What to look for in a nav unit...

I am looking for a built in dash unit for my 2005 DC (w/o JBL).

I was trying to decide between the Kenwood DNX573S and the Kenwood DNX693S. They look the same to me, one has a 4volt preamp, one has a 5volt preamp. One has two rear facing usb ports, one has one usb port.

Is more voltage and extra rear usb aport worth the money for the more expensive unit.

I wouldn't mind hooking up a rear backup camera in the future, but don't think usb ports have anything to so with that.

 

USB has nothing to do with camera input, both units have dual camera inputs. So you can have a front and rear camera.

Kenwood Excelon carries a 2yr warranty, Kenwood products carry a 1yr warranty.

Personally I would stay away from anything motorized (dnx693s), they are more prone to failure.

Go with the DNX573S and put the extra money you would have spent on the DNX693S towards something else.

 

I'm looking at the same decks as options, and as far as I can tell the 573 and 693 are the same form factor. Neither has a motorized faceplate, unless I'm looking at the wrong ones?
DNX573S - $775 AR
DNX693S - $825 AR
The only differences I see between them (respectively) are the 1 year warranty vs 2 year, single usb vs dual, and 4V vs 5V pre-amp voltage. For $50 it depends if you'll be using the deck to it's fullest potential, but I know I'd be filling up the usb ports, and connecting external amps so it would be worth it to me.

Another similar deck to make things even more confusing is the DDX6903S - $650 which has the same features as the DNX693S, minus the navigation and HDMI input.

 

You're right!

The 893S is motorized, I must have clicked on that one by mistake..... I blame the booze!

 

Look for.... "Garmin"

Just installed the DNX 573S.

Sounds great, can't beat Garmin in my book and this one is faster than my old Kenwood. Pretty good all around, but won't mirror my new Galaxy 7S. Perhaps just a new / new issue and they haven't caught up with one another yet.

https://www.amazon.com/Kenwood-DNX5...e=UTF8&qid=1479048280&sr=8-1&keywords=DNX573S

 

just curious why you guys did not get the 7"screen ???

 

Another question along these lines is what should I be looking for to know if the nav unit will respond fluently and efficiently with my '13 steering wheel buttons? (/\, \/, +, -, Mode)?

 

To keep the steering wheel controls functioning with an aftermarket radio you can use a Pac Audio SWI-RC($40) or idatalink Maestro($100). I have yet to install the Maestro, but have installed a hand full of SWI-RC's. Just know every function from the steering wheel controls might not be available, you might have to substitute some of the function or might end up with buttons that don't control anything.

 

For me, it was all about the DO-Re-Mi !