Manufacturer’s Review (December 3, 2008)
The DNX5120 is a full-featured Entertainment and Navigation system with USB Direct Control for iPods or other portable music devices. With built-in Garmin navigation technology, the DNX5120 has maps of the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and includes over 6 million Points of Interest. This all-in-one unit also features a 6.1-inch LCD touchscreen with a user-programmable start-up, variable-color illumination of the front panel controls, and two RCA 2V preamp outs for system expansion.
A full-featured Entertainment and Navigation system with USB Direct Control for iPods or other portable music devices. Click to enlarge. |
Advanced GUI with Variable Illumination and Customizable Start-up
The DNX5120 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with a powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface.
Customize the unit’s front panel illumination with the new variable illumination palette of colors–match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy.
The DNX5120′s customizable display lets you select frequently used input sources (up to 3) and display them as icons for extra convenience.
Seamless connection with iPod video/audio. |
Variable illumination palette of colors. |
Customizable display with favorite, up-front and easy-to-control sources. |
Bluetooth-ready: add the optional KCA-BT200 to enjoy hands-free phone operation or to listen to audio stored on Bluetooth devices. |
Use the optional CA-C3AV cable with the front auxiliary A/V input too connect external devices like video game systems. |
Built-in Full-memory Garmin Navigation Board
A built-in Garmin Navigation board has maps of the continental US, Hawaii, Alaska and Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also includes over 6 million points of interest.
Find your destination with voice prompts, arrows, and directions. If you depart from the original route, the navigation system recalculates the route and provides new route instructions. Enter and save multiple locations; find restaurants, hotels, and other businesses; get helpful statistics about your trip; customize your routes and more with Garmin’s industry-leading GPS service. You can also add a Traffic Receiver subscription through Garmin to receive real-time traffic information and avoid congestion or other problems.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media
The DNX5120 gives you a wealth of entertainment options. Play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats.
The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD and CD-DA discs. It plays back AAC-LC, MP3 and WMA audio files; MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files; and can display JPG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and you’re all set to enjoy them in your vehicle.
You can also listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX5120 also displays FM radio text when available, traffic information, and allows you to enter station names.
Seamless Connection with iPod Video/Audio
Connect an iPod using the optional KCA-iP300V cable to enable full video (for iPods with video capability) and/or audio control. You’ll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
The following iPods can be controlled from this unit (the latest iPod software updater can be downloaded from the Apple Inc. web site):
- iPod nano
- iPod nano (Second Generation)
- iPod nano (3rd Generation)
- Fifth Generation iPod (iPod with video)
- iPod classic
- iPod touch (audio only)
USB Direct Control
You can enjoy your favorite music, video or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it’s ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output
In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX5120′s front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems–use the optional CA-C3AV cable for mini-jack to RCA conversion and you’re set.
For output, the DNX5120 has 2 2V RCA preamp outputs for system expansion (this in addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier).
HD and SAT Radio Ready
The DNX5120 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V + Sirius SC-C1 Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You can also add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD Radio, Tuner features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Bluetooth Ready
Add the optional KCA-BT200 to enjoy hands-free phone operation or to listen to audio stored on Bluetooth devices.
Optional Remote Control
This unit can be operated using the optional Remote Controller KNA-RCDV330.
What’s in the Box
Kenwood DNX5120, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, GPS antenna, installation hardware, installation manual, navigation manual, device manual, warranty card.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Great radio
Wanted a in-dash gps and this one didn’t disapoint!
Dvd player is a great plus.
3 Stars Unit is ok, but it has unexpected flaws
I am enjoying this unit, however I did learn of some flaws after acquiring it.
I do like the GPS functionality (this is the first GPS unit I have had however, so the wow factor is big with me). I like how it quietly recalculates routes and I like how the unit does not bark at me when I miss a turn or choose to go another way.
The tuner is ok (I did not get the HD Radio option).
I did purchase the the iPod cable, and learned later when I connected my iPhone that I would be getting the “This product not for iPhone” message. Not a big deal, and I have some products made for my iPhone for which I get that message. The reason why I never gave this a thought during purchase is because it clearly was designed to work with cell phones as it supports bluetooth, and has dialing/phone features built in. So, it just never crossed my mind that I might get this message. My bad.
Must say that using a touch screen system while driving is not a good thing. Obviously I should not use the GPS (interact with it I mean) while driving – but I expect to use the radio (or the iPod screen). So, this isn;t a knock on the product, just a word to the wise. The greatre complexity of the offering (over standard car radios) means a touch screen interface, and it requires more of your attention while operating it. Reasonable minds can have a debate on this point, but so far, I am quite aware of the danger as I try to switch presets on my radio while driving. Main problem here is if the radio screen is not on the presets already. If it is not, I have to press a ver small button once or twice to get it cycled to the presets screen, and then I have to press a small preset button. I can’t feel for it by touch as everything is flat on the screen, I have to divert my attention, and I have to be precise. (and btw, this isn’t one of the flaws my opening comments refer to – this is a just a reality of using such a system – any system by anyone who uses a touch screen interface).
The iPod feature seems to have a problem at times with my phone, but then again, at present I have 13Gb of music on my phone – but still, it should be consistent. Either it can support 13Gb o music or it can not. Itworks sometimes, and others it does not and I have to keep rebooting the unit and my phone until finally it works. To be fair, it is an IPOD system, not an IPHONE system, so that may be the root of my problem.
The bluetooth system at first did not work well at all – unusable. But a did a firmware update and now it is just barely functional. The root of the first issue was with my iPhone 3G. The firmware update appears to have resolved it. Oh, and the firmware update of the bluetooth hardware is simply ridiculous. You must have a bluetooth PC or dongle to do it. Thank goodness I had a laptop I could use. There should have been a way I could have loaded the update on a CD and inserted it into the unit and it communicated with the bluetooth hardware to execute the update. Way to difficult to get it done the way they have it now. The problem now is that the microphone that comes with it has an EXTREMELY tiny and “tinny” sound, unacceptably so. So, I am going to see if there is any way I can use a different microphone, but have not done this yet.
Oh, another flaw is that the USB drive support apparently has difficulties supporting large drives. I have a 4Gb and a 64Gb flas drive, both formtted as FAT32, and it will not recognize them. I had to put my updated on a 512Mb flash drive for it to work.
Manual says I can upload wallpaper, but what they don’t tell you is that you can only upload a single image (and then, of course, I ran into the whole USB drive issue).
In the end, it should be noted that I have no experience with other comparable units. So, while i sit here today thinking surely the grass must be greener elsewhere, I do not know this for a fact. This unit is evidently at its end of life, as I am hearing that Kenwood is coming out with a 5140 (this is supposition on my part about it being at end of life, but I have read comments in online forums that support this). So, if I had it to do all over again, I would not have purchased this unit. This was an impulse buy brought on by a “deal of the day” at Amazon. It is a fair unit, just not the perfect unit for me. If you do not have an iPhone, then virtually none of the issues listed above would apply to you, and this might be the perfect match. If you do, then I’d look elsewhere.
2 Stars Poor user interface design, bluetooth a complete disaster
First, navigation is bad. It cannot find a Costco store in Van Nuys, a Whole Foods in Sherman Oaks and many similar stores that have been there forever. Selecting a “favorite” location takes several clicks, and you have to wait till the unit is completely ready. If you don’t sit in your parking space for a whole minute after turning on the engine, this means you are going to make this series of button clicks while driving. Ouch.
Next, media playback. The forward/backward rewind buttons are disabled if you are playing files from a USB or DVD media. You can skip the track, or go to the start of the track. Absolutely unacceptable.
Last, bluetooth. About once a month, the KCA-BT200 unit (required for bluetooth connection) will lose pairing with the phone. You have to watch if it has connected to the phone every time you start the car (not visible from the NAV screen), and reset the connection – again, a long and painful process.
5 Stars Excellent radio
Installed this radio myself and it is great. Fits perfectly in my 2003 GMC pickup double din radio slot. GPS is excellent. Ipod connection is fast and easy to use via the onscreen interface. You will love this radio if you like your Ipod and need GPS. The screen is a great size and having a “real” volume knob is a must. Backup camera is a cool feature too.
4 Stars An Excellent Product with only a few minor drawbacks
I recently purchased this unit to go in my 2009 CR-V. I like this unit a lot. The Garmin-powered navigation system is accurate, easy to use, and simple to read. The on-screen-display has plenty of customization options for you to play with. I’ll list everything in a pro-con format:
PROS:
- Garmin navigation. Cinch to use, and very accurate. A host of customization options. I particularly like how you can mute the “Recalculating Route” voice, as I find that annoying. It simply just tells you where to go if you miss a route.
- Simplicity of use. Sure the OSD looks a bit outdated, but that’s only on the source select screen. Once you’re on the source screen, everything looks great.
- Ability to play videos through your iPod connection, although most in-dash units have this feature as well.
- Dual-zone option. Fantastic if you have a rear-facing monitor and need to keep the kids quiet while not going crazy yourself. You can play any type of video (DVD, iPod, etc.) through the back speakers while keeping a main audio source for the front speakers.
- Very responsive. 5-10 second start up time from where you left off, with 15-20 second max of acquiring a satellite. Very little lag time between button presses. Touch screen buttons are huge and easy to press.
- Firm volume knob that also acts as an attend. I looked at the Pioneer series, but couldn’t get over the shiny slipperiness of the volume knob. I know that there are custom made knobs that you can but, but why pay extra?
- You can turn this off! It’s amazing that the Pioneer series has no “Off” option. Really? A radio that you can never turn off?
CONS:
- IPod control can be more streamlined. Selecting a song on your iPod is a bit confusing and could get dangerous at high speeds. The remote (which I’m told is bigger than TV remotes) can help this issue.
- Connectivity – cannot have both a USB device and and iPod plugged in at the same time, although you don’t need a USB device if you have an iPod, so that’s nitpicky.
- Bluetooth not included. Not a deal breaker, as I hate talking on the phone in any capacity while I drive.
Bottom Line:
As this is now a discontinued model (that Kenwood is still supporting), you should be able to get unbelievable deals. I wanted a system that was first and foremost an excellent GPS navigation unit, with some extras throw in, and this was all that and more. The Pioneer F series offers more included, such as an iPod cable and is already equipped with Bluetooth and voice recognition for a slightly higher price, but if you are interested in an excellent GPS navigation system that “just works,” and don’t want to pay extra for all the bells and whistles, then you cannot go wrong with it.
