, my opinion is that alot of people cannot tell its a flip up if your car is parked and some peeks in they cannot tell the difference,
with the Double din, its alot more apealing when some one is gonna break into your ****