Best In Dash DVD/Nav Head unit
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Best In Dash DVD/Nav Head unit
Just thought i'd ask the audio guru's cause i am not very versed on this subject.
I'm looking to change the head unit on my vette and i would like to get the best head unit i can for the $.
I would like Nav, Blu Tooth, Sat Radio and a somewhat visually pleasant interface.
i have a Kenwood DDX7719 in my Xterra and while the unit works well (without nav) visually it's very bland.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
I'm looking to change the head unit on my vette and i would like to get the best head unit i can for the $.
I would like Nav, Blu Tooth, Sat Radio and a somewhat visually pleasant interface.
i have a Kenwood DDX7719 in my Xterra and while the unit works well (without nav) visually it's very bland.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 408
From: Greer, SC
It's going to come down to personal preference. I have the Kenwood DNX6140 so to me the very best HU out there is the Kenwood DNX9140 or the older DNX8120. All DNX Kenwoods have actual Garmin NAV built in and IMHO the Garmin is the best NAV out there. I actually have 2 DNX units. A DNX5120 in my Mustang and the 6140 in my vette.
Some folks will say the Pioneers are better units. The only think I liked better on the Pioneer was the fact that their units have a higher screen resolution. The Kenwoods are 480x234 and the Pioneers are 800x600 I believe. Since I don't use my HU to watch movies this was not a big deal to me. When I first went looking for a new HU for my Mustang the Pioneers were also VEEEEERRRRYYYYYY slow to boot. Like 2 minutes vs. 30 seconds but I believe the newer firmware helped that issue on the Pioneers.
Alpine's are nice too but their NAV is horrible. I have a buddy that had an Alpine and the unit had great sound quality but the NAV made him pull his hair out and he wound up replacing the Alpine with an Kenwood DNX8120.
Some folks will say the Pioneers are better units. The only think I liked better on the Pioneer was the fact that their units have a higher screen resolution. The Kenwoods are 480x234 and the Pioneers are 800x600 I believe. Since I don't use my HU to watch movies this was not a big deal to me. When I first went looking for a new HU for my Mustang the Pioneers were also VEEEEERRRRYYYYYY slow to boot. Like 2 minutes vs. 30 seconds but I believe the newer firmware helped that issue on the Pioneers.
Alpine's are nice too but their NAV is horrible. I have a buddy that had an Alpine and the unit had great sound quality but the NAV made him pull his hair out and he wound up replacing the Alpine with an Kenwood DNX8120.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 17,992
Likes: 280
While I'm not a guru, I did some homework when I was in your situation and just got through installing the Kenwood DNX9140 with stock Bose amp/speaks and hooked up the steering wheel controls as well.
Today is my first day using it. The nav failed to find Tacoma Screw using the Point of Interest and I wasn't thrilled about that, however its Garmin software for the nav as others have said which is the best out there. Lightyears above the stock Nav (C6).
The sound is a few notches better than stock, plus you can control an IPod with it and I have lossless music on there. That sounded nice, plus it has album artwork and the steering wheel controls work with it.
Also, in September, Kenwood will release a plug in deal for MSN Direct. While they won't say what features of MSN Direct they will support, the common one is traffic but they "could" also do Doppler radar maps and movie times too!
There is just too many features to talk about with the Kenwood DNX9140. The last one I will mention is it can be voice controlled. I put the mike near the stock location and its great!
Today is my first day using it. The nav failed to find Tacoma Screw using the Point of Interest and I wasn't thrilled about that, however its Garmin software for the nav as others have said which is the best out there. Lightyears above the stock Nav (C6).
The sound is a few notches better than stock, plus you can control an IPod with it and I have lossless music on there. That sounded nice, plus it has album artwork and the steering wheel controls work with it.
Also, in September, Kenwood will release a plug in deal for MSN Direct. While they won't say what features of MSN Direct they will support, the common one is traffic but they "could" also do Doppler radar maps and movie times too!
There is just too many features to talk about with the Kenwood DNX9140. The last one I will mention is it can be voice controlled. I put the mike near the stock location and its great!
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 14
From: Sherwood AR
Anybody ever tried the jvc decks? Something like this: http://www.woofersetc.com/p7959/KWNX...uch-Screen.htm
I have an older version, no nav, in my truck and really like it.
I have an older version, no nav, in my truck and really like it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
Not trying to hijack but in the interest of finding the "best head unit".
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,857
Likes: 84
From: Gainesville VA
Not trying to hijack but in the interest of finding the "best head unit".
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 5
From: Overland Park KS
The aftermarket companies should at least offer a SD slot for a 16+ GB memory card. It would beat trying to find my iPod when I want to go for a drive. Also seems silly you would have to buy two iPods if you and your wife each had aftermarket stereos in each car.
The thumb drive idea is okay, just would prefer a more concealed/permanent solution like a memory card in a slot.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 109
Likes: 14
From: Sherwood AR
Most of the usb capable decks come with the plug on the end of a 3ft cord. Just run it to your glove box, pop in your thumb drive, and enjoy. With it in the glove box, it's out of the way and you never have to mess with it again unless you want to change out the thumb drive. Get one for you and one for the wife and just swap em out whenever you want.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 24
From: Las Vegas NV
Not trying to hijack but in the interest of finding the "best head unit".
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 750
Likes: 0
From: Port Saint Lucie Florida
Not trying to hijack but in the interest of finding the "best head unit".
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
I haven't come across a head unit that has its' own internal memory for music. I'd think adding internal memory to a head unit or having an external hard drive would be a better option to have a "clean" solution without wires/ipods in the car. Perhaps I could wire it to the glove box so its' out of the way, just seems odd they can't put a memory card port somewhere on the deck so I don't have to remember to grab my ipod when I take a drive. Anyone found such a head unit??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,857
Likes: 84
From: Gainesville VA
You will never fill this. Kingston makes it.
DT300/256GB 256GB* USB flash drive
http://www.kingston.com/flash/dt300.asp
DT300/256GB 256GB* USB flash drive
http://www.kingston.com/flash/dt300.asp
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Bethlehem PA
The problem with the Kenwoods is that they stop accessing anything after 135 folders (USB). I have an 8GB flash drive that I cannot fill, because it exceeds that 135 folder limit. I've tried, but no dice.
I do not know if the newer xx40 series has this same limitation. Kenwood says the max folder count is 255, but they're wrong.
They have no problem reading folders on ipods, apparently. That's great... but I don't have an ipod.
I do not know if the newer xx40 series has this same limitation. Kenwood says the max folder count is 255, but they're wrong.
They have no problem reading folders on ipods, apparently. That's great... but I don't have an ipod.
