I’m strongly considering buying the new Kenwood Excelon DDX9906XR when it’s released, which is expected to happen next month.
Looks like it’ll have a $900 price tag, which is certainly a lot of money, but I’d be okay with it.
For me, the wireless Apple CarPlay is one of the most important features of this HU. I’m really hoping it’s not a let down as I know there were some bugs discussed in this thread:
https://www.diymobileaudio.com/foru.../382090-new-2018-kenwood-excelon-dnx995s.html
Can anyone give feedback on the performance of the Apple CarPlay (wired) on their current KENWOOD HU? I know ErinH is a fan of it.
Wired Apple Carplay using the DDX9905s is pretty great IMO (I tested it using my sister's iPhone X during some road trips while she was visiting from Australia over the holidays).
Wired Android Auto is "okay"...it works well, but it's not quite as polished or seamless as Carplay now that the new iOS 12 update includes WAZE & Google Maps. With either, you are quite a bit more limited to what you can do compared to using the phone directly, but while driving, the basic needed functionality is there.
The only thing I might warn you about with the newer DDX9906XR compared to the previous model DDX9905s, is that the new model has added a required VSS wire (Vehicle Speed Sensor) in the main harness that you MUST connect to the ODBII port in order to use Wireless Apple Carplay or Android Auto.
With the DDX9905s/DNX995s, you could simply connect the Parking Brake wire to (-) Ground to achieve the video-in-motion Parking Brake Bypass, which also allows the use of some setup/adjustment functions that are otherwise only allowed when "the vehicle is stopped with the parking brake on", such as BT setup or Audio DSP/Network adjustments.
I realize that it's really convenient to be able to keep your phone in your pocket or purse and still have Apple Carplay or Android Auto functionality Wirelessly, but in general I usually want to keep my phone charging while I'm in the car, so the wired connection is not a big deal for me on the "older" 9905s/995s. You'd have to remove the phone from your pocket or purse to do any type of wireless charging while in the car anyway, so? (Some newer vehicles have wireless charging pads or docks built-in).
The new "996/9906" units also have 3 Inputs for Cameras, so you can do a Front, Rear, & Dash cam now. Previous units had 2 inputs. You can add a composite or HDMI video input and/or Mirror your Android smartphone screen using an aftermarket adaptor or two plugged into either unit's 3.5mm "AV-IN" jack, but it will not be active (I think) on the newer units if the VSS senses that the car is in motion.
I ran the Sony RSX-GS9 double stacked with a Denon DCT-1 for the past year or so, and recently swapped it for the Kenwood DDX9905s. I really just wanted a better interface, user experience, everything else about the Sony was great. I do love the Kenwood, but there were a couple of things about it that make me scratch my head.
First it doesn't make much sense to me to have a hi-res screen and have no way to use it. No blu-ray, no HDMI.
Second the A/V input is proprietary so you can't just run any 3.5 A/V cable without some customizing.
Third is the weblink, oh man I don't want to even talk about it, but let's just say it's trash. So a Kenwood from 2013 I think the model no is DNX990HD has HDMI, and a full web browser, but in 2018 no dice. Would much rather have the web browser than weblink...
There are a couple smaller things that get to me like how Spotify works differently from android auto to BT(AA shows how far along in the song you are, BT does not), but overall it's a beautiful display and having navigation with traffic has paid for itself.
I completely agree regarding the 995s/9905s having a Hi-Res Display but no Blu-Ray disc player or HDMI input! :/ However, as mentioned above, you can input an HDMI signal or do Screen Mirroring with a separate adapter or two. Check out this video from Quality Mobile Video and check the links in the video description for the adapters...
And the "AV-IN" on the back of the unit isn't really proprietary. I have a standard 3.5mm stereo miniplug cable plugged into this jack and it works perfectly as a standard Analog "AUX input" jack using the 3.5mm Headphone Output jack on an iPod Classic, smartphone, etc . I routed this cable from this jack to my GF's OEM "AUX Input" jack in the center console of her vehicle. NOTE: You have to Enable that input within the audio settings on the Kenwood.
And I agree that WebLink SUX! The only use for it WAS (past tense) being able to use WAZE when connected to an iPhone. Otherwise its features and functionality are worthless and janky.
These Kenwood units aren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but IMO they come the closest to having nearly every usable feature that I want and being somewhat easy to operate compared to others, + really great SQ.
I do wish that a "Scrobber Bar" & music track time & position indicator were UNIVERSAL across ALL of the different playback apps...BT, Spotify, Pandora, Android Auto, Carplay, USB input, etc! It's a real PITA when playing really long tracks such as classical or full "mixtapes", etc.