OUPony

I am trying to find a good aftermarket stereo for my pony. I am considering this new model Kenwood Excelon DDX8017.

Does anyone have any experience with this model or the previous 7015/7017 models? This is a substantial investment, so I want to make a good choice.

Thanks in advance for any advice or comments.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-nX3V8c...&search=ddx8017

JustFord0099

im lookin at the same one

sajawebb

I too was interested in the Kenwood Excelon DDX8017, until I read the reviews. Check them out before you pay that amount of $$$. According to reviews, it doesn't quite live up to the hype.

2005 Black GT

If you want the best go for the Eclipse AVN5435.

Lizardking

I had the Eclipse AVN5495 and it was horrible sounding. Not to mention that there is no sound shaping options other then a EQ. I couldn't believe how horrible the AVN series is. I'm a huge Eclipse fan and everything I run is Eclipse for the most part. I sold my AVN on Ebay and then ordered the DDX8017 and I'm totally impressed with it. Don't get the lower end model DDX7017 stay with the flagship Excelon DDX8017. It has so many options and is able to do 10 times more stuff then the AVN series. The DDX8017 has all the options you need if your into sound quality. I wouldn't have believed that the DDX8017 sounded better then the Eclipse if I hadn't heard it myself.. You will be much more statisfied if you buy the Kenwood. Eclipse has gone down hill over the past few years and they will be selling there units on Crutchfield soon.

sajawebb

welcome to the site Lizardking. If crutchfield stinks, can you recommend a better audio site? Crutchfield has a picture of a mustang behind their "what fits my car" banner.

Lizardking

Don't get me wrong I like Crutchfield. If your looking for other sites then www.woofersetc.com is a good place to shop. I just didn't want to see anyone waste there money on the AVN the way I did thinking I was getting a top product. Eclipse makes great stuff but they didn't hit the mark with the new AVN series. There lacking way to many features that are standard even on the cheap decks. Thanks for the welcome!!

hawgman

I've got the DDX7015, hooked up a rear view backup cam, and the NAV4100 and I am pretty darn fond of it.

azguy

I've got the AVN5435 with Navigation, hooked up to a rear view cam, and I am pretty darn fond of it also. Goes to show, that you generally are not going to bad mouth what you got (at least not in public).

Scothew

Does anyone know if you can set your own wallpapers on the Kenwood DDX8017? I saw where it will play disk with MPEG's and JPG's, but i never found where it said you could or couldnt. Just doing some research.

Lizardking

Not sure about the wallpaper thing never tried it...

hawgman

hehehe... Yea, it's kind of like asking the forum which CAI is best. Pretty much guarentee they are going to say the best brand is what they have under their hood.

BTW, just in case you misunderstood. I was not in any way ******* the AVN. I was just merely commenting on the Kenwoods because it was a Kenwood he was asking about. The AVN's are definitely the cats hiney. Only reason I got the one I have is because of $$$ ( or lack of )

hawgman

Seems like I read on the Kenwood site that you could.

Lizardking

I had the best Eclipse had to offer so I can dog the AVN's. Compare feature to feature and the Kenwood Excelon DDX8017 will come out on top. Again, I'am a huge Eclipse fan and own just about everything Eclipse so don't think I'm a Eclipse basher.. I just now how the Kenwood Excelon DDX8017 SQ will topple the AVN's everytime. The AVN's are made for OEM replacements and not audiophile systems. If you want to add high end amps, speakers and subs then go with the Kenwood..

2005 Black GT

I have the AVN5435, and I'm in no way disappointed with it. I think if you go with either the Eclipse or the Kenwood you will be happy. Maybe you should go with the Kenwood because it's newer? If not, then just go with the one you can get cheaper. Does the Kenwood have built in Navigation?