Looking for one of those crazy smart stereo junkies who can give me some advice.

I'd like to put a new stereo into the wife's 4Runner for Xmas. I've been looking at the Kenwood DNX series units and I really like everything about them, except the price. Pioneers are much more affordable but all of the reviews concerning their nav systems say it is junk. Any alternatives I need to be looking at?

Minimum requirements:
nav system built in
iPhone controls (handsfree calling minimum)
back up camera (to be pirated into a front facing, back seat mounted baby monitor)

What year 4Runner? I have a 2004 Sport and installed the DNX7100 when it was current. I love it and just added AUX for iPhone. The new version probably already has it.

Go with Kenwood. The GPS is all Garmin.

I installed a Pioneer Premiere 2 years ago in my wife's SUV. Great iPod Interphase with audio and video and album artwork. Nav works great but I likely need to upgrade to the new maps, but we mostly use our phones. I modded it so I can watch movies and nav while driving. I am a Kenwood guy, but the Pioneers were the best a few years ago. Love the backup camera - made hooking up the boat a breeze. Blue Tooth is hopefully improved as that is my only disappointment. I bought mine from Crutchfield, JIC I wasn't satisfied, I could return it and get another unit. Any unit you get will be such a HUGE improvement in screen size, features, sound quality, inputs, etc. I bought an adapter so the steering wheel controls work with the new unit.

Im gonna go with a pioneer p4300dvd in my truck. I dont need nav as I have 2 gps' and my phone.

Check out

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/

I'm probably going to go this route for my truck:

http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores ... 4294946867

I don't use CDs, and the heavy bouncing is likely to make it skip anyway. Seems like a good way to keep the ipod/phone protected.

Here's the link to the writeup...I first installed just the DNX7100 and hooked it into the JBL system. It worked, but didn't take advantage of what the 7100 could offer. I then built a new system to support it.

One thing that is cool is I was able to use the PAC converter to hook it up to the 4Runner's steering wheel controls.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/audio-ele ... ystem.html

I can second Crutchfield. Amazing how easy their install kits are if you're not used to that sort of thing! Plus their customer service is great. In fact, jump on a chat with a rep and get their opinion.

I have had better luck with Kenwood as a brand over pioneer, but don't have experience for the level of equipment you are dealing with.

IIRC - I saw a write-up of someone installing a Kenwood Nav system into their LR3. I think there were built-in switches and the guy used those to control auxiliary lighting and what not? Sounds like a feature in the unit you are looking at?

I hate to be the one to go against Crutchfield...but you pay through the nose (arm, leg, unmentionable parts) for their customer service. As an example....Kenwood DNX7180 at Crutchfield $1150. Same system at SonicElectonix is $829.00. Thats a $320 difference!!!

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113DNX7180 ... search=dnx
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_334 ... X7180.html

I bought most of my parts from Sonic and their customer service is great. They have very similar installation packages (although at the time there were none available from any dealer for the 4Runner and this unit).

Wow. That's quite a difference. I'd price shop as well. For the stereo I ordered for the Superduty, they were running a heck of a deal for a head unit and 4 infinity speakers, so I guess it all depends on what you are looking for...

J.D.

More to follow on this, but for now...
I went with the Kenwood DNX6960. It's an Excelon unit (2year warranty versus 1) and has an external volume control knob.

I bought the unit from Crutchfield, with all the accessories.

Big selling point on the Kenwood was the Nav system. Kenwood uses the Garmin system. The wife currently has a Garmin nuvi.

I went with Crutchfield mostly due to the hundreds of reviews I read concerning their lifetime tech support. Price point was not that much more than Sonic and the entire system will be here Thursday.

The DNX6960 was discontinued a while ago.....are you sure that's the right model #?

Also, while you can use the BlueTooth and the iPhone with that unit, you cannot directly connect an iPhone to play music without the AUX cable.

Otherwise it's a great unit.

6980
Water had just broke when I posted that.

Holy cow! Congrats??!!