This is actually the best head unit for the money and has all the features everyones claims without. Update it and the nav. but first learn how to use it and all its features before speaking because if you really want to talk about this stereo own it and know how to use it. If something doesn't work, i'll prove you wrong. The only thing that this doesn't have is voice prompting with exception to the bluetooth feature. All for around $600 stop complaining

Kenwood DNX5120

I June 5, 2008, I purchased and had Platinum Audio in Corona, California install my DNX5120. I have had Sony, Alpine, and Kenwood stereos prior and have experimented with iPod connections to these stereos. The stereo's killed two of my iPods. The DNX5120 broke all the rules and really exceeded my expectations as far as the iPod interface. The integration is clean, easy to understand, and faster to use than the iPod itself. Here is an example. I have countless artists on my iPod. Using the scroll wheel it take time to scroll through the artist until letters come up and to be honest with you, it takes me a least two tries to land on the right letter. Using the DNX5120, I can scroll down by multiple artist and even click on slide bar to go half the way down my list or all the way down. All this at the speed of just pressing button and not waiting for the iPod or the stereo to catch up.

The navigation is dummy proof. I have used the BMW, Toyota, Magellan, Tom Tom, and Honda navigation and the DNX5120 blows them out of the water. It does not get any easier than this. I have read that it takes a long time to start up. I don't see that problem. Once I start my vehicle, the Kenwood screen appears for about 5 seconds and I am off to the races. After all, it is not good for the vehicle if you start and immediately drive.

I don't have any complaints about the stereo. Here are some things I really like;

* Knob for volume. It feel sturdy and I like touching the screen less than I have too

* Clean font, easy to read

* Quick/easy/instant access from user interface to navigation and back

* Easy to understand hierarchy of menu

* Garmin Nav. is easy to use and easy to upgrade

* No need for second DVD box for nav.

* Excellent GPS signal quality

* Ability to watch iPod movies on screen

* USB connection...I like putting my on photo as a background

The bottom line is the shop did an outstanding job the installation and the DNX5120 works better than what I had expected. When you put this stereo in perspective, it is combining a tuner, a DVD player, an audio iPod, a video ipod, XM, and CD/MP3 player together into one unit with none to little glitches. And if you are an Apple fan like myself, this works perfectly with the iPod.

That is my two cents and five out of five stars......

I came from a Pioneer D3. This unit does some things better and some not. The D3 is also an older unit. Obviously the Garmin Navigation is the way to go. They make the best portable units, same applies here. The audio/video UI is not the greatest I'll admit that. I liked the D3 better. That being said the 5120 has a better Sirius interface and I believe HD Radio is too. It can show much more info at a time instead of hitting buttons to scroll through. That and the flash based navigation is what made me change. Having to put in a disc for navigation is just plain silly. Installation for add-ons was also easier with the 5120. No power required for the bluetooth or satellite boxes. Just plug in the communication cable, pretty simple. I'd have no problems recommending this to a friend. It does everything good enough.

The main advantages of this unit over similar units are (i) nav data not DVD-based or hard-disk-based, everything is on flash memory; (ii) name-brand nav (Garmin) and name-brand bluetooth add-on (Parrot), unlike off-brand hardware/firmware on other competing units; (iii) no retractable screen so fewer moving parts to fail.

Basically this is a very good and useful unit. The nav is well-designed and works well. I do have some complaints:

(a) Even though everything is in flash memory, startup is slow. You will be halfway down the block before the nav is ready, and two blocks away before the bluetooth unit has paired with your phone. I have been told that competing units are even slower, so maybe this is an improvement, but technology still has a ways to go. Certainly no reason for pairing to take this long, my old radio paired almost instantly.

(b) Awful interface (except the Garmin part, which is fine):

--The front panel buttons are completely non-intuitive; try figuring out how to turn the whole thing off and on, or how to turn off the radio playing in the background when using the nav. You can get used to it, but it's inelegant to say the least, and if you lend your car to someone, they'll never figure it out.

--The onscreen menus are a complete jumble, and the manual is incomprehensible. (I consider myself to be technically savvy; I installed the system myself.)

--The mp3 menu is awful, for example you can see tracks sorted by album or artist, but you just have to know how to do it because it is far from obvious. You need to push a button mysteriously marked PLIST. You have to do it again each time you start the car.

--The Bluetooth interface is poorly designed, for example you can choose a number by voice commands, but you can't actually voice dial...you have to look at the screen and touch the 'dial' button to complete the dialing process.

(c) If disconnected from the battery, all the settings are lost, and this can cause more problems than just loss of radio presets. I realize that after installation the unit shouldn't normally lose power, but if you take it in for service and they disconnect and reconnect the battery, the backup camera (add-on) stops working!

I thought they cut the cable somehow, but actually the default setting of the Kenwood DNX5120 is to ignore the backup voltage signal. You have to go in and change the setting back. (There is a way to save the settings in nonvolatile memory and restore them, but this has to be done manually every time...why not save all settings in flash memory automatically?)

Let see, installation took about a hour with my dad and I. Easy to follow installation instructions; Best Buy wanted to charge me $199.00 for that; and we did a better job than they ever could. I have my ipod hooked up to it all the time. By iPhone connected by Bluetooth, I can dial out from the console. Side buttons on the face make switching from navigation to source a breeze. Sound quality is amazing. Sirius and HD radio are easy to hook up and install as well. This is a all in one media hub, you got Garmin navigation built in which works flawless, you can find anything and never will get lost, easy to follow map, and all the streets are pre-programmed, any updates come straight from Garmin via satellite, this unit has a built in 2 gig hard drive for the maps and GPS functions, so no need to put in a additional unit or DCD to read from; ipod, Bluetooth, Sirius or xm radio, hd radio, dvd player, which with special wiring, you can get it to play while you drive so your passengers can watch are all possibilities. You can customize your background, just get a memory stick, hook it up and you can have your wallpapers of any choosing. I could go on and on, I have never operated something easier, the directions are straight forward. There is no getting board here. Customer service is very cooperative, and helps with any questions from small to large. Great experience!! I do not thing anything is better out there for the money, the DNX 7120 and 8120 cost hundreds more for really nothing in return. And they don't have the easy access buttons on the face. Plus the double din face place is permanent in one spot, and does not move, so that is one less thing that will break. On the 8120 and 7120 they are motorized which can break. Anyways thanks for the great unit Kenwood. And to all you, I hope this helps you with buying decisions.