Kenwood DNX9960 vs. Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT

370zFORme!! · 12-25-2010, 04:58 PM

Ok guys so I am planning my headunit install and have narrowed it down to these two. The Kenwood has a better voice recognition system and garmin maps, and the pioneer a better user interface and it's pandora and iPhone friendly. Both have voice recognition and 3d maps. Can anyone chime in on their suggestions. The price difference is around $200+ for the Kenwood.

crash1369 · 12-25-2010, 08:10 PM

From what I have been told the Pieoneer takes longer to start up, especially with an ipod. There is a very long delay while it loads all your music, but then it responds probably even faster then the ipod alone.

The kenwood starts faster (probably about the same as my OEM radio was) but there is a delay every time you tell it to do something, so the overall operation is slow. You just need to be patient but if your in a hurry you will get fed up quick. If your paying more attention to the road then the radio you don't really notice.
I'm not sure how the pioneer compares.

If I had to do it again... I wouldn't.

The whole ordeal was pretty aggravating and the backup cam doesn't work or the steering wheel controls but that's beside the point right now. The sound is most definitely changed though. All I did was change the head unit but it's so much louder now and sounds so much better, you can actually hear there are subs now (the factory ones)

6spdcoupe · 12-25-2010, 08:21 PM

Kenwood by a landslide. Better reliability, faster boot time, more flexible audio wise, the list can go on. Did I mentioned better reliability ?

chuckd05 · 12-25-2010, 08:32 PM

my pioneer loads up in about 10 seconds.. and has no delay what so ever.. if you are playing the radio or a cd the music starts the second you power on.
I have had absolutely no problems and its been a joy to own.

The interface looks like it was made in the 2000's too , not the 90's like the kenwood..

people on this site are in love with kenwood and it seems like its the only deck anyone ever installs..

My avic x920 has been phenomanal to own.. everything is easy and pandora interface is really cool and has gotten much better with the newer iphone updates..

I would buy mine over in a heart beat without thinking twice.

looks factory, everyone that sees it compliments it in ways such as " wow that looks factory, looks much newer than other ones I have seen, etc "

JayYoon · 12-25-2010, 08:36 PM

Your kind of in the same boat as i am... I wanted a head unit that is very friendly with iphone so that i can listen to music on my iphone... so i ended up buyin pioneer avic-x920bt... with an ipod adapter... but heres the catch... i've had the head unit for like couple months... and guess what... i have never used the iphone... why? because it comes with an micro sd slot and you can put movies and music... and its so convenient... so i regret buying a $50 ipod cable... and your not even gonna need an iphone... and as far as voice recognition... u will never use it... and its a pain in the @$$ to get in the car and plug ur phone in... lol... hope this help... imo pioneer vs kenwood... i think they are both pretty good... i would go with better price...

chuckd05 · 12-25-2010, 08:41 PM

vs

kenwood just looks "old" to me but thats just me

chuckd05 · 12-25-2010, 08:42 PM

Jay yoon my old gripe with the sd card is that atleast with my car. I can not go back tracks, only fowards...

it that the case with you ? And on other decks ? Or is it my card?

TreeSemdyZee · 12-25-2010, 10:16 PM

I can't speak to the Pioneer, but I really like my 9960. Does what I ask it to do. I mostly listen to my iPod (160GB) and I've got the steering wheel controls set up so changing tracks is pretty quick. I've never timed it, but I think it changed quicker that using the touchscreen.

Link to my pics:
Dnx9960 kenwood excelon wicked cas sneak peak preview pre-order $500 gift certificate

crash1369 · 12-25-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeSemdyZee

I can't speak to the Pioneer, but I really like my 9960. Does what I ask it to do. I mostly listen to my iPod (160GB) and I've got the steering wheel controls set up so changing tracks is pretty quick. I've never timed it, but I think it changed quicker that using the touchscreen.

Link to my pics:
Dnx9960 kenwood excelon wicked cas sneak peak preview pre-order $500 gift certificate

I would agree, if you had hard buttons for the common features that would speed it up tremendously.

(I try again to get that **** working next week end or something)

bigaudiofanat · 12-25-2010, 11:04 PM

I would take the kenwood over the pioneer any day.

JayYoon · 12-25-2010, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckd05

Jay yoon my old gripe with the sd card is that atleast with my car. I can not go back tracks, only fowards...

it that the case with you ? And on other decks ? Or is it my card?

I am having hard time understanding you. Are you saying you cant go back like as in your previous songs?

Well as for me, I can go forward backward and can change folders in between and also play videos.

By the way, if your song orders are set in random, you cannot go backward. Only forward when set to random. Hope this helps.

chuckd05 · 12-26-2010, 04:32 PM

That was it, I was on random.

Thanks

JayYoon · 12-27-2010, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckd05

That was it, I was on random.

Thanks

lol nice! now u fixed it!

370zFORme!! · 12-27-2010, 01:53 AM

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm still kind of on the fence. I really want the kenwood but I've read some really bad reviews about constant memory resets, and inconsistent startup times. Guess the search continues.

JayYoon · 12-27-2010, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zFORme!!

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm still kind of on the fence. I really want the kenwood but I've read some really bad reviews about constant memory resets, and inconsistent startup times. Guess the search continues.

just lettin you kno... which ever one you pick, ur gonna love it... and your never gonna fine about the other product... lol... unless u buy both?!?!

12-25-2010, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
370zFORme!! Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,459 Drives: 2012 6MT STiffy Rep Power: 17	Kenwood DNX9960 vs. Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT Ok guys so I am planning my headunit install and have narrowed it down to these two. The Kenwood has a better voice recognition system and garmin maps, and the pioneer a better user interface and it's pandora and iPhone friendly. Both have voice recognition and 3d maps. Can anyone chime in on their suggestions. The price difference is around $200+ for the Kenwood. __________________ 87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

12-25-2010, 08:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
crash1369 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tobyharlem Age: 42 Posts: 474 Drives: C300 - 6spd Rep Power: 729	From what I have been told the Pieoneer takes longer to start up, especially with an ipod. There is a very long delay while it loads all your music, but then it responds probably even faster then the ipod alone. The kenwood starts faster (probably about the same as my OEM radio was) but there is a delay every time you tell it to do something, so the overall operation is slow. You just need to be patient but if your in a hurry you will get fed up quick. If your paying more attention to the road then the radio you don't really notice. I'm not sure how the pioneer compares. If I had to do it again... I wouldn't. The whole ordeal was pretty aggravating and the backup cam doesn't work or the steering wheel controls but that's beside the point right now. The sound is most definitely changed though. All I did was change the head unit but it's so much louder now and sounds so much better, you can actually hear there are subs now (the factory ones) __________________ "At no point during your rambling, incoherent response did you ever come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul."

12-25-2010, 08:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
6spdcoupe Base Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Central Jersey Posts: 34 Drives: '08 TBSS, '06 E55 Rep Power: 15	Kenwood by a landslide. Better reliability, faster boot time, more flexible audio wise, the list can go on. Did I mentioned better reliability ? __________________ '06 E55, '08 TBSS, '09 CX-7 H900/TRU SSLD6i/TRU Billets/ Dyn 182s~Esotar 110s~430s~1200

12-25-2010, 08:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
chuckd05 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 2,391 Drives: No longer a Z Rep Power: 20	my pioneer loads up in about 10 seconds.. and has no delay what so ever.. if you are playing the radio or a cd the music starts the second you power on. I have had absolutely no problems and its been a joy to own. The interface looks like it was made in the 2000's too , not the 90's like the kenwood.. people on this site are in love with kenwood and it seems like its the only deck anyone ever installs.. My avic x920 has been phenomanal to own.. everything is easy and pandora interface is really cool and has gotten much better with the newer iphone updates.. I would buy mine over in a heart beat without thinking twice. looks factory, everyone that sees it compliments it in ways such as " wow that looks factory, looks much newer than other ones I have seen, etc " __________________ 09 370Z 6M PW - FBO Best 1/4 mile = 12.926 @ 109 SOLD -- 08 BMW 135i - FBO 12.1@120mph SOLD -- white 09 e92 335 Coupe Mtech - 11.9 @ 119 :-) Last edited by chuckd05; 12-25-2010 at 08:36 PM.

12-25-2010, 08:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
chuckd05 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 2,391 Drives: No longer a Z Rep Power: 20	vs kenwood just looks "old" to me but thats just me __________________ 09 370Z 6M PW - FBO Best 1/4 mile = 12.926 @ 109 SOLD -- 08 BMW 135i - FBO 12.1@120mph SOLD -- white 09 e92 335 Coupe Mtech - 11.9 @ 119 :-)

12-25-2010, 08:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
JayYoon Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: san diego Posts: 452 Drives: 2010 370z Rep Power: 15	Your kind of in the same boat as i am... I wanted a head unit that is very friendly with iphone so that i can listen to music on my iphone... so i ended up buyin pioneer avic-x920bt... with an ipod adapter... but heres the catch... i've had the head unit for like couple months... and guess what... i have never used the iphone... why? because it comes with an micro sd slot and you can put movies and music... and its so convenient... so i regret buying a $50 ipod cable... and your not even gonna need an iphone... and as far as voice recognition... u will never use it... and its a pain in the @$$ to get in the car and plug ur phone in... lol... hope this help... imo pioneer vs kenwood... i think they are both pretty good... i would go with better price...

12-25-2010, 08:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
chuckd05 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 2,391 Drives: No longer a Z Rep Power: 20	Jay yoon my old gripe with the sd card is that atleast with my car. I can not go back tracks, only fowards... it that the case with you ? And on other decks ? Or is it my card? __________________ 09 370Z 6M PW - FBO Best 1/4 mile = 12.926 @ 109 SOLD -- 08 BMW 135i - FBO 12.1@120mph SOLD -- white 09 e92 335 Coupe Mtech - 11.9 @ 119 :-)

12-25-2010, 10:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 60 Posts: 4,885 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27409	I can't speak to the Pioneer, but I really like my 9960. Does what I ask it to do. I mostly listen to my iPod (160GB) and I've got the steering wheel controls set up so changing tracks is pretty quick. I've never timed it, but I think it changed quicker that using the touchscreen. Link to my pics: Dnx9960 kenwood excelon wicked cas sneak peak preview pre-order $500 gift certificate

12-25-2010, 11:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	I would take the kenwood over the pioneer any day. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

12-26-2010, 04:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
chuckd05 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NY Posts: 2,391 Drives: No longer a Z Rep Power: 20	That was it, I was on random. Thanks __________________ 09 370Z 6M PW - FBO Best 1/4 mile = 12.926 @ 109 SOLD -- 08 BMW 135i - FBO 12.1@120mph SOLD -- white 09 e92 335 Coupe Mtech - 11.9 @ 119 :-)

12-27-2010, 01:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
370zFORme!! Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,459 Drives: 2012 6MT STiffy Rep Power: 17	Thanks for the responses guys. I'm still kind of on the fence. I really want the kenwood but I've read some really bad reviews about constant memory resets, and inconsistent startup times. Guess the search continues. __________________ 87' Honda Civic Hatchback: Kaput @ 288,000 miles, 90' Toyota Celica: Kaput @ 175,000 miles, 93' Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4: Kaput @ 138,000 miles, 06' Scion Tc: Traded in @ 64,000 miles, 10' Nissan 370z: Traded in @ 25,000 miles, 12' Subaru Impreza Sti: Current.

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