iPhone with the Kenwood Excelon DNX8120

ndwgolf · 05-23-2008, 07:06 AM

Has anyone tried using there iPhone with either the Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 or any other brand in car touch screen bluetooth head unit?

Crash Override · 05-23-2008, 09:40 AM

I actually just had the DNX8120 installed in my new truck a few days ago.
The Bluetooth connects just fine. Phone-wise, everything works flawlessly. I'd read that the phonebook wouldn't download to the 8120, but mine shows up. SMS doesn't work, but I don't think it works correctly with other phones either. Kenwood is supposedly working on a firmware revision for this.
I've also got the iPod connector cable, and everything works fine using the iPhone as an iPod, except video will not play on the 8120 from the iPhone. (May have to pick up a new Nano). right now, i'm using the iPhone paired via Bluetooth, and have my old Nano plugged into the iPod interface cable.

mr-mavrik · 05-23-2008, 10:41 AM

I have the DNX-8120 headunit and for the most part my iPhone links well with it. In the beginning I had to unpair and re-pair the iPhone a couple times because it wasn't automatically reconnecting each time, but since then it's been fine. I have been having an issue with people saying I sound crackly and even like i'm sick while talking through the microphone. I even called my house and left a message just so I could hear myself and it definitely didn't sound right. Over the last couple days, however, I've been told that I sound normal and I haven't really done anything to fix it.......go figure. I don't know if it's a Kenwood issue, or iPhone issue but I know it's more that just standard bluetooth interference. Anybody else having a similar issue?

ndwgolf · 05-23-2008, 11:08 AM

We had to work around the power cable, because when it was connected to the ipod function on the head unit my iPhone would say that there was an accessory connected, what we did was connect the power cable to a power source only and used the iPhone speaker outlet to connect to the video 1 auxiliary of the head unit and it is now working fine.

mr-mavrik · 05-23-2008, 11:46 AM

Yeah, I don't use my iPhone for the iPod function. I just use it for the hands free bluetooth. I have a 160gb iPod Classic in my glove box connected at all times for music and video. Like any other accessory if you connect the iPhone to it (unless it says "made for iPhone") it'll automatically kick the phone into airplane mode. The way you did it is the only way to work around that if you want to use your iPhone for music.

Crash Override · 05-23-2008, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by ndwgolf

We had to work around the power cable, because when it was connected to the ipod function on the head unit my iPhone would say that there was an accessory connected, what we did was connect the power cable to a power source only and used the iPhone speaker outlet to connect to the video 1 auxiliary of the head unit and it is now working fine.

So, using this method you can watch video from your iPhone?
If so, I may give it a try. At this point, I'm just waiting to see what the 3G iPhone has in store as regards the DNX8120. From there, I'll decide whether to get another iPod to use as a video/audio storage unit for my stereo.

Mavrik, my wife tells me I sound "a little funny" when I talk to her via the Bluetooth. I just chalked it up to the mic being further away than normal. (Mine's mounted behind my rear-view mirror). Others have said I sounded fine though. When I have time, I'll try one of the kid's phones to see if it sounds better. I'd read somewhere, the iPhone's bluetooth was weaker than some other phones.

ndwgolf · 05-24-2008, 10:04 PM

Has anyone tried to add background pictures to the head unit, i have tried but to no avail, when i go to the setup screen the user background is not highlighted

Crash Override · 05-25-2008, 11:27 AM

Yeah, I added three from a USB drive. I remember i had to open the drive, select the image, and save it. Then I had to select the logo I wanted to use and set it as the default. I'll have to look at it today to get more specific. I added an oval Ford Logo, a Batman logo, and the pic you see to your left.
At the source select screen, they show up pretty well. When displaying a specific sourse, the background is muted down to barely be visible.

ndwgolf · 06-19-2008, 01:50 AM

I have had to switch to my Blackberry for the bluetooth in my car as the iPhone speaker is crap. Ever since I first tryied it with the Kenwood DNX8120 everyone I called said that they could not here what I was saying and thatv I sounded like a robot.
I have now got 2 x SIM cards with the same number so I just need to remember when I get into the car to switch from the iPhone to the Blackberry and visvera when I get out of the car.
Has anyone else had simalar problems??? __________________

damonpremer · 09-05-2008, 03:59 PM

I jsut performed the firmware update for the iphone and 8210. I was hoping that my bluetooth mic. sounded better. It does not.

I have no idea as my old Kenwood with the separate bluetooth unit, sounded much better.

IT gave me hope to read the one guy's sound quality got better, but reading further, I doubt that to be the case.

Anybody know of a solution?