Good Unit Great Tech Support
Samuel from Pompton Plains, NJ on 8/1/2022
2011 Ford F-150 XLT
So far i really like this unit ! so much more packed into this radio than stock !! The touchscreen is a little slow but nothing that hurts the performance . I want to give a big shout out Thank You to Damien & Carl for tech support !! i was having trouble with the Maestro control unit & it came down to Ford & they're wiring !! They shipped out a corrected wiring adapter & viola it worked !!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
James from Moyock, NC on 7/5/2022
Once installed you will notice how small and dim the viewing screen actually is in the daylight. The sound quality is very nice. You need young eyes to navigate through the setup process.
Pros: Looks nice installed Sounds very nice plays CD's
Cons: You can't change the font size for viewing.
0 of 0 found this helpful
A Great audio system for your vehicle.
Craig from Rancho Mirage, CA on 6/29/2022
2014 Subaru Forester
With just about 9 years of loving my 2014 Subaru Forester, I decided I needed an upgrade to my sound. The stock Clarion supplied unit was adequate, not high-end but I never expected it to be. But I'm also an oddity (so it seems) in that I don't use my phones for music/audio, just for calls, texting, maps, games... I have an iPod (a few in fact) for my music and I needed a unit that worked with my iPod - this unit does it. And with a number of other optional screens (like extra gauges, TPMS and more), it's got enough extra features that are fun - if not always daily usable. My only real demerit for the DDX396 is the knob, which I wanted. But it's so "short" that when you install the unit with the install kit and trim, the side of the button is about the same depth as the surrounding plastic trim. WTH? Sound is good to great - based on your speakers. It's really comparable to the top-end Infinity audio system in my old Town & Country (a veritable concert hall on wheels) and sounds great! Easy to install when you get the right wiring kits. Of course, some of the wiring kits come with SO MANY bits and sets of wires, it's hard to figure out which wire sets are used and which are not. Better documentation is needed here, Crutchfield. Could it be better? Sure. But for the money, this is one of the best audio units out there. Maybe I do wish it did have navigation, too, but...
Pros: great sound, easy to install, great features, iPod control capable, good touch screen
Cons: volume control knob too small, display can "wash out" in bright direct light, does not dim or brighten with car dash lighting.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Good not perfect
Al from Orange Park, FL on 6/4/2022
2005 Toyota Tacoma
I've had my Kenwood for 1 week and am overall satisfied with the radio. The sound level is much better than my stock radio. This radio has all the features I needed. I wanted to maintain the option to listen to CD's and like the volume control knob (although it is a bit small). The interface with my phone was very easy and I now enjoy the ability to make and receive calls hands free. On the down side, the screen needs to be brighter. In bright sunlight the backup camera display is difficult to see. When in reverse there is also an annoying popup disclaimer that reminds the driver to ensure the path is clear, but it blocks a portion of the display in the process. The warning does goes away when touched. Also, the CD player sounds great but will not recognize any CD title or song information. All this is displayed is "No Title" and the number of songs on the CD.
Pros: Sound quality. Features for the price.
Cons: Display needs to be brighter. CD player doesn't recognize CD information.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Eion from Colorado Spgs, CO on 5/26/2022
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
Excellent sound, grate stereo, however Spotify doesn't work well.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Good radio but watch your knob lol
Matthew from Dubuque, Iowa on 5/26/2022
I love it and it fits great. I'm regretting the knob for volume because the radio is recessed a bit back into the dash kit so it sucks if you wanna adjust the volume more than a couple levels at a time.
Pros: Everything
Cons: But the knob
1 of 1 found this helpful
Coleman
David from Coleman on 5/23/2022
2013 Toyota Corolla
The radio has tons of great features and the backup camera is very clear. Bluetooth connects great and streaming audio from phone is fantastic. Radio worked fine for about 3 months then the buttons would not respond. Touchscreen worked fine and bluetooth for phone calls worked. Could not turn screen off at night. After a while they would start working again. Very intermittent problem. Would work fine for a few days and then lock-up again. Contacted Crutchfield and the rep was very helpful. After trying a few things advised to send it for repair. Sent the unit to FTH service center (Kenwood authorized repair). They "repaired" and sent back. I reinstalled the radio and no change. I was advised to send a video of the problem. Sent the video and was told the tech was reviewing. After a month I contacted again and was told they do not know how to fix the problem. I have had this unit now almost two years and very disappointed that Kenwood cannot repair their own unit. I am just living with the issue until I can afford to replace with a more dependable unit. If not for the problem noted above I would give this DDX396 5+ stars.
Pros: Great bluetooth, clear backup video with guide lines, customizable screen, good audio, volume knob
Cons: Buttons lock up and do not respond
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Jason from Sioux City, IA on 5/17/2022
2003 Ford Explorer
Great unit, easy wiring and install, would have given 5 stars except rear bracket wouldn't work. No place to attach it to.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Christian from Caguas, PR on 5/16/2022
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Excelent service at excelent price...very fast shiping. The product is awesome, exactly what i want...thanks and continue do excelent store
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Easy to install
Tyler from Seattle, WA on 5/8/2022
2011 Honda CRV LX
Not a handy person but was able to install it with the kit and directions just in time for a Mother's Day present for my wife! She likes it!
Pros: Directions and kit
Cons: Would have bought wire splices if sold as an add on. Had to go 2 hardware stores to find the right splices.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Awesome SQ, snappy!
Jacob from Evansville, IN on 5/6/2022
2016 Nissan Altima
Pretty snazzy little unit. Has all of the hookups a basshead like myself could need. Also, from reading some other reviews, there are a few that indicate the unit is a little slower. From my experience, this unit is FASTER than several other Kenwood decks I've used. Overall, pretty thrilled with functionality, touchscreen is nice and responsive where it needs to be, and having that physical volume knob really is a blessing.
Pros: Snappy Input options Works with factory USB port (w/ adapter)
Cons: Figuring out factory backup cam took some trial and error Bluetooth audio playback must be selected as source on unit for music playback, otherwise, the bluetooth profile selected will handle calls only (Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3)
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
David from New Rochelle, NY on 5/5/2022
1997 Toyota Land Cruiser
A great upgrade to my 1997 Land Cruiser. Excellent sound and features. Simple installation too....
Pros: Love the volume control knob and being able to use the rear camera at anytime....
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great with one execption.
Thomas from Forney, TX on 5/1/2022
2015 Jeep Patriot
Sounds great and relatively simple install. Using the recommended brackets tho don't allow for the trim plate to be installed tho.
Pros: Sound, installation process.
Cons: Trim plate doesn't fit.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Wow wow waza
Brendan Herr from Mason City, IA on 4/28/2022
1996 Subaru Legacy
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood and Crutchfield deliver again
David from Chardon, OH on 3/19/2022
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
Installed in a 2004 Tahoe for about 3 weeks now and working great so far. Very easy to set up and use. I like the volume knob but wish is was positioned higher on the face. Feels a little awkward to grab with a column shift transmission. Also wish it had a front USB port. I made the rear one work by running it out the hole for the cigarette lighter, but now I always have a plug hanging out of my dash. Haven't tried using the voice commands and I don't have a back-up camera, so I'm probably only scratching the surface of what this radio was meant to do. It boots up fairly quick, bluetooth connection to an iPhone is good and wired connection to an old iPod also good. Controls are easy to follow, screen is easy to read. I have the Bose sound system and even through the factory amp and speakers it sounds good. Instructions said I would have to cut a bracket in the back of the dash for this to fit and I found that not to be true. I was able to route the wires behind the bracket with enough room to mount the radio, though I did have to remove the heater control to help stuff the wiring in. Been buying radios from Crutchfield for nearly 30 years and all but one of them were Kenwood. They make the purchase and installation simple and I've been happy every time.
Pros: Easy to set up and use, good connection both wired and bluetooth for Apple devices, good sound quality
Cons: No front USB
2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Brok from Bountiful, UT on 2/18/2022
2006 Toyota Tacoma
Very easy install with ready harness provided by Crutchfield.Improved the sound of my music/radio significantly compared to the stock radio.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excellence
Jeffrey from Aurora, CO on 2/15/2022
2015 Kia Sorento
I've always loved Kenwood and made the mistake of trying something different for my last build. Well with all the shortages I had to wait over a year before this one was finally in stock again so needless to say I was so happy to see it back in stock again and bought it immediately. The display is nice and bright, the touch screen works great, it has all the great cross over settings that makes Kenwood one of the best, and this one has the +5v RCA outputs for the amps which made a very noticeable difference in my setup. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it is a little slow booting up or making changes, and I'm not a fan of the USB being on a cable rather than being mounted in the face of the unit.
Pros: Cross Over Settings +5V RCA Output Voltage Touch Screen
Cons: Slow Startup and Making Changes USB on a separate cable rather than face mounted
2 of 3 found this helpful
Good radio
Josh from SOMERSET on 2/8/2022
2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Very good radio for the money. I want to say that Crutchfield is an excellent company. I had a different brand radio before this one. Three different radios and all of them had problems. They allowed me to upgrade to this new unit, they were amazing through the whole process. This radio is really good for the price. It has all the features I was looking for. It's not overly complicated to use and it has a bunch of different options that make using it better.
Pros: Easy to use, good sound, good quality, good features.
Cons: The only negative is the USB comes out the back, which means if you may have to modify the cover a bit to make it work, but that is a minor issue.



1 of 1 found this helpful
Marysville
Joseph from Marysville on 2/2/2022
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
I've had this deck for quite awhile, it worked fine during the "60 day return period" but it's junk: fails to come on sometimes, sometimes only says "update software", stops playing other times, and then works fine after turning off the vehicle and restarting. It takes *a couple minutes* to boot up and start playing music. And the screen is not easy to see, it(supposedly) has an up-and-down adjustment for better viewing, but ove never noticed a difference, it needs a side-to-side adjustment(isnt ever radio: in every car ever made in between the driver and passenger?) Soooo not worth the price, I should've just went to Walmart.
Pros: The list of features is exactly what I wanted: front/rear/sub out, backup cam, integrated crossover and separate sub control.
Cons: Shuts off, doesn't turn on, boots up slow and the tuner is garbage. There should be a 0 star option for the reviews.
3 of 3 found this helpful
bad Bluetooth connection
Rodel from Valencia on 1/17/2022
2005 Toyota 4Runner
Just installed the Kenwood ddx396 I bought from Crutchfield. Installation was easy with the wiring harness I bought with the system. Hardest part was splicing all those wires from both wiring harness together. I took off 2 stars based on the way the music would break (would cut in/out) up while playing via Bluetooth from my phone to the stereo. I tried running my phone (samsung g22) by wifi and 5g, but the music was still cutting in and out. Radio plays fine as well as the DVD. Could it be the Bluetooth might be bad in the receiver? I was going to give it a couple days and contact Crutchfield.
Pros: Easy install, friendly os system, physical volume button
Cons: Bluetooth very buggy



2 of 2 found this helpful
Great unit for the $$$
Rodney from Las Vegas, NV on 1/9/2022
2006 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Straight forward installation. Set up took a bit of playing with. Tons of features. I like the EQ and other sound shaping features. The deck powers my aftermarket speakers well enough without an external amp. And the expandability is great for a unit in this price range.
Pros: Rear camera option, Bluetooth phone connectivity and noise canceling is fantastic.
Cons: Getting used to some of the clunky functions but that's just me.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Chase from Newport, WA on 6/4/2021
2005 Ford F-350
Overall this is a pretty decent unit. I've had it installed for about a year now and I've been mostly happy with it. No major issues with my unit so far, it has frozen up on me a few times but is easily reset. The number of audio settings and options is a bit overwhelming for a knuckle dragger like me, I had a hard time getting the sound quality when using Bluetooth to match a CD but I eventually figured it out. My biggest gripe so far with this unit is the Bluetooth is very slow to connect. My other gripe is that if you have more than one phone connected to it, it tries to switch between phones on its own which is very frustrating. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to others however, I've been a long time Kenwood fan and so far this one has done its job well.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Great value!
Crutchfield customer from Hanover, MA on 5/5/2021
1987 Ford Mustang
Great radio for the money! The features and quality of this radio make it a not brainer for the price.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Burleson, TX on 5/3/2021
2013 Ford F-150 XLT
A bit difficult to set up but nothing that can't be overcome.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Carlsbad, NM on 5/2/2021
2018 Kia Forte
Excellent head unit for the price, my son loves it!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Onalaska, WI on 5/2/2021
2007 Hyundai Sonata
Very nice receiver. I love the look and the fact I can put a nice custom background on the display. Works Awesome!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Kasilof, AK on 4/27/2021
2011 Kia Rio
This stereo is everything thats promised. Easy install, works wonderfully, and has a sleek design.
Pros:
Cons: Antenna connection had problems. For whatever reason the reception for local radio stations are much worse than with the stock radio. I believe this is a problem with the connector rather than the stereo.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Guest from Murphy, NC on 4/26/2021
2004 Jeep Wrangler
Great unit, very adaptable and easy to navigate.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Deck for the price!!
Crutchfield customer from Lake Jackson, TX on 3/8/2021
2008 GMC Sierra
Love this deck, this is actually my second one. First went to my Tacoma, my daughters Pioneer just went out, so I bought another DDX396 for her GMC. This deck has great features, and is easy to navigate through the screens
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Lakeview, OR on 3/7/2021
2006 Ford F-150
0 of 0 found this helpful
Everything you need
Crutchfield customer from Montgomery, AL on 2/25/2021
2006 Nissan Xterra
This unit has everything you need in a double-din car stereo: large touch screen, the ability to play CD's/DVD's, backup camera capability, and a volume knob. The menus are easy to navigate and there are more customization options that you will likely ever need but they are there. Power output is nice. Sounds much better than stock but I may add a subwoofer at some point - thankfully there is a subwoofer output to make that easier. I'd say this is the Swiss Army knife of head units - everything you need and nothing you don't. Highly recommended!
Pros: Great display, plenty of customization options, plays DVD's, backup camera input
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Sun City West, AZ on 2/21/2021
2006 Toyota Tundra
This was a very nice and needed upgrade to my 2006 Tundra DC. It has all of the features I could ever want. It's the first model in the Excelon series but it packs a lot of great features for the price
Pros: Has all the great features
Cons: A little slow to boot up Difficult to see the screen in bright daylight
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Arlington, TX on 2/21/2021
This unit was the perfect fit for my needs the controls are easy to use and it sounds great even with the 6 year old stock speakers. Eric at Crutchfield really help with all the right parts and help me choose this unit. He found the unit to fit my needs without overselling me. I always check Crutchfield before buying any electronic equipment.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Vallejo, CA on 2/18/2021
2013 Dodge Challenger
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Receiver
Crutchfield customer from Camden, NC on 2/10/2021
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Only had it for about a week but so far I'm very impressed. Easy to use and exceeded my expectations.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great unit married well 2018 jerp cherokee
Crutchfield customer from Spokane, WA on 2/9/2021
2018 Jeep Cherokee
Great unit, worked well with wife's 2018 Jeep Cherokee.
Pros: Easy install
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Fallsington, PA on 2/8/2021
2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
0 of 1 found this helpful
Definately recommend
Crutchfield customer from Jackson, OH on 2/6/2021
2003 Ford Escape
Great for the price. Did everything it said it would. Looks great installed.
Pros: Kenwood quality for a reasonable price.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great headunit
Crutchfield customer from Bloomington, IL on 2/4/2021
Absolutely love it Sound quality is great. Easy to install
Pros: Sound is super clear
Cons: Wish the remote app work Kenwood needs to get better on the apps


0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
RENE from Springdale, AR on 2/3/2021
2012 Chevrolet Camaro
Great unit! Makes my chevy camaro sound way better. Only thing i worried was it got warm pretty quick. So far no issues!
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Cons: Only thing i worried was it got warm pretty quick.
0 of 0 found this helpful
2006 xterra
Crutchfield customer from Rio Rancho, NM on 2/3/2021
2006 Nissan Xterra
Got it for my wife's 2006 Nissan Xterra. looks great in dash like it was factory with the color display option to match the orange display lights and makes the kickers sound amazing with all he cool sound control options. easy to install as well. kenwood is a great brand.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Columbia Falls, MT on 1/31/2021
Fit great in my chevy colorado. Works way better than factory radio plus I have back up camera
Pros: Easy to navigate
Cons: Volume knob alittilte small and slick
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from South Hadley, MA on 1/19/2021
2001 Toyota Sequoia
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Guest from Fort wayne,IN on 1/18/2021
1996 Ford Explorer
Really great unit overall, only complaint is ever time you adjust the eq, the music stops for a second. Little annoying after a while. This is the only drawback in my opinion, everything else about this unit I love.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Tallahassee, FL on 1/14/2021
2007 GMC Sierra
1 of 1 found this helpful
Quality all around
Crutchfield customer from Florence, MS on 1/1/2021
2006 Ford Ranger
Awesome unit! Tons of great features to dial in your sound. Can't go wrong with Kenwood. Looks great in a 06 Ranger. Shout out to you Crutchfield for making this a effortless purchase as well. It was a breeze. Fast free shipping just days before christmas. It was a gift for my son and he loves it. Happy Holidays!
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Kula, HI on 12/31/2020
2016 Toyota Tacoma
Great unit, good integration with factory features
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Waterford, PA on 12/28/2020
2008 Nissan Frontier
I have not installed yet....I was able to mount with the factory mounts so that was simplified, awaiting wiring harness for antenna and a direct plug in for the wiring harness.....not sure my 2008 nissan Frontier was a later in the year model but the antenna has a "special plug on the nissan end, I was able to purchase an adaptor for a direct plug into the factory end and into the receiver. The harness for the speakers illumination power...etc was also obtained from a 3rd party supplier, but my son is thrilled with the options on the receiver.
Pros: Easy install
Cons: none yet to be identified.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Don't hit bumps with this one.
Mark G. from FOUNTAIN, CO on 12/26/2020
2011 GMC Sierra
Every time I hit a bump, the screen goes blank and I have to do a hard reset pushing the little button in the top left of the face to get it to work again. Oh, and I have to reset EVERYTHING in the system pertaining to the sound profile. This is ridiculous and shouldn't be happening to a new stereo.
Pros: Works on a smooth road.
Cons: Got to go slow over bumps.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Palm Bay, FL on 12/26/2020
2007 Mitsubishi Outlander
I could possibly give a better review if i was able to get the stero working as it should However it looks pretty and may have potential
Pros: Looks good
Cons: Install instuction are good for basic operations but poor for additional features,such as steering wheel controls
0 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Hailey, ID on 12/26/2020
2014 Ram 2500
Dim screen, slow to connect to Bluetooth, slow boot up, bad quality for backup camera, radio sucks.
Pros: None
Cons: Everything
1 of 3 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Allentown, PA on 12/24/2020
2007 Volvo S60
Its worth it
Pros: Love the layout and the option to turn off the screen. All the options and setting make for great sound.
Cons: Having issues with connection to phone through the USB connection.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Better than expected.
Crutchfield customer from Lindsay, CA on 12/19/2020
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
Great unit well worth it. After having a great pioneer unit I was having trouble finding a better unit than the old one. This unit out performed it in most areas.
Pros: Nice sound. Good touch screen. Responsive touch screen. Nice audio settings. Good video quality for dvds. Volume knob works great fast and responsive. Great equalizer settings if you have subwoofer.
Cons: It takes a while for it to start up. Voice mic for calls could be improved, little to no voice sound is heard. Adapter for mirroring phone should be included for the price range. Physical ejection button is missing should have one instead of finding it on the settings to eject disc. Missing AUX could be great if the unjt had an AUX port. USB is located on the back of unit could be better placed like on the front, had to find a place to bring the usb wire up front that means dri
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Whitman, MA on 12/19/2020
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Great product, as always from Kenwood! Easy installation and simple setup. Dash modification was simple, just had to youtube it for instructions.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Panguitch, UT on 12/17/2020
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Laveen, AZ on 12/14/2020
radios satellite port broke. Had to get a replacement. One of many issues I had with my Crutchfield purchase. I definitely will never do business with them again.
Pros: working now!
Cons: broke when I received it
0 of 5 found this helpful
Fully featured unit at a great price!
Crutchfield customer from Milford, OH on 12/13/2020
This is my third Kenwood replacement of a factory radio. All of my vehicles (three of them) are close to 20 years old, but are garaged and maintained so not having a car or truck payment allows me to "splurge" a little on nice upgrades. I like to add things but always try and keep the factory appearance as best as possible. The installation in my case, Ford F-150, took the better part of a Saturday, only because I'm not in a rush, can stop and use any other vehicle if I need to go anywhere and I usually stop at various points to tidy up my workspace. I also think about the best runs for wires to the bluetooth mic, rear camera or other accessories . This unit really contains a lot of great features for a very reasonable price. And I also bought four new speakers I have yet to install, but even with 18 year old speakers in the F-150 this went into, it sounds great. It takes some patience regarding pairing your phone, loading your contacts, setting up the many different audio adjustments but you can be up and listening quickly and can learn and fuss with a "deep dive" programming later on. I had to cut away a fairly large piece of the factory plastic OEM mount to get this to fit properly. I used a dremel with a cut off wheel and a fine X-acto saw blade. See pictures for the gory details. It sounds amazing and I haven't installed my new speakers yet or finished the rear camera wiring runs as I'm waiting for a bit warmer temps.
Pros: Great unit and an attractive price.
Cons: Depending on your vehicle you may have to do some internal factory mount dash modifications. I had to cut a lot of stuff away in my Ford F-150, but my Ford Mustang was a simple easy swap out.
1 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Hanford, CA on 12/3/2020
2005 GMC Sierra 2500/3500
1 of 1 found this helpful
Crutchfield Rocks
Andy from Michigan on 12/1/2020
2012 Ford F-150 XLT
I ordered this with Crutchfield's recommended install items including the Maestro so that I could retain my steering wheel controls. I also paid for the service where Crutchfield does the wiring for you. WORTH IT! As a novice on stereo installs, it definitely helped. Worth every penny. I had to review the installation instructions a bit and watch some youtube videos, but then everything went very smoothly. Overall a great experience and saved a bunch of money rather than paying a shop to install a new radio. The radio itself is good. Integrates well. My phone is still connecting for phone calls through synch on my ford truck, even while streaming music to the kenwood. The maestro connects into the ODB-II plug so guages are now viewable on the radio, including tire pressure readings, which my truck doesn't show on its own. So that was an unexpected bonus.
Pros: The pre-wire sevice.
Cons:
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Chesterfield, MO on 11/28/2020
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
0 of 0 found this helpful
Exxeptional
Crutchfield customer from Kissimmee, FL on 11/24/2020
2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed3
Great product. Gave my system a whole new sound.
Pros: Great quality
Cons: Non at this time

0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Edinburg, TX on 11/22/2020
2015 Ford F-150 XL
Good features, but it drops my Sync calls!!! Very frustrating!!!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Solid unit
Crutchfield customer from Houston, TX on 11/15/2020
2005 Ford F-150
Pretty simple install. Overall it's a solid unit for the price. No issues as of 2 weeks of use. Screen brightness leaves alittle more to be desired mid day but it's not terrible, can see everything still unless wearing colorized sunglasses.
Pros: Sound quality Touchscreen response Everything works
Cons: Screen brightness on a sunny day
2 of 2 found this helpful
Nice unit
Crutchfield customer from Casper, WY on 11/15/2020
2004 Ford F-250 Super Duty
It is a nice sounding stereo but I really don't like the smooth face control panel. In the sunlight it is very hard to see and I guess I am old school when it come to knobs and buttons.
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4 of 4 found this helpful
KENWOOD ROCKS
Crutchfield customer from Van Nuys, CA on 11/15/2020
2007 Audi A4
Awesome looking Stereo...totally Love the thing...has all the features I need..Now I just got to learn how to use it...and the features!!!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Unit!
Crutchfield customer from North Hills, CA on 11/14/2020
2006 Acura MDX
Great unit. Installtion was easy and fast. Thank you to Crutchfield ReadyHarness! Stereo sound better than factory unit. Easy setup.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Roseville, CA on 11/13/2020
2003 Ford Expedition
Fit well in my 2003 expedition, gave the interior a cleaner look. User friendly, didn't have to reference the instructions to much to complete the set up.
Pros: Both android & iPhone compatible, multiple devices can be linked via Bluetooth.
Cons: Only thing that I don't like the the volume knob, too small hard to grab.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Great Head Unit
Crutchfield customer from Dover, DE on 11/10/2020
Outstanding head unit. Fairly easy to set up and use. Love the touchscreen. Nothing less than I would expect from Kenwood. This is my sixth Kenwood Excelon and they've all been great.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Derek from YOUNGTOWN, AZ on 11/9/2020
2007 Nissan Xterra
Installation is pretty straight forward. There is a short YouTube video by Ry the Car Guy which shows how to disassemble the required dash section on the X. For my Xterra, the best option is to reuse the factory metal radio mounting brackets and the faceplate that comes in the Kenwood box as both work perfectly with no adjustments needed. 3 screws line up perfectly on each side mounting plate. I drilled a hole in the top dash cover to run the microphone wire through. Been using the factory radio since 2007 and the oem speakers are now playing sounds they've never played before!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Phillip A from Newport News, VA on 11/8/2020
2011 Chevrolet HHR
This radio was recommended because I listen the AM/FM most of the time and it should have a good reception. It has good reception and sound quality and I'm still trying to figure all of the little things about it. The bluetooth hooked up to the phones real easy and the sound quality is good. If you mainly listen to am/fm you will be happy with this radio.
Pros: Great reception and video still looking at other items
Cons: None
2 of 2 found this helpful
Great unit!
Crutchfield customer from Ocean Springs, MS on 11/7/2020
2007 Ford F-150
Very nice unit!! deliver was fast and the free tech has been fantastic.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Morgan City, LA on 10/28/2020
2003 Ford Excursion
Worked as well as can be expected no issues with the install.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Excellent
Crutchfield customer from Troy, MI on 10/25/2020
Installed in a 2004 Chevy truck. Touch screen is nice and responsive and it loads up my music every time with no issues. Sounds MUCH better than the factory head unit did and with the pac interface/installation kit and a ready harness everything is pretty much just plug and play. I'm not a fan of apple car play personally, and this one doesn't have it so that is one of the reasons I went for this. I also installed a backup camera and it works perfectly every time i put it in reverse. This unit has everything I needed, and in terms of actual quality of the system, it can't be beat. Kenwood's Ecxelon products are top of the line. It really ties the interior of my truck together too. Definitely happy i chose this unit and would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice unit.
Pros: Sound quality Responsive Easy install Bluetooth connectivity Back up camera ready USB port CD/DVD player Volume knob Button color customization Excelon series
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from St Maries, ID on 10/21/2020
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
Very nice product, and fairly simple install
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Enid, OK on 10/1/2020
Just received the products. Haven't installed them yet but it looks like Crutchfield has done most of the connections to the harness for me!!! Great place to do business. Would give 5 stars but to soon for me to install, gotta work, maybe this weekend.
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0 of 3 found this helpful
Extreme value
Crutchfield customer from Elyria, OH on 9/27/2020
2018 Honda Civic LX
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Renfrew, PA on 9/26/2020
I am not only impressed with my new Kenwood radio for my pick up truck I am extremely impressed with the support that I received from the technicians at Crutchfield wonderful thank you so much Terry Steinheiser
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1 of 1 found this helpful
2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
Rod from Wenatchee, WA on 9/21/2020
2010 Toyota Corolla
Installed this DDX396 unit in a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. Installation was challenging but not too bad. Required purchasing a new Dash panel and cutting some internal dash plastic. In service for 10 months. The following is my user review. 1) Stock radio had a time display anytime car was on regardless of radio status. This unit only displays time when it is powered up. Now I have no clock when radio is turned off. 2) Backup Camera does not work unless the unit is powered up. This is not like my newer cars where the camera works even if the unit is turned off. 3) There is a 12 second delay in the Unit powering up. This is a pain when in a hurry to back the car up without the camera working. Plus, there is an interruption in the display a few seconds after powering up. 4) The unit illumination will not dim with the panel light dimming. Verified correct wiring. A real pain at night. 5) The Equalizer displays when I adjust the volume knob. Not every time, but often enough to become a nuisance. 6) The volume knob is too close to the left edge. Difficult to twist with my thumb striking the dash trim. 7) The backup camera quality was poor. Many times it was a total white out. I ended up replacing the camera and it worked better. 8) Difficulty in paring unit with other devices. 9) Nice to be able to change illumination colors and background imagery. I probably would not have purchased this unit had I known these issues beforehand.
Pros: Installation Price Touch Screen
Cons: No Camera or Clock with Unit Off Illumination will not dim Backup Camera Image Bad Delay in Powering Up Problems with Pairing



6 of 11 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Eric from VENTURA, CA on 9/1/2020
2005 Nissan Xterra
Sounds great and the display is great however mine constantly will not connect to Spotify, Pandora, or my Sirius tuner. Wait a while and everything works well again. It's a bit frustrating.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Curtis from FORT GREELY, AK on 8/14/2020
2012 Subaru Impreza WRX
0 of 0 found this helpful
Meh
Ryan from CLARE, MI on 8/6/2020
2014 Chevrolet Equinox
I put this in a 2014 Equinox. I'm kind of torn here. I mean, it's a decent unit. After spending around $500 for this unit and the necessary harnesses, and a call to tech support......, Crutchfield updated the "notice" on the harness page to where it says I'd lose the factory screen AND the "call" buttons. Tech support wasn't much help either responding with "well, it is what it is and if a different harness works for you I guess use that one". On top of that, the "back-up" cam now looks like I'm viewing an image from a point-and-shoot camera from the late 90's. The image is extremely noisy to the point where it's practically useless. The factory screen was clear and noise free. Not sure what the problem is considering there is no way to adjust video gain or any noise reduction. As far as the rest of the unit, like I said, it's decent. The mic is clear and Bluetooth seems to be working well. The screen is kind of prone to glare but where it's mounted in my Equinox, it's not bad at all. However, no amount of screen adjustment fixes the terrible back-up image. The touchscreen works well. There is NO physical "eject" button but you get use to it. In conclusion, I'm kinda bummed about my "Excelon" experience and my Crutchfield experience. Both have left me with a feeling that I should have just stuck with my stock radio...
Pros: CD player
Cons: Terrible back-up image
3 of 5 found this helpful
Do not buy this radio
Crutchfield customer from Wichita Falls, TX on 8/1/2020
2000 Dodge Ram 1500
This is the most disappointing piece of audio equipment that i have ever purchased. The bluetooth is absolutely terrible. It will pair so-so with one phone, but not with two. It takes forever to pair and then audio won't play correctly. You can do much better with any other unit. I would give it a -5 if possible. With that said, the installation kit is great and the instructions were great. It shipped fast.
Pros: Good built-in power. Good features. DVD works well.
Cons: Bluetooth is garbage.
5 of 10 found this helpful
2016 nissan altima
Crutchfield customer from Tacoma, WA on 7/24/2020
2016 Nissan Altima
Really good stereo, factory back up cam for my car works good.
Pros: Good stereo, clear sound through stock speakers.
Cons: None so far
1 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Mount Clemens, MI on 7/24/2020
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Easy to use & simple Bluetooth connectivity
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Denham Springs, LA on 7/21/2020
2007 Dodge Ram 2500
Great unit other than the video play capabilities. Can only play early mpeg and avi movies. Most movies today download in an mp4 format. DVDs work but are outdated. Kinda pointless for usb input unless you are just playing music. However, good price for what you get.
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3 of 4 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Buffalo, NY on 7/20/2020
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Lukachukai, AZ on 7/19/2020
2015 GMC Sierra 1500
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Tuscaloosa, AL on 7/18/2020
Exactly as described. Excellent video and sound quality.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood quality
Jian from SAN JUAN, PR on 7/17/2020
2018 Nissan Versa Note
Sound quality of this head unit is amazing super clear clean and precise lots of tuning options and tools, it looks great, thats a plus ,clear screen and very responsive Kenwood never disappoints.I bought it as open box and it was like new! Crutchfield has become my number one choice for buying audio products, great service, fast shipping
Pros: -Beautiful head unit fits my car like factory -Amazing sound quality as expected from Kenwood
Cons: -User interface can take a while to get use to -Screen might become hard to see on a sunny day


0 of 0 found this helpful
Excellent replacement for my factory audio!
Crutchfield customer from Hopedale, MA on 7/16/2020
Excellent value. Great sound. Lots of features. Replaced my base factory radio that had no features. Needed a hands free unit and it works great with my Samsung S8 active phone. I am so glad I purchased this unit! Installation was easy with the installation kit. I was able to retain my steering wheel controls and hook up my back up camera. The only SLIGHT downsides are that the display is not real bright. If I am wearing sunglasses while driving it's a little difficult to read the screen. The back up camera is a little fuzzy at night as compared with my previous mirror-mounted camera. Otherwise an outstanding, great sounding unit for a very reasonable price. Crutchfield is an awesome company to do business with. My sales associate was Archer and he was extremely helpful! A great purchase experience! I won't buy audio anywhere else! Thanks!
Pros: Excellent sound, features and price. Easy set up with the installation kit!
Cons: Screen could be a little brighter. Back up camera is a little fuzzy at night
2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Roswell, NM on 7/14/2020
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
It's a nice unit, takes a while to find all the adjustments but after it's all set up it does sound great! Paired this with a Kenwood amp and overall happy with the purchase!
Pros: Great sound, and quality picture. What I expect from Kenwood.
Cons: Slow boot up, takes a while to figure out all the settings.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great upgrade
Crutchfield customer from Mountain Top, PA on 7/14/2020
2012 Subaru Forester
Overall a great head unit. Definitely increased the sound quality from my Stock stereo in my 2012 Subaru Forester. Works flawlessly except for the Spotify app that will play music but will display "connecting..." on my screen. I believe this is just an issue with my phone and not my stereo.
Pros: Great sound quality, easy to use.
Cons: Spotify is a little glitchy.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Canton, NY on 7/13/2020
2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Great looking Deck, easy install with a nice layout. Easy to navigate around.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
2006 Tundra
Steve from Chapel Hill, TN on 7/11/2020
2006 Toyota Tundra
Installed in 2006Tundra, sounds great. I did put noico 80 mil sound deadening material in the doors. It sounds great. I also installed Kicker 46CSS674 in front doors. Kicker 47KSC6704 in rear doors and a small Clarion XC2410 amp. It sounds great
Pros: Everything
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Sacramento, CA on 7/6/2020
2010 Toyota Corolla
Great receiver. Issues with usb freezing while scrolling through folders. Other than that, excellent sound.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Honestly a little disappointed
Chris from Portland, OR on 7/6/2020
2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
I bought this expecting that good Kenwood Excelon quality and I dont think I got it. The touchscreen is nice, some people complain that it's not sensitive enough, I dont have that issue. The screen brightness during the day sucks, it is not bright enough even with the brightness all the way up. I got it because of the volume knob and it's fine but not great. It is easy to navigate and not that slow but sometimes it takes a few seconds to get into a menu but not a deal breaker. I am using an aftermarket amp and it sounds great, can make a lot of good adjustments but there is a catch, it distorts at 20 - 22 and it goes up to 35, unacceptable! The bluetooth is craptaculer, it connects fine most times, sometimes it's a pain, doesnt like to connect to spotify, calling people is nice, that works great but the ringer is always set at max, if you have multiple phones connected it likes to switch from the phone playing music to the one who just made a on/off noise or a notification, super annoying. The rear view camera triggers instantly and the picture is good, the guidance lines are adjustable.
Pros: Nice audio adjustments, parking camera input is great, looks nice, touchscreen with a volume knob, can connect multiple phones at a time
Cons: Distorts at 20 - 22, not very bright during the day, switches phone input automatically, bluetooth is craptaculer

3 of 4 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from East Haven, CT on 7/5/2020
2009 Nissan Titan
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Libby, MT on 7/1/2020
1999 Volvo V70 GLT
Arrived on time, works with no problems and an easy it was an easy install in my 99 volvo v70. I would buy from crutchfield again.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Exactly what it says it is
Crutchfield customer from Canyon Lake, TX on 7/1/2020
2008 Honda Ridgeline
Bought to replace a lesser Pioneer in a 2008 Honda Ridgeline because I wanted SiriusXM capability. Had Crutchfield wire the harness (for the price recommend to everyone) which saved a LOT of work. Easy install - plug n play except for the sirius antenna.
Pros: Responsive touch screen. Great visibility day or night. Good sound thru factory speakers. Still figuring out programming, but relatively straight forward.
Cons: May be petty, but for this price I expected the clock to be on all the time, not just when the radio is on.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Indianapolis, IN on 7/1/2020
2008 Chrysler 300
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Quincy, IN on 6/29/2020
2005 Chevrolet Corvette
Pretty straight forward install, now i have an up to date radio system in my car!
Pros: A lot of extras with this one
Cons: The harness adapter system is a bit bulky
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Grand Junction, CO on 6/23/2020
Great stereo over all. Love having Sirius back in my truck! The bluetooth connectivity is fantastic as well. (I had a stock stereo in a 2008 Tacoma). Super irritated that I can get any of the USB functionality with a Samsung Galaxy S8 Active though. Kenwood has virtually no support for anything, unless I'm just not looking in the right spot. The built in Audio manipulation is confusing too. But in general I'm completely happy with the purchase, and Crutchfield is always amazing!
Pros: Sirius/XM, Bluetooth calling & audio, usability, Crutchfield supplied me with all the installation equipment that I needed, installation was easy.
Cons: USB connection is worthless on a Galaxy S8 Active, Crossover settings are super confusing.

1 of 1 found this helpful
Great
Crutchfield customer from Detroit Lakes, MN on 6/23/2020
2001 Mercury Mountaineer
It's a pretty solid deck has all the features you really need plus the lights are cool and all for a fair price.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Suffolk, VA on 6/22/2020
2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
A world of difference from my old stock stereo. Responsive, tons of options and very modern. Olny con is i need new rear speakers now. They can't handle the increase in power.
Pros: Everything.
Cons: Need new rear speakers. Not really a con.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Johnson City, TX on 6/22/2020
2013 Toyota Tundra
Very good design and a complete set of features!
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Florence, AL on 6/22/2020
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Bolingbrook, IL on 6/21/2020
2004 Buick Regal
Very user friendly all the options I needed dvd spotify Sirius back up camera it doesn't have a flip down screen which makes installation very easy
Pros: 22 watts per channel x4 and low output s front rear and sub
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Eagle Point, OR on 6/18/2020
2019 Jeep Renegade
Awesome stereo really happy with the quality and the sound.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Agawam, MA on 6/14/2020
2016 Jeep Wrangler
Head unit works great. Instal was pretty straight forward. As others have said is difficult to see the screen in really bright sun. But I also gave it in a JK with no roof or doors.
Pros: Good unit lots of functions
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Troutdale, OR on 6/7/2020
2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
Purchased this and installed it found the mic input did not work Crutchfield sent me a new one within three days installed that under warranty and system all works perfectly fine love the system the back up camera the radio features And the wireless phone
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Wake Forest, NC on 6/4/2020
2003 Toyota Sequoia
Excellent unit. Easy to install and looks exceptional in the dash.
Pros: Easy to install. Clear instructions.
Cons: Steering wheel controls are a bit difficult to wire and configure.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Very Nice Deck
Crutchfield customer from Marshalltown, IA on 6/4/2020
2012 Ford F-150 Lariat
Very pleased with the sound quality of the DDX396. Wasn't much to install, the Maestro kit was a pain and still is, but no fault to the stereo itself. A lot of adjustability, and really took a week to get it dialed in to pure satisfaction! Have had no issues with screen viewing in any type of light.
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3 of 3 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Glendale, AZ on 5/31/2020
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
I installed this into my fathers truck. He's 60+. He finds that it's easy to use and user friendly. He likes the large screen and the CD player. He's is old so the CD player is a plus for him. The install was easy. And I've always liked Kenwood stereos.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Grand Junction, CO on 5/28/2020
2008 Chrysler Town and Country
Incredible improvement over the factory stereo. I love the equalizer and custom settings. With the Maestro, I can see my vehicle info, tire pressure and gauges on my receiver.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Atlanta, GA on 5/28/2020
2007 Dodge Ram 1500
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great!!!
Darrell from El Paso, TX on 5/26/2020
Awesome stereo. It comes with many features and abilities not expected.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Satellite Bch, FL on 5/25/2020
0 of 0 found this helpful
Installation Notes 2005 Gen4 4RUNNER
Jonathan from KNOXVILLE, TN on 5/24/2020
2005 Toyota 4Runner
I just completed the installation. YouTube has some videos on the disassembly of the dash which helped a lot. Don't disconnect the airbag/A/C harness unless the power is off. I read that and I only disconnected it with the power off. Update the firmware via USB from the Kenwood site. Use the stock brackets from the stock radio. Use the Metra brackets 95-8202. Place them at the top of the radio on top of the stock brackets. This will ensure the trim will fit on the left and right of the opening. I could only match one hole to get them on. It's a tight fit, but I didn't need to cut them to get the radio in. Don't use the sleeve supplied with radio. Don't use the trim bracket supplied with the unit. The unit only has one antenna connection. Use the power antenna wire and the blue/white spliced together. The wiring harness was was Metra 70-1761.
Pros: Easy install. Inexpensive.
Cons: Nothing yet.




1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Bend, OR on 5/21/2020
2006 Volvo V70
Comparing this to a 15 year old Volvo HU-850, but unit is awesome.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Portland, OR on 5/19/2020
2008 Kia Spectra5
Fairly easy to install with the crux adapter. Fits well i enjoy the physical volume knob but with the install bracket its a little close to the edge for easy operation. Easy set up for satellite radio sofar does everything as advertised.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Wimauma, FL on 5/19/2020
2017 Nissan Sentra
Easy to install well worth the money
Pros: Affordable, easy install, good design
Cons: None
0 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Reinbeck, IA on 5/19/2020
2008 Chevrolet Impala
I really like how customisable the sounds is on this receiver and I like the blue tooth much more than my old head unit. The volume knob is my only complaint. I really wanted a head unit with a knob but the knob is really hard to grip since it's plastic ( my old Blaupunkt had rubber around the edge and stuck out further). And it doesn't stick far enough past the face adapter.
Pros: Great sound. Bluetooth is much better than my old unit.
Cons: Cheap, small hard to grip knob


0 of 0 found this helpful
Solid Unit for my vehicle that was a near perfect factory fit!
Crutchfield customer from Lenoir City, TN on 5/17/2020
2000 Toyota Tacoma
For the sale price, its a good Head Unit. Mine was a seamless install in my 2000 Tacoma! For a rookie audio installer I was, the Crutchfield harness was just color to color for 9 wires, I soldered mine and then heat shrunk them and they are solid connected. The unit took my old OEM brackets and transferred over easily and the unit fit almost like factory!
Pros: Has everything you need in todays car audio world to include adding a back up camera! Love the color choices for lights. Easy Install Has any music service app already in the unit, just pay your fee and listen up!
Cons: No remote which i didn't think I needed but it would have been cool to add to the steering wheel as well.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Bargain
Crutchfield customer from Anderson, IN on 5/17/2020
2006 Buick Lucerne
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
rafael from CAROLINA, PR on 5/11/2020
2005 Nissan 350Z
Good sound
Pros: Lots of feature for the money is the best deal
Cons: None for now
0 of 1 found this helpful
Ford lowest bidder Sync system.
Crutchfield customer from Chassell, MI on 5/6/2020
Replaced factory Ford radio w/Sync in 2016 F450 do to failure of Sync module and expense of new module. As suggested by Paul, almost all features of old radio were available in Kenwood DDX396. Most functions transferred to steering wheel control although some buttons work differently in conjunction with new radio.
Pros: Easy to operate. Aesthetically pleasing.
Cons: Removal of factory radio not as easy as stated. Instructions didn't take into account almost all F450's come with factory brake controller. Difficult to remove to access 3rd and 4th screw holding radio panel on.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Youngstown, FL on 5/3/2020
2011 Nissan Titan
Works and looks amazing on my 2011 Titan. I am impressed with the functionality for the price.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Caldwell, ID on 5/1/2020
2020 Subaru WRX
i like kenwood gear. the microphone didnt work the tech support told me to give it a good push on the plug, it fixed that. good support
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Matawan, NJ on 4/30/2020
2006 Dodge Ram 3500
Everything I need in a head unit great price
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Excellent head unit!
Crutchfield customer from Mechanicsburg, PA on 4/26/2020
2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
Installed this in my 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe - it fit perfectly with the free wire harness/trim piece that Crutchfield provided. This head unit does everything I wanted and more; the sound sculpting/EQ shapes the music to my liking, and the 5V pre-outs give clean signal to my amp. Touch screen is super-responsive and bright, with lots of customizable display options (I put some of my own pics/images on a USB drive and made them my background image). I also like how I can select what icons I want on the home screen, so I can remove icons I don't use and keep the ones I want. All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase!
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2 of 2 found this helpful
So so ...
Crutchfield customer from Niagara Falls, NY on 4/17/2020
Seems like too many screens needed for what it does. Also, the speaker for the phone option is hit and miss, as well as the backup camera. The initial stereo system functions that came with the car (which we were told were "basic") worked better than this one. You're pretty much right on top of the object behind you before any warning occurs.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Kissimmee, FL on 4/13/2020
2001 Honda Accord
Worked great? Clear image. Easy setup. Great value!
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0 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Grand Junction, CO on 4/13/2020
1998 Jeep Cherokee
Awesome radio for the price, love how fast it connects to my phone and starts playing music.
Pros: Plays bluetooth music without touching play
Cons:
2 of 3 found this helpful
My review
Crutchfield customer from Yauco, PR on 4/9/2020
1998 Jeep Cherokee
Se ve perfecto y le da un toque moderno a mi jeep xj. Sonido perfecto. I'm in love with my new stereo! It's looks perfect and sounds awesome!
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3 of 7 found this helpful
Skeptic No More
Crutchfield customer from Harrodsburg, KY on 3/31/2020
I had been very skeptical due to my challenges with the Fender Sound System in my Passat. However, I have been very impressed with the Excelon DDX396 so far. It is user friendly and has great sound quality. Other than some accessories being on back order there have been no issues. Crutchfield staff has been great to work with and they have been very responsive to my needs. Highly recommend using Crutchfield!
Pros: Sound Quality Easy of use Crutchfield Staff
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Love it I always been a Kenwood fan.
Crutchfield customer from Bothell, WA on 3/29/2020
Great Product easy to use. Lot's of features
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Andres from San Juan, PR on 3/23/2020
2003 Toyota Corolla
El radio tiene mas features de los que buscaba. Compre el producto como scratch and dent. Cuando lo abrí estaba literalmente nuevo y me ahorre bastante dinero. El radio lo monte yo mismo siguiendo las intrucciones y lo que no sabia lo busque en youtube. Es un upgrade al radio de fabrica que tenia mi corolla 2003. En sonido estoy mas que satisfecho. Este radio lo combine con bocinas kickers que compre con Crutchfield. Las llamadas que recibo se escuchan bien que era lo mas que me interesaba y tener spotify para poder oir canciones de mi preferencia. The radio has not features than what I was expecting. I bought this unit scratch and dent. It was literally new and I saved a lot of money. I mounted the radio myself with the instructions supplied and had some help via YouTube. It is a great upgrade from the factory radio in my 2003. I combined this radio from some Kicker speakers that I got from Crutchfield. Call quality is perfect which is what I was most concerned about. I also like to have Spotify to listen to my favorite music.
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2 of 3 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Bakersfield, CA on 3/19/2020
2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
Love my new system. Love Crutchfield. They are above any customer services i have ever delt with. They are awesome. I buy anything i will look for it at crutchfield first. I don't do revues although I do read a lot of them. I am an exception because I believe in what you guys are about.
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0 of 1 found this helpful
I like it
Robert from Salisbury, NC on 3/17/2020
2005 Lexus LS430
Bought this to replace a sony that came with the truck. I read some of the negative reviews and these are my thoughts on those comments. Complaint #1 - Screen not bright enough,..hmmm I've had no problems with mine. There is an adjustment in 5 degree increments up to 20 degrees to account for possible glare. Mine is fine. #2 - volume knob too close to edge or not big enough? The sony I replaced had exactly the same style, besides, I purchased the optional remote so the knob becomes a non-issue. #3 - lag time on touch screen, definitely there but not a deal breaker. Other thoughts, in the past, the kenwoods I have had allowed me to listen to mp3 files using the music light software in alphabetical order by song title. Unless I'm missing something, it's not available on this model. I give it 4 stars overall based on value and I from an older generation where the mantra was " If not completely satisfied, welcome to the real world, deal with it"
Pros: Price and most of the available features
Cons: mp3 file selection
10 of 11 found this helpful
Mike C. 2013 Ram
Crutchfield customer from Laurel, MD on 3/16/2020
2013 Ram 1500
This is the second unit ive gotten from Kenwood and just love it. It woke up my stock systems amp and I love Crutchfields customer service. Great job guys !!!
Pros: Everything.
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Three Rivers, MI on 3/15/2020
2006 Toyota Highlander
Super easy to install. I never read directions unless I have to. So ...I had to work my way through some how to's. Sound is amazing. Just being able to play CDs again is worth it. So much flexibility. I was going to install backup camera but decided to wait. Pulling the unit out and adding later won't be an issue. Absolutely love it. I recommend this unit to all.
Pros: Everything
Cons: You have to modify the plastic mounting parts provided. Cut a V out with side cutters and your good to go
3 of 3 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Richland, WA on 3/15/2020
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
This stereo is great and it comes at a resonable price
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Savannah, GA on 3/10/2020
2014 Nissan Frontier SV
0 of 2 found this helpful
Great Radio!
Crutchfield customer from Calhan, CO on 3/9/2020
2012 Ford F-150 FX4
Love the radio. It has more features than anything I've had before. Some complaints about visibility in bright light, but I'm not having that issue. It's reasonably bright all the time and I have no trouble with it. Getting the installation kit with it, made the install so very nice. I put it in a 2012 F150. The OEM system sucked so this is a nice change.
Pros: Cost, nice features
Cons: No separate front camera input.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Newton, KS on 3/8/2020
2013 Subaru Impreza WRX
0 of 1 found this helpful
Feature-filled but SLOW
Chip from RINGGOLD, GA on 3/5/2020
2006 Honda Ridgeline
The processor must be a slow one for this unit because when the vehicle starts, it takes a good 10 seconds or more for the radio to "boot up" (I can't believe I'm actually including the words 'boot up' and 'radio' in the same sentence) and begin producing sound. The factory radio was almost immediate in its turnaround from receiving power to producing sound. If it's Bluetooth audio you want right away, you will wait even longer. I have an iPhone 8 - (not new, but not old either). If the radio is set to "BT Audio" when I start the vehicle, it takes upwards of 20-30 seconds for the sound to begin coming through the speakers...and it's not due to cell towers; It makes no difference if the phone is using its own memory or using data via cell towers - it's SLOW! Perhaps my expectations are too high? Perhaps I'm old fashioned? I thought I was upgrading to a better head unit, and in many ways I did; but this delay between initializing and actually producing sound was unexpected and not a fun discovery. The unit's interface is decent but I find myself wanting to always see all options of media instead of just a couple. Yes, you can touch the little icon to expand options but I have to expand it every single time - another annoyance I'll have to overcome. I enjoy having a physical knob to turn for volume and this unit provides it. However, the knob is located so close to the side, you may experience difficulty using it if the radio is mounted deep in the dash.
Pros: Works with siri Has Bluetooth Streams music via Bluetooth Compatible with optional steering wheel controller Packed with features
Cons: Slow - takes after far too long to boot up User interface seems inefficient and clumsy (compared to iOS)


8 of 8 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Springfield, MO on 3/2/2020
2004 Ford Mustang
work good easy to install just wish it had a little more options for the main screen colors other wise no complaints
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Macclenny, FL on 3/1/2020
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Love my stereo. Fit great , easy hook up and sounds wonderful.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Great buy and has high end features love iy
Anthony from Hopkinsville on 2/28/2020
2003 GMC Yukon XL
I bought this receiver with the kit they recommend and also the precrimped harness. I installed in an 03 yukon and WHAT AN UPGRADE . this thing has pretty much everything you could want . Way more power over stock radio . Equalizer is great so much tunablity now . Screen has pretty good pic considering screen size. This radio will do way more stuff than I know what to do with. but spending as much seat time as i do i wanted a good radio and bluetooth . I had a dual before and there is just no comparing the 2. whatever another radio does seems like this one just simply does it better .
Pros: Audiophile quality . Excellent equalizer. Seems well made. Well layed out.
Cons: None noticed so far
3 of 3 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Seminole, FL on 2/17/2020
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Camas, WA on 2/13/2020
I've bought my whole set up besides amps from Crutchfield and I've never been disappointed they are the best place for car audio and have the best prices
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1 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Corona, CA on 2/3/2020
1 of 1 found this helpful
Good product
Courtney from FORREST CITY, AR on 1/26/2020
2001 Toyota Sequoia
As always kenwood is top on the line sound quality. I got this head unit installed last week and it sounds amazing. Some functions are a little slow but over all everything works perfectly and I am satisfied. The hands free functions work perfectly I don't have any back feed from the mic and everyone has said they can hear me clear as a bell on the other end.
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3 of 3 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Pearl, MS on 1/23/2020
For a entry Excelon Receiver it has a ton of features and a lot of sound adjustments, enough for me anyway. I compared several different brands and was satisfied this unit was for me, plus the price was a factor also.
Pros: Lots of options and adjustments. Easy to navigate the menu and set up.
Cons: This is not a con on Kenwood but on the FLIMSY PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKETS Crutchfield includes for the installation of your new Receiver! Tried the plastic ones they were so flimsy the receiver WOBBLED like it was on a bed of JELLO so i Trashed them and used the stock ones off my factory radio and no more WOBBLE, they worked Great. Supply better QUALITY BRACKETS.
6 of 6 found this helpful
Kenwood DDX396
Nate from Rockwall, TX on 1/15/2020
2003 Infiniti G35
Great head unit and price point for my application! Kenwood always exceeds expectations, easy to navigate thru menus and super easy installation thanks to the team at Cructhfield!
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Nate from Pine Bluff, AR on 1/12/2020
2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Great HU with lots of options for expanding your system. Some of the touch screen controls have a bit of lag, but if you're concerned with sound quality you won't mind. I find the Kenwood units sound warmer than Alpine, and much clearer than Pioneer. The volume increase doubled over the stock HU in a 2011 Silverado, and the sound was noticably improved. Hopefully I'll be able to replace the factory speakers before they blow apart!
Pros: Great sound quality and expandability - it's on sale.
Cons: Nothing major.
2 of 2 found this helpful
The miller report
Crutchfield customer from Smyrna, TN on 1/9/2020
2002 Ford F-250 Super Duty
Real easy setup connects easily to your phone. Install was easy(2002 f250 crewcab)
Pros: Touch screen is very responsive!
Cons: Can't think of any for the radio but the dash kit for my vehicle made the volume knob in a weird location. If someone has the same dash kit for their truck like mine I'd suggest a radio with volume buttons not a knob.

2 of 2 found this helpful
Great value
Crutchfield customer from Oakwood, IL on 1/6/2020
2006 Honda Ridgeline
Nice little in dash, the response to screen inputs is a bit lagging but it doesn't take long to adapt.
Pros: Easy install / operation
Cons: Delayed reaction to inputs. (minor annoyance)
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Frank from Bradenton, FL on 1/1/2020
2017 Ford F-150 XL
Good HU with built-in EQ to tailor the sound to your liking. Screen is not very bright, even at max brightness. I have this installed in a convertible, and it's practically not visible in the daylight, with polarized sunglasses on. Glare is an issue. If I would have known it was this bad, I may have chosen a different HU. I have my wife and my phone both connected to it via Bluetooth, and it doesn't always continue to play the music that it was last playing from. Sometimes have to go in and change the active device after the fact. Also, it takes a bit to get connected to the phone and start playing music.
Pros:
Cons: Screen brightness Slow bluetooth reconnect time

2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Manorville, NY on 12/29/2019
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500
Volume knob feels a little flimsy but not bad
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Yorktown Hts, NY on 12/26/2019
Great deck had many in past goes great with my jl amps!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Fantastic HU for the price!
Crutchfield customer from SAN ANTONIO, TX on 12/22/2019
2008 Jaguar X-Type
Fantastic HU for the price! Purchased this unit and 4 JBL 621F speakers to replace the entertainment system in my 2007 Jaguar X-Type. The DDX396 is extremely customizable to suit your taste and wants in terms of menus, background display, and color of button illumination. When shopping for a HU I knew that I wanted to be able to change the color of the buttons to match my dash lighting, I wanted RDS (Text displaying radio station name, the name of the song and artist). I spent a lot of time studying the owner's manual learning the functions and tuning the unit to suit my preferences before I installed it in the Jag. Sound quality is superb! after adjusting EQ settings and sound enhancing features the 12-year old factory Jaguar speakers sound great Time to actually install it. The Kenwood came as a package deal with everything need to install, I opted for Crutchfield's ReadyHarness service and the quality of the splicing is excellent! Pure "PnP" and well worth the extra money. 'Into each life some rain must fall'... The DDX396 will NOT fit the Jaguar X-Type.. After 3-4 hours of loosening screws, repositioning the brackets, the Jaguar climate control unit, and factory wiring bundles; the back of the Kenwood hits against the X-Type heater/AC matrix. I'm working with Crutchfield in returning the DDX396 and purchasing a DMX706S which is a shallow/slim mount design. Sad because I really like the DDX396.
Pros: 1. Kenwood Excelon 2. Extremely customizable to suit your taste 3. Easy to learn interface controls for the casual audiophile and advanced settings for the the hard core audio snobs
Cons: 1. Won't fit a a Jaguar X-Type. :(
0 of 0 found this helpful
2005 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab
Crutchfield customer from Orlando, FL on 12/17/2019
2005 GMC Sierra 1500
Love the radio! So much control in audio adjustment. I've been running live sound for 20+ years, so I was pleasantly surprised when I started going through the menus. I was able to set it up without going through the manual, but plan on reading it to see what I might be missing out on. I've installed car stereo equipment in other vehicles less the radio in the past, so I was impressed by the sound difference of this radio with the factory Bose speakers. Bluetooth seems a little tricky switching from my headset to the radio... still playing with that. Takes a little time for the radio to boot up and connect, but that doesn't bother me much coming from factory radio without it. I was able to install everything without cutting out the factory support frame in the back, but it was a pain and took time to get it to fit in just right... I'm stubborn that way.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Awesome
Crutchfield customer from Crofton, MD on 12/16/2019
2008 Ford Explorer
Easy to use. Great picture. Powerful. Sounds amazing. Tons of setting to fine tune.
Pros: Everything
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Slidell, LA on 12/15/2019
For the price, its definitely a solid performer. Display is crisp as well. I'd recommend this head unit for sure
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Excelente stereo
Crutchfield customer from Las Piedras, PR on 12/15/2019
Excelente stereo y calidad de sonido, la pantalla táctil funciona bien ycalidad imagen buenas.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Scott from Feasterville Trevose , PA on 12/15/2019
2004 Toyota Corolla
Great dvd/Bluetooth receiver w add watts for a mid level receiver. Solid sound and crisp display
Pros: Great value
Cons: KENWOOD remote app never has worked with this receiver
0 of 0 found this helpful
Kenwood Excelon DDX396
Crutchfield customer from Attica, MI on 12/14/2019
0 of 0 found this helpful
Good buy
Armando Serrano from Chicago,IL. on 12/8/2019
2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
Just made this purchase for my 08 Trailblazer SS. Just going to start off by saying, this is a great radio and reputable brand! Highly recommend it. The display is so up to date and a little futuristic for the price (Black Friday deal). Has all the apps and compatibilities that you would want, for a GREAT price. Only reason why it doesn't get the 5 stars is because of the lag on the screen.
Pros: Great display. Awesome up to date features and compatibilitie.
Cons: The system is a little "laggy".
1 of 1 found this helpful
The best
Crutchfield customer from Waverly, VA on 12/4/2019
2013 GMC Sierra
Awesome head unit with an amazing price.The customer service department are the best i have ever experienced
Pros: Great product, simple instructions and great features
Cons: Wish the head unit would fit more flush
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great radio
Crutchfield customer from West Haven, UT on 11/24/2019
2004 Ford Expedition
0 of 2 found this helpful
Kenwood is not what it used to be!
jesse from Bedford, VA on 11/23/2019
2007 Ford Mustang
You know I have dealt with Kenwood for over 35 years and back in the day when you owned a Kenwood you had top of the line equipment but not today.I just purchased the Excelon DDX396and installed it in my car initial impression was ok but on the second day the stereo shuts completely down 3 seperate times.after this i started noticeing that at times it is failing to send a signal to the subs at all,it is constantly freezing up and extremely sluggish about taking any command or prompt as to changing from one format to the other.It is sad to say as long as I have been a believer in Kenwood and stood by them and recommended them to other people this will be my last Kenwood purchase.Their product is no longer top of the line in my opinion it is only mediocker and falls into the catagory with the lower end electronics.
Pros: I really dont see anything that seperates it at all from way lower end stereos that are way cheaper.
Cons: very poor quality ....what happened with the old Kenwood company this is sad to have to post.