What’s New for 2012 – Kenwood DNX-9990HD

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The Kenwood DNX-9990HD is the top of the line receiver from Kenwood.  The DNX-9 series unit is always the top of the line with Kenwood but there have been small i$$ues with it in the past.  This year they removed some of those i$$ues and I believe it will sell more often when compared with its counterparts.

This receiver has AM, FM, CD, DVD, USB, AUX and will play many different media files that I will not bother to list.  It has built in Garmin navigation, HD radio, live nav-traffic updates and Bluetooth handsfree and Bluetooth audio streaming.  You can add satellite radio, back up camera and iPod as well and control all 3 from the 6.95” touchscreen.

What’s really caught my eye about this unit is that it is much less expensive.  They have finally realized that most people do not need the extras this unit has always had in the past for personal sound quality engineering.  Kenwood also removed some less favorite features such as voice control, decreased the amount of bands from the equalizer which still has 13 bands and has only one USB in the rear instead of two.

They added faster navigation software and the Pandora Radio and Aha Radio sources can now be controlled by iPhone, Android and Blackberry phones.  This is one of few receivers that will allow your Android or Blackberry to fully control and display Pandora Radio and Aha Radio through Bluetooth!   You even get full album art when available.

Another fine feature is that this receiver, as well as all of Kenwood’s 2012 DNX receivers, is compatible with iDatalink.  What does that mean?  Well, for example, newer Fords with Sync will be able to keep all factory features such as Sync, satellite radio, Bluetooth and steering wheel controls without having to replace any of them as was the requirement in the past and still is with all other receivers.  This integration is not inexpensive; however we have heard a lot of grumblings from new Ford owners about the poor quality of audio.  We’ve had quite a few new Fords over the past year and replaced a lot of speakers and installed amplifiers and the sound is hugely improved but still limited to the factory radio’s EQ curve and lack of dynamic range.  Without the EQ curve and dynamic range the consumer cannot get the full benefit from their newly purchased replacement speakers; even with an amplifier.   Replacing the factory radio in any vehicle is key to accomplishing great audio and getting the sound benefits just paid for in the replacement speakers.  It will simply be the “weakest link” until it is replaced.

There are other integration harnesses that can be used out there but they are more expensive and may not retain all the other factory features and then the customer must pay to replace them if they choose to continue using them.  The DNX units already come with Bluetooth handsfree and audio streaming and allow for voice control of that, but they do not come with satellite radio and will not simply integrate with the factory steering wheel controls.  As for other vehicles with UConnect, Onstar, etc., all those factory features will be lost without special integration harnesses to retain them and it’s possible not all of those factory features will be retained.

All in all, this receiver will catch the eye of many more people than ever before.  It is far more versatile for the mainstream buyer and their needs for audio and their needs for pocket change.  Not only is a great-looking receiver with many features but with the compatibility with iDatalink (which will be released soon) many newer vehicle owners that would not have considered replacing the factory radio before will now be able to with a DNX receiver from Kenwood.  Come see this unit in our store in Wake Forest, NC.  We’ll be happy to show her off.

 

  1. Ilya

    it was upgraded. But the prboelm still existed. More research and I find out that you need to do a reset in order for the upgrade to actually work. OK finally I have the color issue resolved.So next I purchase a 64 Gig USB flash drive to put all of my MP3 collection on it. I have about 40 Gig of music. After a few days I determine that it is not reading all of the files and folders. I send several emails off to Kenwood with no real answer. I ask Lexar if the prboelm could be their unit. Lexar says they will replace the USB no prboelm. Meanwhile I find out from Kenwood after my 8th email to them that the max number of folders per USB device is 255 total. I sort my music the same way everyone I know does. I have about 200 artists with 1 to 12 albums(folders) in each. I am way over the 255 limit!Apparently many units have this limitation. Kenwood says I can reorganize my music so that I have less than 255 folders max. WTF? I am not interested in reorganizing my filing system. I really am disappointed that I didn’t know these limitations before I purchased the unit. I have invested far too much time into getting the thing working to a level that is under my expectaions.So summarizing, if you don’t mind upgrading the flash, remembering strange button sequences for operation and you only have 255 folders max per USB stick, then this may be the unit for you.

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