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.