calling all kenwood owners

ConchZ2 · 08-11-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

No I have not jumped on any wagon, I just started installing the kenwood units only in z's there my first experiences with them. I do have to say they bring a lot to the table. Every company has there good and bad "except pioneer" and I know that some are batter than others. IMHO I have used alpine, I have changed head units to alpines, I have worked with them very closely and I have not had a single problem with them at all. They are some of the best out there. A few people I know say that alpine is not what is use to be. Well in my eyes they have not changed. There ipod integration is awesome, every time I install one I never get noise, a lot of add things can be added on to them, and they are worth spending a few extra dollars. The only thing I will agree on, is that the nav in alpine are not the greatest, but they are usable. But in the end it is what YOU the consumer wants and that is what I install. Also no work is not slow there is no job at all, I have been unemployed for 11 months now. The car audio scene is were I am making some good money and keeping me out of the read as well. I love doing installs it makes me feel good and at the end of the day I can sit down and smile because I actually did something that day other than look for jobs.

CRUTCHFIELD North America’s Electronics Specialist since 1974 highly recommends Pioneer (and Kenwood) car stereos & components. For the ninth year in a row, Crutchfield has been recognized by BizRate.com's "Circle of Excellence" for performance and customer service. Crutchfield.com is the only consumer electronics site to receive the Circle of Excellence award nine times.
Are you saying you are more experienced?

DIGItonium · 08-11-2009, 09:24 AM

A tad OT, but Kenwood-related...

Has anyone been able to update their firmware? My firmware update button is always grayed out even in Standby mode.

The DDX-814 is nice, but it is slow as molasses.

bigaudiofanat · 08-11-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConchZ2

CRUTCHFIELD North America’s Electronics Specialist since 1974 highly recommends Pioneer (and Kenwood) car stereos & components. For the ninth year in a row, Crutchfield has been recognized by BizRate.com's "Circle of Excellence" for performance and customer service. Crutchfield.com is the only consumer electronics site to receive the Circle of Excellence award nine times.
Are you saying you are more experienced?

Okay A littel of the topic but okay. I like crutchfield but I will not recommend pioneer, and on the other sites 75% agree with me.

bigaudiofanat · 08-11-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

A tad OT, but Kenwood-related...

Has anyone been able to update their firmware? My firmware update button is always grayed out even in Standby mode.

The DDX-814 is nice, but it is slow as molasses.

Do you have the video by pass done to your head unit?

DIGItonium · 08-11-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

Do you have the video by pass done to your head unit?

All I did was ground the PARK BRAKE wire. Not sure if it's necessary, but I started up my car before attempting the upgrade process. Only the BT Module update button is available to select.

What I did notice this morning was a "disc error" when dropping in the data CD with the firmware files. So perhaps it doesn't like the way Windows formatted the data disc, so I may have to try burning the CD with Nero.

TX_370 · 08-11-2009, 01:55 PM

I have the Kenwood DNX-6150 and I have had no problems. Everything works great and the GPS is incredibly accurate.

ConchZ2 · 08-11-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigaudiofanat

Okay A littel of the topic but okay. I like crutchfield but I will not recommend pioneer, and on the other sites 75% agree with me.

Where do you come up with this asinine statistics of 75%? Obviously you’re not a mathematician! Pioneer is rated excellent by cnet which is an unbiased review panel.

Pioneer DEH-P6000UB In-dash car stereo reviews - CNET Reviews

DIGItonium · 08-13-2009, 09:00 AM

Man the DDX-814 firmware in my unit is fairly old at 1.2, while the latest update is 1.7. I tried burning a CD and DVD using Vista and Nero on XP with no such luck. I'll either get a "disc error" or the unit gets stuck rebooting itself.

As much as I like the DDX-814 features and the time such units has been out in the market, you would think they'd speed things up by now. The time it takes to switch songs and display the file listing is ridiculous.

[EDIT] I finally got the firmware update working. I used another XP-based machine to write the files to a CD-R. I dropped the disc in and got the usual "disc error" message. Under software information, the UPDATE button was finally available! After 20min. of waiting, my HU now works like a charm! MP3s load so much faster, and now I'm able to page through the file listing. Even better, subwoofer output is so much more consistent. For awhile, sub output was weak when playing MP3s and listening to some CDs. Usually bass output is weak when I first power up the unit. It's confusing, but now everything sounds better regardless of the style of music I'm listening to.

jribbe101 · 11-09-2009, 09:18 AM

I am having the same issue trying to update my DD814. I get the grayed out update button. When you burned the files to a CD-R. Did you burn all 3 files in the zip folder (DDX8_1_1.70.ruf, DDX8_2_0013.img, DDX8_3_.img) to the cd or just the .ruf file. Thx!

DIGItonium · 11-09-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jribbe101

I am having the same issue trying to update my DD814. I get the grayed out update button. When you burned the files to a CD-R. Did you burn all 3 files in the zip folder (DDX8_1_1.70.ruf, DDX8_2_0013.img, DDX8_3_.img) to the cd or just the .ruf file. Thx!

Hey, I got your message. DDX firmware updating was BIG PITA. I spent 3 days trying to get it to work and nearly gave up. I tried CD and DVD blank media with various burning options... Nero, Vista, etc. That darn DDX refused the media!

-Unzip ALL of the files and use the Windows XP native CD writing feature to write the files to the CD.
-Drag and drop the files to your CD/DVD drive icon.
-Right-mouse the CD/DVD drive icon and select "Write these files to CD."
-Insert blank CD and continue from there.

Power on the DDX, insert the CD media, and follow the usual procedure to get to the firmware update section. The button should be available to use now. Make sure your car is running because the update takes 20-30min. to complete, and it reboots a few times to finish the update. You'll get a message indicating the update completed.

After that, song changing went from 1 minute to a few seconds. The unit is still slow, but not as painful. You'd think they'd make these things fast by now.

dcrew1x · 11-09-2009, 01:45 PM

Can you do this update via USB? or does it have to be CD?

bigaudiofanat · 11-09-2009, 04:51 PM

I believe only cd that I know of. Or I mean DVD

dejavu1611 · 11-09-2009, 11:22 PM

Hey DIGI, I was thinking of getting the same headunit. Can you let me know how the install was? I'm particularly interested in the fit (does it need a face plate to make it flush?) and how easy was the parking bypass for video on the run (I hope it is as simple as grounding the parking wire on the stereo). Please also let me know if there was any bumps along the way in the install. I am DIY'ing it (first timer). Thanks in advance.

dcrew1x · 11-09-2009, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dejavu1611

Hey DIGI, I was thinking of getting the same headunit. Can you let me know how the install was? I'm particularly interested in the fit (does it need a face plate to make it flush?) and how easy was the parking bypass for video on the run (I hope it is as simple as grounding the parking wire on the stereo). Please also let me know if there was any bumps along the way in the install. I am DIY'ing it (first timer). Thanks in advance.

If you do not have the touring model and own the base, then you don't need a faceplate or dash kit for the kenwood double din head units.

Here are a few interesting threads you might want to look into that will answer some of your questions:

California Install

The Install Videos

http://www.the370z.com/audio-video/5...am-ak370z.html

dejavu1611 · 11-10-2009, 01:53 AM

thanks, I may have missed something but I didnt notice that there was an explanation on how the unit bypasses the parking break for video.

08-11-2009, 09:24 AM	#17 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	A tad OT, but Kenwood-related... Has anyone been able to update their firmware? My firmware update button is always grayed out even in Standby mode. The DDX-814 is nice, but it is slow as molasses. __________________

08-11-2009, 01:55 PM	#21 (permalink)
TX_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 5,389 Drives: American Rep Power: 28	I have the Kenwood DNX-6150 and I have had no problems. Everything works great and the GPS is incredibly accurate. __________________ 2009 PW Nissan 370Z with Sports Package

08-13-2009, 09:00 AM	#23 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Man the DDX-814 firmware in my unit is fairly old at 1.2, while the latest update is 1.7. I tried burning a CD and DVD using Vista and Nero on XP with no such luck. I'll either get a "disc error" or the unit gets stuck rebooting itself. As much as I like the DDX-814 features and the time such units has been out in the market, you would think they'd speed things up by now. The time it takes to switch songs and display the file listing is ridiculous. [EDIT] I finally got the firmware update working. I used another XP-based machine to write the files to a CD-R. I dropped the disc in and got the usual "disc error" message. Under software information, the UPDATE button was finally available! After 20min. of waiting, my HU now works like a charm! MP3s load so much faster, and now I'm able to page through the file listing. Even better, subwoofer output is so much more consistent. For awhile, sub output was weak when playing MP3s and listening to some CDs. Usually bass output is weak when I first power up the unit. It's confusing, but now everything sounds better regardless of the style of music I'm listening to. __________________ Last edited by DIGItonium; 08-13-2009 at 03:15 PM.

11-09-2009, 09:18 AM	#24 (permalink)
jribbe101 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1 Drives: G35 Rep Power: 16	ddx814 update prob I am having the same issue trying to update my DD814. I get the grayed out update button. When you burned the files to a CD-R. Did you burn all 3 files in the zip folder (DDX8_1_1.70.ruf, DDX8_2_0013.img, DDX8_3_.img) to the cd or just the .ruf file. Thx!

11-09-2009, 01:45 PM	#26 (permalink)
dcrew1x Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 821 Drives: Graphite Bullet Rep Power: 369	Can you do this update via USB? or does it have to be CD? __________________ 2009 PG 6MT Sports Stillen Gen3 CAI \| Stillen CBE \| AMS Short Shifter \| Nismo Brace Kit

11-09-2009, 04:51 PM	#27 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	I believe only cd that I know of. Or I mean DVD __________________ 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/

11-09-2009, 11:22 PM	#28 (permalink)
dejavu1611 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 7 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z PG A7 Rep Power: 16	Hey DIGI, I was thinking of getting the same headunit. Can you let me know how the install was? I'm particularly interested in the fit (does it need a face plate to make it flush?) and how easy was the parking bypass for video on the run (I hope it is as simple as grounding the parking wire on the stereo). Please also let me know if there was any bumps along the way in the install. I am DIY'ing it (first timer). Thanks in advance.

11-10-2009, 01:53 AM	#30 (permalink)
dejavu1611 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 7 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z PG A7 Rep Power: 16	thanks, I may have missed something but I didnt notice that there was an explanation on how the unit bypasses the parking break for video.

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