N8N_99xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Curtis Bay, MD
In another thread I'd made an aside about being tempted to buy a new Kenwood head unit for the Heep. Right now I've got a JVC Arsenal KD-AHD39 in there that I originally bought a couple years ago for my pickup truck, but I pulled it to sell. When I got the Heep it had a cheap Sony unit with front USB, but I pulled it because a) it did not have HD radio (which actually I like, even though it is not widely used by others than NPR geeks) b) it wasn't "satellite ready" (although that was a complete bust, I tried hooking up my old XM tuner, didn't pull a signal just like it wouldn't in my pickup truck, bought a new antenna, still won't pull a signal, I'm cancelling my service, another tuner is too expensive for me) and c) the USB connection was not useful to me because when I hooked it up to my Android phone (HTC Evo 4G) I apparently have more files/folders on it than it can read, and the tracks/albums are seemingly randomly organized (by date of file maybe?) so I found myself using aux in and a patch cord and controlling my music through the phone's interface anyway.
This is the head unit I was considering buying - it looks good on paper and seems to address all the issues that I had with the Sony, is satellite ready if I ever decide to go down that road again (but probably not) and includes built in HD Radio and Bluetooth (which would be nice, I hate using a headset.)
http://outlet.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX896/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X896.html?cc=07
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X896; seems to be the same as the more expensive 996 but has front jacks for aux in and USB instead of rear which I think I would prefer.
Another poster responded that he had not had good luck with a Kenwood unit and went Pioneer instead. Any opinions or clarifications greatly appreciated, and a recommend for a good solid head unit would be as well. I've not really looked seriously at a newer Arsenal unit as they didn't have all the features that I wanted, although it looks like the KD-AHD75BT might fit the bill, seems to have been introduced since the last time I looked. (and I'm shocked at how these new HU's with all these features don't cost that much more than I paid for my KD-AHD39... time marches on I guess.)
If the person that replied to the other thread is reading this, is this the unit to which you refer?
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P9400BH/Pioneer-DEH-P9400BH.html
and are there any things that you don't like about it of which I should be aware?
Anyway, opinions gratefully appreciated.
thanks!
This is the head unit I was considering buying - it looks good on paper and seems to address all the issues that I had with the Sony, is satellite ready if I ever decide to go down that road again (but probably not) and includes built in HD Radio and Bluetooth (which would be nice, I hate using a headset.)
http://outlet.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX896/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X896.html?cc=07
Kenwood Excelon KDC-X896; seems to be the same as the more expensive 996 but has front jacks for aux in and USB instead of rear which I think I would prefer.
Another poster responded that he had not had good luck with a Kenwood unit and went Pioneer instead. Any opinions or clarifications greatly appreciated, and a recommend for a good solid head unit would be as well. I've not really looked seriously at a newer Arsenal unit as they didn't have all the features that I wanted, although it looks like the KD-AHD75BT might fit the bill, seems to have been introduced since the last time I looked. (and I'm shocked at how these new HU's with all these features don't cost that much more than I paid for my KD-AHD39... time marches on I guess.)
If the person that replied to the other thread is reading this, is this the unit to which you refer?
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P9400BH/Pioneer-DEH-P9400BH.html
and are there any things that you don't like about it of which I should be aware?
Anyway, opinions gratefully appreciated.
thanks!