FaceMugger said:
Does anyone have a Kenwood DNX7120 ? I am looking for pic of the receiver installed and a pic of the receiver playing a song from an iPod displaying the album artwork.
Also, is it worth the extra money to go through Crutchfield? or should I buy from the least expensive vendor?
If you are concerned about warranty, then you cannot go wrong with Crutchfield. I have purchased many things from them over the last 10 - 15 years. Pretty good prices, and great customer service. I used to have their number memorized because I called them A LOT.
If you are unsure of your abilities, or simply don't feel like doing the work yourself, then by all means, go to some installers and see what work they have done, look at their install bays, and make your decision then. Don't just depend on Best Buy or Circuit City. Check out your local audio shops as well.
However, if you want to save some green, and have no problem doing it yourself, go get one off of Ebay. One of the most important things to check on Ebay is the seller's feedback rating. Obviously, if they have 20 or 30 feedback comments, and more than one or two bad feedback comments, I'd stay away from them. Now frankly, a lot of places that sell electronics have thousands of feedback, and only a few bad comments if any (of course, you're not going to make everybody happy), and many even offer their own version of the manufacturer's warranty. Honestly, I've had more issues with Circuit City and Best Buy than I have with sellers on Ebay. I have no problem what so ever buying from them.
You just have to be smart doing it. Again, you're probably not going to want to send a grand to someone without any feedback. Just like going to local shops, check out the sellers. Local shops go by advertising and word of mouth. Ebay feedback is just another form of that.
About a year ago, I bought my Kenwood equipment off of Ebay and have been nothing but happy, and saved at least $400 on the DDX-8019, bluetooth & ipod cable to boot. The first Kenwood navigation unit I bought to use in my system was the KNA-DV4100 (which I still like better than the G510 which I am using now) was only around $200 or so used. A local shop wanted $1600.00 for the same model, and I don't think it even included installation. Granted, it would be new, but that's absolutely ludicrous. I had no problems with that unit, and only replaced it because of the wife (she thought it was too difficult to operate. But it was WAY more detailed, and has voice recognition).
As strange as it may sound, I enjoy tearing my vehicles apart though and consider electronics a hobby. So to each his own. Do what ever you feel you should do. Ask 20 people and you may get 20 different answers or opinions. This is just my $.02
Good luck deciding. It took me a long time to decide which equipment was going to suit me and make me happy. :bash:
