Kenwood 8120s are in

[tech12volt]

The new kenwood ddx8120 are in 1299 shipped anywhere in the 48 states.

http://www.shop.tech12volts.com/prod...&productId=117

[t22a80]

IMO this is the best double din nav on the market. It does everything and does it well. The screen is nice and it has a ton of features.

[titaninak]

Originally Posted by tech12volt

The new kenwood ddx8120 are in 1299 shipped anywhere in the 48 states.

http://www.shop.tech12volts.com/prod...&productId=117

dam.
james i am about there on my comp fund.

[Titanequipped]

Originally Posted by t22a80

IMO this is the best double din nav on the market. It does everything and does it well. The screen is nice and it has a ton of features.

I smell BS does it drive the vehicle for you???? Can you take the navigation unit out and put into another vehicle like the Alpine unit? So why exactly is this the best double din nav on the market. Sure isn't the price!!!

[tech12volt]

Originally Posted by Titanequipped

I smell BS does it drive the vehicle for you???? Can you take the navigation unit out and put into another vehicle like the Alpine unit? So why exactly is this the best double din nav on the market. Sure isn't the price!!!

This unit is setup for the person that cars about preamp quality and eq settings. This unit has alot of features that alpine does not. But the major difference is the preamp section.The kenwoods preamp walks all over it

[Titanequipped]

Originally Posted by tech12volt

This unit is setup for the person that cars about preamp quality and eq settings. This unit has alot of features that alpine does not. But the major difference is the preamp section.The kenwoods preamp walks all over it

Now there we go..... So this has better choices for sound for high end. What about the nav., can you take it out from car to car and charge internally like the alpine? I'm a traveler and like this feature. I like sound but I don't know if an average Joe like me would notice the difference in sound. What do you think. Thanks tech..... You stereo guru

[ecrawford]

Originally Posted by Titanequipped

Now there we go..... So this has better choices for sound for high end. What about the nav., can you take it out from car to car and charge internally like the alpine? I'm a traveler and like this feature. I like sound but I don't know if an average Joe like me would notice the difference in sound. What do you think. Thanks tech..... You stereo guru

I think that if a navi is your biggest concern that a little portable unit that you stick on your window is the answer - I have a little Garmin Nuvi and love it. Personally I didn’t care too much for the navi in the alpine or the pioneer. I definitely think that they both look better than the Kenwood but they are not near as accurate. It seemed that my Pioneer was always off about 15 to 20 yards. Things like the estimated arrival times seem to be more accurate on the Garmin devices also – and to eat my words ( I know that James is going to get a kick out of this) but the iPod connection with the Pioneer is slooooooow. At first it was manageable but I now have over 4000 songs on my iPod and it just got ridicules. (Pioneer was suppose to fix this with the new AVIC-Z3’s though)

In addition I like the Point of interest search in the Garmin devices because they keep refreshing as you travel and also tell you what direction your location is in. With the other units it would tell me that I’m 5 miles away but I didn’t know if I would be back tracking after I got off of an exit.

I have a couple of other comparison that I can share if you like. I have own three double din navi’s – Eclipse, Pioneer and the 8120 which I am in the middle of installing today. Just give me a PM if you want to know some of the other minor differences I’ve seen.

[tech12volt]

Originally Posted by Titanequipped

Now there we go..... So this has better choices for sound for high end. What about the nav., can you take it out from car to car and charge internally like the alpine? I'm a traveler and like this feature. I like sound but I don't know if an average Joe like me would notice the difference in sound. What do you think. Thanks tech..... You stereo guru

If you want portable the Alpine is your best bet. Most would not hear the difference in preamp . Sorry its just a fact.I wish I could say you would hear a huge difference but most will not. I would 90 percent of all the guys on this forum could not tell a difference.

[t22a80]

Who is the 10% that would James? haha!!!

[Blackbeauty]

Not me.... You know, I think the stock R/F system ROCKS!

[Titanequipped]

Originally Posted by ecrawford

I think that if a navi is your biggest concern that a little portable unit that you stick on your window is the answer - I have a little Garmin Nuvi and love it. Personally I didn’t care too much for the navi in the alpine or the pioneer. I definitely think that they both look better than the Kenwood but they are not near as accurate. It seemed that my Pioneer was always off about 15 to 20 yards. Things like the estimated arrival times seem to be more accurate on the Garmin devices also – and to eat my words ( I know that James is going to get a kick out of this) but the iPod connection with the Pioneer is slooooooow. At first it was manageable but I now have over 4000 songs on my iPod and it just got ridicules. (Pioneer was suppose to fix this with the new AVIC-Z3’s though)

In addition I like the Point of interest search in the Garmin devices because they keep refreshing as you travel and also tell you what direction your location is in. With the other units it would tell me that I’m 5 miles away but I didn’t know if I would be back tracking after I got off of an exit.

I have a couple of other comparison that I can share if you like. I have own three double din navi’s – Eclipse, Pioneer and the 8120 which I am in the middle of installing today. Just give me a PM if you want to know some of the other minor differences I’ve seen.

I have owned 3 garmins the c550 and 2 of the nuvi 660. They had some features I like, but the Alpine is more convienent for me with the set up I have. As for the Kenwood I use to be a hugh fan, but I've been buying Alpine for the last 10 years with no issues. The Alpine use to be an easy unit to operate, not anymore. I really don't like all that HP, LP, frequency, decible and what ever else is in my Alpine. I just like the trebile, bass, fader and balance which I don't have. These new Radios are all too fancy for me... I was just curious about the differences. Also I've seen the pioneer and messed with the navi., I didn't care for it. I think Garmin is the easiest to use so far.... Just my .02..... Thank you James for the info. and here's a BUMP for the new Kenwood unit...

[Joeycurl]

based on the kenwood description you can control dual zones with it (vid in back and music in front) does the alpine allow you to do the same. I'm actually in the market for a new setup and the stereo shop was really pushing the alpine and kenwood HU. also has anyone used the ARC audio speakers (specificaly the KAR or FD series)?

[Justintoxicated]

Originally Posted by Titanequipped

I have owned 3 garmins the c550 and 2 of the nuvi 660. They had some features I like, but the Alpine is more convienent for me with the set up I have. As for the Kenwood I use to be a hugh fan, but I've been buying Alpine for the last 10 years with no issues. The Alpine use to be an easy unit to operate, not anymore. I really don't like all that HP, LP, frequency, decible and what ever else is in my Alpine. I just like the trebile, bass, fader and balance which I don't have. These new Radios are all too fancy for me... I was just curious about the differences. Also I've seen the pioneer and messed with the navi., I didn't care for it. I think Garmin is the easiest to use so far.... Just my .02..... Thank you James for the info. and here's a BUMP for the new Kenwood unit...

Hard to properly setup amps without some kinda highpass/low pass filter. its really not more complicated, your filtering freq instead of screwing with the signal by boosting pre-calculated parts of it or adjusting an EQ, stop your 6.5's from playing 30 htz tones etc. Alpine used to be my favorite, but I have been happy with my old 4 year old eclipse. I think all the companies appear to be going downhill, maybe there is still an exception but car audio has been getting worse and worse over the years. Now audio companies have no choice but to appeal to everyone and their ipods and finger sandwitches. So much for quality thow in a USB and Ipod circuit or we can't compete. Recently started looking for a new HU myself. As tempted as I am to get a double din for a nice clean install I'll probably go with another eclipse Single Din with dual/tripple security (detachable face and ESN + car alarm). After all with the economy in the ****ter crime rates are escilating. Even my stealthed instal with a plain looking HU got jacked this week (well just the HU).

I'll stick with my suction cup mounted Magellan GPS for now, and hope my new HU's Bluetooth works better than my GPS... Only way to prevent theft is to remove everything and take it with me now. Sure I live in a pretty nice neighborhood, which is exactly the problem, people from compton and inglewood don't mind a short freeway drive to nice places like this to jack stuff since they are feeling the economy worse than anyone. Not that excited about getting a new unit at all, now ever time I want to take the truck for a spin I have to install my Ham Radio faceplate, Car Stereo Faceplate, GPS if needed, and hook it up to power/antenna.

I thought the eclipse portable GPS was cool until I saw the new alpine, I'd certainly go with that if you have the cash and want an all in wonder. Just remember when you want to upgrade the Navi in a couple years you will end up buying another unit anyways most likely, so there are advantages to keeping navigation seperate. The update CD's are not cheap, sometimes it is cheaper to buy a whole new system than to buy the newest maps, then again I don't think its fully necessary to update every year depending on how much you rely on it.

I also learned there are advantages to Double Din Nave units. If it gets jacked its covered by my insurance where as the ones that suction cup to the windshield are not! Also they are in the shaded portion of the truck vs in direct sunlight and may also be easier to reach. Finaly if its NOT removable then you will always have it with you, so when you hit traffic or detour you can escape.

Hope this helps your decision.