Anybody have the Kenwood DNX6140

[fgavalanche]

I'm looking to install a new head unit w/ DVD/NAV. I have been looking at the new kenwood DNX6140. Does anybody have this head unit and if so how do they like it. I'm open for suggestions if anybody knows of a good unit around this price range. I included a link to kenwoods site about the deck.


http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Mobile_Video_n_Navigation/Navigation/DNX6140

[Troublemaker]

How much is this model going for?

I dropped about $900 for the 8019 model from a member on this site (used), but the NAV, Bluetooth, and Ipod adapters were seperate (they sold with the unit, but were not "built in").

I like what I have - this one looks a lot cleaner, and would be easier to install as there is no separate NAV or BT unit to hide somewhere.

[fgavalanche]

About $950 is what I was quoted. It has the blue tooth and NAV built in so there is other pieces to buy and find places for. Also the NAV is all built in so you don't have to load a CD to us the NAV system. Having it all built in was kind of the selling point to be.

[Troublemaker]

You may need a $100 adapter if you have OnStar and want to keep it.  I had to get an adapter to replace my factory radio.  Check out www.crutchfield.com and do a search for the DNX6140.  Plug in your AV details (year, bose/non-bose, nav/no-nav), and it will tell you what you need to make it fit.  (it is usually a universal mounting bracket, an antenna adapter, and for $100 more, you get the chimes/onstar adapter.)

The crutchfield price is about $1050, plus the adapter (but it comes with install instructions, free shipping, and the mounting kit/antenna adapter)

[05HrlyHlr]

That is the same one I am looking at also! I have heard alot of good things about it and read alot of good reviews on it! Its about 900-950 here also! I also like the fact it has the Garmin nav buit in also! So I am pretty sure that is on my list for things to get in the next month or so!

[fgavalanche]

Thanks Troublemaker. I checked out crutchfield and they say all I need is the $100 adapter.  I do wonder how fast the unit is for switching between screens and start up.

[Troublemaker]

Mine takes about 5 seconds to "boot up" when I start my AV...  switching screens is not a problem.

[fgavalanche]

That's not to bad at all.   

[mrfrancis3000]

I have the DNX-5120,  the baby radio of the series and I LOVE it. I have the reverse cam, ipod hookup and the Garmin. It can do more (bluetooth, satellite, etc) but I don't use those features. It was a bit of a dud at first, but then Kenwood/Garmin released some updates and now its perfect. If you burn an MP3 cd with Media Monkey software, you can have the album artwork scroll across the screen in a slideshow while the music plays. You can do a lot with it. I'm pretty sure the 6140 can do all that and more.

FYI - I read somewhere that they were coming out with the DDX series of radios pretty so you may want to look into some of those. Alot of places have been having price drops on the DNXs so that might work to your advantage.

[Troublemaker]

Yeah, I have the ipod adapter on my 8019, and it will show album art for each song that it plays, and I can control it all via the touch screen.  (haven't tried this with the ipod touch or iphone yet, but should work).  I have 2 A/V outputs and 1 A/V input, in addition to an RCA-in jack for a backup camera (which I don't have yet).

I have an overhead video screen that I still need to install so I can pop a DVD in the radio and view it on the screen (actually, my kids will be doing the viewing....  wife or I will be doing the driving...)

[fgavalanche]

Well I installed the Kenwood DNX-5140 instead with the blue-tooth module. I got a screaming deal on it instead of the 6140. So far the head unit works great. Takes a little time to get it all set up though. I boots up quick and the NAV works great. Comming soon will be some head rest monitors and back up cam. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

[gilkman]

fgavalanche,
Did you have to use any special harness adapter other than the $100 gizmo from Crutchfield?  I'm looking at the 6140 for my '04, On* and Bose.
I'd also like to keep the steering wheel controls.  did you have to use the PAC adapter as well?  Do you have the factory sub (non-premium), and did you lose it
when you put in the Kenwood?
sorry for all the questions.  just trying to figure out what all I'll need.  From searching, it looks like I need the steering wheel and crutchfield adapters.
Thanks,
Jim

[Troublemaker]

For my 05, with Onstar and Bose, I had to get the $100 adapter, a universal install kit (plastic shell for mounting the radio), an antenna adapter, and SWI-X PAC adapter.  I think it was $100 for all of these items, can't remember for sure - but if you check out crutchfield, just plug in your info and it will tell you what you need, or you can call them and the CS rep will let you know what you need.  You just need to tell them what you have now, and what aftermarket radio you are installing.

They even told me that I could use the SWI-X adapter to either regain the steering wheel controls OR the rear-seat audio controls (but not both, even with 2 adapters).

[gilkman]

TM,
thanks for the info.  so reading about the SWI-X, it looks like you teach it codes from the H/U remote and then it uses those to control the H/U from the steering wheel.  does the SWI-X send the codes to the H/U via a wire, or is there a flasher that needs line of site to the H/U IR receiver?  the PAC docs seemed to indicate that.
thanks again for the info!

[Troublemaker]

The instructions that come with  the SWI-X itself are better than what they show you online.  I have mine mounted behind the kick panel under the steering wheel.  There's a light-green wire coming off the center BCM module (there's 3 under there), and one wire from the SWI-X connects to that, one to power, and one to the radio.  Then there's a button on the SWI-X that you push to enter programming mode, then you cycle between each of the steering wheel buttons and the SWI-X button (ie.  steering wheel button, then SWI-X, steering wheel, SWI-X, etc...) until all buttons are programmed.  The only ones you need to program are volume up/down, seek up/down, source, and whatever's under source.

[gilkman]

cool, so the wire to the radio is what transmits the learned codes from the steering wheel?  sorry to be asking such simple questions, but as you said, the online info is not clear.
I was leaning towards picking up a factory NAV from an 05, but this seems to be a better route.  I really want bluetooth, especially after using it in my wife's 09 Traverse.

[fgavalanche]

You would like the kenwood way better than factory. The wheel controler and harnis are about 100 each I think. I don't rember completly as when I got mine the dealer is a friend of mine and I got eveything new and installed for 700.

[gilkman]

You would like the kenwood way better than factory. The wheel controler and harnis are about 100 each I think. I don't rember completly as when I got mine the dealer is a friend of mine and I got eveything new and installed for 700.

do you have the factory sub in the console, and does the harness from Crutchfield maintain its use?

[fgavalanche]

I don't have a sub I'm the console. I would think that it would. You can always call and ask crutchfield.