Last week I ordered a D3 from CF on the advice of the salesman. I was really ignorant of the in-dash DVD/Navigation world at that time. Since I just learned yesterday it will be another 3 weeks until I will possibly receive the unit, I have since questioned my purchase for something else that might be in stock. Not only the ship date, but the MAJOR factor is the fact the D3 does not have dual zones. I would really like to play MP3's or XM up front, while the kiddie's watch a movie on their wireless headphones on headrest monitors in the back. The free camera offer with the D3 was a killer deal, but the fact the D3 was not dual zone capable was a deal breaker for me. The D3 is a great product and I'm still questioning my decision, as I have not called CF to change my order yet. The other factors I considered are the Garmin GPS from 2GB HD as opposed to the DVD disc on the D3. I can simply update the Garmin maps for $75 instead of the $250 for the Pioneer discs. The SD option for the USB cable gets big bonus points with me.

I'm really torn, but the more I think about it....I think the Kenwood suits my needs better. I'm not flaming the D3 by any means. I thought I would bring these points to light in case anyone else is in the same boat I am in.

This is a great forum, by great people with great info. Special thanks to cntrylvr79 and MisFit.

On a side note, before anyone asks....yes (from what I have gathered through web research) the Kenwood DNX7100 can be by-passed. Easier than the D3 actually. All you have to do (again, according to the web research) is just ground the e-brake wire. That's it. cnrtylvr79 or MisFit, can you confirm this?

I hope this info helps someone.

I plan on calling CF at 08:00 and canceling the D3 and ordering the DNX7100 with UPS Next Day Air. Hopefully I will have everything and can install on my days off on Fri/Sat. If anyone would like pics, let me know.

Eric

I've sent my D3 back today and am looking to getting a KVT-819DVD single din DVD.

I prefer the single din over the double due to it being a bit less attractive to thieves checking out cars quickly. I'll probably pick up the navigation unit in the near future, so $1,100 + $450-750 for the nav comes out to $1,550-$1,850 ....

I reason with myself that the hideaway unit will be easier to attach things to view, ie. PS2, Camcorder to review footage, etc.

My only gripe is that the screen control button no longer contains the angle controls...I hope kenwood address this with a firmware update.

Anyway, the D3 is a GREAT unit if it suits your needs. If I used more retail dvds rather than burned, it would probably be still installed.

my D3 plays burnt/copied DVD without an issue

I would be interested in some pics. I bought a Pioneer AVH-P6800DVD for $699 and Ipod adaptor ($49 more) from the BX here in Germany. It's still in the box, sitting on the table. I have always been partial to Kenwood and understand they are more "user friendly" with the Ipods. I didn't go the navigation route as I use a portable Garmin (Nuvi 660) for the European area. The BX has the Kenwood DDX-6019, which is an "old" model and selling for $899, but that's not a deal to me.

Any advice/guidance?

The ipod control on the "older" kenwoods was not good. The D3s ipod control is far better than the 6800 and cheaper than the kenwood so if ipod is important, you might look that route. On a side note, Pioneer discontinued the 6800 already so maybe they have something new coming out next CES for the non-navigation crowd

I would be interested in some pics. I bought a Pioneer AVH-P6800DVD for $699 and Ipod adaptor ($49 more) from the BX here in Germany. It's still in the box, sitting on the table. I have always been partial to Kenwood and understand they are more "user friendly" with the Ipods. I didn't go the navigation route as I use a portable Garmin (Nuvi 660) for the European area. The BX has the Kenwood DDX-6019, which is an "old" model and selling for $899, but that's not a deal to me.

 

Any advice/guidance?

I looked at bot the 7100 and the D3 and was able to listen and use them beofre making a decision. In my opinion the D3 is way better. The sound qualit seemed superior on the D3. The D3 navigation has twice the points of interest. The Navigation maps look way better on the D3 as the 7100 looked like a cartoon or something. The overall user interface is also better on the D3. The only thing I would say that the 7100 was better at was speed of IPOD control but it was not by much and not enough of a reason for me to go with the 7100.

I do like the D3, but the navigation won't do me a bit of good over here. I do like the fact the D3 has good Ipod controls - the easier the better.

I'll install the 6800 (I think Pioneer has a 6900 out now) and see how it works.

The D3 can only accept one disc?

yes one disc...

i have heard before that the Pioneers with update can work in Europe. When i lived there i remember a Aftermarket DD in a friends car. (I think it was a Pioneer...) Can anyone else confirm this?

Last week I ordered a D3 from CF on the advice of the salesman. I was really ignorant of the in-dash DVD/Navigation world at that time. Since I just learned yesterday it will be another 3 weeks until I will possibly receive the unit, I have since questioned my purchase for something else that might be in stock. Not only the ship date, but the MAJOR factor is the fact the D3 does not have dual zones. I would really like to play MP3's or XM up front, while the kiddie's watch a movie on their wireless headphones on headrest monitors in the back. The free camera offer with the D3 was a killer deal, but the fact the D3 was not dual zone capable was a deal breaker for me. The D3 is a great product and I'm still questioning my decision, as I have not called CF to change my order yet. The other factors I considered are the Garmin GPS from 2GB HD as opposed to the DVD disc on the D3. I can simply update the Garmin maps for $75 instead of the $250 for the Pioneer discs. The SD option for the USB cable gets big bonus points with me.

 

I'm really torn, but the more I think about it....I think the Kenwood suits my needs better. I'm not flaming the D3 by any means. I thought I would bring these points to light in case anyone else is in the same boat I am in.

 

This is a great forum, by great people with great info. Special thanks to cntrylvr79 and MisFit.

 

On a side note, before anyone asks....yes (from what I have gathered through web research) the Kenwood DNX7100 can be by-passed. Easier than the D3 actually. All you have to do (again, according to the web research) is just ground the e-brake wire. That's it. cnrtylvr79 or MisFit, can you confirm this?

 

I hope this info helps someone.

 

I plan on calling CF at 08:00 and canceling the D3 and ordering the DNX7100 with UPS Next Day Air. Hopefully I will have everything and can install on my days off on Fri/Sat. If anyone would like pics, let me know.

 

Eric

I would say that sience you still may have some time before your item ships, id think about it somemore. If dual zone is the biggest reason for the decision then i would say go with the 7100. But you should ask your self how much your actually going to use that feature. Will this be important in a few years after the kids get a little older? How well will the 7100 hold up over time? It has more moving parts. What is the quality of sound, I personally have always favored Pioneer on this one and the sound of the D3 is awsome. If the nav functions are the biggest reason why you even purchased then i think the answer should be clear, the D3 seems the choice withs it better nav and POI'S.

Just my 2 cents.

my D3 plays burnt/copied DVD without an issue

I wasn't playing just copied/burnt dvds. I was "trying" to play mpeg and xvid file formats. The new 2007 kenwoods play both so I just need to find a local dealer with a 2007 in stock to verify the divx part. The pioneer requires you to modify the aVic.exe output from divx to DX50..which is a pain to do for ALL my files after having to convert them to .avi from mpg.

Yes the Kenwoodn't can be bypssed by grounding the parking brake wire. That is about the only thing I know about that unit since CC doesn't carry Kenwoodn't and I left BB before that system was released.

Kenwood is Parking Brake to bypass.

one thing that hasn't been mentioned in the d3's favor is that it has the customizable colors to match your car's interior. I was about to pull the trigger on the kenwood but the buttons always light up blue and my car's interior lights up red. that's a deal breaker to me.

I am also debating between the two. There are a few more things to consider:

Kenwood:

Less POI, however, they are based on the same data as the nuvi 660, and that is rated amazing for both navigation and POI database, not to mention you can create and add you own POI.

POI by distance, no need for vicinity, or city search

Traffic, Kendwood uses the RDSand TFT (i think thats how its spelled) traffic which is what the Garmins use, I think its only $40 a year as apposed to $10/month XM. Not to mention navtraffc and RDS use the navteq data, which is what garmin and the kenwood use for navigation. So surely traffic compatablility will be better, more accurate.

better faster ipod, also does video ipod lists, file lists,

USB, kenwood has usb, you can use thumb drives and portable hardrives.

I know some where buying that avx thing off newegg to have a hardrive, but then you need a separate remote control, etc. Here the hardrive would be controlled through head unit.

kenwood navigation may look cartoon like, and pioneer surely has more detail, however pioneer navigation doesn't compare to the latest garmin. We know the D3 doesn't compare to the nuvi 660.

Also, even though you can't use the kenwood HD, you still never need a nav disc, or don't have to worry about "memory mode" or changing the destination.

I have not confirmed this, but i heard the navigation gives detailed street listings and names of streets in the area your traveling (even if not part of your route) as your driving. so a familiar street could show up as your navigating. I think with the pioneer only the necessary streets are labeled. IS THIS CORRECT?

Better DVD compatability. both movie and mp3 playback.

Text to speech engine

It has a full 16:9 7 inch (6.95 to be exact) screen

SD card slot, can do data updates

because its garmin there will most likely be more frequent/better updates, and they are cheaper that the pioneer discs. You can upgrade by flash drive

I hear the bluetooth on kenwood is nice, i know the pioneer sucks for bluetooth, not to mention compatability.

it is $400 more

Pioneer

you could argue they make a better headunit.

From what i hear they sound better.

It is $400 less

There is alot more support for the pioneer than kenwood

The UI definitely looks nicer, seems better. And has color scheming, however, you shouldn't by a thousand dollar navigational head unit based on the fact that you can change the colors to match your car

Obviously the Kenwood seems better, but the pioneer looks better, the UI is nicer and i do like pioneer. Not to mention the support, like this forum.

It's a toss up, but i think kenwood is better all around for the money. NOt to mention, the biggest pioneer gripe is the faulty navigation, and i am primarily using navigation, garmin is tops.

What pretty much seals the deal for me in regards to Kenwood vs. D3 is how each does POIs.

Sure, the AVIC has twice as many POIs, but guess what? You don't know how far you from them. They are not sorted in any kind of distance order. All you can do is a "vicinity search." Another great feature is the Kenwood has the option of a QWERTY keyboard.

I will say the interface on the Kenwood looks "cartoonish" but oh well, those other things are more important to me. Plus i have to admit that upgrading the Kenwood will be cheaper in the long run.

Just my opinion though. I'm going to go look at both again but i think i'm going to go with the Kenwood.

Go ahead and go with the Kenwood. You won't regret it!

Well, I was the one who originally started this thread. I have used the Kenwood for 2 days now. It took about 4 hours to get everything done and wires hidden the way I wanted. It turned out to be a real clean install. I have pics and will post them later tonight or tomorrow.

I agree about the UI. I think Pioneer's UI looks a little more friendly, but once you spend a little time playing around with it, it's a cinch.

Besides the fact it has dual zone for the kids, the USB option is great. I have a 1.0GB thumbdrive I'm going to use for MP3's, pictures, etc. The SD slot will be great for those ($175 cheaper than Pioneer) map updates. It still has the IPod option, plus a TV tuner option.

As for the Garmin navigation. Come on, it's Garmin....need I say more?

Again, I am by no means knocking the Pioneer. I just love some of the extra features the Kenwood has, probably number one...not having to put in a navigation disc. After using the Garmin navigation today while still listening to cd's and XM I am sold!! Pics to follow......

In for pics

Can you PLLLLLLEASE do a video of the Kenwood UI? Especially the iPod portion of the UI? Thanks bud.

If I did a video for you guys, how do I post it?

Add me to the list of converts to the Kenwood DNX7100. One reason I decided to go with the Kenwood is that Pioneer is now toying with Z1 owners that have bypassed their units. If the Z1 owners update their units the bypass no longer works. I didn't want to possibly face the same issue with the D3 down the road. It may never have happened, but I didn't want to take the chance.

yes can someone post a video of theinterface on youtube or something? its amazing how disproportionate the amount of reviews there are for the D3 vs the kenwood....

Has anybody thought about the vehicle dynamics display of the Pioneer. That, to me anyway, is a pretty cool feature to have even if its not all that useful to everybody....

I like the Kenwood unit okay. I selected the DNX7100 so I could use the theoretically use a DVD while navigating. While I can do this, I do not because I do not feel like getting a huge ticket. I ended up getting a disc changer anyway so I can store my CDs, so the only real advantage is that I can change CDs in the dash while navigating.

DNX 7100 Pros -

Navigation really works perfectly. I cannot imagine that the Panasonic can work better.

Lots of features, but see below

DNX 7100 Cons -

$400+ cost difference

Serious issues with the GUI which is non-intuitive and down right distracting and virtually impossible while driving. Also, I really wish I had a volume knob. Changing volumes is downright tiresome on on the Kenwood. Likewise, you cannot change any functions without pressing the screen, leaving fingerprints

Also, the use and install manuals are horrible and not meant for consumers. You can access a pdf on CR to preview. Most features are not explained, and I put in multiple calls with Tech support at Kenwood just to access basic features

Terrible XM radio interface that does not allow direct channel selection. Instead you need to scroll through channels using arrow keys.

Many features are not useful -dual zone would seem to be useful but actually results in an audio mess where you cannot hear in the back or front. For the same money, You are better off getting a D3 and a secondary DVD system with wireless headphones, since kids cannot really watch movies on the dash anyway.

Seriously muddy audio. I suspect that the Kenwood outputs less power than advertised. I am ordering an external amp, but this further increases the cost difference between the DNX7100 and d3

DNX 7100 is not as attractive after installation because the unit sticks out from the dash about half an inch to allow face to open and close - the D3 appears to be more flush mount. I really wish I had the D3 selectable lights after staring at the DNX 7100 blue leds for a month.

By the way, the new Kenwood Ipod controller (IPX300) works great, so don't let negative reports of the old IPD controller (IPX500) be your deciding factor.