Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio

by Kenwood

Product Details

• Item Weight: 10 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds
• ASIN: B00170DDCO
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,950 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent So Far, September 1, 2008

By 

Matthew Kendall (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio (Electronics)

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 :P 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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I'm really tired of hitting the reset button....., August 21, 2010

By 

M. Germany "Meghan's Dad" (Houston TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio (Electronics)

I've had this stereo for 2 years now and I've taken it into the shop several times. This last time they even sent it back to Kenwood and it came back "fixed", but turns out it still has the same problem. Whenever I start my car with the remote starter, the system locks up and the only way to get it working is to hit the reset button, which of course erases all of your settings and you have to set everything up from scratch again. For some reason, it only locks up when I use the remote starter. If I start it with key, no problems. I'm at a loss for what to do. The installer says they don't know what to do since they sent it to Kenwood and that was suppose to fix it. If you have a remote starter in your car, I would hesitate on purchasing this unit.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So many options!!, May 7, 2008

By 

The Real Marine "Joey" (Everywhere, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio (Electronics)

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.