Kenwood DDX-7017 vs. Eclipse AVN5435????
07-03-2009, 06:43 AM
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Kenwood DDX-7017 vs. Eclipse AVN5435????
I've found a really good deal that's hard to pass up on both of these units for the same price. For the same price which would you pick and why? I know the eclipse has navigation but since I have Sprint Nav on my phone...it shouldn't be the deciding factor. Can be a factor but not the deciding one. Thanks in advance for the help guys.
07-09-2009, 04:00 AM
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I have always been a big fan of Eclipse. I have found that their higher end units have always had great fit and finish and they tend to use higher quality components inside their products (i.e. DAC's, connections, etc). But Kenwood is also a great company with many years of quality components behind them as well. I don't think you could go wrong with either unit.
* Both offer add-on iPod, satellite radio, backup camera, and HDradio options at an added cost.
* The Kenwood will play WMA off disc, the Eclipse will not (MP3's are supported on both units though)
* The Eclipse (from what I'm reading) has a more user friendly EQ built in than the Kenwood. The Eclipse has a 9band EQ, the Kenwood only has a 3band EQ. More bands are better for tuning.
* The Kenwood has a more sensitive FM tuner, meaning it will pick up stations better.
* They both have 5v preamp outs, but the Eclipse uses lower impedance 55ohm outputs (for why this makes a difference, read the last paragraph here: http://www.bcae1.com/preoutv.htm ).
* And what about button color? The Eclipse only has green button color, and the Kenwood only has green or red. Neither will match 100% to the 350z's amber dash color. If this is important, look into that and see which one fits your desires.
* The built-in nav of the Eclipse is a nice feature and could be easier to manipulate while driving than your cell phone, and you will also get voice guidance (not sure if your phone can do that). In order to add navi to the Kenwood, the unit will cost you around $350 additional. I had an Eclipse nav unit in my Xterra and although the graphics are a tad crude by today's standards, the maps are provided by Navteq and the unit is very capable of processing quickly (for a DVD ROM) to find the best route. The Kenwood nav unit would be better, but again, that's an extra $350 or so.
If it were my money and I could get both for the same price, I would get the Eclipse.
* Both offer add-on iPod, satellite radio, backup camera, and HDradio options at an added cost.
* The Kenwood will play WMA off disc, the Eclipse will not (MP3's are supported on both units though)
* The Eclipse (from what I'm reading) has a more user friendly EQ built in than the Kenwood. The Eclipse has a 9band EQ, the Kenwood only has a 3band EQ. More bands are better for tuning.
* The Kenwood has a more sensitive FM tuner, meaning it will pick up stations better.
* They both have 5v preamp outs, but the Eclipse uses lower impedance 55ohm outputs (for why this makes a difference, read the last paragraph here: http://www.bcae1.com/preoutv.htm ).
* And what about button color? The Eclipse only has green button color, and the Kenwood only has green or red. Neither will match 100% to the 350z's amber dash color. If this is important, look into that and see which one fits your desires.
* The built-in nav of the Eclipse is a nice feature and could be easier to manipulate while driving than your cell phone, and you will also get voice guidance (not sure if your phone can do that). In order to add navi to the Kenwood, the unit will cost you around $350 additional. I had an Eclipse nav unit in my Xterra and although the graphics are a tad crude by today's standards, the maps are provided by Navteq and the unit is very capable of processing quickly (for a DVD ROM) to find the best route. The Kenwood nav unit would be better, but again, that's an extra $350 or so.
If it were my money and I could get both for the same price, I would get the Eclipse.
Last edited by StreetOC192; 07-09-2009 at 04:17 AM.
07-09-2009, 04:40 PM
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Street provides a great comparison. He always does.
If the pricing is the same, I’d go with the Eclipse AVN5435 since you have navigation as a bonus with the Eclipse. Also, it’s hard to beat the build-quality in Eclipse products.
The only reason to go with the Kenwood DDX-7017 is the better set of “add-ons” (system expansion) Kenwood provides for their products. If you are planning to add a lot of stuff, you should go with the Kenwood unit.
Hope this is helpful,
--Spike
If the pricing is the same, I’d go with the Eclipse AVN5435 since you have navigation as a bonus with the Eclipse. Also, it’s hard to beat the build-quality in Eclipse products.
The only reason to go with the Kenwood DDX-7017 is the better set of “add-ons” (system expansion) Kenwood provides for their products. If you are planning to add a lot of stuff, you should go with the Kenwood unit.
Hope this is helpful,
--Spike
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