Kenwood’s latest flagship, the DNX8120, steps up all-in-one integration for a double-DIN navigation/entertainment. This product offers new elements to simplify your life in addition to the usual suspects. For instance, two external switch control relays offer the freedom to control electronic devices (e.g., garage doors, security gates, rear seat monitors, etc.) directly from the DNX8120 touchscreen. And that’s just the beginning. Using the easy-to-navigate menu options on the startup screen, the DNX8120 can quickly shift from DVD, MP3, iPod, or Bluetooth capability with a simple touch of the screen, making for a distraction-free drive.

Right out of the box, we saw a few distinct differences between the DNX8120 and previous nav units we’ve tested, but it wasn’t until we powered it up that we found solutions to many of our day-to-day issues. In the past, the angle and mounting location of the video screen in our test vehicle resulted in glare. Since Kenwood offers a reverse angle, this is the first product we’ve used that didn’t have this problem. The reverse angle feature pulls the bottom of the screen in and the top, out. In addition to the variable angles, Kenwood has added a brighter screen to reduce washout. The graphic user interface offers three stylized backgrounds that offer a coolness factor. You can upload customizable backgrounds as well. The unit even offers a built-in sound processor. The 13-band EQ delivers tuning for optimal sound quality-not to mention full-time alignment for all speakers as well as front/rear speaker sizing with adjustable crossover points and octave slopes.

Entertainment
Most navigation units offer full entertainment integration, but Kenwood took it a step above and offered a 5.1 decoder/player. Do you have a collection of videos on your PC that are a must for your next trip? Now you have three options for your viewing pleasure. The first is the run-of-the-mill DVD player that you find in most players. The second option is through the iPod source, which offers gigs of audio and video pleasure (as an added treat the iPod source displays the cover art in addition to the song, album, and artist data). Last but not least is the third option, DivX. The DNX8120 will run DivX-formatted videos from CDs and DVDs. The DivX format has become popular due to its ability to compress lengthy video segments into small sizes while maintaining relatively high visual quality.

The DNX8120 comes with two USB interfaces making data transfers and firmware updates an easy one-two step process. A USB Direct Control gives users access to portable music devices, enabling the end user to play audio files directly from the flash drive. And as for the aforementioned iPod, interfacing is a thing of the past. Dubbed as the fastest head unit on the market today, the DNX8120 offers lightning-quick access when tracking through multiple music files or browsing for your favorite tune when using the optional KCA-iP300V iPod video control cable.

Navigation
Kenwood went to Garmin to develop the navigation segment. Since the core data is Navteq based, you get the standard 6 million points of interest (POIs) and bells and whistles provided by most nav systems. The 2GB hard drive includes maps of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. We found a few elements rather useful. The unit offers three driving options when available: shortest distance, fastest distance, and the third, which catches you off guard, “Off Road.” I must say it was an interesting voyage, but nonetheless a successful one.

subscription required). Another added feature you can have on the DNX8120 is the Kenwood GTM-10 tuner for XM Live Traffic Only (subscription required), which enables you to receive the same type of traffic information through local FM broadcasts.

A few features offer form, function, and fun to the road less traveled. The 3-D display offers easy-to-read, bold turn-by-turn directions, distance to location, arrival time, and current speed. If the big red arrow is pass for you, you can select from a well-equipped off-road vehicle, a couple of sports cars, a motorhome, a sleigh (yes, a sleigh) and a green station wagon loaded with luggage. Wally World, here we come!

The form and function of the navigation portion are excellent. Destination entry, POI entry, and settings are very easy to navigate. One-touch access to the navigation screen is made simple through the fixed button on the face. The only quirk we found was in the POI entry processing. If you enter a location that is a few hundred miles away the unit takes an extended period to process the data. Just a quirk-not a deal breaker by any means.

Bluetooth
The team at Parrot was approached for the Bluetooth technology behind the unit. The Bluetooth feature offers technologies from the Parrot 8120 and unlike previous units the feature is built-in. Functionality is clean and simple. It pulled the address book without issue. Pairing with the cell phone was a breeze. You can also preset phone numbers into the product for easy connectivity. When making a call, the signal is processed through the audio system. The signal comes in clean and clear with the Bluetooth antenna built in. The built-in Bluetooth not only serves as a hands-free device but also offers the ability (depending on make and model) to transfer music from your phone to the head unit (A2DP music streaming) and text messaging without ever touching your keypads.

Everything was perfect until we discovered an issue with the microphone. Individuals on the other end of the call had to focus on the conversation in order to make us out. We sounded like we were talking in the middle of torrential rain. The microphone picked up everything around us in reference to wind noise. Also, it cut in and out intermittently. We utilized the recommended steering wheel location and a few other locations, but we still had the same issue.

Conclusion
All in all, this is a great follow-up to the T120 from last year and the unit offers a positive experience, with the only true shortcoming in the hands-free calling area. We recommend reading the owner’s manual to maximize the experience. Even as savvy electronistas, this was a must for us. The Kenwood DNX8120 is the answer to a world of gadget-cluttered vehicles.

Features:
6.95-inch touchscreen
Bluetooth
iPod audio/video input
USB input
5.1 decoder
HD Radio, XM Radio, and Sirius
Satellite Radio upgradeable
Two relay-controlled outputs