Recommendations on new mp3/usb deck

[ryan s]

the 5th gen and 5.5 gen ipods (the videos, classics) have the best DAC chip in them...fyi for anyone looking for the best output

 

[curiousfunk]

Here's a deck I would *not* get: Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794

I've owned it for about 3 months.

PROS:

1. clean panel and easy to understand controls
2. rear USB w/long included USB cable
3. solid feature set
4. digital time alignment (yes!)
5. big knob

CONS:

1. The dot matrix display refreshes too slowly, so whenever ID tags scroll it's basically un-readable. This gets even worse in cold weather.
2. Navigating USB devices is annoying, lists scroll and build too slowly.
3. Really lame animation effects all over the place. Delays getting in and out of menus. You can see this in any of the youtube videos showing off this deck.
4. Cannot skip from the last track of one album to the first track of the next album - have to listen to or FF through the whole track, or browse to the next album.
5. Feels cheap. Previous Sony cdx-f7710 was mechanically way more solid.
6. WORST OF ALL. The unit has crashed on me three times, each time the display says "reading" but will not read from USB or CD. FM tuner still works. It's related to how/when you remove the faceplate. Each time has required paper-clipping the factory reset button, which obviously resets all my custom settings. Kenwood needs to release a firmware update to cure this asap. And other owners have reported this issue as well - see this caraudio.com thread: KDC-X794 removing faceplate issue. Mine started dumping like this just outside Crutchfield's 60-day return window. They won't let me exchange for another model. So mine is headed for CL.

I'm going to check out the JVC KW-XR810 double-DIN at best buy this weekend. I don't know why JVC promotes it with such nasty display colors - thankfully the button and display colors are adjustable (can fine tune RGB). See the user submitted photos on Amazon for examples of color matching to dash instruments. If I buy it (and I plan to as long as it doesn't suck) I'll write a review here.

 

[purplewhenclean]

Thanks for that...Kenwood would've been a "maybe" since I wouldn't have to fiddle with changing my harness.

I'm currently thinking about the Pioneer P4000UB. It's a 2 yr old deck, but has what I'm looking for (rear USB now being my foremost desire) and somebody is selling it on craigslist for cheap.