Factory "match" stereo decks?
12-30-2011, 04:46 PM
#18
Rocky Mountain High
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I snapped a couple of quick photos in the garage. My garage has windows, so it wasn't totally dark in there, but you get the idea on the color matching.
Here's what I had done for my system upgrade:
- Installed a Kenwood Excelon DNX-6960 headunit
- Removed the factory Bose system and replaced all speakers with Focal Polyglass speakers
- 3-way speakers were installed in the dash, 2-way speakers in the rear, custom mounts were built for the doors for 6-1/2 inch woofers and a custom speaker box was built to replace the Bose sub-woofer box. A single 10-inch subwoofer was installed in the custom box and it was recarpeted to match the interior.
- A Focal 4-channel amp was installed in the frunk in place of the CD-changer
- Custom iPod/iPhone dock was built into the dash that conceals the iPhone when it is connected
I like the DNX-6960 for a few reasons. First of all, it has a fast response time compared to many other units when you push a button. Secondly, it doesn't have a motorized face. That's one less thing to break as far as I'm concerned. Finally, it has a volume **** instead of buttons to control the volume. I find this much easier when driving. The unit offers Garmin sat nav with live traffic updates and re-routing, bluetooth, voice dialing, Sirius/XM and obviously iPod connectivity and control. I'm very happy with the unit and the installation.
Here's what I had done for my system upgrade:
- Installed a Kenwood Excelon DNX-6960 headunit
- Removed the factory Bose system and replaced all speakers with Focal Polyglass speakers
- 3-way speakers were installed in the dash, 2-way speakers in the rear, custom mounts were built for the doors for 6-1/2 inch woofers and a custom speaker box was built to replace the Bose sub-woofer box. A single 10-inch subwoofer was installed in the custom box and it was recarpeted to match the interior.
- A Focal 4-channel amp was installed in the frunk in place of the CD-changer
- Custom iPod/iPhone dock was built into the dash that conceals the iPhone when it is connected
I like the DNX-6960 for a few reasons. First of all, it has a fast response time compared to many other units when you push a button. Secondly, it doesn't have a motorized face. That's one less thing to break as far as I'm concerned. Finally, it has a volume **** instead of buttons to control the volume. I find this much easier when driving. The unit offers Garmin sat nav with live traffic updates and re-routing, bluetooth, voice dialing, Sirius/XM and obviously iPod connectivity and control. I'm very happy with the unit and the installation.
12-30-2011, 04:49 PM
#19
Rocky Mountain High
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A couple of other installation notes:
- I had the antennae for the Sirius/XM and for the navigation system installed on the front bumper, underneath the bumper cover. They are totally concealed, and they work very well.
- I had the mic installed in the factory location, behind the little grill in the instrument cluster. It's totally concealed. It works reasonably well. The 996 is pretty loud inside, especially on the highway, so callers tend to hear lots of road, wind and engine noise.
- I had the antennae for the Sirius/XM and for the navigation system installed on the front bumper, underneath the bumper cover. They are totally concealed, and they work very well.
- I had the mic installed in the factory location, behind the little grill in the instrument cluster. It's totally concealed. It works reasonably well. The 996 is pretty loud inside, especially on the highway, so callers tend to hear lots of road, wind and engine noise.
12-30-2011, 09:30 PM
#21
I wonder if there is a way to mount a better am/fm antenna under the the front bumper cover to improve reception on a stock radio?
12-30-2011, 10:12 PM
#22
Rocky Mountain High
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I used the OEM antenna for AM and FM. The FM reception is about the same as it was. The AM reception is actually worse. My installer told me that the new decks just don't have strong AM receivers. The AM format is slowly going away. I occasionally like to listen to talk radio, so I wasn't too happy with that. Fortunately, Sirius has Fox News as well as the NFL network, ESPN, etc.
12-31-2011, 04:12 PM
#24
That seems to confirm that the AM reception problem is with the antenna and not the radio. I'm still looking for a solution other than sticking an antenna on the fender. I'm within 20 miles of a 50,000 watt AM sports station, but can barely hear it through the static. I've never had that problem with any other car.
01-03-2012, 09:56 AM
#25
3rd Gear
Join Date: Dec 2011
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I recently replaced my Becker head unit in my 1999 MY 996 C2 with a Kenwood KDC-BT61U - single din with variable colour illumination. About £150 in the UK.
Works pretty well - has Bluetooth and CD too. Importantly for me it's USB socket is on the rear - I've fed that to a Brodit iPhone mount - I didn't want a USB cable hanging down the front of the unit.
You can change the colour of the buttons and the LCD screen independently - you can get the amber to match pretty well (it has presets and separate RGB fine-tuning). The only thing I don't like is that the factory LCD's are effectively amber text on a black background, whereas the Kenwood is amber on darker amber (unless there's a way to change that and I haven't found it....)
I can take a pic if anyone's interested.
Works pretty well - has Bluetooth and CD too. Importantly for me it's USB socket is on the rear - I've fed that to a Brodit iPhone mount - I didn't want a USB cable hanging down the front of the unit.
You can change the colour of the buttons and the LCD screen independently - you can get the amber to match pretty well (it has presets and separate RGB fine-tuning). The only thing I don't like is that the factory LCD's are effectively amber text on a black background, whereas the Kenwood is amber on darker amber (unless there's a way to change that and I haven't found it....)
I can take a pic if anyone's interested.
01-03-2012, 01:33 PM
#26
Drifting
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Prince George's County, MD
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Does it support bluetooth audio streaming?
I recently replaced my Becker head unit in my 1999 MY 996 C2 with a Kenwood KDC-BT61U - single din with variable colour illumination. About £150 in the UK.
Works pretty well - has Bluetooth and CD too. Importantly for me it's USB socket is on the rear - I've fed that to a Brodit iPhone mount - I didn't want a USB cable hanging down the front of the unit.
You can change the colour of the buttons and the LCD screen independently - you can get the amber to match pretty well (it has presets and separate RGB fine-tuning). The only thing I don't like is that the factory LCD's are effectively amber text on a black background, whereas the Kenwood is amber on darker amber (unless there's a way to change that and I haven't found it....)
I can take a pic if anyone's interested.
Works pretty well - has Bluetooth and CD too. Importantly for me it's USB socket is on the rear - I've fed that to a Brodit iPhone mount - I didn't want a USB cable hanging down the front of the unit.
You can change the colour of the buttons and the LCD screen independently - you can get the amber to match pretty well (it has presets and separate RGB fine-tuning). The only thing I don't like is that the factory LCD's are effectively amber text on a black background, whereas the Kenwood is amber on darker amber (unless there's a way to change that and I haven't found it....)
I can take a pic if anyone's interested.
01-03-2012, 01:59 PM
#27
3rd Gear
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Yes it does. I don't use that personally because my iPhone is plugged into the Brodit mount (which is excellent, incidentally) permanently. I use TomTom on the iPhone and it works well too - the audio from the iPhone dips to allow the TomTom voice through - all output through the iPhone's USB lead and into the Kenwood.
01-03-2012, 11:19 PM
#29
Track Day
Join Date: Dec 2011
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I have the Kenwood Excelon 995 deck, and it is very good. Parrot Bluetooth, Pandora iPhone connectivity, HD radio, iPod/iPhone connectivity, voice control, SMS text capabilities, etc. It does have an adjustable color display, as well. It is single din, and the installers were able to keep my stock DSP. Not sure how much use the DSP is any longer but the interior looks nicer with it still there. Sound quality is pretty good, but now saving pennies for a speaker upgrade.
