the kenwood is the best, and most overpriced...

i'll take the trusty pioneer gear thx! their dj gear has NEVER done me wrong!

 

But you can't get the features from any other company that Kenwood offers and although it might be pricy start to figure in what you would have to buy for the other units to make work and to make it compare to the Kenwood.
1) TV tuner
2) Amp
3) cables (rca, power, ground, etc)
your almost looking at another grand add on to any of those units providing you go with decent quality in the amp and wires. So do the math the Kenwood pans out in price, features and quality.

 

Well, I'm not so sure that the built-in amp for hte kenwood unit is a selling point for me. I go to lengths to disable the built-in amplifiers in my head units, because I don't like hte heat build-up that having the amplifiers creates. Even with no speakers connected, the amps heat up.

So I'd be getting the external amp, regardless. The TV tuner could be a good thing, but I'm more likely not to use it, because reception without cable really blows chunks most of the time.

As for cabling and stuff... Since I'm already looking at an external amp, that's not important, either.

So. It comes down to 2 factors. Picture quality, and screen size. Compare those dollar for dollar, and the Panasonic unit starts looking much better. True, the metal gearing is an advantage, but I don't plan on spending a large ampunt of time staring at a 6" TV screen while in my car most of the time. smile.gif

I guess it depends on what you want out of it. If the built-in amp is important to you, then the Kenwood unit is definitely a prime candidate. If you have already decided on external amplifiers, then Kenwood's advantage shrinks rapidly.

 

well as you see I have external amps, 3 for that matter, that was not my decision... I really like that it takes burned dvd's not all units take that, I also like that the tv tuner is included, and as much as you think you won't use it, trust me you will, sometimes during lunch i just sit there and watch DIVORCE COURT, lol it's funny and the reception is perfect... and as far as tv-screen size, it looks good from inside the car, but when will you be sitting outside the car and watching it??? Plus I will have a few more screens soon, so that doesn't matter... lol

 

I personally like my Eclipse in dash screen but I have been a big fan of Eclipse forever.

 

Hey Batlord, what kind of paint did you use on your dash/doors? I really like the looks!!

 

Granted you might not stare at your screen for along period of time but you must pop out the screen to change disc, dvd chanels etc.. so the screen will be opened and closed alot so it doesn't just have to do with watching it ya know.

 

On my in dash screen I don't have to open and close the screen to change discs, radio stations, volume or anything. The only reason that I need to open my screen is to adjust the fade,balance if needed and the bass, treble, and sub gain if needed. Other then that it stays closed all the time except if I'm on the hwy at night and want to watch the eq or a movie.

 

I still don't think I'd be spending a lot of time looking at the screen. But then I don't spend much time watching my TV at home, either. I tend to spend my time in the car driving, and when I'm driving, I'm watching the road, and the traffic, not a movie.

FWIW, I also dislike those flashy plasma displays that Pioneer has on their new stuff. Moving displays like that always catch my peripheral vision, and I find it distracting while driving. I wouldn't be buying a unit that I had to have the display out all the time. (This is also why I'm thinking about putting a separate display from the DVD unit. One that I can hide away when I'm not using it.)

And build quality (opening/closing/whatever a number of times without unit failure) is one of the criterea that I'd consider important. I would also consider it important that it be able to read VCD format on CD-R and DVD-R discs. It would be considered a "nice-to-have" if it would take a CD-R full of .mp3 files and play those, but not absolutely necessary. CD-RW discs would also be a "nice-to-have" but not a neccesity. CD-R discs are cheap enough that I don't mind not using the re-recordable media.

And, I suppose that when you come down to it, my car may never get video in it at all. Because I don't plan on sitting in the car to watch a movie, and I spend most of my driving time in the car alone, chances are it'll be the family car that gets video, and then the screens will be in the back of the headrests. Maybe one in the glove box, but then again, probably not. Then the kids can watch their movies, and not bug me and my wife while we're on trips. If my car ever gets video, it'll probably be more as a "because I can" than because I really want it.

Oh, and by the way, Bat Lord:

Nice job on the dashboard. The paint job looks excellent! Makes a nice transition from the interior to the exterior. Definite props!

 

Dan: You don't likw eye candy=ed up CD players huh? You should see my Sony...so flashy... rolleyes.gif

Batlord: 10!!! Wait, this isn't online showoff...