Kenwood Excelon DNX994S Double Din Stereo Review
Excelon DNX994S Review
Technology moves quickly these days and it doesn’t just apply to phones and computers these days. Even if you’re not the most tech-savvy person on the planet, it’s hard not to be bombarded by a constant wave of advertisements about the latest and greatest phone.
This technological revolution and advancement has continued to your car as well. Not only are cars more efficient and smarter than ever, but so are the components that you can upgrade them with.
For those out there looking to upgrade your vehicle, you might be overwhelmed by the number of options that you’ll find after browsing the web. That’s why we go through plenty of reviews in order to make sure that you can narrow down your choices before picking the right option.
One of our favorite and most recent items is the Kenwood Excelon DNX994S. Kenwood are no strangers to the stereo game, having put out top quality products over the years. They do a great job of listening to their customers, being sure to take in the thousands of reviews they have accumulated over the years. Whether you are adding it to simply update your cars features or you need a new unit to rock your interior speakers or subs, this just might be the right choice for your ride.
In this review, we want to take a closer look at the DNX994S and give you all the specs as well as our list of pros and cons. Let’s go ahead and get started!
DNX994S Specs and Features
Before we get to the review, let’s take a quick look at the basic specs this stereo has to offer.
- 6.95 inch wide VGA color LCD display with LED backlight
- Motorized reverse tilt and 5-step tilt angle adjust
- Touch panel control
- Menu customization
- Maximum output power: 50 Watts X 4
- 1 rear AV input, 1 rear AV output
- Built-in Garmin navigation
- SD card slot
- Parking guide line
- DVD and CD playback
- Built-in HD radio
- Sirius XM ready
- 2 USB slots
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Cell phone voice control
- And much more
What’s Great About this Double Din Kenwood Unit?
One of our favorite things was the high-quality audio the stereo produced. With a 13 band equalizer and sensor, the stereo is able to block out external car noise and provide everyone with great sound no matter where they’re seated.
It also comes fitted with advanced tuning options, sound staging systems, and high quality components that will make sure it stands the test of time.
If you’re looking to integrate your smartphone, it doesn’t matter whether you’re an Apple or Android user because this stereo can handle them both. Unlike other similar stereos, it is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connect your phone to enjoy your music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more.
In addition, you can take calls, send messages, and use your phone’s navigation system.
For those who have multiple drivers with the same car, you can hook up the stereo system to pair with up to 10 devices. You can easily switch to your phone and play your favorite tunes after your partner had it the week before.
Although you can hook up your own navigation system to the stereo, it’s not necessary as it comes with its own navigation software and map data. The system highlights any significant points of interest, such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and more. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, you can also receive life traffic updates to help you avoid any jams.
Many users have said the navigation system works perfectly when there’s no cellphone coverage, meaning you won’t get lost in any tunnels or if you’re out in the middle of nowhere.
Pairing Your Kenwood Unit with a Backup Camera
Needing a full view of the road? The DNX994S provides connections to allow two camera connections meaning you can see what’s behind you or make sure to cover your blindspots. It always helps to put safety first.
Installation can be a bit tough, especially for those who are not expert DIYers. You might need to take it down to your local car engineer specialist and have them install it for you, therefore increasing the overall price.
Speaking of the price, the Kenwood does come with a bit of a high price tag. There are certainly cheaper options on the market, but you won’t be getting the quality and number of features as you would with this outstanding model.
If the picture quality is of the utmost importance to you, then you might want to wait until the 4K version is released. If not, then you will be fine going with this model instead.
You can read customer reviews and check the current pricing here.
Kenwood DNX994S Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Wide, multi-touch display is easy to use and read
- Great audio quality, gives good audio experience to everyone in the car
- Multi-language menu option
- The built-in navigation system comes with optional traffic reports
- Two camera inputs mean you can upgrade the outside of your car too
- Easy phone connection
- Built-in Bluetooth allows up to 10 devices at once
Cons:
- Pretty pricey, normal price tends to hover around $600
- We had trouble getting devices to connect with the USB
- Navigation system isn’t the easiest to follow
- Steep learning curve
Closing Thoughts
This Kenwood model is solid and goes above and beyond what you’d need in a car stereo system. If you’re looking to make an upgrade, it’s a great choice.
The system can be fitted into old and new cars alike, giving you that 21st century upgrade without having to buy a brand new car.
While the DNX994S has plenty of pros, you will have to take the cons into consideration as well. The price tag may scare off some people, but overall you’re going to be getting a great piece of equipment that will immediately upgrade your vehicle. With so many safety, entertainment, and connection options, it’s hard to find a better all-around stereo you can put in your car.This would also pair great with a new set of subs, like those found on our 10 best subs of 2020 review.
