You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Audio & StereoTechnical discussions about factory or aftermarket audio and video systems.
This is a discussion thread titled "Kenwood DNX8120 Review", within the Audio & Stereo forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
JJ is correct, all the controls work correctly. The only exception to that is for something like XM radio if played through the NAV/XM source as created when you have the GXM 30 antenna/receiver for XM while using the normal satellite inputs for Sirius (as Greghad and I have) In this case, the Nav/XM source is the only one that will not respond to the steering wheel control.
For other, "normal" sources, like Sirius, whether the up or down selection at steering wheel controls a preset or a seek function is determined by what "mode" the head unit is in (just as that mode impacts what happens when you push the up or down button on the head unit.
Lastly, there is a delay, or need for a certain or extended push on the steering wheel control button. This has been the case with all Kenwood steering wheel integration experiences I have had. So, in that sense, the behavior is identical to what it was like on a unit I had installed on a Navigator 4 years ago.....
hey guys, i am about to buy a kenwood 8120 for my 08 crewmax and i was wondering if anyone has found a good place to put the mic for teh bluetooth so there isnt a big echo. i have heard of lots of echoes and was wondering what everyone thought. thanks for the help
Jon
hey guys, i am about to buy a kenwood 8120 for my 08 crewmax and i was wondering if anyone has found a good place to put the mic for teh bluetooth so there isnt a big echo. i have heard of lots of echoes and was wondering what everyone thought. thanks for the help
Jon
I placed my mic in front of the console above the rear view mirror in the center facing the driver. I used the double sticky tape to afix it to the window. It works absolutely great. No echos and driver and passenger can talk to people without raising their voice. I am very happy with it.
My mic is hidden behind the mic grill that already existed in the overhead center area. My installer basicly used the mic that was there and adapted it to work with the kenwood mic......as I had the nav jbl system that was removed to put in the kenwood. But, I have seen others on this forum with pictures of putting the actual kenwood mic in that same location ..... behind the mic grill....I think they may have had to make a slight modification or mill out with a dremel, etc. but it supposedly worked fine.
Here's a question for people who own or have used this HU: can you upload garmin compatible custom maps to this HU using the SD card? I've heard somewhere else of someone uploading Topography maps, but I'm referring specifically to driving (routable) road maps. Thanks!
An additional review item to post here on my frustrating experience with getting the combination of the DNX8120 + Garmin GXM30 to deliver all of their promise to me. Specifically, this combination is not performing well in delivering some stock ticker information and NavWeather Forecast? I am wondering if anyone else out there in the ether has had the same problem I have. I have a set-up very similar to at least one other person on this board, whereby I am getting Sirius through the normal satellite input and XM via the mini-usb connection for the Garmin GXM30 "hockey puck" receiver that provides both XM radio, and access to the various XM data services. Regarding the latter, I am currently subscribed to NavTraffic and NavWeather (and stocks are included).
Ok, so here is the issue I am having. My XM gets good reception and I receive all music channels fine. I also receive NavTraffic fine. I also receive NavWeather maps and NavWeather "Current Conditions" fine. I DO NOT receive NavWeather "Forecast" (continually get message that states "waiting for XM broadcast"....which is the message you get on this set-up when it has verified you have a subscription, but it is waiting to update). I also get this same "waiting for XM broadcast" message on some stock ticker symbols, but others come in fine.
I am more concerned about not getting the Navweather "forecast" information than I am about the stocks that are missing. Though missing either is not getting all of what one has paid for in purchasing and installing this equipment AND subscribing to the aforementioned services.
So, I have repeatedly called XM, Garmin, Kenwood, and NavWeather service (data provider to XM). None view this as a "known" issue, nor do any feel they are culpable and point fingers at the other (obviously). Meanwhile, XM has retransmitted "reset" or "authorization" signals like a dozen times already but this never helps. So, from customer service and support I am getting a big fat zero. The other day we pulled my head unit and put a new one in and connected it to my existing GXM30....same result. We then connected the new head unit to a brand new GXM30 and mounted it temporarily to my rooftop and same result. So, I am pretty darn convinced now that I DO NOT have any faulty hardware since this behavior has remained consistent now across any combination of two different GXM30's and two different DNX8120's and different antenna mounting positions (therefore, not a reception issue either).
Has anyone else heard of this problem? I presume it is a software incompatibility between the GXM30 and the DNX8120, given all the other stuff I have tried.
Hey guys. First of all, excellent posts - there is a ton of information here and you all have answered tons of questions for random web-surfers you don't even realize.
I was hoping to get answers from you on a couple quick things (I know some are very easy but they are bothering me):
-Ipods. You don't have to have a special adapter do you? Using the built in USB with the standard ipod-to-usb cable will give it full functionality right?
-Satalite radio. I currently do not have this, but if i purchase this unit, definately will be setting it up. Which do you recommend (XM / Sirius)? And also, is there any adapters needed for this or does it come with an antenna and the software needed to connect with it correctly?
-How much is the GPS subscription? (And you don't need the disk in there like some other units, do you?)
-I don't see a button to take off the faceplate... but it is there right? And im assuming it comes with a case for the LCD display once you remove it.
Hey guys. First of all, excellent posts - there is a ton of information here and you all have answered tons of questions for random web-surfers you don't even realize.
I was hoping to get answers from you on a couple quick things (I know some are very easy but they are bothering me):
-Ipods. You don't have to have a special adapter do you? Using the built in USB with the standard ipod-to-usb cable will give it full functionality right?
-Satalite radio. I currently do not have this, but if i purchase this unit, definately will be setting it up. Which do you recommend (XM / Sirius)? And also, is there any adapters needed for this or does it come with an antenna and the software needed to connect with it correctly?
-How much is the GPS subscription? (And you don't need the disk in there like some other units, do you?)
-I don't see a button to take off the faceplate... but it is there right? And im assuming it comes with a case for the LCD display once you remove it.
Thank you SO MUCH for your help - dropping this much for something isn't normal to me, so i want to be 100% on it.
GPS is free but you will need to pay for updated maps (SD card) when they are available (if you want to upgrade). You do not need a disc in to use the GPS
The faceplate is not removeable...at least if it is I haven't figured out how to take it off
Ditto to what X said. In addition, you'll need a sat. tuner for which ever company you go with. I have Sirius and I needed the Sirius SC-C1 universal tuner and also the Kenwood CA-SR20V cable. Kenwood SiriusConnect™ Adapter Model CA-SR20V For Kenwood multimedia receivers with KAB Bus at Crutchfield.com Hook up was as simple as plug and play, then call Sirius to activate. The SC-C1 comes with everything you need, including antenna. You wont have to run separate power wire, the Kenwood 8120 supplies it with the juice it needs.
GPS is free, faceplate is fixed, but it does tilt. I'm using the PAC-SWI-JACK to control my 8120 from the steering wheel and it works perfect. A slight delay, maybe half a second, but it works great.
GPS is free but you will need to pay for updated maps (SD card) when they are available (if you want to upgrade). You do not need a disc in to use the GPS
The faceplate is not removeable...at least if it is I haven't figured out how to take it off
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jumbo Jet
Ditto to what X said. In addition, you'll need a sat. tuner for which ever company you go with. I have Sirius and I needed the Sirius SC-C1 universal tuner and also the Kenwood CA-SR20V cable. Kenwood SiriusConnect™ Adapter Model CA-SR20V For Kenwood multimedia receivers with KAB Bus at Crutchfield.com Hook up was as simple as plug and play, then call Sirius to activate. The SC-C1 comes with everything you need, including antenna. You wont have to run separate power wire, the Kenwood 8120 supplies it with the juice it needs.
GPS is free, faceplate is fixed, but it does tilt. I'm using the PAC-SWI-JACK to control my 8120 from the steering wheel and it works perfect. A slight delay, maybe half a second, but it works great.
Well the obvious question i have about a non-removable faceplate is the theft detection... what exactly does that entail? (The little red triangle that i think is more tempting than threatening... haha)
I've installed a few headunits in the past, but all single din or double din with adapters. Is the wiring in the back pretty simple. Just a wiring harness and the ipod/sirius adapters and thats it? (speaking of which, do i need a wiring harness for this into a honda 2002 accord?)
I've installed a few headunits in the past, but all single din or double din with adapters. Is the wiring in the back pretty simple. Just a wiring harness and the ipod/sirius adapters and thats it? (speaking of which, do i need a wiring harness for this into a honda 2002 accord?)
Thanks again
Wiring is really simple if you have the correct harness. You need power, ground and acc. You'll take the parking brake wire and just attach that to "ground" to allow all functions to work while the car is moving. If youre using the head unit to power your speakers too, you'll need to know which wires go to each speaker in the dash.
More than likely youre going to need a harness for the Accord.
Wiring is really simple if you have the correct harness. You need power, ground and acc. You'll take the parking brake wire and just attach that to "ground" to allow all functions to work while the car is moving. If youre using the head unit to power your speakers too, you'll need to know which wires go to each speaker in the dash.
More than likely youre going to need a harness for the Accord.
Sweet thanks! I found all the components, i can probably get away with just using the wire harness i use on my current headunit if I'm smart at cutting it.
I'm not in a truck like you guys, and to put it bluntly - the only reason i haven't gotten this yet is because I'm scared of someone wanting to break in and nab it. You have any experience with one of those CrimeGuard security systems? I feel i could justify the $200 for the piece of mind everytime i walked away from it.
Sweet thanks! I found all the components, i can probably get away with just using the wire harness i use on my current headunit if I'm smart at cutting it.
I didnt realize you already had an aftermarket head unit in the car. If thats the case youre right, just use that harnsess and tap into that. Yellow will be power, black ground and red acc. Speaker colors will be specific to that car, but are easy to test.
Excellent thread, I've been wanting to buy one of these HU's for a couple of weeks but didnt because I wasnt sure if it would be worth the cost.
I have an 08 Tacoma and was wondering if it would be best to go with the Metra or the Scosche dash kit? Also any suggestions where I can get either or?
I installed a DNX5120 in my brother's '07 Taco and used the Scosche dash kit. It matched the textured silver perfectly. I've never seen the Metra though so I really can't compare...
Re: Kenwood DNX8120 Review
Linear Mode
