Customer Reviews

Kenwood DNX7100 6.95 In Wide Double-Din Indash Navigation System

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this item about a week ago and have had a chance to use it extensively.

Pros:

* Immensely robust feature set that integrates well with even the most complex factory setups; my vehicle has a rear DVD player and audio system. I was able to install this unit so that the rear DVD player can operate at the same time as the stereo for occupants in front. This unit has a wealth of features that, while challenging to figure out at times, give you incredible flexibility for configuration.
* Very, very good iPod control capable of easily navigating huge libraries (tens of thousands of songs); gives you access to songs, albums, and playlists quickly
* Excellent built-in Garmin navigation.
* Big, beautiful, highly functional touch screen that looks very clean in the dash; no cluttered buttons or knobs
* Lots of expansion options like satellite radio and bluetooth. I installed a rear camera and it is amazingly useful for trailer hitching and even for everyday backing up.

Cons:

* Like so many electronics products that are reaching nearly into PC space in terms of functionality, this unit suffers from a deep, wide, and complex navigational structure. There are all kinds of buttons that you have to hit in order to reveal other hidden buttons, with little consistency in navigational conventions. Sometimes to see more buttons you have to click a little green one. Other times you need to click one of the few physical buttons on the unit. Sometimes there's a "back" button; sometimes not.
* Button for random (shuffle) iPod playback difficult to find (see bullet above).

I don't want to overstate the cons. I would just love to see the electronics manufacturers pay attention to human interface and really get some expert designers. Maybe Apple could help them out.

All of that aside, this is a fantastic unit, a lot of fun to use, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a strong iPod controller and in-dash navigation system.

Kenwood DNX7100 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor and radio My husband has a Kenwood NAV 6019 and I went with the Kenwood DNX7100. The 7100 is a little easier to use as it will take you to a main function screen where you choose tv, DVD, IPOD, etc. BUT, compared to Pioneer models, the Kenwood is still lacking in ease of use. My 7100 does offer the ability to use the IPOD playlist and choose songs where the 6019 does not, that is a better feature. The sound of my bluetooth is worse than my husband's bluetooth sound with his 6019 though. We have even upgraded the speakers and wiring in my car, not much help. One thing I really hate about the Kenwood products is that there is not a MUTE feature; you are constantly going up and down with volume controls. The screen is clear and looks really nice. The back up camera and tv tuner accessories work good too. I wish someone would come out with a tuner/GPS system that is so simple to use, my mother could do it. Our installers even had trouble finding set up items with the 6019 and 7100. I found it almost impossible to quiet the navigation when someone else in my car rec'd a phone call and needed to hear on their phone. Too many steps needed. Also, the GPS does not show the next road you are looking for which is common for most GPS units. Again, not as easy as the Magellan unit we had. All in all, the Kenwood is a good deal for the cost but I wish these guys could make an easier model to use for all of us.

After much deliberation and debate over which 2Din navigation receiver to purchase and install, I went with the Kenwood DNX-7100, and I'm so glad I did!

First off, the Pioneer Avic products are difficult to by-pass, have mediocre iPod integration at best and cost quite a bit more. I have 13 speakers in my Volvo and the Kenwood rocks 'em all! Whether its music from my iPod, a DVD or XM radio this unit switches between sources flawlessly, quickly and without much pause and the sound quality is first rate. It does take about 8 seconds to load up, due likely to the navigation data being stored internally. Without the need for discs, it's WELL worth the wait.

On the topic of navigation...the interface and display is a bit quirky looking, but its GARMIN! So it'll get you there quickly and efficiently without sending you out of the way. It also has an SD slot to update the software or install custom POIs.

Another major point that made the decision easy was the available USB port for an external device. Obviously having an iPod makes more sense for music, but if you want to load pictures, custom backgrounds or other files it's a snap! Can't use a hub, but just run the cable to your glove box and switch devices easily.

Overall I'm extremely pleased with this product from Kenwood!

I researched a lot of in-dash navagation systems and read a lot of reviews. I am completely satisfied with this system. The GPS is very easy to use. It is much easier to use than the navagation system in my wife's Lexus. Great picture quality in the DVD player. I purchased the IPOD connection and it works great. Great sound! Overall, a very good product!

I've had this unit for about a month now and think its a great HU. The interface takes alittle getting used to, but the learning curve is really fast. I've had no problems installing the unit, although the instuctions from Kenwood need some help. I defintely would recommend to anyone looking to replace their radio and looking for an all in one this should be the unit. The navigation by Garmin is awesome. Not only are the maps great, but it also has built in knowledge of traffic rules. If you drive around in Jersey at all and have to use jug handles, you will really appreciate that. I didn't replace the speakers in my car, but the DNX7100 has definetly made them sound better. You will not go wrong by buying this all in one radio

I have now had this unit installed for over 4 months and am in the process of removing it for the third time. The first time was due to a malfunction with the CD/DVD drive which was promptly repaired under warranty after I finally got them to provide me with the necessary info as to where to send it. The second time was to install the XM radio receiver (the model number was provided by Kenwood customer service) and this last time is to remove the XM receiver since it was in fact the incorrect model number. I really like the unit, but I have no faith in their customer service and I have spent as much time taking the unit in and out as I have using it. If you need information for warranty repair or accessories it seems this part of the product equation they can't get right.

After reading the so called "Expert" reviews on the DNX7100, I was a little aprehensive, but I loved the feature list and it was time to upgrade my stock stereo in my Tahoe...those clowns have no idea what they are talkig about. They all said the navigation by Garmin in this unit was good, it's flawless...they said the sound was okay, it's great...they said the menu system was clunky and hard to navigate, they're dead wrong. I personally believe Kenwood did a fantastic job creating the menu system for this unit.

When you have a unit with this many features, you are going to have a large menu system with many options. I feel the menu system is very logical in its approach. After a week of using the unit, I was able to work all of the funcions I need with ease.

I installed mine with the optional iPod adapter, KCA-iP300V, the optional Bluetooth adapter, KCA-BT100, backup camera and dual headrest monitors for the 2nd row seats. The versatility of this unit is undeniable. The kids can watch and listen to their favorite movies while the wife and I listen to whatever we like from the front speakers.

The bluetooth interface is excellent. I feel my phone vibrate, the phone number pops up on the screen and 2 seconds later my phone is automatically answered and I'm talking, all without taking my hands off of the steering wheel.

The iPod interface is excellent, it displays album art and all relevent title information on the screen. I have a 5th gen iPod, so I can play my videos through the unit also.

The USB interface is suprisingly a great feature. You can load a thumb drive with a bunch of your favorite songs and it displays the album art (if it's embedded in the MP3 ID3 tag) and all relevent title information, just like the iPod, except the album art has better resolution. It's also very easy to navigate music on a USB drive.

Suffice it to say, there are way too many features of the DNX7100 to list and talk about them all here. With all of the great available features, I have only found 1 that I would like improved. The hands free phone interface can gather phonebook contacts from certain phones only. I can not sync my phonebook from my KRZR with the head unit, so it would be nice to have a way to program names and phone numbers in the unit.

I installed it with Kenwood CCD-2000 Rear-view camera, Kenwood KCA-BT100 - Car audio Bluetooth adapter and iPod adapter. Everything work greate. GPS quality is good (displaying map, route building, voice navigation). It is the best GPS I used so far. All devices integrated and work without problems. The only issue I see is display menus design requires engineer to understand, but after you learn it is not difficult.

This is a great navigation system. The interface is a little hard to use at first but once you get used to it it's great.
It has great sound, image and garmin GPS is great (specially the update yourself maps!).

If you are from outside the USA and want a navigation system buy this one!

I love it! It's always fun to play with a new gadget. Every time I drive, I turn on navi system, listening to CD, radio, etc. It's a very practical, useful toy.