Kenwood or Sony

[JHandle]

I'm looking to buy a new head unit and I'm deciding between the Sony CDX-R5715X and the Kenwood EZ-500 (leaning towards the Kenwood). Any opinions would be appreciated.

SONY: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HenqmaEnyG1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=158R5715X&wm=su

KENWOOD:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HenqmaEnyG1/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&I=113EZ500&search=ez%2D500

I'm new to car audio so any comments will probably help me.

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[creater 10+ year member]

kenwood...

 

[Nevergo 10+ year member]

^x2.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

Kenwood.

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

I would vote for kenwood as well. I never really did like sony head units, but I've heard good things about their higher end units.

 

[headknocker 10+ year member]

^ X3 but I would go with the Excelon X589 instead.

It's pretty much loaded and you can get it from Locust Audio(on ebay) for around $160 shipped. Locust Audio also provides their own one-year warranty.

The Excelon line is the way to go if you buy Kenwood. I love the 589! The SQ is excellent(much better than my old x717...which I loved) and Kenwood's decision to FINALLY ditch the stupid and troublesome D-Mask feature was a godsend.

Forget Crutchfield and save yourself $90 for a better HU.

 

[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Both are going to be equally good products. It comes down to cost warranty and looks...

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

^ X3 but I would go with the Excelon X589 instead.
It's pretty much loaded and you can get it from Locust Audio(on ebay) for around $160 shipped. Locust Audio also provides their own one-year warranty.

The Excelon line is the way to go if you buy Kenwood. I love the 589! The SQ is excellent(much better than my old x717...which I loved) and Kenwood's decision to FINALLY ditch the stupid and troublesome D-Mask feature was a godsend.

Forget Crutchfield and save yourself $90 for a better HU.

thats wat i never understood about the normal and excelon line. there are VERY few differences in features. I like the excelon cuz it looks better

 

[guy022077 10+ year member]

Sony,but why that one? is there a feature that one has that another doesnt? or is it price?

 

[cooldudejz 10+ year member]

i would say the sony, i just recently bought a CDX-8815X, for 196$ off ebay. it works perfectly, i know a lot of people dislike sony, and i agree with their amps/subs, being bad, but i think the headunits are decent. the CD signal-to-noise ratio is one of the best i have seen at 120db, along with the fm sensistivity at 9dbf. it may lack some features, but for the price you cant go wrong.

 

[JHandle]

Forget Crutchfield and save yourself $90 for a better HU.

I posted the crutchfield website only for the organized specs; but I'll definately check out your recommended ebay store for the excelon. thanks

Sony,but why that one? is there a feature that one has that another doesnt? or is it price?

Doesnt have anything unique, but includes everything i want for my price range.

Because of all the Kenwood recomendations (and since I was already leaning toward Kenwood) thats probably the make I'll get. Now I just have to look up the Excelon X589 and compare.

Thanks

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

well if your willing to shell out 250 i would reccomend the x789. Seriously i got mine for 211 shipped

 

[mikechec9 10+ year member]

you mean which one you ahould avoid? it's a trick question

although the '05 kenwoods are supposed to have revamped the long term inadequacies. i wouldn't trust either of them.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I'd look for an eXcelon unit, too, were it me. (Keep in mind I am a die-hard, loyal Kenwood fan so take that recommendation with a grain of salt) They look pretty good, sound great, and of the several eXcelon HU's I have personally owned they've proven trouble-free thus far with a single exception that was repaired under warranty.

The Excelon line is the way to go if you buy Kenwood. I love the 589! The SQ is excellent(much better than my old x717...which I loved) and Kenwood's decision to FINALLY ditch the stupid and troublesome D-Mask feature was a godsend.

I never had any issues with the D-Mask, myself. The D-Mask+, however (the motorized version of the revolving faceplate) had continual problems with the ribbon cables. I have a KRC-608 cassette deck sitting in a closet that has a non-motorized D-Mask face and it works perfectly.

 

[PowerdByGuiness 10+ year member]

neither

but if you limited yourself to those two brands id take an excelon