Hello all!

I'm about to go pick up my '08 SCREW with the audiophile system (I'll post pictures soon), & the first thing I want to do is replace the audiophile HU. My choice has been between the Kenwood DDX512 & the Pioneer AVIC-D3. I think I'm going to go with the Kenwood, since I don't have an urgent need for the navigation features. I've done a ton of reading here over the last week, & I've got a few questions that I haven't found addressed directly elsewhere. Please bear with me...

--Does the parking brake lockout apply to iPod video as well?

--If so, can I just listen to the audio (like on a video podcast)?

--If I just want bluetooth calling functionality, do I need the add-on bluetooth module?

--Can I make the unit work with the steering-wheel controls?

--Do I need anything else for the unit to work with the OEM Sirius tuner?

--If I want to add navigation later, how expensive & complicated is it?

--As a novice, any chance of installing this myself?

I think that's about it, unless someone wants to try to convince me to get the AVIC-D3. Thanks for all of your help!

 

Please let me know if you are interested in selling your stock HU!!!!

 

All video function is locked out unless you ground the parking brake wire or click the parking brake down one click.

Audio is present at all times. No video unless parking brake is applied

The KCA-BT200 module is needed for any bluetooth function unless of course you have another bluetooth accessory.

The PAC SWI-JACK interface will give you all your steering wheel functions

You'll need the Kenwood CA-SR20V SiriusConnect adapter and the SiriusConnect SC-C1 Tuner. You can however still use the factory antenna if you pop the plastic end off of it so it can plug into the antenna port of the SC-C1 tuner.

The KNA-G510 will simply plug into the unit with the supplied DIN cable. You'll have to mount the GPS antenna which I usually stick to the metal bracket above the radio under the top plastic dash tray. The KNA-G510 will set you back around $650 or so.

Very simple for a do-it-yourself job. For my customers I usually connect the radio harnesses together for them so that they simply need to plug the radio into the dash and connect one wire for the steering wheel adapter and you're done.

Hope this helps

 

[QUOTE=KCAutosound;3225688]All video function is locked out unless you ground the parking brake wire or click the parking brake down one click.
QUOTE]

Can this work with out missing up ur e-brake

i mean is it applied after 1 click or only wen its more down towards the floor

can u ride safely with it down one click

 

For the Kenwood, just don't connect the parking brake wire from the stereo to your parking brake. If you ground the wire, then all video function works at all times.

Everything else KC said is correct. The install is very simple. I have never installed a car stereo in my life & I was able to do this one thanks to the custom wiring harness I bought from crutchfield.

 

I have always for MY customers grounded the parking brake wire to the ground when I install but for my CAR DEALERSHIP customers I connect it to the parking brake and leave it up to them. Clicking the parking brake down one click does not do anything on the foot brake except turn the brake light on in your instrument cluster. A couple years ago I would install the Ford aftermarket Daytime Running Lamp module and this was how you would defeat it by pressing the brake down one click because it had a shut down wire connected to it.

 

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys... after seeing how expensive the navigation add-on is for Kenwood, I almost feel like I should go ahead & get the Pioneer. Any areas in which the Kenwood blows away the Pioneer? I think my preference was mostly related to what I've seen of the user interfaces.

 

im goin to get either one of those put it tommorrow, i havent decided yet , but im almost postive im going with the D3 unless the kenwood can convince me otherwise.

 

D3 requires Navigation disc in order to use nav features, has no USB input, and its satellite radio display isn't quite as nice. If none of these are deal breakers for you, the the D3 with the included nav is cheaper than the 5120.

 

The DDX512 isn't the direct competitor to the D3. If you're looking for navigation you need to look at the DNX5120, it's basically Kenwood's version of the D3.

 

KC,

How would you install some amps with the DDX512? I just got the thing in the mail and the RCA outs go something like this:

AV OUT (L R)
REAR/SUB (L R) <--- problem
FRONT (L R)

I have two amps, one for mids/tweets, one for sub... From reading the manual, in the interface you get to pick what you want to come out of those, full range or subwoofer frequencies...

if I get a Y split, I have to make the decision of what kind of power I get out of the deck in the interface; if I choose full range, I don't get the subwoofer controls, if I choose subwoofer, my rears (this is an excursion, so 4 rear channels...) I get no highs out of them. I'll have to split those further b/c I have a 6ch amp (JL A6450) powering the mids/tweets...

any ideas? :-)

 

Nice amp. I installed one of those about a month ago in a buddies Tahoe. Actually it was the G6600 but very similar to the A6450. We ran it on the four doors and the kick panels. In his truck we ran it off a JVC monitor that only had two sets of RCAs as well.

Basically you are going to run the front DNX512's RCAs to the mid/high amplifier and run the rears to the subwoofer amplifier. The DDX512's RCA outputs are only rated at 2 volts. There are two ways to go about running a single set of RCAs to your amplifier. I'll list the two ways below.

1. You can use two "Y" splitters on your front channel RCA outputs to split your signals into the amplifier. Then plug your RCAs into 1,2,3 and 4 channel inputs on your amplifier. To the left of the RCA inputs you will notice a switch setting for Amplifier Input voltage. Make sure to switch this to LOW. Also you will see a switch that says Channel 5 & 6 Controls. Make sure the switch is set to SUM. This will allow the RCA inputs from channels 3 & 4 to feed into channels 5 & 6.

2. I highly recommend with your amplifier you run a AudioControl Matrix Line Driver. The matrix is a 6 channel line driver that will boost the Kenwood's 2volt RCA output to a powerful 13volts. In your case the JL A6450 will accept up to a 8 volt input. Basically run your front RCA line into the Matrix channel 1&2 inputs and then select the switch to feed it through all six ouputs. Then simply run your three set of RCAs to channels 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 of your JL amplifier. The stronger the input voltage of your amp the cleaner more powerful the output will be. Make sure your Amplifier Input Voltage switch is set to HIGH.

Hope this helps.