Kenwood head unit. Thoughts on this one?

I have an opportunity to pick this up, user from a friend of a friend for $200. Kenwood ddx9902s
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-QMXgkY9ShD3/p_113DDX9902/Kenwood-Excelon-DDX9902S.html
I've been wanting to add an amp to my new speakers but am not a fan of my OEM JBL headunit.
Is this thing too outdated? I dont need wireless CarPlay or android auto. Or navigation. I'd like to be able to control pandora from the screen, maybe mirror my phone. What do you think @james@tech12volts is this a decent unit?
What would I need to make this work in my truck and connect to an amp to power my new sub, and possibly all my speakers? I assume a Toyota harness, but do I need an idatalink maestro too? I don't wanna get this then need to spend a ton more making it work. Thanks

 

Anyone have anything to say, good or bad about this unit?
I figure I will need to spend another 200 on the maestro and harnesses and a trim kit. I will give James a call Monday to see what else is needed. Just wondering if I should even be considering this head unit. I know it's a few years old but still may be a huge upgrade for the price.

 

I think that's a pretty good deal for $200. It's a little bit older, but I don't think it's necessarily lacking anything major from modern units, aside from wireless CarPlay/Android Auto. I'd check the Kenwood support page to see when the latest firmware update came out. If it's had some recent support, that's a good sign IMO.

 

Look for the ddx9903s. I've had it for over two years and I don't see myself upgrading at all. I've seen it on sale for 300-350$.

 

The part to use your factory head unit is a DSR1. I want to say @james@tech12volts sells for $255 programmed and ready. Makes it near plug and play.

 

What's the difference between the 9903s you have and the 9002s I'm looking at?

 

Yeah I know I could spend $255 on the dsr1 but all that does is force me to keep the OEM head unit. Which does not even have pandora control capabilities anymore, no screen mirror, crappy maps, no android auto, no vehicle info (tire pressure, gauges, code readers...) I could spend 3 or 400 on a head unit ans maestro that will give me all those options and more.

 

Thank you!

 

I know this might be a little late to be helpful but i would get it. Thats a good price and honestly the last couple years has been about adding bells and whistles.

Excelon right? If so that means 6 channel outputs at 4 volts. Thats always nice.

Well, i hope you got to snag it or found something else you liked.

 

I’m way of topic here but I just wanted to say that you by far have the best name on this forum. For that, turd, you should be commended.

 

I never buy the latest and greatest. Always models towards the end of the run, from previous years that the stores are trying to un-load in preparation for new ones. If it has everything you want, I'm not sure what else matters.

 

Just seeing this. Looks like a great deal comparing used price from new. Not a cheesy unit for sure.

As mentioned on other threads, We installed a used few year old Pioneer 8100NEX that works great!

 

for $200 just go for it dude.

 

I've been looking at those and from what I understand, DDX has optional navigation whereas DNX ones comes with the nav default on the unit. I guess N stands for Nav. First digit is the order in the series being that yours is 9**, that'd be the top of the DDX series. 02 however means that it is old. As an example, DDX9905 would be the latest and DDX9904 was the year before.

You are getting the top of the line head unit when it was released. Only issue is that it came out years ago and may feel a bit old. Low resolution display, sluggish feel, fewer operating system features etc. Other than the low res display, if you are not actively going to fiddle with it, I do not see where this would not be satisfactory.

Will I buy this from a friend with my own money? No.

 

Mixed reviews on Crutchfield for this HU. Some really liked it others didn't for various reasons. All reviews fro 2015 & 2016, so the unit is not that old.

Also, did you ever hear it in friends vehicle? Did it seem to function well? Why is he selling? Just some questions I would be asking myself.

 

Do it, I don't think there has been much advancement with head units besides wireless CP/AA which was a 2018 thing

 

Thats a great stereo I would get it before he sells it, the new stereos at not always the best

 

lol have you been in a tundra with a stock radio? ANYTHING is an upgrade from stock. fuckin signle DIN's from Wally World beat it.

This.

 

I'm gonna take a look at it on Friday. I may offer 100 and see what happens. I have not heard it play unfortunately, it was removed for a new unit and the guy also did a full JL audio upgrade. He may have an amp for me as well.
Itll take another $200 or so for harnesses, adapters, and a maestro unit to get it all hooked up. And I'll need an amp too.

Does know if I can run my JBL system off this headunit and not replace the JBL amp? I assume its not worth it

 

You should be fine to use the JBL amp for now. I was able to retain the stock amp on my SR5, and kept my JBL amp on my 2010 Camry. I think the stock amps are just built with high level inputs, but I remember my Camry needing an adapter to connect the amp via the aftermarket preamp outputs... Hopefully someone that's done a JBL Tundra system will comment.

Edit: It was a 2007 Camry that needed the extra preamp adapter.

 

I believe so.

 

I think I'll pick this up on Friday, the guy said he can wire it up for me too once I get all the harnesses and maestro. He works part time at an audio shop so I feel confident he knows what hes doing, I'll check out the system in his FJ Friday when I go get the kenwood.
He has a JL audio, what he called "limited edition black" 300/4 amp that he says he will sell me for 200 and says it can be wired up to run all my speakers including the sub, but I think of prefer a 5 channel. I'll see what's up with that on Friday too.

 

I'd be curious how he would be wiring up the sub with a 4 channel... Dual voicecoil sub and parallel off the rear channels?

 

He said something about running all the door speakers off the front channel and running the sub off the back, idk what exactly he said but he mentioned bridging, some kinda of switch on the amp, possibly wiring something in parallel. I'm pretty lost when it comes to this stuff.

 

I'm getting excited about this.

He said I could use a less expensive module for steering wheel controls but I think I'll go with the maestro for the obd options that seem kinda cool.

I may run without an amp or my OEM JBL amp for while unless I can score a really good deal. I thought I had an old 5 channel at home but its actually only 2. He has a JL audio 300/4 he will sell me for 200 that he insists he can wire all speakers and sub into and program and tune to work very well. We will see.

 

I've got the cheaper iDataLink SWC module. Wish I would have splurged for the Maestro.

 

I appreciate that input

 

He would bridge channel 3 and 4 for the sub and use channel 1 for your front left door and tweeter. Channel 2 for the right door/tweeter.

That amp is a 75 watt x 4 channels @1.5 through 4 ohms.

Its the slash series, which is a very respectable amp series.

 

Do you think it's worth getting this amp for around $200 installed? (on top of the head unit for $200 installed). I need to also but maestro, dash kit, adapters and harnesses which is about $170. Or should I hold out or try to find a 5 channel amp, I know they have like Rockville and planet audio or something like that on Amazon for under 200 which is my max amp budget, I'm already wayyyy over budget on this stereo build.

Also i assume I or he would need to run a new wire for my center channel JL tweeters? He did say could buy some sort of cable/harness to run from the amp in back up to the head unit to tie into the factory speaker wires rather than run all new speaker wire.
I can think maybe one downside of 4 vs 5 channel would be losing front to back or left to right fade, and also loss of a remote sub woofer adjustment knob, but not sure that still is worth the extra money to me.
Thanks so much for your help @Twinky its greatly appreciated

 

Hey pudge of you don’t buy stereo, i would be interested it it. Can you get me contact info if you don’t get it