Having an amplifier in a car head unit improves its sound quality even more by making it louder and clearer.
However, adding an external amplifier to DIN can occupy too much space in the car which nobody is a fan of, right? In such a situation, the best thing you can do is to get a head unit that comes with a built-in Amplifier. One such head unit is Kenwood DMX7706S 6.
So, is this head unit worth going after? You’ll know about this after reading my Kenwood DMX7706S review in which I’ll tell you how my experience has been with this DIN.
If you are in hurry, here’s a quick overview of our review!
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Key Specs
Phone Integration: Android Auto & Apple Car Play | Equaliser: 13-band Graphic EQ | Touch Screen: Yes| Radio: Yes | Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB | Hands-Free calling: Yes | Camera support: Yes | Music Streaming: Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music | Voice Assistant: Amazon and Alexa
Our Verdict
After using the Kenwood DMX7706S 6-head unit, I have to say that it’s a great choice for anyone looking for a high-quality car stereo system. The playback features are impressive, with great sound quality and a wide range of options to choose from.
However, the Kenwood DMX- 7706s price may be a bit more expensive than some other head units on the market, it’s definitely worth the investment if you value high-quality sound and want a premium listening experience.
Pros
- Impressive playback features, including radio support, DVD support, USB music, and music file playback.
- Great sound quality, even for high-res WAV and FLAC files.
- Sleek and modern design with an easy-to-use touchscreen display.
- Plenty of options for customizing sound and display settings.
- Compatible with a wide range of devices and formats, making it easy to play your favorite music and media on the go.
- Easy to install
Cons
- A bit more expensive than some other head units on the market.
- Resistive Screen
- The menu of the head unit is cluttered with too many functions.
What Other Experts Say?
Quality Mobile Video
“The DMX-7706S features a 6.95-inch WVGA clear resistive touchscreen display. Two major mistakes made by Kenwood here: it’s not capacitive or HD, but the price tag is under $400, so I think Kenwood thought they could get away with it.”
Detailed Breakdown of Kenwood DMX7706S Review
Sound Quality
The sound quality of the Kenwood DMX7706S is awesome. I listened to all types of songs on it, including the ones with and without bass, and guess what? I found the sound quality to be crisp, clear, and louder. Plus, the bass was also shaking the car.
This head unit sounds amazing because it has a built-in MOSFET amplifier that provides plenty of power to the speakers. Plus, the 13-band equalizer lets me adjust the bass, treble, and other aspects of the sound quality. And the high- and low-pass crossovers help me set the sound to different frequencies.
In addition, the head unit’s time alignment feature enhances the sound quality further by getting the sound waves from your speakers to arrive at yours at the same time.
- Equaliser: 13 Band Graphic EQ and Time Alignment
- Built-in Amplifier: MOSFET amplifier
- RMS Wattage: 50 wattage
- Crossovers: High pass Crossover and Low pass crossover
- Time Correction Feature: Not available
- Pre-amps output: 6-channel preamp outputs (4-volt front, rear, sub)
Design & Display
The Kenwood DMX7706S 6 has a stylish and futuristic design that is quite sleek and thus very well suited for my car. The display is good and works well, but it’s not as responsive as it had to be as it’s neither capacitive nor HD; it’s resistive. But the display worked well for me.
When you click on any function, that doesn’t take so much time to change. Compared to the Kenwood DMX125 that I’ve had, this Kenwood’s head unit has a less user-friendly interface.
I do not like the fact that it is cluttered with options, especially when I am looking for some settings. Multiple warnings pop up on the screen each time you start your car. I really wish that Kenwood looked into this matter, as it’s taking away the beauty of this head unit from it.
And the last thing that I didn’t know about this head unit is that it doesn’t have a color illumination feature, so I can’t customize the Color of DIN’s display according to my car.
- Touch Screen: Available
- Color illumination: Not Available
- Durability: It’s made of a combination of metal, plastic, and other materials
- Capacitive vs Resistive: Capacitive Screen
- High Brightness for: Available
Smartphone Integration
In terms of smartphone integration features, the Kenwood DMX7706S 6 has both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
But the sad thing is, they both aren’t wireless. I tested both of the features, though, and they worked perfectly for me. But I had to connect them to my USB in order to make them work.
The best thing about this head unit is that it has Bluetooth hands-free calling, which is a great feature. I tested it to take calls and didn’t even skip once, which is quite convenient.
Moreover, the head unit supports a lot of streaming services, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, and Amazon Music.
It also has Amazon and Alexa voice assistants to make it easier for you to control the head unit with your voice. What this head unit doesn’t have for smartphone integration is screen mirroring, wifi, and USB ports for my iPhone.
- Android/iPhone: Both
- Bluetooth/ Handsfree calling: Available
- Wifi: Not Available
- Voice control: Amazon and Alexa
- Wireless: Bluetooth
- Streaming Services: Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, and Amazon Music
- Screen Mirroring: Not Available
- USB Ports For iPhone: Not Available
- Backup Memory: Available
Expandability
The Kenwood DMX7706S comes with a USB input, allowing you to easily connect your smartphone or other USB devices to the head unit and play your favorite music while on the go.
Not just that, it supports front- and rear-view cameras, which can help you park or reverse your car more safely.
Furthermore, the Kenwood DMX7706S features 6-channel preamp outputs that offer 4-volt front, rear, and sub outputs. This feature allows you to connect a range of speakers and amplifiers to your car and enjoy a customized audio experience.
However, the unit does not have AV inputs, which can be a dealbreaker for some users who require more extensive expandability options.
- USB Input: Available
- Camera support: two video inputs for front- and rear-view cameras
- Pre-amps output: 6-channel preamp outputs (4-volt front, rear, sub)
- AV Inputs: Not Available
Playback Features
First off, the radio support is great. I was able to listen to all my favourite radio stations with crystal-clear sound quality. Although the SiriusXM satellite radio tuner is not included, it’s still nice to have the option available if you decide to purchase it separately.
The DVD support is also a nice touch, and the fact that there’s a rear aux input makes it even better. I was able to easily connect my DVD player and enjoy all my favourite movies and TV shows on the go. Plus, the sound quality was top-notch.
The USB music feature is definitely one of my favourites. I was able to easily connect my phone and listen to all my favourite tunes. Plus, the sound quality was fantastic, even for my high-res WAV and FLAC files.
The music file playback was also impressive. With support for MP3, WMA, and AAC music files, I was able to listen to all my favourite songs without any issues.
- Radio Support: SiriusXM satellite radio tuner (not included)
- DVD Support: Available
- Auxiliary (Aux) Port: A rear aux input
- USB Music: Available
- Music File Playback: MP3, WMA, and AAC music files (plus high-res WAV and FLAC
Ease of Use
Installing the Kenwood DMX7706S-6 was an easy task for me. It didn’t take so much time and effort to install it. However, if I talk about the user interface of this head unit, then it could have been better.
As stated earlier, the menu has too many functions in one place, which makes it difficult for me to find the setting that I’m interested in. The rest of the things, like the display and the touch, were fine.
- User Interface: The functions are quite big and easy to read but the screen is resistive
- Easy to install: It’s very easy to install and doesn’t require you to be an expert
Value for money
When it comes to the value for money of the Kenwood DMX7706S 6-head unit, I have to say that it’s a little on the expensive side.
While it does have some impressive features like radio support, DVD support, USB music, and music file playback, there are other head units out there that offer similar features at a lower price point.
But all in all, the head unit is great and worth your investment, especially when you’re an audiophile.
- Price: A little expensive compared to other DINS
- Color illumination: Not Available
- Expandability: Bluetooth, USB, Auxiliary
- Sound quality : It has a 13-band equaliser, an amplifier, and a lot of sound processing features
