Just saw this Kenwood DDX419 for $269 (manufactured refurbished) on eBay.
I also saw the Scion Pioneer Premium hu for $650 on eBay.

My question is this: which one is the better unit and the best bang for the buck?

With the Pioneer unit, I would have to install it myself, be able to retain the steering wheel controls, USB and aux ports and microphone. Downside: I don't know how user-friendly the user interface is. I don't know overall how good the unit is.

With the Kenwood, the price is obviously attractive. But will the add-ons, such as the steering wheel controls, any adapters for my SiriusXM tuner and install costs, will it equal the same as the Scion Premium unit?

I am not install-savvy but I would have to install the Scion unit myself, which I might do it based on the plug n play aspect of it. I would not install the Kenwood myself.

What would you do?

 

what year is your box? if it's a 08 or 09 then a used Pioneer hu is about $100-$150, if it's a 10-11 then the premium were Alpine units and the 12 came with Pioneer with hd/bluetooth and pandora interface. either way the premium units should have 3sets of pre-outs in which adding an amp would the best solution for the best sound.

 

I have a 2012 xB.

 

Love my DDX419...It's amazing!!!

 

I have the 719, it is gawd!!! Does everything but drive the facking car for me.

 

The Scion Pioneer unit doesn't seem to use the bus system that aftermarket pioneer units use, but all in all, the Kenwood is the bang for the buck. You'd have to get the kenwood sirusxm tuner and swap account info, a steering wheel control adapter, plus you get a bigger screen. I'm partially biased to pioneer but the kenwood has more features for less $$. but in the end, it's up to you. btw, crutchfield has the kenwood sirusxm tuner for $20.

 

Oh yeah and if your thinking of any real good aftermarket system the DDX419 has 4V outputs that make a big difference compared to 2v outputs.

And for people that say I'm going to miss using the factory Aux/USB...forget about it. USB are getting so small that I'm running this cool 8gb in the front....very quick access.

 

Ive had nothing but Pioneer in my cars and swear by them. Purchased a AVH-8400BH a couple months ago and havent looked back. Kinda feel like i should have gotn the 4400 instead but fckit. I love my HU use it everyday during lunch time to watch movies. I dnt need XM or any of that. Plus it has the App mode so i can run my iphone off of it, sadly need to purchase a seperate cable for it.

7" and 4v outputs is all i really wanted the rest was extra

 

I have the 418 model (with the NAV add on and backup cam) and love it. I can live without the stock AUX/USB. A 16GB Sandisk Cruzer Fit is tiny as hell and very inexpensive now. It serves me very well. barely notice it there. Bluetooth reception could be better though.

 

Go with a new ddx719 if you considering spending 650.. The ddx419 has had lots of issues with BT and Ipod usage from what I have seen.

But if your going to spend that much fork out a few hundred more and get a unit with nav (dnx6190). Go big or go home lol. I stick with kenwood. The last pioneer avic I had died and I see many more issues with pioneer units in the long run than kenwoods. And kenwood does updates, pioneer does not... well that is not true but they charge out the ___ for them.