Kenwood DDX719
 

This seems interesting. Uses your smart phone for gps, Netflix etc... Rather than buying another device with nav.

Not sure how much of a difference between the 419.

Can anyone with the 419 and a iPhone give some feedback on their experience?

I've been on the fence between a head unit with extra features vs head unit + tablet.

Kenwood DDX719 DVD receiver at Crutchfield.com

Nadda?

is the 419 not out?

Ordered. Should be in this weekend.

Gonna be a bit before I can get it in the car, but I may run some power to it just to check it out :)

My Kenwood DDX-719 arrives on Monday! Will be waiting on CFE to do my double din adapter to match my CF clear reflective console.

Attachment 42450

Attachment 42451

Little to much carbon there for my taste looks good though.

What all are you going to attach to your HU? Camera? Iphone apps?

I actually have a kenwood similar to this in my Z. It does pipe through navigation and everything through the speakers via bluetooth, but kenwoods are alot more seamlessly integrated with Apple devices than with droids.

Few things I noticed....

1. I have both a Droid 2 and a 4g Motorolla xoom. Using the google music app on both devices... I noticed that through the droid 2, Song info (like artist, song name, etc) works perfect, but for some reason, using the same exact app on the xoom, the songs will play but it doesn't pipe through the song information.

2. Not sure if you were expecting to pipe the actual visuals of the nav app, like google maps, to have it displayed on your head unit's screen, but I'm 100% confident this won't work. If it does, then I'll buy this unit immediately, because that doesn't even come close to working on mine.

3. Even when the song info is being displayed using my droid 2, and not the xoom, there is no way to get album pictures through unless you're using an apple device.

4. The phonebook displaying your contacts is hard to use. It does grab all of the contacts, but there's no way to search by typing on the head unit, and scrolling is a PITA. The best thing to do is to use voice commands, but you should get an app called "bluetooth launch" which will allow you to configure the bluetooth button on your head unit, to activate google voice search, rather than the separate voice command app on your android phone... which sucks terribly.

5. The steering wheel controls work for volume and source change, but the "next" and "back" features will NOT work if you're pairing through bluetooth. The steering wheel controls for this head unit will work for radio stations, CD's, and USB sticks though.

6. The backup cam works flawlessly.

You can browse my albums and see pics of my setup, using both the droid 2 and the xoom simultaneously. The great thing about this head unit is it will let you split your bluetooth connections from phone and from media. I have my droid 2 using the phone connection, and the xoom using the media connection.

Let me know how it works out for you!

Thanks for the input !!

I've decide not to go with the steering wheel controls atm. I have a Nismo so all I have are source, seek up/down and volume. And Honestly I find the volume controls in a pretty crappy position. I think you can change that with the steering wheel kit so that the seek up/down = volume controls? But, I'll probably skip it anyways. If i had the phone controls in addition then I'd be more inclined.

Here is a cut from the HU Description.

Enjoy apps
Plug your iPhone into the DDX719's USB input, and you can control Pandora® Internet radio, with easy access to your stations, "thumbs-up" and "thumbs-down" ratings, and other major functions. You can watch Netflix content on the built-in screen whenever you're parked, or send video to a screen in the back so your passengers can watch while you drive. And you can download Garmin's "Streetpilot" app for iPhone, then use the receiver's screen for navigation.

General features:
DVD/CD receiver with AM/FM tuner
built-in internal amp (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)
6.95" motorized touchscreen with variable color button illumination
built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and audio streaming
Pandora control with iPhone
iPhone App Mode with limited control of apps like Netflix and YouTube
display function for Garmin "Streetpilot" navigation app for iPhone
fits double-DIN dash openings


So it looks like you can use the HU as a external monitor. For some apps... I haven't been able to find the limit for this. or what will work with it.

What are people using for phone cradles? More specifically the Iphone. I seen some that connect to the vent louvers, but im not sure I like that idea.

I'm shooting for a HU that has all the bells and whistles, but takes advantage of all of this via smart phones.

Right on man. Honestly, if you have an iphone you'll probably be fine. I've used mine with a friend's phone and it works so much more seamlessly than with my droid devices.

Did you get it in?

I'm waiting for some parts still.

My DDX719 arrived today, but will have to wait for my double din kit to get shipped from CFE in clear reflective to match my dash. I'm using the Axxess steering wheel control kit. Seems pretty simple.

HOw'd you get the little "hoods" off the gauges? I think kenchan said he broke one of his off in a super old post i saw a while back.

NVM, found it
http://www.the370z.com/diy-section-d...e-cluster.html

I broke 2 in the process, but super glue works.

hows the progress?

Slow for me. I'm puttinf a JVC unit together for another member and then I'll get back on mine again.

I got mine in last night.. So far I like the unit, I need to change some of the menus still. The buttons are tiny... Starting to think I may need to get the steering wheel controls.

Also... The radio reception is terrible. I'm curious to see if you have the same problem.

I also need to order the Iphone AV\audio cable. I was thinking I could do everything through bluetooth. which you can, but no video.

It does sound a bit better then the stock radio.

Now I just need to get the rest of my system and then go for a ride to NJ to see Big's !!

I have the iPhone/iPod cable, parking brake bypass and AXXESS for the steering wheel control. I got a message from Tony at CFE and said he would try and ship out my double din kit on Saturday. That means Tuesday at earliest for my install. I'll get the harnesses all ready ahead of time though.
Keep us posted.

Did you connect the blue wire from the antenna adapter? I was not going to connect it, as I thought it was for a power antenna feed. I did some research and found this on a reveiw for the antenna adapter made by Spiral Audio:

"Worked perfectly in my Altima just plug right in to the existing antenna adapter to get an standard antenna plug. But, you must attach the blue wire it to your head unit on either the blue/white remote turn on to get the perfect reception."

Hmmmmm. I thought I read somewhere to ground that blue wire...

No! Read the diagram on page 78. It goes to the BLUE wire on the HU harness.

You were right. Much better heheh

Audio reception much better.

So I heard today that if you don't hook up any rear speakers it puts the power to the fronts. Ot sure if that's true or not. Still sounds pretty awful on stock speakers.

I'm going to end up getting the steering wheel cable. The buttons on the DDX 719 are to small to be playing around with in traffic. Even if it is just for the volume.

I'm wiring in my AXXESS kit right now. It all seem pretty straight forward.

Kenwood DDX719 with pics
 

I installed it today and steering controls work, both the volume and the phone pick-up and drop with the aid of the AXXESS ASWC. What a nice HU. Simple and easy to use.

I also decided to change the LED's in the climate control switches to blue while I had them out to match the start switch and the blue display I selected on the HU. Slowly but surely changing out those annoying amber lights.

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1332374200

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1332374200

Completely installed.

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1332380598

Looks good! I need to take some pics of mine for comparison. Tomorrow maybe.

Are you able to change the illumination color of the headunit buttons to amber?

Yes, you have a good slection of colors to choose from for the display and the buttons.

Daylight pics...

My most enjoyable mod to date!

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1332443012

http://www.the370z.com/attachment.ph...1&d=1332442969

DDX719 in stock $499.95 shipped

ddx719
 

I just got that head unit ... only difference is that the 719 has bluetooth....does me no good because no update for Samsung Galaxy2..it works but sounds terrible....hoping Kenwood does update soon and i can use it. I will post a pic asap. Still trying to get sound right....might need Dynamat or something similar to dull road noise a bit.

Bignismo10
2011 Red Nismo

Dyamat does make a big difference with lessening the road noise and keeping in the sounds you want. Well worth the effort and it is an effort!

I personally like the Pioneer versions...

AVH-P8400BH - <b>NEW!</b> - 2-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver with 7" Widescreen Touch Panel Display, Advanced App Mode, Built-In Bluetooth®, and HD Radio™ Tuner | Pioneer Electronics USA (not Android compatible yet, rumor has it that Pioneer is trying to release a firmware update for this)

AND for those who can wait a few more months...

AppRadio 2 (SPH-DA100) - <b>NEW!</b> - In-Dash iPhone® 4/4S and Android™ Compatible Car Receiver with 7" Capacitive Multi-Touch Screen, Built-In Bluetooth for Hands-Free Calling, and On-Screen Access to Compatible Smart (not out yet, but will be iPhone and Android compatible)

hmmmm, this unit has my interest. I was hoping not to spend anymore than $1K to upgrade the sound in my car and with this system around the $420 range, it looks like I'll be able to do that. Now, to research quality front speakers....

iphone only? screw that.

DDX719 is Android ready

Have the DDX419..... Bluetooth works great! Very compatible with my iPhone but pairs much better with the Droid...... As for the speed of the unit, a tad slow, but overall a really nice unit for my stereo.

Can anyone comment as to whether navigation "pipes" through to the DDX719 headunit screen when plugged into the iPhone?

How about forward/back, bluetooth phone steering wheel controls? Pretty seamless?

I'm considering replacing my headunit with this one.

I have this unit....put a bunch of music, including album art, on a flash drive...but it won't display the album art.

The one album I downloaded via android (Shinedown - Sound of Madness btw LOL) displays the album art...none of the other albums do.

Weird.

Suggestions?

There's an album organization program out there (don't remember the name) that looks up album information and actually embeds the album art into the mp3 file. Many disc ripping apps such as iTunes doesn't embed album art.

That may be a fix for your problem. I had a similar problem with album art not showing up when I streamed music to my PS3 at home from my network attached storage drives.