Kenwood DMX905S - Install, Reviews and Quirks thread - 2018 TRD Sport

Okay. But on the OEM head unit I was able to split the USB to plug in an iPod and also to plug in a USB drive and they both show up on the head unit as choices.



I'm hoping to be able to do the same thing on an aftermarket head unit. At this point the preamp outputs can be 4 volt , 5 volt is going to be too expensive

 

Went to the local installer and played with the Alpine ILX-207 and ILX-259, as well as the Kenwood DMX905S. Hooked up Android Auto, and among the music apps we're my Apple Music and Audible. All of them are extremely nice. Heading back there in a little while with a USB splitter adapter to see what happens with Android Auto when an iPod/iPhone is plugged in as well. Guy at store is interested too.....

 

Today's findings:

Alpine's Head units will not split the USB. At all. Any of them.

Kenwood's head units will not split the USB. However, the DMX905S has 2 USB cables coming out of the back, one black, one gray. So we plugged in my "iPhone-iPod" in the gray one. A menu came up asking how to use it, we selected "no phone, music files". It popped up as an iPod. We selected a song and let it play. While it was playing, we hooked up my Pixel 2, and it went right to android auto, but the music continued via the iphone. This is exactly what I was looking for!

Then we unplugged thew iphone. But the music continued to play via AirPlay! Fucking right! That means I can plug in my USB to the gray one, use the iphone via airplay, and still be on Android Auto!



A bonus, 5v pre amp outputs, and is wireless Android Auto (and I have a Pixel, and it works).

I asked for a quote from them so I could get a rundown of their prices, and can do it for $300 less. Just need to review my spreadsheet (it's at work).

 

After much hand wringing, I ordered everything I need

Head unit DMX905S
Scosche dash kit - TA2122B
Maestro iData Link Module - MRR
Maestro iDatalink harness - TO2
Metra Antenna Adapter -

$11 40LX11 METRA Ltd 40-LX11 Antenna Adaptor Cable - Select 2009-Up Lexus/Toyota

40LX11
Stinger 6 channel RCA - SI4217
Brake Override module
Single USB for glove box
Remote wire
Maestro GPS Antenna - ST02

Everything ordered, total: $632.33, well under my max threshold, and $517.62 under quote. But to be fair, $360 of that quote is for labor, so a parts savings of 157.62.

 

The head unit has inputs for 2 cameras, reverse and forward. I want to add a front facing camera, but have no idea what I should get, or how it is installed power-wise. If anyone has done it, feel free to add input.

 

Did you want a dash camera for the front? I have one I never used. It's the Kenwood DRV-N520 Drive Recorder.

 

Thank you, no. I have a dash cam. I'm looking to put in a cam either in the grille or under bumper for parking/etc.

 

I'm glad you found what you were looking for. I was going to suggest the Kenwood because I have the same thing and it sounded like what you wanted. I also use an iPhone 7 as an "iPod". I use the hotspot on my work phone (free phone) then run Spotify/Apple Music & Waze simultaneously from the 7. In case you're wondering why I go through so much trouble, it's because my company blocks all the "fun" apps from our phones but has unlimited data.

 

I know a few people that do the exact same thing LOL. It's hard to change what works for you, that's why I went through the trouble I did. I like things the way they are, I just don't like that the Entune acts the way it does.

My wife knew I was going to do this a year into ownership, and expected me to do it sooner. Told me she was surprised I went this long......

 

The following posts are going to be process and updates of progress for my install. They will most likely be duplicated in my build thread.

For prep work, last night I removed the Beat-Sonic CS6EP unit from my truck. This plug and play unit worked very well however, the DMX905S comes with 2 camera inputs, and they are both "on demand" as well as the rear camera turning on when truck is put in reverse.

I also removed the dual USB from the glove box, the splitter from the OEM input, and put the OEM USB back in the dash panel. Because I can listen to the iPod via AirPlay, I will be storing it in my armrest console, plugged into the USB outlet I installed in there, and will have my micro thumb drive plugged into the OEM USB spot.

The following items come in today:

E-Brake Bypass

$65 Maestro HRN-RR-TO2 Plug and Play T-Harness for TO2 Toyota Vehicles

Maestro HRN-RR-TO2
Stinger RCA cables

$138 Maestro ADS-MRR Universal Radio Replacement and Steering Wheel Interface

Maestro ADS-MRR

$11 Metra 40-LX11 Antenna Adaptor Cable - Select 2009-Up Lexus/Toyota

Metra 40-LX11 Antenna Adapter
Kenwood Excelon DMX905S

I'll start my capping and soldering tonight using this notes page I made to put up on my work bench



Currently, my rear speakers are powered by my amp (Arc Audio xDI 850.5) via a wire harness that plugs into the OEM wiring. In order to continue using the OEM wiring for those speakers, I will need to solder the speaker wires coming from the amp for the rears to the Maestro wire harness (circled in yellow).

The soldering will not be completed tonight, as I am still waiting for new speaker wire for the rears, as well as new remote turn on wire.

I'm hoping to do the actual install either Saturday or Sunday.

I also purchased a new tool for setting my gains on the amp. In the past, I used a DSO Mini-Oscilloscope to set my gains in a safe and responsible manner. I've decided that I want a PHD set up (push here dummy), and ordered a Steven Meade Designs DD-1 distortion detector to make this process more painless, and because it will get a lot of use (my kid's cars will be getting carplay/android auto when they purchase, as well as my cousins will be using it as well).

I will probably be doing a little more clean up with my previous install in the truck as well (tons of extra wire in there that can be shortened).

Edited to add: Thank you @destin_meeks for the help and heads up for the rears....

 

Got started tonight. I have a few things left for this but need speaker wire and sub remote wire to come in.

What I started with tonight



What I got done



Waiting on a couple of answers about some wires on the Maestro side, as well as one on the Kenwood side that don't seem to have homes.

More coming in tomorrow, but I don't think I'm getting the wires in that I need in order to get this installed over the weekend.

 

All right. If you order this head unit and will be using the Maestro RR unit with TO2 wire harness in a non-JBL truck, and are wiring in a brake bypass, here are the wires you can cap (will not be used on Maestro side) on the TO2 harness:



You will be soldering the bypass on the radio side to LTGREEN - E-BRAKE, and adding the bypass to the BLACK - GROUND and BLUE/WHITE - AMP. TURN ON.

Also, (and this stumped me last night, but I got it with some help, thanks @destin_meeks ), the BLUE/YELLOW wire in the Kenwood harness gets soldered to the BLUE/YELLOW wire on the RCA plug harness that is in the RR unit box. This will also get plugged into the head unit at spot 5 as well as on the Maestro, along with the serial data cable denoted in the TO2's directions. This is a "better to be safe than sorry" deal.



So what I ended up capping off for my existing system - using RCA plugs to go to amp, and direct wired from amp to speakers (I changed my mind in regards to a wire harness from amp back to the rear OEM wiring):



I changed my mind about the rear speakers being run back to the OEM wire because I am going to use larger gauge, and might like to bump up amp size in the future. The Morels I am driving can take up to 140 watts RMS, and my current amp is 85 watts RMS.

 

You are making me happy that I had decided to run all new wires for all the speakers in my build.

 

HahahahAhAha. Thanks buddy...

 

Here we are, all soldered. Test fitting before bundling up.



Bundled for installation

 

I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I had a fight trying to get everything to fit in the dash behind my HU. I'm so glad I had the foresight to locate the Sirius tuner behind the glove box because I had to get to it the other day for a new antenna install.

 

Yeah, everyone keeps saying "plenty of room back there".

There isn't. There's plenty of room below it, but not behind it.... So I made sure the wire loom was flexible. I had to take a little bit of tape of to get a safe bend...

 

All the maestro modules have to be shoved back there as well?

 

Yep. That's why I'm trying to make it as efficiently wrapped as possible. It'll all fit, I have no doubt.

 

Same unit?