Kenwood DDX9704S Review 2024 – Is it the best double din head unit?

UPDATE: The last time I’ve checked this head unit was out of stock. The best alternative would be the Kenwood DDX376BT. If you want a stereo that has a fresher look, better sound quality and an awesome display this is the winner you’ve been looking for.

Kenwood DDX376BT

 

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A brand new car or a new stereo?

The math is simple. No matter how old your car is, you can bring it into the 21st century.

The only limitation would be to have a double DIN slot. The Kenwood DDX9704S requires two slots; otherwise, it won’t fit.

I will be upfront with you. This isn’t a cheap unit. By reading this Kenwood DDX9704S review, you will see why. Also, you will understand that it’s a bargain compared to other makers. The famous brands are charging more than $1,000.00 for the same specs.

In short, this is what you get if you install this stereo: you will be able to have GPS, enjoy music from different sources. Plus, you will be able to use your phone hands-free.

It sure beats the price of a new car. There are no guarantees that a new car would perform as good as a Kenwood stereo.

News UPDATE: the Kenwood DDX9705S has been released. This is the newest one in the Kenwood family. It’s actually cheaper and has some better specs. If you are interested, check out my Kenwood DDX9705S Review. Now back to our original Kenwood DDX9704S  review.

Does it fit in my car? Click Here to Check
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Who is the Kenwood DDX9704S for?

There’s only one major requirement for this head unit. Your car has to have two DIN slots. If you don’t have it, then this isn’t the right car stereo. Look, for single DIN units Kenwood has a selection of single DIN car stereos.

Can you keep a secret?

What I’ve noticed is after someone gets a Kenwood product will sticks with it. I have friends who have been using Kenwood car stereos for over five years. They wouldn’t consider another brand because it is so good.

If you’re stuck, no problem, the support is there, and they will help you. The units indeed have a higher price than the competition. Yet it’s all worth it.

By the end of the day, it comes down to what you pay is what you get.

By investing in a quality car stereo system, you are good for many years. For example, this product has a full year warranty. Other brands only give six months. That’s short, especially if you are on the road all the time.

I am returning to the original question who’s this for?

This car stereo is for the road warriors who love to listen to music. There’s a huge selection of music sources. Of course, there’s the typical CD/DVD and FM/AM Radio. But wait, this is not the usual radio quality. It has built-in HD radio. It’s a CD-quality broadcast.

It supports USB drives (rear USB port). This means you can play your own playlist. The USB port is a rear USB installation so you will need a wire to get it to the front. This device supports all popular music formats: MP3, WAV, etc.

That’s not all thanks to smartphone connection you can play music from the app of your choosing.

Besides road warriors, this car stereo is great for road trips. You let the kids watch a movie while you’re driving.

If you’re interested in Kenwood stereos, take a look at the best Kenwood car stereos page.

What can the Kenwood DDX9704S do for you?

As I mentioned earlier, this unit can bring any car into the new millennia. Since the cops are always looking for an excuse to fine somebody, we shouldn’t give them a reason. With built-in Bluetooth connection, you can use your phone hands-free.

The price of this unit sure beats a fine!

You can connect to your car through built-in Bluetooth if you have an iPhone. Sadly if you have an Android device, you need to plug it in. For this, the Kenwood head unit has a dedicated USB input. Wireless Android is not established yet. I hope it comes soon.

You can use two cameras with this car stereo — first the all too important rear view camera (backup camera). With the help of this, you will be able to park safely. Plus, it has another camera input so you can mount a dash cam. We know how handy it is when you have to prove your innocence after a fender bender.

Now let me tell you about the touch screen. The LCD has a screen size of 6.95 inches. And finally, I’ve found a responsive touch screen. I mean, I used to get a sore thumb touching and holding these clunky devices. Not with Kenwood. The response time is great.

The main competitor for Kenwood is Pioneer. Many people pick Kenwood simply because it has a nicer interface. And it has everything that you want including Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

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Kenwood DDX9704S shortcomings

Do many reviewers miss it by accident?

I will cover the shortcomings of this car stereo.

The #1 grievance with this unit is that it’s not that good during sunlight. Actually, this comes down to the make and model of your car. In some cars, you will have difficulties seeing it in bright light. Now there’s a fix for that. You can tilt the touch screen.

Other issues that I’ve found that no matter how careful you are, the touch screen will be filled with fingerprints. Keep a rag near to clean it.

Apple users said that during calls, the caller ID is not shown. There’s no clear solution for this.

The final problem with this unit was that it’s slow to boot up. By the time the music starts, you have already traveled some distance.

How To Get The Most Out Of the Kenwood DDX9704S radio tuner?

Are you good at wiring? Do you know your car inside and out?

If not, you can save a lot of hassle by going to a professional installer. I have heard so many complaints which were caused by a bad home installs.

Hot Tip #1: make sure you update the firmware to the latest version. Some people mentioned that older versions tend to shut off if they are left too much in the sun.

Hot Tip #2: the position you mic at the top of the A pillar post. This will ensure that you are going through crystal clear during calls. Obviously, the closer the mic is to you, the better the input.

If you want to have full functionality like giving commands from the steering wheel you need to add other stuff to your basket. This is where a good installer and the iDatalink Maestro comes into play. I just love to use my stock steering wheel buttons to manage my satellite radio.

Thanks to the built-in Bluetooth you can have access to Apple Carplay Android Auto. Which means you can stream music to your liking.

One of the frequent questions I get is: how’s customer service? It comes down to the company you are buying from. Some had awesome customer service experience and others not so much.

Alternative

When it comes to alternatives, you have two choices. The first one would be a previous version. The second would be the newer one.

The previous generation would be the Kenwood DDX9703S. Sadly it’s getting discontinued as you read this.

The second option is to upgrade to the newer version, which is the Kenwood DDX9705S. The main difference between them is the price and the WIFI capability. The newest version it’s actually cheaper than this one. Plus, it has built-in WIFI, which is a great feature to have.

Kenwood DDX9704S Review Conclusions

I’m about to conclude my review. I hope you have found what you were looking for in this article. This satellite radio is one of the best double din head units from all the car stereos out there.

Don’t forget to reach out to me if you have any questions. Also, I do write reviews if sufficient people request it. So comment below.

Catch you later.

Does it fit in my car? Click Here to Check
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the iDatalink Maestro compatible with Kenwood DDX9704S car stereo?

It is always good to check the main idatalink maestro website. Besides that, the Kenwood DDX9704S DVD Receiver is compatible with idatalink maestro.

Do I need iDatalink Maestro with Kenwood DDX9704S car stereo?

It depends on how much you want to customize your satellite radio. If you want to display all the car information then you will need to use the idatalink maestro wit the Kenwood DDX9704S DVD receiver. To access all the features what your steering wheel can provide you will need it.

Is the Kenwood DDX9704S DVD receiver a marine audio?

No this Kenwood DDX9704S is made for car s only. Kenwood produces a number of marine audio products.

Is Kenwood DDX9704S radio tuner compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto?

Yes, this car stereo is compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

How’s the Kenwood DDX9704S car audio?

The car audio quality is excellent. The music is crips. All this with the stock speakers that your car has.

Can I use Android and Apple phones with this head unit?

Yes both of them are compatible so Android Auto Apple Carplay will work flawlessly. After you have connected you can do audio streaming from your favorite apps. Apple Carplay Android auto are the most polished apps I’ve seen.

Does this stereo have audio video input/output?

Yes it comes with audio video input/output.

How good is the Equilizer?

The Eq is a graphical 13-band with Drive EQ.

How big is the screen?

It’s a 6.95 touchscreen.

Last Updated on November 4, 2023 by Brian Beasley