Whats the differences between these decks?

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I have owned three kenwoods with d-mask, one regular and two excelon. Some of them have problems but some of them dont. My first excelon lasted four years so I cant really complain since it was time to upgrade anyways. The regular kenwood I sold when I bought my excelon and it still works to this day. I kinda have doubts that only one of the units would have d mask anyways maybe its a typo. Maybe Ill go check at the local shop for fun and see if they still carry excelon gear I havent been there in a few years

I don't see where it has any possibility of being a typo, scrappy.

When I went to look at the specs on the previously mentioned KDC-X689 (coz I only recently became aware there even was a 689) the very first thing I noticed was a picture showing the blank, black baskside of the faceplate indicitive of a 180 degree revolution.

The 589, 789, 889, and the 25th Anniversary edition deck (can't recall the exact model # at the moment) all have the 'Auto-Slide' face mechanism which is motorized but does not flip around 180 degrees. The 689 is the only '05-model eXcelon HU with the D-Mask+.

I have to wonder why out of all the '05-model decks why there is only one that uses that particular design and it's one that they've brought out midway through the model year...

They had enough problems in the past that it would deter me from buying one just for that without being shown extensive proof that the ever-present ribbon cable issues (too many people had problems for it to be a fluke or a simple case of bad PR) have been resolved.

 

[scrappy 10+ year member]

You are right I missed that picture when looking at it the first time. I find it weird that a mid line deck would have the d mask feature. Befor it was like only the top two models would have them like in 04 the 879 and 979

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

The KDC-X879 and KDC-X979 did not have the D-Mask mechanism. The D-Mask (whether '+' or otherwise) was the nomenclature for the faceplates that gave you the option of removing it entirely or revolving it 180 degrees and showing the blank backside.

The '04-model 879 and 979 had what was called 3D Mask Pro. This was the two-piece design where the top portion (display) was fixed in place in the unit's chassis while the bottom portion, which contained no display but rather only the controls, flipped out and down. (see the Classifieds for an 879 for sale to see pix of what I mean if you're not familiar with it)

For last year the 879 and 979 were not the only eXcelons with motorized faceplates - they were just the only ones with the two-piece 3D Mask Pro design. The KDC-X579 didn't use a motorized face at all but rather a standard manual drop-down, removable piece.

The 679 (which I have) had a faceplate mechanism which carried over to the majority of the '05 models - the 'Auto-Slide' faceplate which copies the design that Alpine has used for several years now. Well, I take that back....I don't know if they consciously copied Alpine with a motorized faceplate with adjustable viewing angles that's drops to a 90 degree angle of the unit to eject/insert discs but it was an Alpine that I first saw that design on.

But, all in all, I agree with you. It is pretty weird that the mid-line unit would have a different mechanism than both the model below it and the two above it. I still wouldn't buy it just 'cause of the D-Mask+.

 

[scrappy 10+ year member]

I actually have the 879 I forgot they called it 3d mask so yes I know what youre talking about. Wich is what I was saying the top two models carry the mask or 3d mask option. My gf has the 579 model as well I am a big excelon fan as you can tell she also has my 2 ch excelon amp. My first one was the actual d mask wich flipped all the way 817 I wznt to say and same with my regular kenwood

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I actually have the 879 I forgot they called it 3d mask so yes I know what youre talking about. Wich is what I was saying the top two models carry the mask or 3d mask option. My gf has the 579 model as well I am a big excelon fan as you can tell she also has my 2 ch excelon amp. My first one was the actual d mask wich flipped all the way 817 I wznt to say and same with my regular kenwood

Meee, too.

As illustrated by my sig, I reckon. The deck my 679 replaced was a KDC-X569. I have a set of eXcelon 10s that used to be in my car before the DAT M6 and are now serving HT duty.

My old eXcelon 4ch amp (from when they were still called Performance Standard) IMO is the best 4ch amp Kenwood has ever made. My only beef with it is its width. It takes up quite a bit of real estate for something only rated at 75w/ch X 4ch @ 4 Ohm stereo.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

no wait actually if you look at them, the 789 889 and that wierd xxx 017 thing are all 25th annaversary edition while the 689 is just a normal deck.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

No - the 789 and 889 are not 25th Anniversary editions.

The XXV-whatever it is (XXV being the Roman numeral for 25) is the only one being marketed as an Anniversary edition deck. Up to and including saying '25th Anniversary' on the unit itself.

The 789 and 889 are more feature packed and, IMO, better values than the 689 - but they're not 25th Anniversary HUs.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

No - the 789 and 889 are not 25th Anniversary editions. The XXV-whatever it is (XXV being the Roman numeral for 25) is the only one being marketed as an Anniversary edition deck. Up to and including saying '25th Anniversary' on the unit itself.

The 789 and 889 are more feature packed and, IMO, better values than the 689 - but they're not 25th Anniversary HUs.

no no look at the link the original poster gave us. and click individually on the 789 and 889.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

no no look at the link the original poster gave us. and click individually on the 789 and 889.

Ok - in the interest of wanting to be certain I knew what I was talking about (frequently I don't, so it would seem //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif ) I did click on the units individually.

On their respective product pages there is a clickable 25th Anniversary banner. I found, after a bit of investigation, that said banner is present on every single Kenwood mobile audio product page whether it be eXcelon gear or not. Even their cheapest 4" coaxial, rated at an outstanding 20w RMS apiece, has that banner on the product page.

Looking more closely at that banner it reads "See all of our Special Edition Kenwood products"

When you click on it to go to said special editions it gives you a page with a layout of all the 25th Anniversary gear and the only HU included in that list is the afore-mentioned XXV-O1D.

The banner on the varying Kenwood product pages is nothing more than targeted advertisement for potential Kenwood buyers rather than an indicator of a specific product being part of the 25th Anniversary lineup.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

ooh haha i was pwn3d big time //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif