[cannibal869]

OK here are some installation pics...
The headunit as you can see from the first pic is the Kenwood Excelon DNX 8120
Official page here:
Kenwood DNX 8120

The rearview camera is the Kenwood CCD-2000

I had to make a template out of some spare plastic that I had in order to provide a stable mounting point underneath the rear bumper.
I chose the right side of the license plate to mount it, but I think you can mount it anywhere you want really.

Wiring everything up was fairly straightforward. I provided a few images of the screens... Grounding the parking brake wire works fine and allows you to utilize all the functions of the unit even when you're moving. DVD movies play flawlessly. The unit even comes with 2 additional a/v inputs so you can run a PS2 (or 3?) off of it. It has one additional video out and although I don't have an ipod, it can connect via a USB connection. Also, you can use a second USB port for a flash drive - pictures, movies, songs, whatever. I found that the ideal angle for the screen (given the fairly bright glare from the CA sun) is at -1. If you have tint, you may be able to get away with the 0 angle (pictured with the unit off).

The bluetooth is great and automatically picks up my Centro without problems. I mounted the microphone on the driver's side A Pillar. From tests so far, the quality is great.

Still figuring out a few things, but so far very happy with this purchase. I was able to get in on a preorder, so I got a pretty awesome price for it.

[SCMedic]

You beat me to the write up! DAMN YOU! Your pics don't work though... Let me know when you figure out how to change the Kenwood startup screen to a nice Subaru logo, and how to change the background...

I know it can be done.. Just need a 16:9 Suby logo that's high res first..

[SCMedic]

Any probs with the bluetooth kit? No one can hear me on mine with the mike on the rear view mirror... How's the top of the A-pillar working out?

[cannibal869]

No no problems with the bluetooth. Works fine and it's awesome how everytime I get in the car, the bluetooth automatically connects to my phone. I test tried the mic on the A pillar and even when I talk really quietly, I could still be heard.

[SCMedic]

Cool. Mine is mounted on the rear-view mirror mount, and no one can hear me.

Did your unit have two long USB cables with it? The shop that installed mine didn't run the USB anywhere, and told me there is only a port on the back of the unit, and that I'd have to buy my own cable.. I was pretty sure there was a long USB cable with the unit, along with a port for the Kenwood IPod cable.... Can't find any pics though.

[couchflambeau]

Lies.... two drop cables on the back, They're about 3 feet long each and will easily route down and exit the underside of the dash.

You have a lazy installer...

[couchflambeau]

Hey Cannibal...

Any particular reason you had to oval the bracket holes? Mine bolted up w/o mod but I haven't checked clearances yet (too busy to put the dash back together yet) Did it stick out too far?

[SCMedic]

Originally Posted by couchflambeau

Lies.... two drop cables on the back, They're about 3 feet long each and will easily route down and exit the underside of the dash.

You have a lazy installer...

Great... Not to mention the other small issues. I'm not happy with him at all. Wish I could get my money back.

[Deathmage]

how do you like the ccd-2000, especially at night?
my shop installed some POS review cam with my 8120 and it looks like asz.
my bluetooth only auto receives, but can't dial out. I have to re-search everytime i get in the car.

Also, I just got a 32GB USB and the access time is very quick (people complained with the 7100). I can't watch avi videos with it though.

[cannibal869]

Sorry guys, was in Cancun for a week - just got back

The CCD-2000 is GREAT at night, have the stock back up lights - the light output is pretty good from the stock filament bulbs. I was thinking of replacing with LEDs, but the output from the filaments was so good and they're so much easier and cheaper to replace, that I decided to just stick with stock. There's a pic on the Flickr site that shows the rearview picture with just the backup lights on.

I think for the bluetooth, what I did with my phone was set up (through the phone's bluetooth search function) the handsfree device while the 8120 was on, so that it could locate the 8120. Then I used the 8120 interface to setup my centro as the preferred phone (I think). Now it just automatically connects whenever I get in the car and turn it on.

As for the lengthening the mounting holes, yes, the unit stuck out a little too much for my taste, so I wanted it to kind of sit flush with the plastic surround.

And yes, there are two USB dongles sticking out of the back of the unit - one of them is labelled ipod (but ends in a generic USB port) and the other one is just a USB port. I don't have an ipod yet, so I just left that one behind the dash. The other USB port, I routed down so that it comes out of the ashtray when I open the ashtray.

Haven't quite figured out changing the background image yet... I'm actually ok with the carbon fiber skin that comes preloaded...
Hey, if you guys are near the westside / marina area and need some help with the install, give me a shout.
-C

[scoopman]

Here are two 8120-specific questions I have that I haven't been able to figure out yet:

-- I am using 16g USB flash stick to serve music. I can navigate the music with the "FLIST" button which lets me select different folders. But the "PLIST" button which should allow me to select by genre, album, artist, or song, doesn't do anything when I press those buttons. Several posts all over the internet mention a "Kenwood Music Editor" PC program that must be run to prepare the USB drive. Kenwood's tech support 800# was clueless but is having someone email me on the issue. Anyone get this working?

-- I want to load custom POI databases using the Garmin POI Loader via the SD Card slot. Unit seems not to be able to read the custom POI file. (There are lots of interesting ones up at POI Factory | new & interesting places for your GPS). I can't find any option to load the POI database on the menus for the GPS. Anyone get these to work yet?

Thanks!

[scoopman]

Originally Posted by cannibal869

The bluetooth is great and automatically picks up my Centro without problems. I mounted the microphone on the driver's side A Pillar. From tests so far, the quality is great.

I also think the Bluetooth is fantastic. The interface on-screen is really good, it syncs up with my Motorola Q9h right away upon boot-up, and it took a little bit the first time upon pairing to download, but the unit does use the phone's directory for caller ID and dialing.

It doesn't support SMS reading, but then again, do I really need to do that while driving?

I am still experimenting with where to put the mic. I have it now on the steering column right near my keys, but I think I'm going to try the A-pillar.

Quality even where I stuck it temporarily with some tape has been reported to be great by those I've called/called me....

[couchflambeau]

Well, I wish my install was just a 3-4 hour job... never works out that way...

My system requires a mono sub channel (for my outboard EQ), but I didn't wanna take the chance that stereo info was getting lost. Talked to a couple of audio EE's and the best way to combine the signal was to design a small circuit. What it does is combines the signal without allowing the L/R outputs to feedback into the pre-amp output on the deck.



Basically it's just a y connector with a 10k resistor inline with the + for each channel. Stupid Kenwood could have made my life a lot easier if they'd just put a mono output or the ability to sum the sub output in the software!!

Second is the color.... Red instrument cluster, green HVAC/accy lighting, and now a blue deck... Gonna do a color change but instead of the usual red going to go blue with all except the cluster. LED's since incandescent comes up too light....





The blue shows up a bit darker than the pictures suggest... guess it's the camera....

Guess I'll have to round out the screw holes on the bracket too... if it's too far forward, and it looks like you have the same 04' dash I do....

[cannibal869]

Hi guys, I figured out how to change the background screen - there's another thread about this on this board with instructions here:
Kenwood head unit 08 wallpaper

Followed the instructions as I listed above (having to basically reset the whole unit).

I agree with Scoopman - the resolution that seems to work the best so far is 480 x 270. It just seems to "fill" the screen better.

I held the SRC and Eject buttons while pressing the reset button and then got back to the main screen. I hooked up my USB key which had only 2 pictures on it at the time. These were the only files on the USB key. I pressed SETUP then and went into User Interface. Then as shown in the manual on page 77, I was able to to hit Memory under User Background - this opens up the pictures on the USB key.

You select the image you want to load onto the unit and hit enter. Now the image is loaded onto the 8120. Afterwards then you need to go back to the background change screen and hit "Change" under Background Change. Select the image that you just uploaded and then hit enter again. Now the background image should be changed for you.

You can try turning off the power and then turning the unit back on to see if the image "stuck"...

I'm attaching a few pics here - hope they work. The first two are images I have loaded onto the 8120 as possible background (source jpeg). The second is what my background initially looked like. I loaded the second one as my current background. The last two images are just eye candy - I managed to burn copies of Transformers and the Matrix onto one DVD...

They're part of this set at Flickr
DNX8120 - a set on Flickr







-Chris

[scoopman]

I think what cannibal869 is talking about is replacing the background screen when the unit is all booted up. What I want to do is to replace the ugly blue Kenwood screen during boot-up which apparently you are supposed to be able to do.

Following the instructions on the net you select your screen for "OEM Image" but it definitely does not stick the next time you boot up.