Since in-dash navigation and multimedia are becoming must-haves for luxury and semi-luxury vehicles, Kenwood has put together an aftermarket nav package for those who don't want a new car payment attached to a new in-vehicle GPS setup.
The Kenwood P-NAV6019 is comprised of the DDX-6019 double-DIN multimedia touchscreen display and the Kenwood KNA-G510 navigation system in a single box. These pieces are available individually, which is great for those building a system on a budget, or for those who wish to add navigation capability to an existing Kenwood multimedia source unit. The Kenwood DDX-6019 is a completely self-contained double-DIN multimedia display unit. There is no external control module required to use all the features of the DDX-6019, which simplifies the installation. The rear of the unit is filled with a bevy of RCA inputs, outputs and accessory connectors that allow the DDX-6019 to connect six channels of audio output (front, rear, and sub), auxiliary A/V input, A/V output, a rear view camera input, CD changer connectivity and of course navigation connectivity. All this built-in connectivity comes at a cost: the DDX-6019 is considerably heavier than a standard double-DIN radio, and finding dashboard room for all the cables and connectors may be tricky. An extra set of hands would be beneficial during installation since it can be difficult to hold the DDX-6019 while simultaneously connecting and organizing the cable connections behind the radio.
Proudly emblazoned with both the Kenwood and Garmin logos, the KNA-G510 is compact at only 5.5" x 4.5" x 1.5" in size, so it can be mounted practically anywhere. The only considerations that need to be made when installing the unit is to make sure the unit is mounted horizontally and that the SD card reader slot and USB port are accessible in case maps or points of interests (POI) need to be upgraded.
There are only two connections that need to be made to the KNA-G510 unit: the DIN-cable/power harness and the GPS antenna. The DIN-cable simply connects between the rear of the radio and the KNA-G510 while the remaining four wires on the harness - constant, switched, ground, and parking brake - can be routed to their respective locations.
Most in-dash systems require a physical connection to the vehicle speed sensor (VSS) signal to calculate location and speed for proper navigation. The VSS wire usually requires installers to locate the vehicle on-board computer or cruise control module and test for proper signal while the vehicle is moving - a complicated and time-consuming step. With the Kenwood KNA-G10, the VSS wire is not needed, saving time while still offering accurate navigation.
When I turned on the P-NAV6019 system and got to the main navigation page, the Garmin influence was apparent. Garmin's software has made the Kenwood KNA-G510 one of the simplest vehicle-installed navigation systems to use. Two large buttons appear in the middle of the screen: the "Where To?" button, which allows the user to select a destination, and the "View Map" button, which shows the users their current position. Inputting a destination is as simple as selecting an address, city or POI and following the onscreen menu until a route has been selected.
Once the destination has been selected, The KNA-G510 utilizes 2-D or 3-D map views that automatically zoom in and out depending on the complexity of the route. When traveling over long distances such as freeways, the route displayed is from a larger overview, and when traveling in the city, the map zooms in to show additional detail.
The KNA-G510 is also XM NavTraffic compatible. With an XM subscription and required antenna, you can get traffiic info for re-routing to avoid any undesired accidents or detours.The only shortcoming I could find with the KNA-G510 was the lack of volume output for voice prompts. Users will have to adjust volume via the source unit, as stated in the manual. Once I increased the volume on the DDX-6019, selecting which speakers I wanted used for voice guidance (F-Left, F-Right or Front All), directions came through loud and clear.
Besides functioning as a navigation display, the DDX-6019 is more than capable as an A/V source. It's an ideal centerpiece to any multimedia system. To test its capabilities I inserted a concert DVD, AC/DC Live at Donington. The video was stunning in its image clarity, rivaling the sharpness of many high-definition televisions. And DDX-6019 features a motorized display that allows for six different tilt angles (five upward, one downward), so the display looks great from any seating position.
The concert footage sounded as fine as it looked. The combination of the internal amplifier and the 2-volt front/rear/sub RCA pre-outs made for ideal system flexibility. The DDX-6019 features System Q and Digital System E's+, allowing the audio to be tailored via preset EQ curves or precisely adjusted via the internal crossovers. Also, the touchscreen menus made adjustments easier than constantly consulting the instruction manual.
For those with caviar wishes and champagne dreams, but not the commensurate budget, the P-NAV6019 is a system well worth checking out. The DDX-6019 coupled with the KNA-G510 provides all of the features (and more!) found in many luxury vehicles in an easy-to-install, user-friendly, and affordable package. What more could a person want?
PROS
•Great widescreen with adjustable angles
• Touchscreen controls
•Multiple audio and video outputs/inputs
•No vehicle speed sensor (VSS) wire needed
•Embedded navigation software
• NavTraffic compatible
CONS
•Awkward in-line power filter on the DDX6019's harness
•Confusing navigation audio settings
Kenwood P-NAV6019 System
MSRP $1,700
Kenwood DDX-6019 (MSRP $1000)
Kenwood KNA-G510 (MSRP $800)
www.kenwoodusa.com
Key PointsDDX-6019
• 6.95-inch widescreen display
• Plays DVDs, DVD+/-Rs, DVD+/-RWs, CDs, CD-Rs/RWs, MP3 WMAdiscs, JPEG, MPEG1, and MPEG2 files
•Three sets of 2-volt audio RCA pre-outs
• RCA auxiliary video input/output
• RCA back-up camera input
• 50W x 4 Maximum output power, 22W x 4 RMS
• Wireless Remote
KNA-G510• User interface and mapping by Garmin
•Turn-by-turn mapping and voice guidance
• Over 5 million points of interest
•SD card slot for map updates
• XM NavTraffic compatible