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I recently installed this head unit in my '04 Grand AM. I'm running it with a pair of Polk DB components, Alpine 6x9 rears, a single Alpine Type S 12" sub in a sealed box and a Pioneer GM-7100 amp feeding the sub around 350W RMS. This unit was an upgrade from my '06 model Pioneer DEH-P5800mp.
First let me say that I (as I imagine most people do) did a LOT of research before choosing this head unit. I encourage anyone interested in an in-car DVD screen to get out to a local retailer to view and test as many options as you can. It's one thing to look at all the specs and details in print but an entirely different experience once the device is in front of you. All the features in the world don't mean anything if the controls are counter-intuitive or the LCD is low quality. I'm happy to report that this Kenwood unit met all of my qualifications and expectations both on paper and in reality.
The screen is bright and contrast is sharp. The built in light sensor dims the screen at night and brightens it during the day, making sure you always have a good picture. There are plenty of tilt and depth options to suit pretty much any application. The touch screen menu interface is a nice alternative to some other screens that force you to use dedicated areas of the screen to arrow through all the options to select the one you want.
The only two drawbacks to the 617 are the lack of an external display when the screen is closed and the 2V pre-out voltage, but both are comparable to the features of similarly priced screens (from companies with less history, or lower quality standards than Kenwood) and are easily balanced out by the positive aspects of the unit.
What really drew me to the Kenwood line was the look of the screen. Most other manufacturers surround the LCD with up to an inch of plastic, wasting space and making for an ugly border around an otherwise nice looking display. Kenwood does away with that, filling nearly the entire fold-out portion of the HU with the ample 7in. screen.
The install went smoothly and the connections to the stock wire harness were no more complicated than a standard CD head unit install. Kenwood provides ample wire to locate the unit's external "brain" in the trunk if you choose, or under a seat as I did.
Don't be thrown by the low price, overall this is a great unit for anyone looking to move up to DVD capability.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood KVT 617DVD - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner
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