[jason3485]

I plan to replace the head unit on the Shaker 500 and I like the Kenwood Excelon DNX8120. Anyone else installed this?

Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 Navigation receiver at Crutchfield.com

Also, I'd like to upgrade the rest of the system eventually. I'm pretty sure I can swap the H/U and do the door speakers myself, but the amps not so much. I've seen pics of them on other threads (props to Zip) and I know any decent amps would need to be located under the seat or in the trunk. I'd like to do it myself but running all that cable and making sure everything hooks up properly seems a bit overwhelming. Am I making it more complicated than it really is or should I cough up the dough for a pro install? Keep in mind the most electrical work I've ever done was switching the harnesses for sequential tail lights

[Humphry]

Way out of my league - but very nice!

[Emay]

Your making more of it than it really is. If you can follow simple instruction there are plenty of write ups and install ideas in the electronics/audio/video sections of the site. Maybe dig around in a few of those and see how comfortable you are after reading.

[rdspins89]

I dont have too much experience with kenwoods but i have had a lot of luck with pioneer... Both Emay and myself have the Pioneer Avic-90BT I absolutely love it I cant speak for him but i bet he likes it 2. I bet if you ask he has some pics of his install. Id snap a quick few of mine but its still in the body shop I didnt read all the specs of that kenwood but one good feature of the pioneer is that if your in a big city (that's considered their coverage area) it has msn direct which gives you gas prices, weather, news etc.

[TotoGT06]

holy crap $1200? dont spend that money for a head unit, spend it on some big power for the car. You can get cheaper headunits with the same/fewer features.

[Kuro]

Get your deck from onlinecarstereo.com

if you PM me I can even get you a discount code. Crutchfield is way over priced.

[rdspins89]

you can pick up the pioneer avic for around 550 off amazon

[TotoGT06]

I vote Pioneer, Ive always been pleased with their product

[Emay]

Kenwood has come a long way in the last two nav version they produced. Finally stealing some ideas from Alpine and Pioneer to build a really good feature filled product.

As RDspin mentioned we have had great luck with the F90bt's, I run an Avic Z1 upgraded to a Z3 now in my truck as well for 3+ years and man it's been a great item.

I like the z3 a lot, but the f90 is 10 times the unit. Got it on ebay from an authorized pioneer distributor last fall for 420.00 to my door with the microsoft 30% off coupons that were offered up to get microsoft live going. I've seen them as low as 550.00 recently and hover for the most part around 600 and some change.

Here's a few shots in dash:



A shot of the ipod interface because it's just like working your ipod in hand, only on the touch screen. Best interface to date..

[rdspins89]

hey emay have you figured out what it means by updating vr dictionary every time you boot up? I finally figured out how to tell it not to do that but i still never figured out what it did? I noticed no difference once i took it off.

[Emay]

It's looking to see what editions were made on the ipod music wise in order to pick up any voice recognition you would use to make music selections via hands free.

I disabled mine as well. When there is a true 80g of music on board the ipod the vr directory takes quite some time to verify all of that data.

[2002 BLK GT]

Originally Posted by jason3485 I plan to replace the head unit on the Shaker 500 and I like the Kenwood Excelon DNX8120. Anyone else installed this? Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 Navigation receiver at Crutchfield.com Also, I'd like to upgrade the rest of the system eventually. I'm pretty sure I can swap the H/U and do the door speakers myself, but the amps not so much. I've seen pics of them on other threads (props to Zip) and I know any decent amps would need to be located under the seat or in the trunk. I'd like to do it myself but running all that cable and making sure everything hooks up properly seems a bit overwhelming. Am I making it more complicated than it really is or should I cough up the dough for a pro install? Keep in mind the most electrical work I've ever done was switching the harnesses for sequential tail lights

Is not that hard to install an amp fist you need a kit that includes all the wires and a fuse holder. Connect one wire where its says 12v on your amp and put the other part on the battery, The second one goes on a metal. Then depending on your stereo if it doesnt have rca's you will need to run the cable speakers to the amp positive and negative. If you do have rca's then just connect them right. look at the colors..

[Emay]

Originally Posted by Big Daddys Stang Is not that hard to install an amp fist you need a kit that includes all the wires and a fuse holder. Connect one wire where its says 12v on your amp and put the other part on the battery, The second one goes on a metal. Then depending on your stereo if it doesnt have rca's you will need to run the cable speakers to the amp positive and negative. If you do have rca's then just connect them right. look at the colors..

What about the amp turn on wire? Fusing or breakers? He's clearly very new, so the safety mechanisms should get a mention if we are going to make it as straight forward as possible.

[2002 BLK GT]

Originally Posted by Emay What about the amp turn on wire? Fusing or breakers? He's clearly very new, so the safety mechanisms should get a mention if we are going to make it as straight forward as possible.

Oh yes I forgot oh and first disconnect the batter, now depending on your amp (amps) put a bigger fuse holder.. and put the amp on a safe place...

[2002 BLK GT]

This should help you more...
How To: Amp Install (w/ Pics! 56k warning) - MustangForums.com

[rdspins89]

Just to be on the safe side, disconnect the battery while wiring everything up... run the power wires and rcas down the opposite sides of the car, and if you are amping your highs use really nice twisted rcas (they will probably run you about 80 bucks) one thing i came to notice about fords is they are reall bad about engine noises.... I just figured out its the rcas not to long ago on my mustang and it sounds soooo much better! And dont put the fuse in with the car running!

[shanec]

I'm getting into this also. Thinking about a AVIC-F700BT (don't need DVD). Also tempted to wait for this year's model, the AVIC-X710BT (because its allegedly more responsive in the user interface and NAV animation)...and pissed that the MSRP has gone up and the pre-order prices are a couple hundred bucks more than what the AVIC-F700BT is selling for.

What should I do.....

[Kuro]

Originally Posted by Big Daddys Stang Is not that hard to install an amp fist you need a kit that includes all the wires and a fuse holder. Connect one wire where its says 12v on your amp and put the other part on the battery, The second one goes on a metal. Then depending on your stereo if it doesnt have rca's you will need to run the cable speakers to the amp positive and negative. If you do have rca's then just connect them right. look at the colors..

Dont just connect it to metal, it has to be a ground point.

/fail

[shanec]

Originally Posted by Kuro Dont just connect it to metal, it has to be a ground point. /fail

I usually scuff the paint & primer off some place on the body under the carpet near where the amp is and screw the ground wire down there using a what-cha-call-it ground connector.

[Kuro]

I used the bolt holding the bracket for the back of the rearseat.