Kenwood Intros New Summer Lineup

Kenwood is shipping this summer over a dozen new car audio receivers, adding Waze and  WebLink to more of its lineup.

Pricing of the line is similar to last year although the leader AV model is now at $230 as opposed to $270 .  The DDX8905S is an entirely new model that fills a new price point void at $900 suggested retail price, created when the DDX9905S became a step up eXcelon Reference model that includes a Hi-Def screen at $1,100.

Shipping at the end of July are several models with wired CarPlay and Android Auto, plus WebLink that puts apps from your phone such as Waze and Yelp on the car radio. Users can also watch videos from their phone or YouTube.  The radios also have a Remote S App feature that allows your phone or tablet to control the radio.  And they are Hi Res Audio capable with 192kHz/24Bit FLAC/WAV & DSD playback.

Shipping at the end of July:

DDX6705S with 6.8” Clear Resistive Touch Screen at $750 suggested retail price.

DNX575S  with 6.8” Clear Resistive Touch Screen.  It adds built-in Garmin navigation, Micro SD Card slot, HD Radio.  It is DRV-N520 Dash Cam integration ready at $1.050

eXcelon DDX6905S with 6.8” Clear Resistive Touch Screen. It adds gold pre-outs, higher quality sound parts, and dual USB inputs at $750 suggested retail price.

eXcelon DNX695S adds built-in Garmin navigation, Micro SD Card slot, gold pre-outs, higher quality sound parts, and HD Radio. It is DRV-N520 Dash Cam ready and it has dual USB inputs at $1,100.

eXcelon DDX8905S adds an anti-glare/reflection motorized capacitive touch screen  at 6.95 inches.  It offers HD Radio and is DRV-N520 Dash Cam integration ready.  It also includes dual USB inputs, gold pre-outs, and higher quality sound parts at $900.

Additional new AV/receivers are expected to ship at the end of August that are Remote App ready with rear USB input, 96kHz/24Bit FLAC playback, Android Music Playback, and SiriusXM capability. They are Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio ready with Bluetooth.

AV/Receivers Shipping in August:

DDX26BT with 6.2” Clear Resistive Touch Screen (3-2.5 Volt Pre-outs, Volume Control Buttons, white illumination) at $230 street price.

DDX276BT with 6.2” Clear Resistive Touch Screen (3-2.5 Volt Pre-outs, iDatalink Maestro RR Ready, Volume Control Buttons, white illumination) at $230 suggested retail price.

DDX376BT Clear Resistive Touch Screen (3-4 Volt pre-outs, iDatalink Maestro RR Ready, illuminated volume knob, variable color illumination) at $350 suggested retail price.

eXcelon DDX396 with 6.2” Clear Resistive Touch Screen (3-5 Volt pre-outs, iDatalink Maestro RR Ready, Illuminated volume knob, Included Mounting Cage and trim bezel, Variable Color Illumination) at $500 suggested retail price.

Finally, five new audio receivers are due in August with Bluetooth Audio and Phone Direct Access Buttons. They are Pandora Ready, Spotify Ready, iHeartRadio Ready, and offer Android Music Control.

Audio Receivers Shipping End of August:

KDC-BT23 (1 Line Text display, Blue/White Color Illumination, 1-2.5V Pre-out) at $90 street price.

KDC-BT275U (1 Line Text display, Blue/White Color Illumination, 1-2.5V Pre-out) at $120 suggested retail price.

KDC-BT33 (1.5 Line Text display, variable color illumination, SiriusXM Ready, 3-2.5V Pre-outs) at $100 street price.

KDC-BT375U (1.5 Line Text display, variable color illumination, SiriusXM Ready, 3-2.5V Pre-outs) at $140 suggested retail price.

KMR-D375BT (1.5 Line Text display, 3-4V Pre-outs, conformal coated circuit board, positive backlit display + variable illumination, marine remote control ready with optional KCA-RC55MR and/or KCA-RC35MR, SiriusXM Ready, Auto Turn-Off/Setup Memory) at $170

eXcelon KDC-X303 (3-5V Pre-outs, 1.5 Line Text display, variable color illumination, SiriusXM ready) at $160.

Kenwood  products have a 1 year warranty, eXcelon have a 2 year warranty.

All eXcelon products have 3 sets of 5 Volt RCA Pre-outs.

Photo: Kenwood DDX8905S