Whats the differences between these decks?

[DaFreakinRican0 10+ year member]

hey guys was up. I was just looking on crutchfield and i came across some kenwood decks. Ive never had a kenwood but i hear they are good. In this link http://www.crutchfield.com/S-yi3UKI3IZkN/cgi-bin/ProdComp.asp?g=300&s=0&cc=01&hidesimilar=&ITM113KDCX689=&ITM113KDCX789=&ITM113EZ700SR=&113EZ700SR=on&ITM113KDCX889=&ITM113MP928=&ITM113XXV01D= they appear to be the same except for some warranties. Can someone give me some knowledge on these decks? I am looking for a higher end model but might not NEED the highest priced one. What features are important in kenwoods? Also anyone know how their ipod interface is?

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[tRiGgEr 5,000+ posts]

Excelons are better quality than the MP line. The 889 has more audio features. And a better screen.

 

[g8rforester 10+ year member]

The main difference between the eXcelon 889 and the XXV-01D is the display, and there are no station preset buttons on the XXV. The presets are accessed via a menu, and it's not as big of a pain as it sounds. There are supposedly some internal differences as well, but I'm not sure of the specifics.

All of those units have 24 bit Burr-Brown DACs.

If you don't NEED the highest end unit, I'd go with the 689, or 789. I don't think you'll be disappointed with either, but you won't have time alignment, or a few of the other sound shaping features. It appears the only difference in those two is the display.

I bought the XXV-01D and right now I've got it powering a pair of the old green Infinity Kappa 6.5" components. Even on deck power, it sounds pretty good (I'm in the middle of an upgrade due to theft). I also think it is the nicest looking HU on the market, especially when you see the display up close. It has a very clean look that the pics just don't do justice to.

A lot of people complain about the amount of menus that need to be accessed to tune the unit, but if you read the manual, you'll be fine.

I can't speak about the ipod interface, because I don't have an ipod.

This is my third eXcelon deck (KDC-x711, KDC-x969 were previous), and the first two did not let me down in reliability or sound quality. I sold the 711 to upgrade to the 969, and the 969 was stolen last month.

IMHO, Kenwood's HUs are some of the most underrated decks by the car audio community at large.

 

[DaFreakinRican0 10+ year member]

thanks guys, if anyone else has any insight on these decks, let me know. If i go kenwood im DEFINATELY going excelon. I really like the pioneer 80 mp and of course the 860 (waiting for a new model, maybe an 870 or 880?).

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

789 kicks azz,220 on ebay

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

789 kicks azz,220 on ebay

yup!!! it rocks! tonsa tonsa features. still findin stuff out to this day ( i dont like to read the manual on features) //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

and is the 689 new? i always thought it was 589, 789, 889

 

[mbraman01]

id like to know if the sound quality in the XXV-01d is exceptional. i have a reference stereo and my eclipse deck busted. looking for a great sounding deck with ipod control as well so considering kenwood.

any comments on how the 24 bit dacs sound compared to an alpine 9855?

thanks

 

[DaFreakinRican0 10+ year member]

what makes the 789 so good? Are there ANY cons about the 789 or any other excelon (new decks only)?

 

[g8rforester 10+ year member]

id like to know if the sound quality in the XXV-01d is exceptional. i have a reference stereo and my eclipse deck busted. looking for a great sounding deck with ipod control as well so considering kenwood.
any comments on how the 24 bit dacs sound compared to an alpine 9855?

thanks

Like I said above, you can't go wrong with the sound quality of the eXcelon decks. The big thing with the XXV-01D is the fancy display and supposedly some upgraded internals vs. the 889. Honestly, the only reason I went with the XXV over the 889 was because I wanted the top end unit.

I think bang-for-the-buck, the 789 is the best because you get all of the SQ of the higher end decks, but with the 889 you get time alignment and some other processing abilities. I don't think there are any cons about the new eXcelon decks, just decide which features are most important to you and buy one!!

Also, as far as ipod control goes, I believe almost all Kenwood decks (not just the eXcelons) can interface with the Kenwood ipod controller.

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

what makes the 789 so good? Are there ANY cons about the 789 or any other excelon (new decks only)?

cons? the sun washes them out. and no spectrum analyzer for the 789 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/mad.gif.c18f003ab0ef8a0d9c27ca78d77a6392.gif

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

and is the 689 new? i always thought it was 589, 789, 889

It must be, Flakko - as I was unaware of its existence until seeing it in the comparo linked to in the OP's 1st post.

It has resurrected the dreaded D-Mask+ revolving faceplate and unless Kenwood were to show me extensive proof that the ribbon cable issues have been resolved I'd stay far away from it, were it me. Strangely enough - the 689 has a spectrum analyzer.....wonder why the 789 got skipped?

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

cons? the sun washes them out. and no spectrum analyzer for the 789 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/mad.gif.c18f003ab0ef8a0d9c27ca78d77a6392.gif

shit the sun washes out all the newer decks I have seen,the fancier the displays the harder to see in bright light - but after a while you know where everything is

like ray charles.........

 

[flakko 5,000+ posts]

It must be, Flakko - as I was unaware of its existence until seeing it in the comparo linked to in the OP's 1st post.
It has resurrected the dreaded D-Mask+ revolving faceplate and unless Kenwood were to show me extensive proof that the ribbon cable issues have been resolved I'd stay far away from it, were it me. Strangely enough - the 689 has a spectrum analyzer.....wonder why the 789 got skipped?

luckily i wasnt around for the D-Mask

but i miss my SA //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

so i guess my only gripe now is the SA.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I never owned any HUs with the motorized faceplate like that (the D-Mask+).

I had a couple of different cassette HUs with the non-motorized revolving face (D-Mask) and never had any issues out of those at all. Matter of fact - the last one I bought (KRC-608...with an Aldo Nova tape still in it!) is still in the closet along with the 10-disc changer I ran with it.

 

[scrappy 10+ year member]

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