Kenwood USA has announced its newest top-end multimedia receiver, the eXcelon DNX893S, in its booth at International CES, January 6-9.
The double-DIN, touch friendly unit is the company’s most complete entertainment and information center to date, receiving a completely new processing infrastructure, enhanced smartphone integration, improved safety features and support for high-resolution audio.
“We’ve redesigned this unit inside and out,” said Rick Noetzli, KENWOOD product manager. “It now features a Linux-based operating system and dual-core processor for improved stability and speed. The extra processing power supports the most extensive selection of inputs, applications and features we’ve ever put together.”
The DNX benefits from the company’s expansion of Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ into more of its 2016 multimedia receivers. Like the DDX9902S introduced in 2015, the DNX893S features both platforms, allowing users to connect either an iPhone® or Android™-based smartphone to safely access and control navigation, streaming content, messaging and music using an intuitive voice interface. Two USB ports with built-in support for rapid-charging technology let the user connect and charge a smartphone and use the other port for flash media.
When not using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, built-in apps on the DNX893S let the user select and control smartphone apps over Bluetooth on the receiver’s display, including Spotify® and Pandora® Internet Radio. Another integration feature is MHL support over HDMI, which displays the screen of a compatible Android-based smartphone on the receiver and lets the user control apps from the larger, safer display. The DNX893S is also SiriusXM-Ready™ and connects to the latest SiriusXM SXV300 Connect Vehicle Tuner (sold separately, subscription required).
The multimedia receiver’s user interface has been totally redesigned to provide an informative, logical array of information that minimizes distraction. Behind the brilliant 7-inch glass capacitive touch screen, large icons are amply spaced along the bottom of the display to enable a driver focusing on the road to easily find the desired function or entertainment source. The screen also displays vibrant album art next to a customizable widget area that lets the user store frequently used applications and select each with a swipe across the screen. For more tactile functions, the single row of buttons provides quick access to audio adjustments, source selection and menu options.
The safety elements of the DNX893S have been expanded to help the driver maneuver and find destinations more intuitively. In addition to the available rear camera view, a front-view camera can be added to get in and out of tight spaces or avoid parking blocks and other obstacles. A user-selectable overlay of park lines helps judge the distance between the vehicle and an another object. The DNX893S also includes onboard navigation from Garmin that provides turn-by-turn spoken directions, lane assistance a one-button selection of personalized destinations. On-screen traffic information provided by INRIX (free for two years) helps the driver plan routes more effectively by avoiding areas with heavy traffic congestion.
Last year, KENWOOD introduced higher-quality call audio via Bluetooth thanks to an enhanced Hands-Free profile. Bluetooth is improved again this year with the ability to have two phones actively paired at the same time. This driver and passenger use the receiver to select which phone call or phone-based entertainment media will be broadcast through the audio system, eliminating distractions associated with adjusting Bluetooth functions on each phone.
High-resolution audio media is supported on the DNX893S, with the ability to decode 192KHz, 24-bit FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) or WAV-embedded media from any source. The built-in, 13-band equalizer provides infinite adjustment for audio powering the built-in amplifier or sent through the three sets of 5-volt RCA outputs to outboard amplifiers. The DNX893S will be on display during the upcoming International CES in Las Vegas, January 6-9 at Booth #1702 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more details please visit the KENWOOD website at www.kenwood.com/usa.
