Help me find some info on....

ND13

a Kenwood KDC-X615 head unit. The Mustang I just got has this in it already.

I can't find much on it, other than it was $350 msrp when new. The reviews seems to be good.

I'd like to know about the preouts and any experience anyone has with this unit or other Excelon series HUs.

Thanks

audiobliss

I haven't had any personal experience with any of Kenwood's HUs, but judging from specs and prices (and other peoples' comments), I wouldn't hesitate to buy one in the future.

Can't find anything out about it online, either. Sorry I couldn't be more of a help.

faster100

if info can't be found it usually means its older.. They make new models so often the old ones get purged. if it sounds good id run with it, NOT all HU's have pre-outs.. alot do now a days but some of the older ones didn't. what year Rustang is it? If its newer 94 or up the front panel just pops off and 4 screws hold it in.. I had a 95 mustang lx and changed the stereo in it.

ND13

It's a rust free 1994 GT/5.0/5sp. All Excelons should have preouts, I just would like to know at what voltage.

exalted512

do you have a mulitmeter?
-Cody

faster100

I was kidding about the Rustang, I had one too.. they are cool cars. mine was a slow **** 6 slinger though.

what does it matter what voltage it has? Just curious.. that is why amps have a gain control. I messed with car audio for several years before i ever got into Home audio. Never had a problem with random head units and amps..
gotta make sure their is no factory amp inline anywhere, But if the stock radio was changed i'll assume it didn't come with an amp.. or it was removed.

MacLeod

faster100 is right but you should still try to get a high output voltage as a 8 volt preout with be much more resistant to noise than a 2 volt will.

ND13

I think it has 4v pres, just wanted to know for no particular reason. Yes I have a meter, but I haven't taken the radio out, yet.

I'll probably keep the HU and put the MMC6500s in the doors and add another 10" Phoenix Gold Z dual vc sub in a sealed box. Since noone will ever be in the back, no rear fill needed.

exalted512

MacLeod wrote:

faster100 is right but you should still try to get a high output voltage as a 8 volt preout with be much more resistant to noise than a 2 volt will.

eclipse's 8 volt preouts put out about 3.7V
my 6.5 puts out 4.2V

someone needs to start putting a rating on radios as well...
-Cody

MacLeod

Thats not a bad idea. CEA for head units.

I kinda doubt my Alpine 4 volts are actually 4 volts. They are quite a bit more than the 2 volt unit I had in there before tho but I doubt that was really 2 volts.

skydeaner

here is a crutchfield page with all the stats about it. Only 1.8v preouts, but it still looks like a good unit.Click on me!

Jstas

I had a Kenwood KAC-PS955. That was from the First eXcelon line and that had 4.0V pre-amp outputs. Every other Kenwood eXcelon below it had 3.5V pre-amp outputs. I do believe that the X615 was from the first series too. If it was from the second series, it had either 4.0 or 4.5V ouputs, I'm leaning more towards 4.0 for the lower end eXcelon models. No matter what, from what I can remember, the lowest voltage any Kenwood eXcelon had was 3.5V and that was mostly on the 1st and 2nd generation tape players. You don't have anything less than 3.5V pre-amps and all eXcelons I know have that as true voltage and not a dynamic value like RMS vs. Peak. The higest voltages I have seen have been over 5V but those have only been on units that were out in the last 2-3 years. Those units would not be an X615. That unit would be from about '96-'98. Oh and ALL eXcelon head units have had pre-amp outputs. Hell, why sell a line of eXcelon amplifiers if your eXcelon head units can't use them?

Any Kenwood eXcelon unit is worth keeping if in working condition. If not, depending on what is broken, it can be entirely worth it to be repaired. The eXcelon stuff is very nice stuff. It's stout, reliable and fairly attractive with features out the wazoo. On top of that, they sound incredible especially for the prices that they were being sold for. I'd keep that head unit dude, you will not be dissappointed. Kenwood may not have a hot reputation in home audio but they have been **** for a looooong time in car audio. The eXcelon stuff is right up there with the Pioneer Premier, Eclipse, Alpine and even the older Denon and Sony Mobile ES stuff. Certainly worth your time.

Jstas

skydeaner wrote:

here is a crutchfield page with all the stats about it. Only 1.8v preouts, but it still looks like a good unit.Click on me!

Well ****, that must be why it's an X615 and not like an X646.

I could have sworn that the lowest I ever saw a pre-amp output on an eXcelon head unit was 3.5 volts. Then again, I have found Crutchfield's archives to be inaccurate at times. i wish Kenwood still had thier owner's manual archive still up.

skydeaner

yeah it may not be exactly correct, but the rms and max wattage ratings match up on every other page that it comes up on, so I think this one is right. I hate when companies get rid of archives, sony has manuals for amps that are like 10-15 years old.