So, after much research, reading and deep soul searching.... this is what I settled on. Chosen for function and sound more than looks. First, thank you everyone who has gone through this before me and posted the information I found so helpful during my install. The results are fantastic!!

Features: Bluetooth, Pandora, Ipod, Iphone, Rear Camera input, AM/FM, Screen which is nice size and shows Album Cover Artwork when using Ipod or Pandora. It will play video through the Ipod. Ordered the backup camera today off ebay, $18.80. Seems like a low cost gamble.

Surprises: When connecting the adaptor plug to your unit, check the car's plug to determine your 12v power ... constant vs ignition as well as Amp and Antenna power on lines. I used a digital meter. I had to change a connection or two. A special connector was required for the Ipod to work, I thought it would function with just the original Ipod/Iphone usb but no, $30 later at best buy ended my frustration with that.

Dislikes: Well, only that its not silver, but the Alpine Marine did not have built in Bluetooth which was very important to me.

Sound... Fantastic. Gone are the rattles in the doors. Clean sound with back pumping lows from the subwoofers that have never sounded so good. I went the RCA pre-out connections. Fronts wired to the original wiring using the RCA connections and wired to the adaptor connection plug. Subwoofers are wired to the RCA Sub pre-outs by running the connection all the way down to the Factory Amp and clipping wires 10,9,8,3 and connecting there... that worked wonderfully.

The factory radio will take its place amoung many things in the garage, in the Kenwood Box, so that when or if I ever sell this 04, I'll put the original back in the car and take the Kenwood out to sell or install in the next car...

Thanks again everyone that has posted information.

 

Fantastic!!! I ordered mine on friday. I was torn between the IDA-X100m and the Kenwood. Sliver panel looked good, but... no bluetooth, no green illumination color and the big thing for me was not having Zune control. Having the black panel is a small price to pay for the other conveniences, IMHO. I'm sooo looking forward to getting it in! Thanks for the report!

 

I installed the Kenwood KIV-710 this weekend. I did not go for the 901 since I have a roadster and having a bluetooth phone would be worthless with the top down (or so I assume).

I love the functionality of this Multi-Media stereo, but it still seems to have very low volume. I am listening to it at the max volume of 35 most of the time and it is still not quite loud enough on the highway with the top down.

I just used all four of the RCA jacks to the back of the stereo. What does your method buy us?

Oh, also.....the antenna adapter that Crutchfield sent me did not make a good connection and they are sending me a new one. Did you have any issues with this? They gave me the Euro Antenna Adapter OEM F to Motorola M (12040EU10). It fit perfect, but did not seem to make a good connection. See Attached Pic. I stuck a coat hanger in the antenna wire from the dash and got a signal just fine, so I am hoping it is just a faulty adapter.

I really like the Pandora feature of this radio, which is what I am using mostly now. The Raw Comedy channel on Pandora has been cracking me up.

 

Can you tell me which backup camera you found? This would be great for the roadster since you can't see anything out the back when the top is up, but I did not want to take a $200 gamble on the Kenwood cameras with the little 3" screen.

Crutchfield told me not to connect the ANT. CONT (Blue) wire to anything, which I assumed stands for Continuous Antenna Power or something like that. Is this just for those powered retractable up and down antennas?

Thanks Bro.

 

Hey, great to hear you got yours in. Mine is plenty loud with the RCA connections, but I used two RCA's to the Front Channel which goes to the connections on the Factory Amp that powers the doors. I did not use Rear Channel at all, I used the Subwoofer RCA's for the subs powered also by the Factory Amp. I turned OFF the Head Unit's Amp since I ran no speakers from the powered speaker outputs of the Head Unit itself. My Antenna and Wiring harness came from ebay, about $6 or $7 each included shipping. The were the ones recommended several times on this site, parts numbers for VWs, have to look those up. The REAR VIEW CAMERA came from ebay, Sunvalleytek International Inc. It was a total of $18 and change which also included shipping. Have not tried it yet, but it came pretty quick and looks good in the package. all cables included also. Good luck with all this, I'm loving mine (Kenwood 901BT) but can't wait to get the REAR VIEW CAMERA installed. I still have to figuire out about the parking brake sensor and reverse gear sensor... I would like to cheat the system so I can have the camera and video turned on when I want. Let me know if you have any info on that.
Let me know how yours is doing. Later.

 

@XFireCrazy - I installed a similar HU and found the volume to be on the low side. At first I tried to boost the volume via the equalizer which worked OK. But I played around with the MANY different setting (Highway Sounds, Bass Boost, Car Type, this setting that setting etc...) and tweeked it to have very good volume with basically a flat EQ. If you can't stumble on it let me know and I will write down the setting I have. These HU adjust 6 ways to Sunday.

 

Got my REAR VIEW CAMERA installed and love it. I ran both the video wire and reverse gear wire together back to the rear of the car. I connected the reverse gear wire to the backup light 12v hot wire (red) along with the power supply wire of the camera. I then made my ground connection to the black (neg wire) of the same backup light wiring to complete my power connections for the camera. Works like a charm... very clear even in low light. In almost complete darkness, still works with a little grain in the picture.... LOVE THIS ONE! I put my car in reverse, picture comes on, out of reverse, picture goes away and Kenwood screen returns. LOVE IT!

 

I had a Kenwood KDC-X995 installed today and I'm not too sure that they hooked it up properly. It sounds better than the OEM radio but that said it seems to me like all the bass is coming out the door speakers rather than the subs. If I go to the menu on the Kenwood and turn the sub on & off it makes no difference. Changing the sub level also makes no difference. I thought maybe they ran the "rear" output from the HU to the amp but when I crank the fader all the way to the rear the sound dies out so that's not the case.

How can I determine if it is wired wrong and how should it have been wired?

Never mind guys - I didn't do my homework. After a more through search of this forum I now know what I need to do to get the subs working properly. Sorry for the bother.,

 

Hey, I bet they simply wired it exactly like the original unit, which means the sound is coming from only the left and right front speaker setting on you HU. The best situation is to cut those input wires at the amp as described in several posts. It is confusing at first, but if you study it carefully, you will fiquire it out. Mine is set up with front chanel going to amp input for the doors and the subs are set up for the sub out to the other chanel on the amp that goes to the rear subs. I used pre outs for all my connects and turned off the HU internal amp. Major sound difference for my car.

 

That's exactly what they did. The HU I bought has 5v RCA outputs for both the front and the subs so I'm probably going to wire all four channels of the amp to the RCA outputs as long as I'm at it.

 

I finally got everything installed for my KIV-701. Works great and sounds great, but still low volume.

The new antenna adapter arrived and it works fantastic. I have stations now that I did not have before...I guess cuz they are HD stations and the old HU did not support that.

CaptDave: Do you have a hardtop or roadster? I am thinking about having Crutchfield swap out my 701 for a 901 for about $70 more so I can have bluetooth, but I am not sure if it is worth it for a roadster. I drive with the top down most of the time and I can not use the phone without leaning up into the dash to get out of the wind. lol

A stereo installer told me the bluetooth would work better since I could mount the mic up on the dash out of the wind and I would be able to crank up the speakers to be able to hear the caller on the other end. Anyone have a bluetooth setup in their roadster?

Thanks,
Xfirecrazy

 

I just had mine installed yesterday but tried it out today and was pleasantly surprised how well it worked. I had two conversations with my wife at 75mph with the top down. They mounted the mike at the top of the windshield piller. Also, I should tell you I have a Windblocker.

 

I would love to know your settings. I have played with all of those settings as well and have not been able to find a good formula. Thanks.

 

I just wired the Parking Sensor wire to ground wires and I am able to use the video when I am driving or parked.

 

Dave: Can you take a picture of what the video looks like when you are in reverse and the camera activates? I am curious to see what the angle of view is and if you can actually make out things.

Thanks

 

XFireCrazy, Sure, I'll try to take a pic and get it posted. My angle is pretty wide, but I still use mirrows out of habit, but love seeing right behind the car with the camera. The picture is very sharp, very clear. So the Parking Break wire is simply a ground wire situation... Thank you for that info.

Mine is the 04 Coupe. I had bought a different HU also and returned it for this one. Glad I did. This one also has Pandora if you have a smart phone. There is an adaptor wire you need for ipod and iphone hookup, its $30 at best buy but you can get it for about 20 on ebay. Just be sure its the one for the Kenwood 901BT.

 

Sweet. What was the model of camera you bought on ebay? I tried to look up the company name you gave, but do not see the camera on there anywhere. I can't believe you found a cam for only $18.

I have the ipod/iphone cable installed and Pandora freaking rocks. No need to pay for XM or Sirius with this feature. I listen to the Raw Comedy Channel mostly and laugh all the way to work. lol

 

Try this item (#130516545410) on ebay for the camera. Let me know if this works.

 

My 901 is on the way from Crutchfield. I will take some pictures of my wires this time when I replace the 701 since I have some questions about how you guys wired yours. I just used the RCA jacks in the back of the HU and did not do anything to my amp and now I am wondering if I can get some more volume by wiring it differently.

I will let you all know how the bluetooth works in the roadster once I get it installed.

 

Got it! It is on the way.

Thx.