Anyone using the Kenwood DNR1007XR Excelon Reference?

Anyone, here using the Kenwood Excelon Reference

$1,399 DNR1007XR eXcelon 10.1" High Definition Navigation Car Stereo Receiver with Capacitive Touch Panel

DNR1007XR in their Tundra?

I'm expecting to come into about $2000 in a couple of months and am debating whether or not it's worth the hefty $1800 price tag to replace my factory head unit.

Any opinions? Lose any factory functions/controls (steering wheel or other) when you put it in? Easy to use or cumbersome UI? Interested in any feedback...

 

I would go with

$1,000 DMX1037S 10.1" High Definition Car Stereo Receiver with Capacitive Touch Panel

DMX1037S, it's $1500.

$1,399 DNR1007XR eXcelon 10.1" High Definition Navigation Car Stereo Receiver with Capacitive Touch Panel

DNR1007XR is basically same but with garmin navigation, and maybe few extras that i'm not aware of. You can use Apple carplay or Android auto for navigation instead. As for losing functions it's other way around - with Maestro RR module you retain all truck's functions plus gain few. Hope this helps

 

You do loose the compass/street name/speed limit screen on the digital gauge cluster.

Plus you loose garbage sound and terrible entune UI.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

One of the reasons the 1007XR is top of my list is precisely because it has BOTH built-in nav and CarPlay. I like CarPlay and would love to use Waze and so forth out and about. But I really prefer built-in nav when I'm traveling long-haul and especially out into the mountains. I don't like relying on cell phone signals and planning ahead of time to download maps of specific areas onto my phone. And I sure hell am not going to use the data plan on my satellite phone to feed navigation; too expensive. So build-in nav still has a great deal of utility for me.

@OGDark Knight said below that you lose compass/street name/speed limit on the digital gauge cluster. Do you retain those with the Maestro module? Not sure those are mission critical for me, but the steering wheel controls absolutely are.

 

Im running a maestro rr and lost those gauge cluster functions. The steering wheel controls all work.

Your reasoning behind wanting built in navigation is exactly why they offer that option. Go for it!

 

Those the only functions you lost?

 

The 1057XR is available now. The 1007XR hasn't been available for over a year. I have been waiting for 12 months and am hoping it is soon available.

The

$1,450 Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX PIONEER CAR DMHWT8600NEX Top Of The Line 10.1" BT CarPlay Amazon Alexa Built-in, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth - Floating Type Multimedia Receiver

Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX looks pretty tasty (sans Nav). The one with the Nav, AVIC-W8600NEX , only has a small screen

 

The pioneer installs so much cleaner in a tundra. But still, I understand the need for built in nav for some.

 

I cant think of any other lost functions

 

good points. But I’m expecting the supply chain to be a great deal better by summer and I can wait on this one. Just planning ahead of time.

 

So am I. Although this is what I said last summer also...

 

i could live with that. Outta curiosity, how does the lack of those functions show on the screen? Do the screen pages not even come up, does it show an error, or something else?

 

No error message, its just a plain black screen on that “page” in the digital cluster screen. I thought it would bother me a bunch but it really doesn't. I keep that screen on mph/ distance to empty now since carplay always has navigation showing anyhow (carplay 3block home screen). Im happay as a clam with how it works.

 

I didn't lose them. If you have a unit without built in nav, you do. The Garmin Nav in my 1007XR translates over to the digital cluster.

 

I love mine. I don't find the interface cumbersome at all. Most of the time I'm using Android Auto, anyway. The screen is absolutely beautiful, and I like having a physical volume knob on it. I had another Kenwood unit prior to this and it didn't have a knob. Even after 2 years I found myself reaching for it. I also like for the passenger to have the ability to adjust it, if they want.

 

That’s awesome. Good to know built in nav translates.

the only digital gauge cluster function i was referring to loosing was the nav page.

 

I have a second center console surround (the silver wing thing) and plan to paint matte black to match the rest of the interior. Though I dont think the Entune is terrible, it isn't great. I'd like to do the radio head upgrade at the same time I swap out the center stack piece but am a bit lost.

What other parts do I need to do the swap? I have a 2017 TRD PRO with the 'upgraded' (woohoo) Stereo.

Radio - I see the suggestions, also like manual button and volume knobs. Non broadband NAV is a good thing.
Radio/Head unit mounting kit - Which kits?
Wiring Interface options to retain steering wheel and whatever other factory options - What do I need? What will I loose and retain on a 2017?

Thanks for an old wrench and mechanic but bit of new tech luddite. The Entune is the first and most advanced I've had, thus my lack of criticism.

TIA

 

Crutchfield will show you everything you need for the head unit. Enter vehicle, pick stereo and accessories.

 

James Randy Taylor is very popular on here. Great guy, great prices, great service.....he was by far the least expensive of any retailer i could fine online. Shoot him an email to get a price quote.
tech12volt@gmail.com

 

So, seeing some 1007XR units for sale (Amazon), with $200-$300 up-charges. How the frick does someone selling on Amazon get stock prior to one of the vendors that Kenwood advertises as one of their Authorized Distributor (aka. Crutchfield)

 

Probably people buying them locally, or from Crutchfield, and re-selling for a markup.

 

I have the 1007 and love it...I had a tech12volt upgrade with a dsr1 and decided to go for the new headunit....I literally threw out all the speakers. Got a new amp and dual sub with a custom box behind rear seat. I am really glad I got the Kenwood with Nav although through carplay have not had any issue with waze and google maps on the big screen either. I do have comfort that if I am in an area that doesn't have cell I can still navigate and get my sirius channels. The sound is incredible....

 

What speakers did you get? And you replaced the factory amp too? I thought it was better to keep the factory amp but replace everything else?

Since I can’t get the 1007 yet (supply chain problems — it hasn’t been available for the most part for a year), I’m thinking of replacing the speakers in my truck now, and then doing the head unit later when it becomes available again.

 

I got JL c2's and replaced the dash speakers with c1's. two 10 inch subs in back and a JL 900 amp. I got all of it from James at tech12 except the 1007 which I got from a dealer in March of 2021

 

I just put the 1057 in and I love it. I added a front camera as well. Check crutchfield - they will show you everything you need. I also did Focal speakers front and rear w a JL 5 channel amp and 2 JL 12" subs. it sounds incredible

 

you can use any front camera - you dont need the kenwood model

 

what do you mean?

 

Kenwood makes a front camera but you dont have to get one made by them.

 

I'm pretty certain my local shop has one in stock. Want me to check and see, and what the price is? I could get it wrapped and shipped today, just pay for packing and shipping.

 

Wow. Thanks, man. I appreciate the offer. Let me know what their price is on it.