Kenwood DNX996XR Head Unit

Here's another option for those who are still looking for dash kits.
https://catalog.pac-audio.com/catalog/best-kits-installation-accessories/bktoyk968

 

In the mean time, solder or crimp your Kendwood harness to the Maestro harness so when you get it, it's all plug and play.

 

Harness is already done. I'm already working on my rebates forms.

 

Interesting option, looks to be all black.

 

That trim was the biggest POS ever. I had it, it ended up in the trash. Cheaply made, huge pain in the ass to install.

 

Ah, well that's good to know about the other trim kit. It's the most expensive of the three I'm aware of. I have both the Metra and the Scosche trim kits at home. Was going to post pictures of both for comparison reasons, but didn't want to clutter this thread. I think I like the Scosche one better as far as matching goes. Seems to be about the same quality, all thought the Metra one arrived broken - but that could be Fedex.

 

Does anyone have a link to an adapter that allows you to use the factory USB port? I have not been able to find one.

 

This:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077YS81M4/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_PTJIDb57NMG6H

However, in my case the dealer didn't have one in stock so I replaced the whole damn thing. It was cheaper anyway.

Panel Flush Mount Extension Cable,Car 3.5 mm USB 3.0 AUX Jack Extension Cable Lead Mounting Panel Headphone Male Jack Flush Mount Mounting Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PW8B5RW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_.UJIDbSD37TBS

 

Seriously. That trim kit above was junk. It's black, but it's plastic material that's really rough and every time you touch it it leaves white marks from dry skin or whatever. Dust collected in it and you had to use a brush to get it out, it wouldn't just wipe off. If you wiped it with a towel, all the towel remnants got stuck to it.

It was a huge pain to get lined up perfectly. In fact, I never did so I bought the Schosche. Fit like a glove.

 

Did you guys use the cage that came with the head unit? I assume not and just attached the trim kit.

 

No cage. The Kenwood bolts right up to the Schosche unit nice and tight. Super easy.

 

Just got my headunit

 

Got my unit installed today. Two obvious things that don't work or work well. First, no screen mirroring. I get "No source" (I think) when I connect my iPhone and use the AVIN. Is there some configuration for this? I used the same setup as New_doording with the 3.5 to RCA to HDMI setup. All the connections are solid, taped together. It was a chore getting all those cables tucked away.

Second is Siri. CarPlay works great, but when i connect to siri, I can't hear her at all. I researched this and may have a fix. I'm going to go by a thumb drive big enough to do the firmware upgrade, the ones we have are too small. Everything is back together

 

For the AV-In connection, are you using the Kenwood RCA to 1/8” adapter? If not and you’re just using a regular RCA to 1/8” cable, you have to swap one of the pairs. I think the yellow video RCA cable from the HDMI to RCA converter needs to connect to the Red connector of the RCA to 1/8” cable. Play around and see, it’s either yellow to red or yellow to white. If you’re using the Kenwood AV-In cable then it’s yellow to yellow


The Siri volume has its own volume setting, so get Siri to talk for a while and while she is taking you hit volume up.
Try out “Hey Siri, I see a little silhouetto of a man”
That’s a good way to test out the Siri volume.

 

This a great thread. Thanks to all that have provided pointers.

I just ordered the 9906XR (same as 996xr but w/out nav). I’m hoping the unit itself improves the stock JBL system until other sound upgrades can be made.

 

I ordered the following:

Kenwood CA-C3AV AV Cable for Video AV Input

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LRPLQ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$60 iSimple ISHD01 MediaLinx HDMI To Composite Video/Audio Adapter Cable (Black)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LUX1F5K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yeung Qee USB HDMI Mount Cable, USB 3.0 2 Ports Cable and HDMI Flush Mount Car Flush Mount Dash, Pane, Mount Cable for Car, Boat,Motorcycle (3ft)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BKVRPWV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And then the Apple lightning adapter. I ran color to color.

My XM is not working, works through the phone. I connected the SiriusXM (300) tuner to the OEM XM antenna via the Maestro Acc-SAT-TO2 Sat Radio and GPS Antenna adaptors for TO2 Vehicles:

$30 Maestro Acc-SAT-TO2 Sat Radio and GPS Antenna adaptors for TO2 Vehicles

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K03PORU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Called SiriusXM to switch the Radio ID over and it never did come on. Navigation IS working it seems, but it came with it's own antenna that I ran up to the center channel. Could I have used the OEM GPS antenna to the XM tuner? I don't think so.

I screwed around with Siri, that doesn't seem to help. I don't know if my phone is working through CarPlay - it dials, but not sure if people can hear me. One issue at a time, will play around with it tomorrow.

 

The GPS antenna and the XM antenna are the same fittings. You might have them swapped on the back of the radio.

Edit, maybe not the radio. Maybe at the Maestro adapters. I can't remember but one will fit into the other.

 

Looking on the Kenwood site it doesn't mention needing any extra items other than the USB charging cord.
'
So i'm guessing there is a reason for using the HDMI/Rca wiring setup. Is it for the video quality, or is that just the way it has to be done on those units?

As for settings heres what I found from Kenwood.

 

Thanks for your help.

It's possible, I know I connected the new GPS antenna correctly, but yeah, the OEM may be reversed. I'm thinking my mic may not be plugged in all the way either. I did not get the Siri volume up. Also, can't remember. Is the grey USB from the HU for Apple and the black one Android? EDIT: Apple the BLACK one. Page 35 of the manual.

 

Here's why. It allows you to mirror your iPhone on the screen so you can watch whatever you want via AV-IN. If you follow the video for Apple, the USB HDMI Mount Cable mentioned above allows you to plug both the HDMI and USB into it and you have a clean replacement for one of the cigarette light things. You can't see it in my video, but I did the same as what in the first post in this thread. When you want to use screen sharing, you plug in a HDMI cord into the new port and use the adapter on the phone.
https://youtu.be/MIHt0ZFHEzg

 

Ah, I gotcha.

 

This is what I bought. This thread is costing me money.

 

Ah, so you're replacing a blank with the rectangular HDMI/usb connector? That'll help with the shit ton of wires stuffed back there.

 

OK, well everything is working - sorta. Indeed, the wrong antenna was plugged into the XM tuner. Call SiriusXM, got the VRU, had the signal sent an it worked. It sounded like crap though, very muffled and bassie. CarPlay sounded create, but the only change I did was move the LR inputs from the top row of three to the bottom row of three, so I switch that back and it was then fine. Siri is working now as expected, although I when I tried to increase the volume, I was doing it on my phone and not the truck volume. Once I did that, it worked, although she is literally max out now (on 40) in volume, but happy she's as loud as she is. Screwed around with the AVIN, I'm pretty sure when I took the radio out it pulled out, but I put it back in and it's still not working. Just a blank screen. Thought a wire was pinch or something.

Funny though, now CarPlay is not working. I dropped it from bluetooth, readied it and it's just not working now, but too tired to go play with it at this point, so will look tomorrow. It was working fine. I noticed it was connected to my home network - seems it has it's own wifi network and when I flipped it back, it worked, but then I screwed something else up and now won't play even though it looks connected from the phone side. Oh well. There's tomorrow.

 

@chinadog do you have a JBL system? If so, go into the OEM setup menu and you can change the JBL amp gain setting, by default it is 70%. I think I am using 90%. That will help increase the gain and max volume.

You mentioned moving the LR input from the bottom row to top, but it should be in the middle. That is, if you are referring to the RCA outputs on the back of the radio. You should be using the ‘front’ outputs. Also double check your crossover settings on the Kenwood radio. It’s in the Audio menu.

As for getting Car Play to reconnect - you have to go to the Car Play device list and reconnect it. Press Menu, Setup, AV, Apple Car Play Device List. Then just select the device to reconnect it.

 

Got mine installed!

When trying to tuck in all the wires, remove the center speakers and reach with your hand to grab the wires from back of the head unit. This helps a lot.

 

Great, will give that a try. Need to pull it out today since I had the grey USB connection hooked up and I think it's suppose to use the black on for wired CarPlay (just in case). I do have the JBL system. I'll et you know how it works.

 

Good idea.

 

OK now I'm getting frustrated.

Pulled the unit out today and swapped the USB in the back form gray to black. Switched the RCA LRs to the middle setting. Everything seemed to work great, except some issues with Siri. Running IOS 13.1.1on a XS. Here's the weird part. I can ask Siri questions and get responses. She hears me and responds. I can say "Call Joe" and she does. I can hear the phone ring through the truck speakers but if someone answers, they can't hear me. You would think it's the mic, but I called the person via Siri. Same weirdness with texting. She reads the text and then asks if I want to respond. I say yes and she asks what to respond with, but then suddenly she can't hear me. Sorta like my wife, selected hearing. I tried my wife's XR, same thing.

I know there is a mic sensitivity thing and I just cranked that up, but didn't help. BTW, it works fine NOT through the radio. I even called Kenwood and spent 1/2 hour with them. Reset the unit a few times. No help. It's something stupid, I'm sure. I'm going to have them a new mic, although I doubt it'll make a difference. Think the first one got pinched or something, but why does it work sometimes (consistently) and other times not (also consistently). Not sure if sometimes Siri is picking up my mi on the phone and other times the car (which is not working). Dunno.

 

I just skimmed the thread so don’t kill me if you already said so somewhere but, did you update the head unit to the latest firmware from kenwood’s website? I have a 9906 in my wife’s sequoia and it was all over the map doing weird stuff until I updated the firmware and did a reset after.