Aftermarket Nav/Audio Choice.

Hi fairfieldwizard,
Thanks for the great review of Kenwood 7160. I am also planning to get that. I have been considering 7160 or rosen but leaning towards 7160. Both Kenwood and rosen is coming to be same price but i have more confidence of Kenwood. I will probably buy Kenwood or Rosen next week.

I am choosing 7160 over 6160 because i think a head unit without button will look better and 7160 have free traffic. Do you think it is worth spending extra on 7160 instead of 6160.
Any more experience on 7160 since you have this for a while? Any picture of your install? Did you consider Rosen?

 

have u considered the rosen nav unit??
thats what im saving up for at the moment....
its got a beautiful 7in screen, idk about the nav tho since i got an iphone for it
but u should definitely go into it man its worth checking out

 

I installed the Kenwood DNX7160 with PAC steering wheel interface. It's awesome.

 

Just another take - before you pull everything apart, try upgrading just the speakers - listen, then do the wiring later to get a real feel for the sound...

As has been well documented, swapping wire into the doors is nearly impossible (between car and door).

When you swap speakers, you can use the old parts (molex connectors on speakers). I just took the old speaker, and cut the thing out - along with wires. Then solder the 'molex' part to the new speaker - this allows an easy 'plug and play' - without the issues with rewiring and pulling stuff apart.

 

I got DNX7160 installed and here is a mini review. I will create a separate thread once I use it more and have time to take pictures.

I have DNX6140 in my other car which i am satisfied with and I was at-least hoping to get same level of satisfaction with it. I must say if it was easy to do I am would be on border line to replace it with DNX6140 or DNX6160.

BAD:

(1) Slow software all around: Software is slow all around (compared to 6140) to the point that it is dangerous to operate on while driving even for simple things like going from tuner to GPS or GPS to IPOD etc. Touch screen response is ok but that gets aggregated by the fact that software is so slow to response. To me it is a total failure on part of Kenwood. Personally I could work around this by using remote to some extent. or setting up my sources correctly. But i am worried about if my wife would need to operate on this and if i decide to switch my car with my wife.

Also May be i will get used to this. Also my steering wheel control is not installed so it will be easy to operate while driving once I get that installed.

(2) I encountered the ipod disconnected bug where IPOD is show as disconnected no matter what you do twice in two days. You have to rerstart the car or reset the IPOD to workaround this. This is scary and if it keeps coming then this unit is definitely going back.

GOOD:
(1) GPS is great.
(2) BT is great. I made few calls.
(3) Music over BT works well and gives option to go to next and previous track.
(4) UI is actually pretty good in terms of seeing different thing on screen except slow part. I am able to workaround slow part by changing source and volume from remote (this is what I do most while driving). I hope i will be able to do it from steering wheel once i install that control.
(5) Traffic works well. This is i am saying from my experience with other
garmin unit I have. The functions and interface is same.

I will see how much IPOD bug and sluggish performance bothers it and decide if i want to return it or keep it with workarounds. I must say i would have preferred software that runs my DNX6140 in this 7 inch screen. Oh wow there is no perfect solution. I hope I will find the software slow response less of a problem as i get used to it more.

 

With your background, you have probably already looked into this, but since you didn't say if you were looking at Toyota or Molex pin removal tool P?Ns....

Have you checked to see if one of the standard Molex pin removal tools will work? They are usually easy to get.

 

I found one of my posts that may give you a bit of insight...

Unfortunately, I thought I had a post showing the molex connectors cut out and soldered to the new speakers - but have no time to find it - I think it's out there somewhere... http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-audio-electronics/79495-my-avic-navi-install.html

Again - play with speakers first. I don't know of any posts showing new wires to the doors.

If all your after is the molex, read the post - I took a dremel tool, and just cut out the connectors.

I later moved the front speakers to the rear - which turned out easy if you can solder (just move the connector to the new speakers).

 

You won't be able to get a 4" into the dash locations without fairly major modifications (I tried test fitting a 4" in there...it's a no go).
You might squeeze a 3-1/2" in there, but it will be tight. A 2-1/2" to 3" should fit comfortably, but the choices are limited in those sizes.

I too considered the HSK-163's, but there's no good way to get the tweeter in without major cutting...and even then it won't be on the same axis as the midrange.

The factory squwaker is 2.6"...a very odd size...thus not easily replaced with an aftermarket upgrade. I'm now considering a couple different 2.5 to 3" full range drivers...then going with and active electronic crossover and separate channels of amplification.

 

When I was thinking about that option, the hertz installer thought it would sound better with both the mid and tweets in the pillars. I like the way shawnb2's installation positioned the mid and tweet. I also thought about the hsk165xl which have a low crossover. Two way is easier, and you can use the stock location. I didn't do either of these so can't comment on the sound. Any 3 way should get you away from sound problems with the door speaker directionality, but really there is so much not perfect in the prius that a good set of 2 way components should get you close to the best sound.

 

I have the Kenwood 6960 and I would say this technology isn't yet well-perfected. I don't think any company has a perfect product, but Toyota's is bound to be the at a disadvantage because their lead-time is 12 to 18 months longer than the third-party providers.

I think we're three years away from seeing bug-free products from third parties, and four or five years until carmakers ship that technology. Until then, we will continue to see only products with compromises, and not the sleek, responsive processing and touch screen like an iPhone.

 

There are many excellent things about my Kenwood, but I really have to mention that Kenwood tech support is truly exceptional. Whenever I call, I reach a knowledgeable, English-speaker without a phone menu. And they really do know everything about the product. I have a long commute, so I have called with various questions maybe ten times. I always reach someone and the responsiveness is fantastic, both pre- and post-sale. This alone is reason to select Kenwood.

 

Bonjour,
Today, I tested the new Sony XNV-L77BT

It is great:
Install is similar to pioneer avic. (fixation has to be adapted 5mm).
It uses the same system than avic for remote , so I keep the steering wheel control.

Sound seems a bit better than pioneer (already excelent IMHO).
phone & BT works perfectly

IPOD control is fast & good (nav from steering wheel).

GPS looks nice, is fast & accurate, image moves smoothly.

trafic info is perfect,
it is possible to search infos via google.

update is made via internet, connecting the gps modul to internet using USB on a PC.

First pictures here

 

Nice post, Frenchie. I like the fact that the Sony uses TomTom, it's my favourite nav system.

If I can find this unit at a good price here in the UK I may well swap out my Kenwood, as the nav on the Kenwood is pretty grim, both here in the UK and on my frequent forays into France.

Jeremy