Anyone have experience with Kenwood Excelon DMX906S yet?

what's the verdict on the Scoche

 

I dont see on the website where they have one for the factory upgraded radio only the smaller radio. I like mine alot. The picture shows where i didnt have the bezel pushed all the way in. After i pushed it in the upper right hand corner fit more flush.

 

It's kind of a mixed bag -- Scosche makes a bezel for the Entune Premium headunit (

$18 TA2121B Compatible with 2016-Up Toyota Tacoma Premium Model ISO Double DIN w/ Pocket Dash Kit Black

TA2121B), but it positions your aftermarket double-DIN very high up in the opening i.e. your radio isn't centered vertically in the stock opening. I think it looked really goofy (see photo below). As far as build quality, Scosche uses metal brackets (Metra is 100% plastic) and their bezel is just hard plastic with some texturing. I didn't mind that at all, but the Metra has some sort of soft-touch paint on the bezel that I kinda like and it seems very durable. I tried scratching it with a fingernail and couldn't.

So, I like how the

$24 Metra 99-8251B Mounting Kit for Toyota Tacoma 2016 & Up,Black

Metra 99-8251B centers the radio in the opening, but as others have pointed out, you will need to shim the bezel with some washers in order to get the Metra bezel flush with the Toyota radio bezel surround. It took me three washers in three corners, and four washers in the bottom right. Frustrating since it's kind of fiddly trying to get the washer stacks lined up behind the Metra mount. Ended up gluing the washers in each stack to each other in order to make them easier to manage.

Just to be clear, the gap is between the Metra bezel and the OEM surround (the one with the vents), not between the Metra bezel and your new radio. No problems there. I don't see that any adjustment of the radio mounting holes would affect this. I think it's just poor measurement by Metra when they designed the part.

Even having said all this, I kept the Metra and returned the Scosche because I thought the Metra looked better.

 

How did you mount the phone here - looks tidy.

 

Thanks, that was the goal. not a fan of too many wires hanging around the dash

Mount link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Phone-Moun...var=462590588215&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

OP,

Would appreciate any updates on the 9906XR as I just ordered one from Crutchfield and am awaiting delivery. Still like it? Any issues you've run into?

Thanks, CB

 

Did you drill out a hole in the Bezel to mount the Mic? That is a good idea if so, any issues with people not being able to hear you etc?

 

Yep, took the stock mic apart (be careful those solder joints are not sturdy) measured got close with a bit then dremeled with stone bit until the cap snapped in fit. No complaints ive called a few people since and no one has complained i also called my wifes voice mail and used different levels of voices and i was loud and clear on the recording.

 

Nice! I think I'm going to try and replicate that just to avoid having to even try to run the replacement mic to the original mic location and avoid having the Kenwood mic mounted on the dash.

 

Still like it - I have it connected to the stock GPS antenna but it is not always recognizing it - Crutchfield said that's a known issue so I need to open it up and put on the Kenwood GPS antenna to reliably get wireless CarPlay. I haven't found anything not to like so far!

 

The whole reason I am getting it is for the wireless CarPlay so not having reliable wireless CarPlay would be an issue. Crutchfield are sending it with a Metra Antenna Adapter, I'm assuming to use with the stock one? So do I need to use the Kenwood antennae instead of the stock one for the wireless CarPlay to actually work? Would that cause any issues that you know of with the display between the speedometer/tachometer? I just want to be sure so that I can avoid having to install it and then take it out again.

Thanks, CB

 

I can guarantee, no matter what precautions you take, you will end up pulling out the radio from the dash numerous times to tweak this, that, or the other. Don't sweat it.

 

Yes - use the Kenwood antenna - I'm going to just attached it to the underside of the dash on top of the head unit.

 

Thanks Hombre

 

Got mine installed today and LOVE IT! Screen is so responsive. Wireless carplay picked right up and streams my siriusxm app from my phone. Hooked up a front camera and it kicks right in when I hit the button. Very happy with it. Also getting it for $579 was nice... but I aslso get a $100 rebate so really $479 is a steal!

 

Where did you get it for that price?!

 

You have to use the GPS antenna provided with the unit for wireless CarPlay to work and if you're upgrading from an older model with a gps antenna, you'll also have to swap it out.

You can retain the sirius xm antenna and radio antenna with adapters. The gps antenna can't be retained its proprietary to each headunit/radio.

 

Thanks for the input. I'll definitely just use the Kenwood antenna and everything should hopefully work.

 

Oddly enough I was looking at reviews on Amazon and there was a guy commenting on there that he had the best prices. I thought I would text him and see what was up. Turns out he owns an audio store in Texas and is a Kenwood retailer. He answered a bunch of my questions and hooked me up. Just sent in my paperwork for the rebate this morning. Below is a pic of the screen with wireless carplay going... and the other is of the front camera I added. It looks fuzzy but it is from the fog and the lighting when I pulled into work. Crystal clear driving to work.

 

Has anyone figured out how to activate the backup camera on command? I cannot seem to find that function. And now that I think about it... can we take that text off the top of the screen in reverse? Takes up the whole top of the screen.