audio customization (built-in cross-over, sub level control, Eq), graphics, adequate power, 3 pre-outs, D mask+

worst skipping CD player I have owned! small buttons, radio cuts out when D mask+ moves, navigating menus can be tedious

The 815 is a good all around CD receiver. I really like all the "neat" features. It is very user friendly considering tayloring audio to one's likings. Above the normal bass and treble settings, there is a Non-fading pre-out level control and built in cross-over control. It has TONS of features!
I don't like the small buttons much and I hate how much it SKIPS! I have never heard my CDs skip so much. It's true that my car has very tight suspension, but I don't think that bumps matter much. It just can't read past even the most minuscule scratch/imperfection/dust. Some CDs which I own simply look dull (not even discernable scratches) from being stored in a sleeve and they won't play in this machine.
On a lighter note, the cross-over works very nicely and the amplifier is adequate for me. The stock speakers I use sound much better now than with the stock system. On top of that, the lows are filtered out and handled by a sub. If you plan to get a sub with external amp, this is a great head unit. I would not recommend the 815 to someone not planning to add at least a sub with amp. All the features geared towards sub control (including cross-overs and pre-outs) would not be needed and the rest could be had for much less.
My biggest suggestion to Kenwood: let the 815 handle MP3s. How can you make the Z-919 for MP3s without adding D mask+?!? I don't think it even has a removable face!!!
I would have given this receiver 5 stars overall if it didn't skip so damn much!! If you are looking for more sound control than you deserve and you plan on adding a sub with amp, get this CD receiver and KEEP YOUR CDs PRISTINE!

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auditioned: Alpine, Sony, Eclipse, Clarion

This deck satisfies all the needs for an enthusiast-high voltage pre-out, x-over control,f/r pre-outs, selectable displays, D Mask+, multi-changer control, and so on.

Buttons take a while to get used to.

This deck will soon be replaced by the KDC-X817. I plan to subscribe to Sirius. This deck performed extremely well. Those that complain about skipping must be doing something wrong because this has passed all my torture tests. Two words to descibe this deck. SOLID and FUN.

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Alpine 7907, Kenwood KDC-9R, Kenwood KRC-777, Kenwood KDC-P900, Nakamichi TD-???, Old Pioneer, Old JVC, (man, I've gone through a lot of decks), the original Sony changer that had a wired control(not FM modulator).

BUIT IN EQ. PROGAM 1-6 EQ.PROGAM YOUR GIRL FRIEND BIRTHDAY WHEN YOU TURN IT ON IT WILL TELL YOU. I HAVE BIG AMP I PUT THE GAIN LESS THAN HALF WAY AND ON THE DECK (BASS)ALL THE WAY DOWN TOO NEFRE LEVLE -3 IT HITS VERY HARD THAT WHEN I'M WITH MY FRIENDS IF I PUT IT TO +7 IT JUST MITE CRACK MY WINDOWS. WHEN I BY MY SELF I BUT IT TO -15 IT HITS SOFT.(BASS EXT ON THE BASS TRAVLES WHEN IT IS OFF LETTLE BIT. ALSO THE DATE. WHEN YOU TURN OFF THE DECK IT HAS A BLANK FACE IT LOOKS I LIKE THATHING IT THERE. 3 PRE OUT. S4*45 WATTS. PROGAM A CODE ON IT.

REMOTE DOSE NOT FAST FORWARD. WHEN YOU DO FAST FORWARD IT IT SKIPS TO THE NEXT TRACK? MY BASS HITS VERY HARD IT SKIPS ALSO MY CAR HAS A BIG SHIFT KIT IN IT WHEN BASS IS HITING HARD AND SHIFT KIT KICKS IN IT SKIPS

THE PRICE IT GOOD $450 NOT IN STALLED IT HAS LOST OF FUNKTIONS ON IT. SECURTY CODE. ALL MY FRIENDS HAS CD DECK AND THAY LIKE TO DISS OWE THERE CD DECK AND GET MINE OUT OF 12 PEOPLE 10 OF THEM LOVE TO GET MINE BECAUSE HOW I HAVE IT HOOK UPED. HAVE A BIG AMP AND PUT IT TO LESS THEN HALF WAY AND TURN ALL THE BASS DOWN ON THE DECK IF YOU NEED MORS SUB BASS BUT NEFRE LEVER HIGHTE RBEFOR YOU DO THAT HAVE NEFRE LEVLE TO -7 HOW YOU LIKE IT SOFT HIT THEN AJUST THE APM GAIN. KENWOOD IS THE BOMMMMM THE BEST.

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ALL THE DECKS BUT PIONER IS GOOD BUUUUUUTTTTT (BUT) KENWOOD 815 HAS MORE FUNKTION. AND SOUNG QUARTY IS GOOD.

3 sets of preouts
Display features
Dmask +

45 X 4 output

This is a great receiver. The only thing is that if it had 60 X 4 like the Alpine 7863 I use. It'd be perfect. God I love this unit. The display features on this is one of the main reasons I bought it. They are very briliant and impressive. The option to also change the color of the buttons is also another feature that is great just to add in change into the unit. But with today's society the D Mask+ really comes in handy. I've had some stuff stolen out of my car. I do detach my Alpine unit but this one I can feel somewhat safe that it's not going to be stolen.

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Most other eXcelon products
Alpine CDA-7863 and CDA-7864

Hmm..tough question since the whole damn thing is basically a god in car audio. I would say my favorite strength is that I was able to basically toss all my MTX crossovers out the window. Gotta love that built in high pass/low pass filters.

Umm....too much stuff to play with....takes hours of listening to all types music to set up the filters properly...but hey, what good things in life dont take time to perfect.

I would recommend this product to anyone that was in need of awesome sound, looks, and options for your money. I have had the deck for about 3 months and still havent figured out all the options. I absolutely have not found anything wrong with it... I have tinted windows so i cant complain about the sun interfereing with the display and the guy before was right, the dolphins can get you laid :). And with the massive amounts of ways you can change the display you will never get bored of looking at it. And if the deck is too bright at night you can lower the light setting...now you tell me of a deck that you can do that with. I have no complaints, this Deck perfected my use of my Infinity front/rear speakers, my Kenwood amp(not excelon amp but will be soon) and my 2 12" MTX thunder 5000s. If you have about $400-450 to invest in a deck use your money wisely and buy this one...trust me it will be the best investment of your car audio future.

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Sony, Aiwa, Panasonic, Older Kenwood, JVC, factory...you name it and i probably compared it. None of them even came close to the awe inspiring and great preforming power of this deck... Except the x915, but for that you need your own power supply for each speaker :(

Everything. No wait let me think.....yeah everything

Well there was the one time it died on me.....no wait that was Sony. But the one time the CD player stopped working....no no that was Sony. But what about when the display went bad.....no no! that was Sony and Panasonic.

OK ummm wow! Only word that comes to mind. Wow! 3 Preouts, Built-in Crossover, yadda yadda yadda yadda. There is a reason that people who win competitions have Kenwood Excelons in their cars. Cuz it is the best. If you don't wanna speed the bills, go buy a freakin Clarion (Blaaah). If you have taste, class, and care about your beats Kenwood all the way. Oh yeah and I think the Dolphins can get you laid.

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Sony (1st and last mistake). Pioneer 6000 (not bad but not an Excelon)

RDS (There are at least 7 stations in Houston supporting it), CD Text, Spectrum analyzer, Detachable face, DMask+, Built-In crossovers, 3x 4.5v pre-outs with Gold plated connectors, SQ, Adjustable display angle, Dual Zone system, Calendar, Screensavers (dolphins) +++

Hard to see display under direct sunlight but the angle adjust helps, The display is shiny... easily grabs finger prints and thus will look dirty (just a minor cosmetic thing, no biggie)

Got it for $450 which includes installation and 2 additional years of warranty through M1 (Excelon lines have 2 yrs warranty but i just wanted to be sure about it... at least if something goes wrong i wont' have to pay for reinstallation)

My (basic) system:
Fronts: RF 1614 6.5" components
Rears: CV SS-2693 6x9 3ways

With the OEM headunit all my speakers distorted really bad even halfway through the volume.. i thought my speakers were busted. Installing the x815 was the best thing i've done so far! Even at full volume there's no distortion whatsoever. Sound Quality is the best!

You also get full sound control with the following options:

- Bass Frequency (60 - 100hz in 20hz increments)
- Bass level adjustments
- Bass Quality factor adjustments
- Bass Extension (increases low and high freq response by 20%)
- Treble frequency (10 - 17.5khz in 2.5khz increments)
- Treble level adjustment
- Balance,Fader controls
- Non-fading pre level outputs adjustment (-15 to +15)
- High-pass filter front output adjustment (40 - 220hz in 20hz increments)
- High-pass filter rear output adjustments (same as above)
- Low-pass filter non-fading output (50 - 120 and Through)
- Non-fading phase output adjustment

There are many more controls for this baby. I can't help but awe in amazement at how much control i can have over my music at this price. Kenwood surely did an excellent job with this product. My next step is to get a sub/amp. This is as close to mobile audio paradise as you can get!

I've considered the Alpine 7863 and 7864 as well as the Pioneer premier line of products (720, 920r) but they can't come close to the bang/buck you get with the Kenwood Excelon line of products. Alpines look a bit better but for the same features you'll end up spending at least $300 more over the Kenwood x815. The Pioneers look good too but it'll have a hard time competing against the x815 SQ.

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Civic OEM HU (non-alpine), Pioneer tape decks (several), Alpine (2DIN)

great looking
sounds great
chicks dig it

nothing yet

I bout this deck as a starting point for my system, paid 500 dallors for product plus instulation. I plan on expanding my whole system and this deck offered everything i needed to do that. I spent 2 months shopping around for the right deck that offered everything I might need, and after talking to millions of professionals this seemed to be the best out there for the price, sound quality, looks, and expandibility. I also like kenwood because of its heads up display feature which is way kool.
I recomend this bad boy to any one. Your ears will thank you. =]

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first one ive ever bout, so i dont have any comparisons.

This deck has many features and is a great bigginer deck. It is great in sound reproduction and listening quality. I love how kenwood now does the mask and a detachable face w/ it's products. I have used the products

I have had this deck for around six months and have found a few things wrong with it. The face like to pop off when I press the track button. It skips under any bass load or bump, the display is still hard to see in the sun or in any direct light. The cd tray is slow and the cds get caught in the tray. So I returned it and got anouther one and it did the same. I am on my third one and it is still doping these things. HEY BUT IT SOUNDS GREAT

Great for the price, whatch out for defects!

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ALPINE, clarion,pioneer.

Well if you know this deck then you know that you like everything about it.

If you know this deck you know there is nothing to dislike abouot it.

I would definitely recommend it. I only paid 298, but thats cuz I work at Circuit City. I LOVE NOT PAYING RETAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kenwood KDCX811...I only got rid of the KDCX811 because the new model came out. Next year I will get the new replacement