Topic: A new stereo for the car after 15 years, it's about time...

[Sly Bob]

Been a little frustrated with my head unit lately, a Kenwood DNX9960 that I and Joe installed at his place during a mod meet back in 2010. Time for an update after 15 years.

Oh it worked well enough, still quite happy with the sound but the Garmin navigation was starting to frustrate me. A few times I've tried to put in an address and I'd have issues, the maps are pretty current but the interface is old, very old. The DNX9960 was the flagship back then and I still have the bill. Apparently money wasn't an issue when I bought the thing.

Went to a local Solstice and Sky get together an hour or so away a few weeks ago and it was on a highway that's been there for over a century but trying to put it in the Garmin nav was painful, I gave up and propped my phone up to the right of the shifter and against the "oh shit" handle. On the way home I decided that now was the time to go shopping.

I bought a Sony XAV-AX6000 that has a capacitive screen as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Pulled the old one out and spent a day methodically figuring out what I did 15 years ago, labeling things and in the evening building the harness for the new Sony on the kitchen table. Next morning plugged everything in, no smoke and all worked as it should! 

I was able to reuse the old microphone and GPS antenna so there was a minimum of ripping and tearing involved. The old Axxess GMOS-LAN-04 for the old Kenwood worked with the new Sony and the steering wheel interface wasn't needed. Good thing too as the old SWI interface was for Kenwood and not for a Sony apparently.

Sony has the interface for resistive steering wheel controls built in so all you have to do is take the two wires from the wheel and plug them into the back of the radio with no extra box to program. It was refreshing and easy to set them up. Here's a picture of the interface on the radio where you do the programming and I really appreciated the visual interface after programming the PAC module all those years ago.

Maybe I'll upgrade again in another 15 years...   

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[TomatoSoup]

Nice job, Bob!

[Sly Bob]

Thanks Mark. Most of the install was me scratching my head wondering why I did what I did 15 years ago, tracing wires and labeling stuff. I enjoyed the challenge and just glad it went well. Sad though to see the old radio go out as electronic waste. Technology marches on...

[Critterman]

Good job Bob.  I think Joe did most of the work that is why you couldn't remember.

[Sly Bob]

Good job Bob.  I think Joe did most of the work that is why you couldn't remember.

LOL, Joe was there but I built the harness 15 years ago, did the soldering, did the install and spent the hours on Joe's cordless phone talking to PAC to try and get their SWI adapter to work. Fun times that's for sure!

[Steelmesh]

Nice upgrade!

Let's hope in 15 years there will be non-AI assistant radios available

[Sly Bob]

Nice upgrade!

Let's hope in 15 years there will be non-AI assistant radios available

Oh let's hope so otherwise I'll have to keep the Sony. 

[Sol Asylum]

Anyone ever ask AI assistant the old Abbott and Costello question Whose on first?