Nav system recommendations

Randry · 07-12-2008, 11:45 AM

Ok, so I am shopping for a new in dash touch screen nav system. I am considering the Pioneer Avic-Z3, Eclipse AVN6620, and the Kenwood DNX8120. Anyone have any opinions or info that could help me make a decision? Also, anyone know where to get the best prices?

I did a search, but not much info on the Eclipse and I can't seem to find much info on it...

Piston · 07-12-2008, 01:25 PM

I have not used that kenwood, but I know the 5120 is a great peice. I am planning on using one of the Kenwood units in my 08 once I get the money for it. I think the Garmin nav is hard to beat, and the audio / video Ipod control is close to the fastest to use.

Jason

BLUESTiYLE · 07-12-2008, 01:37 PM

I just got the eclipse 6620 installed about 2 weeks ago and love it! It has two seperate slots one for cd/dvd and the other for the nav disc. Its ipod ready and everythings loads pretty damn fast. It is a little expensive but I guess you get what you pay for.

Randry · 07-12-2008, 05:14 PM

Can you post some pics of the 6620? I went to store today and played with it a little bit...I like it. Like the Kenwood too haha thats the problem, i cant make a decision

couchflambeau · 07-12-2008, 05:48 PM

I'd go kenwood... but i'm biased....

Keeter17 · 07-13-2008, 03:24 AM

Alright, I would search on pricegrabber.com, Kenwood is (in my opinion from a former pioneer diehard fan) your best all around unit. I myself have a kenwood dnx7100. very easy to upgrade maps as well as software. Ipod connection is twice as fast as is the pioneer versions last time i checked. Eclipse is more an audiophile quality system. Never used it but i know it will put out better sound as it has an 8v preout for your subs or speaker verses a 2-4v preout for any other brand. Overall i would get the kenwood. You wont notice a difference in sound quality unless you are blowing over a grand on speakers/subs/amps.

Just my opinion though.

Keeter17 · 07-13-2008, 03:25 AM

Also the kenwood is a hard drive based nav system. Most are dvd based which is very noticeably slower for calculating routes as well as searching. You wont need new dvds for the kenwood. Just go to the website and download the new maps.

Randry · 07-13-2008, 10:28 AM

hmm, i think i am liking the Kenwood too. I checked and both Kenwood and Eclipse have 5V preouts

Piston · 07-13-2008, 10:44 AM

assuming that the 8120 is similar to the 5120 you can play movies from the ipod if you have them on there, assuming you have an ipod. The eclipse you cannot do that.

Also updating the kenwood/garmin nav is easier and cheaper then the Eclipse. Overall use of the Kenwood seem easier tehn the Eclipse as well.

Jason

couchflambeau · 07-13-2008, 11:02 AM

some stuff in the gui takes a bit of getting used to... ipod for kenwood is about the fastest out there. Don't get hung up on preout voltage... so long as it's more than 2-3 volts it's fine... 4 vs. 5v is an non-issue. HD nav FTW...

VantageSTI · 07-15-2008, 10:39 AM

only go eclipse if your really into SQ. Its much easier to tune a system with an eclipse with its EQ over kenwood. If your going with high end amps and mids, i say go eclipse. if your building a small low wattage system go with kenwood. If blue tooth, nav and ipod are main objectives, definetly go Kenwood. If you want to replace the front door speakers (which you should), look into DLS components (MS6A) and Elemental Designs amps (nine.2). decent price great quality. I have these i my car and they sound amazing. no need for rear door speakers at all. good luck

Randry · 07-19-2008, 11:56 AM

I am using some equipment I removed from my last car. I have an Eclipse 4X50 amp, Mono Elclipse amp for sub, and a pair of 5 1/4 Eclipse speakers for the rear. That leaves the head unit (Kenwood or Eclipse) and some new components for the front. I will definitely look at DLS for the fronts, thanks for the recommendation.

Peleg · 07-27-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keeter17

Alright, I would search on pricegrabber.com, Kenwood is (in my opinion from a former pioneer diehard fan) your best all around unit. I myself have a kenwood dnx7100. very easy to upgrade maps as well as software. Ipod connection is twice as fast as is the pioneer versions last time i checked. Eclipse is more an audiophile quality system. Never used it but i know it will put out better sound as it has an 8v preout for your subs or speaker verses a 2-4v preout for any other brand. Overall i would get the kenwood. You wont notice a difference in sound quality unless you are blowing over a grand on speakers/subs/amps.

Just my opinion though.

This forum is great. I just went to Circuit City and they want $1700 for the Pioneer Avic Z3.

The salesmen then tried to sell me an open box unit for $1000 but I turned him down on the offer.

Seems like the Kenwood is the way to go....

I was initially looking for:

1. In dash NAV

2. Bluetooth

3. XM

4. DVD

Peleg · 07-29-2008, 08:35 PM

I got to play with the Kenwood DNX7120 today.

Huge disappointment. The buttons are the size of ants.....maybe if a dwarf drove this car they would like it. Then there are the graphics that look like they are taken from a SEGA Genesis video game in 1985.........just horrible colors.........the icons are scattered all over the place with no logic at all..........

Randry · 07-29-2008, 09:47 PM

Hmmm, sounds like I am going to have to take a trip to the store before I order anything...

07-12-2008, 11:45 AM	#1
Randry Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Newport Beach/Irvine, CA Posts: 50 Join Date: Jun 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Nav system recommendations Ok, so I am shopping for a new in dash touch screen nav system. I am considering the Pioneer Avic-Z3, Eclipse AVN6620, and the Kenwood DNX8120. Anyone have any opinions or info that could help me make a decision? Also, anyone know where to get the best prices? I did a search, but not much info on the Eclipse and I can't seem to find much info on it... This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

07-12-2008, 01:25 PM	#2
Piston Amateur STI Driver Car: 08 Aspen White STI Fav Mod: Milage Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca Posts: 12 Join Date: Jul 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations I have not used that kenwood, but I know the 5120 is a great peice. I am planning on using one of the Kenwood units in my 08 once I get the money for it. I think the Garmin nav is hard to beat, and the audio / video Ipod control is close to the fastest to use. Jason

07-12-2008, 01:37 PM	#3
BLUESTiYLE Junior STI Driver Car: 04 STi Fav Mod: ap stage 2 Location: medford...MA Posts: 85 Join Date: Feb 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations I just got the eclipse 6620 installed about 2 weeks ago and love it! It has two seperate slots one for cd/dvd and the other for the nav disc. Its ipod ready and everythings loads pretty damn fast. It is a little expensive but I guess you get what you pay for.

07-12-2008, 05:14 PM	#4
Randry Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Newport Beach/Irvine, CA Posts: 50 Join Date: Jun 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations Can you post some pics of the 6620? I went to store today and played with it a little bit...I like it. Like the Kenwood too haha thats the problem, i cant make a decision

07-12-2008, 05:48 PM	#5
couchflambeau Junior STI Driver Car: 04' STi (JBP) Fav Mod: Cobb Stage 2 Location: ND Posts: 197 Join Date: Oct 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations I'd go kenwood... but i'm biased....

07-13-2008, 03:24 AM	#6
Keeter17 Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 STI Fav Mod: Wingless Location: Havelock, NC Posts: 65 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations Alright, I would search on pricegrabber.com, Kenwood is (in my opinion from a former pioneer diehard fan) your best all around unit. I myself have a kenwood dnx7100. very easy to upgrade maps as well as software. Ipod connection is twice as fast as is the pioneer versions last time i checked. Eclipse is more an audiophile quality system. Never used it but i know it will put out better sound as it has an 8v preout for your subs or speaker verses a 2-4v preout for any other brand. Overall i would get the kenwood. You wont notice a difference in sound quality unless you are blowing over a grand on speakers/subs/amps. Just my opinion though.

07-13-2008, 03:25 AM	#7
Keeter17 Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 STI Fav Mod: Wingless Location: Havelock, NC Posts: 65 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations Also the kenwood is a hard drive based nav system. Most are dvd based which is very noticeably slower for calculating routes as well as searching. You wont need new dvds for the kenwood. Just go to the website and download the new maps.

07-13-2008, 10:28 AM	#8
Randry Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Newport Beach/Irvine, CA Posts: 50 Join Date: Jun 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations hmm, i think i am liking the Kenwood too. I checked and both Kenwood and Eclipse have 5V preouts

07-13-2008, 10:44 AM	#9
Piston Amateur STI Driver Car: 08 Aspen White STI Fav Mod: Milage Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca Posts: 12 Join Date: Jul 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations assuming that the 8120 is similar to the 5120 you can play movies from the ipod if you have them on there, assuming you have an ipod. The eclipse you cannot do that. Also updating the kenwood/garmin nav is easier and cheaper then the Eclipse. Overall use of the Kenwood seem easier tehn the Eclipse as well. Jason

07-13-2008, 11:02 AM	#10
couchflambeau Junior STI Driver Car: 04' STi (JBP) Fav Mod: Cobb Stage 2 Location: ND Posts: 197 Join Date: Oct 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations some stuff in the gui takes a bit of getting used to... ipod for kenwood is about the fastest out there. Don't get hung up on preout voltage... so long as it's more than 2-3 volts it's fine... 4 vs. 5v is an non-issue. HD nav FTW...

07-15-2008, 10:39 AM	#11
VantageSTI Amateur STI Driver Car: OBP 07 STI Location: New York Posts: 48 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (3)	Re: Nav system recommendations only go eclipse if your really into SQ. Its much easier to tune a system with an eclipse with its EQ over kenwood. If your going with high end amps and mids, i say go eclipse. if your building a small low wattage system go with kenwood. If blue tooth, nav and ipod are main objectives, definetly go Kenwood. If you want to replace the front door speakers (which you should), look into DLS components (MS6A) and Elemental Designs amps (nine.2). decent price great quality. I have these i my car and they sound amazing. no need for rear door speakers at all. good luck

07-19-2008, 11:56 AM	#12
Randry Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Newport Beach/Irvine, CA Posts: 50 Join Date: Jun 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations I am using some equipment I removed from my last car. I have an Eclipse 4X50 amp, Mono Elclipse amp for sub, and a pair of 5 1/4 Eclipse speakers for the rear. That leaves the head unit (Kenwood or Eclipse) and some new components for the front. I will definitely look at DLS for the fronts, thanks for the recommendation.

07-29-2008, 08:35 PM	#14
Peleg STI Guru Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Whooshing sounds Location: Death Valley Posts: 5,903 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (11)	Re: Nav system recommendations I got to play with the Kenwood DNX7120 today. Huge disappointment. The buttons are the size of ants.....maybe if a dwarf drove this car they would like it. Then there are the graphics that look like they are taken from a SEGA Genesis video game in 1985.........just horrible colors.........the icons are scattered all over the place with no logic at all..........

07-29-2008, 09:47 PM	#15
Randry Junior STI Driver Car: Silver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Location: Newport Beach/Irvine, CA Posts: 50 Join Date: Jun 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Nav system recommendations Hmmm, sounds like I am going to have to take a trip to the store before I order anything... This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.