Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 – Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010 at
8:01 pm
Product Description
With one-touch access to entertainment, navigation, and Bluetooth technology, Kenwood’s DNX8120 is the ultimate all in one. A highly advanced in-dash system, the DNX8120 offers guidance by Garmin, premium NAVTEQ mapping, and built-in Bluetooth technology for hands-free cell phone operation and voice dialing. The DNX8120 provides superior sound quality, a 6.95″ touchscreen with advanced GUI, and the industry’s fastest access to iPod audio and video files.
Features:
- in-dash DVD/CD player with internal amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels) and 6.95″ touchscr
- built-in memory for navigation with maps of Canada, USA, and Puerto Rico
- over 6 million points of interest, text-to-speech voice prompts
- optional Garmin FM traffic receiver
- XM Traffic/Weather ready for live traffic and weather data, with optional XM tuner
Price: $999.00
Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 – Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio
Related posts:
- Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X993 – Radio / CD / MP3 player / digital player – Full-DIN – in-dash – 50 Watts x 4
- Panasonic Car CNGP50U Strada Portable Mobile Navigation System with 5″” Widescreen LCD Monitor
- Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X493 – Radio / CD / MP3 player / digital player – Full-DIN – in-dash – 50 Watts x 4
Tagged with: digital • DNX8120 • eXcelon • Kenwood • Monitor • Navigation • PLAYER • Radio • System
Filed under: Kenwood
I researched the best Double DIN units for a couple of weeks. There isn’t much on the web about this unit and where there is there is 1 review that says it’s great to 1 review that says it’s horrible. This unit was more available for me to get my hands on locally then any other. I played with the pioneer a bit and was fairly satisfied with it’s interface. The clarion’s review on the web was terrible so i don’t even bother. So basically it was either the pioneer (forget the model but it’s the one with all the bells and whistles that compare to this unit) or this kenwood.
The pioneer installer actually told me that they wouldn’t/couldn’t install the unit in my ’07 vette. Said it was just too difficult and couldn’t be done. These people have installed all my alarms/radios/speakers etc for 15 years now and i trust their opinion. However, i read a couple step by step forum posts that showed it be done. Instead of arguing and trying to talk them into it i went to another installer.
The second installer had the kenwood (8120 and 7120) with some other cheaper non-options for me (Dual and some other manufacturer). The kenwood had the built in bluetooth which was a huge plus for me. I’m very very skeptical of bluetooth units in any car. I have had many and have yet to find one that was sufficient to replace me having to hold the phone to my ear. The fact that this was built in gave me hope as all others are add-ons.
Many reviews said the kenwood interface is bad. I don’t see why. It is plainly laid out and functional. I think it just has so many options (bells and whistles) that there are many nav keys to get into them it confuses people. It seems pretty good IMO. Could be flashier but i haven’t gotten into all the custom skins etc that can be added so maybe it is.
I added the IPOD and Sirius accessories. They work great. The sirius has a better connection then my sirius handheld stiletto which isn’t saying much but worth noting. The IPOD connection works good and clean sound. The interface is kind of bulky but when you’re used to the iphone’s simple interface what isn’t going to be bulky compared to it? (Bulky = boring/simple not alot of features)
So everything works great except for the one thing that i knew probably wouldn’t before i ever purchased it. The bluetooth phone. Everybody i’ve talked to on the other end said it sounded choppy and/or had static. I could hear them just fine and the voice dial seems to work ok. However, none of that matters if the other person can’t hear you
I will prob keep the phone to my ear.
Oh, the NAV works great. I’ve used several nav systems on phones and in rental cars and OEM version’s and this is wonderful. It auto updates the routes instantly and doesn’t yell at me for not following it’s orders. It adapts rather than freaking out. So far so good.
Bottom line — I would look at the pioneer a little harder if i went back through the purchase process but i doubt it’s BT is any better and i don’t like it’s nav maps. However, for me, if the BT is better i’d swap in a heartbeat. The BT is very important to me though.
I bought this a few weeks after it first went on sale. Works great, takes some time getting used to the controls and all the different setting you can choose. Bluetooth works good also, sends a request to my phone whenever I start my car. Only took seconds to upload my entire address book from my Katana. Navigation works well also, but havn’t used that as much. I was very surprised it had a lot of the small unpaved roads that I sometimes travel on when I was driving. I also bought the Kenwood iP300V to play my iPod (80 GB Classic) through. Which works great, no glitches or freezing during any point. Plays the videos that are on my iPod also. Bottom line no problems so far it’s a great product and would recommend this to anyone looking for all these features for a great price.
This product works great. It has everything that your could want. I was able to install this product myself in my motorhome. The only thing I needed to get was a wiring harness to attach to my existing wiring that was in my motorhome. I The maps look and work great and it is easy to switch from the map to the trip, favorite, or gps mode. It has a day and night mode that can work automatically. As for the bluetooth, I had heard that this part of the unit did not work very well, but I have used on several occasions and the person that you are talking too sounds like they are sitting right next to you. They are clear and they have no problem hearing you. I purchased the KCA ipod 300v but I have not had a chance to use this feature yet. I did not purchase the XM to see how it might work. The only draw back that I see with this unit is trying to watch a video on that small of a screen, however if you had larger auxiliary tv, I’m sure it would look much better. I would recommend this product to anybody who was looking to change out their factory radio.
Like many others, I read lots of good things about DNX8120. After the initial excitement of a new gadget is over, it is now becoming pain in the neck.
Mostly problems are small but very irritating.
1. The physical buttons are so small and text is not readable during day time. During night, you get to read the text because of the blue light glowing from inside. Physical buttons are very uncomfortable to feel. It hurts to use them.
2. Every time, I start my car or hang up on phone, last song from IPOD or USB drive starts playing again. No matter what you do, iPOD or USB starts on its own after phone call ends. I go out with my friends to lunch, we laugh when suddenly system starts playing IPOD after ordering carryout.
3. Bluethooth connection with my iphone stays for maximum of 5 seconds. Display shows that you are not connected to any phone. However, when call is received or dialed from your iPhone, system recognizes the iPhone and gets engaged. In other words, dialing from screen is not possible.
4. Sound Quality of iPhone is horrible. Horrible is a mild word to describe the sound quality. I have latest bluetooth firmware (1.70). Sound quality is so bad that I have to switch to phone instead of the system. Believe me, it is not just my problem, every users of iPhone is talking about it. Just search.
5. UI design is so bad that you have to click 3 to 4 times to reach TEL button. TEL button brings phone screen.
UI in general reminds me of ‘DOS’ days (specially line based rectangles). At $1200-$1600, one can expect a decent user interface. When in Device mode like IPOD, there are few short cut buttons. TEL button is on second page of shortcut buttons. I wonder, when there is a room on first page, why some one thinks of hiding important choice like going to phone screen.
You get so much involved in getting to do what you want, it is definitely NOT ‘distraction-free drive…’
6. Mute button also named as ‘ATT’ does not fully mute the volume. I could still hear songs but volume is considerably reduced.
7. Garmin UI is decent. In order to get to my favorites, I need to click on Menu->Where To -> My Locations -> All Categories -> favorite. Is it really essential? There is no one single path to reach phone screen while navigation screen is running.
8. You can not play videos (DivX, mpg etc) or see pictures from USB drive. One of the reviewers web site mentioned that you can watch photos from your camera directly using USB port. It is not true at all. You can only listen to music from USB drive. No videos, No photos just music. It does not make any sense.
Documentation , there are no documentation about any customization that is advertised.
Support, there is almost no support on Kenwood web site about latest firmware updates etc. I am sure, people are nagging them about various issues.
It seems that I am critical of even small problems like ‘mute’ button etc, it starts getting in to your nerves after few days of initial excitement. For Kenwood, it should be easy to solve such small inconveniences and if they do, it is a great product.
It seems that Kenwood did not test the product, if they did, I recommend not to buy this product,
Buy this stereo! This thing will do anything you want it to. It’s awesome! Sounds great, easy to use, so many features, wow!