Looking for input on Kenwood and a New Deck.

[Abstract3000]

Hello,

I have a couple questions with hopes that someone might be able to fill me in with answers. I currently have a Kenwood Excelon XXV-01D, I have been using this deck for the last 10 years with an Aux to an iPod & A Music Keg in the trunk set up. The Keg is getting old and shuts off when hitting bumps or sharp turns, the iPod needs a new battery and with that I would like to just forget the 2 and move forward to USB.

I have been looking at the new Excelon Single dins and am quite confused with the new displays, I Somewhat feel we have gone back in time. Is there any reason the Deck I got a decade ago has a full color display, while the new Decks advertise 3 lines of Text as if I'm supposed to be blown away? I currently was considering the KDC-X898.

So the biggest concern of mine is quality of product. As you can see my current setup is still running just fine, therefore I am pleased with the Excelon name, but I am truly concerned with the quality and longevity of the products I see today. There is little distinguishing differences that I Can see from the lower end $50 decks up to the $350 decks aside from "Features" and I'm not wanting some cheap bottom barrel bargain bin parts.

So what is the current State of the Excelon decks? are they being built the same as they always have? or has the company skimped in manufacturing costs? Is there any other decks similar that is known to last?

What I'm looking for

-Single Din, while I have no issues with double, I live in a meth haven where 82% of my cities crime is related, I'm not trying to give someone more incentive to break my window.

-USB (Prefer rear input that can support up to 32GB) with an easy interface for selection

As for the all the other whistles & bells I really couldn't care less, I have no need for BT, I don't even know how to work the radio as I have little tolerance for commercials. The only Apple product I own is an old iPod that I would like to shelve, I was born with a considerable loss of hearing so I'm certainly no audiophile, not trying to screw with my phone in the car so no need for Pandora, Just something that sounds and looks decent and plays my library of music with little effort. Though I really like the Color screen on my current deck with the Equalizer displayed jumping up and down I Can live without it as I suppose I don't really spend much time looking at it.

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Click to read more...

 

[ummduh 10+ year member]

I have the same questions. I currently have a Pioneer Premier circa early 2000's and the display is awesome. It's a full OLED, full motion, has screen savers, different animations, and displays a ton of info.

Everything I can find in the consumer market right now is junk compared. But I'd like to get BT+aptX.

The new Pioneer stuff is terrible, except maybe that one that I don't need.

The other thing that pisses me off is that no one has a single button access to audio settings. They all bury them in the mega menu and you have to scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll. My old Pioneer has one key that takes me right to it, no mistakes.

I ended up buying the excelon kdc-x500 today, it seems to make the least amount of compromises for me at this moment. I'm hoping that between the aptX and the AOA2.0 support for Android I'll be able to get decent sound out of it.