Should you invest in an aftermarket head unit? The answer is simple! Yes, you should. Having a substandard car stereo may be the barrier rising between you and a piece of powerful music in your car. Yes, essential upgrades to your sound system can make a significant enrichment to your listening experience.
The first-time appearance of the full-screen Kenwood DMX4707S is irresistible for obvious reasons. First, the plastic cover on the screen prevents ugly scratches because it’s a capacitive screen and not a clear resistive one. And, it provides a sizable screen size for the display of apps on the 6” touchscreen display.
On the other hand, the 7-inch Alpine ILX-W650 offers easy installation due to its shallow chassis. In addition, the built-in amplifier power provides diversified music support with numerous A/V playback options (AAC, WMA, FLAC, and MP3). This head unit will prove to be a masterpiece if you’re looking for something that will crank up the volume of your car speakers.
Here, we shall be having an in-depth analysis of the Kenwood DMX4707S vs Alpine ILX-W650 double Din head units to make sure you arrive at an informed decision on which car radio to purchase. Both are perfect picks, but it all comes down to your sound needs.
Kenwood DMX4707S vs. Alpine ILX-W650 General Specs
A general overview between Kenwood DMX4707S vs Alpine ILX-W650 receivers is a perfect start before we get into the finer details of each head unit.
| Product Title | Kenwood DMX4707S | Alpine ILX-W650 |
| Aux/AV input | Mini(rear) | No |
| USB Port Power | 1.5A | 1A |
| Backup Camera Input | Yes | Yes |
| Second Camera Input | No | Yes |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Yes | Yes |
| RMS Power | 21 watts | 16 watts |
| Preamp Outputs | 5-Channel | 6-Channel |
| Preamp Voltage | 2 volts | 4 volts |
| Equalizer Bands | 13 | 9 |
| Radio European Tuning | Yes | No |
Kenwood DMX4707S Review
Since 1946, JVC Kenwood Corporation has created a legacy in releasing quality smart home systems, personal audio, and car audio systems. One of their latest releases is the Kenwood DMX4707S. This digital media receiver allows you to connect to your music via multiple sources, while the short chassis design attempts to achieve flexible installation.
With its Bluetooth capability, you can now make wireless calls from your phone number, run multiple Bluetooth Devices, and browse music from the receiver display while on the go. Let’s have a look at some of the features that make the Kenwood DMX4707S a great bargain.
Most Refined Design Features
The engineers of the Kenwood DMX4707S had you in mind during the entire design and manufacturing process of this carefully sought product. The double Din shallow-mount chassis allows the head unit to fit into most cars’ dash openings without any modifications. It also avoided the mounting issues related to single DIN units.
The 6.8-inch capacitive touchscreen provides touch panel control, high contrast ratio, and better picture quality. The Kenwood car stereo is compatible with the SiriusXM satellite radio tuner. Worry not if you need commercial-free music, comedy, best sport, and entertainment because Kenwood BMX4707S has got you covered.
Supports Smartphone Features
Connecting your smartphone to a digital media receiver enables you to listen to podcasts, audiobooks, and music while driving. That’s why the Kenwood DMX4707S provides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
These smartphone integrated features allow you to access essential apps, such as navigation maps, Siri, and YouTube through the touchscreen display. Android mirroring via USB and Bluetooth enables you to stream music from Spotify and Pandora effortlessly.
Audio/Visual Features
The bass boost and loudness controls of the Kenwood DMX4707S guarantee quality music from the speakers. Its 21 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels amplifier boosts the signals to deliver exquisite sound to you. With the 13-band graphic equalizer and high/low pass filters, you’re able to tailor the sound to match your preferred music style. And there’s more!
The Kenwood DMX4707S has backup cameras that help you park more safely and quickly. This way, you get a vivid and more accurate view of barriers in your rear path. The warning tone makes it even more straightforward because you always know when you get close to an object.
Pros
- The overall sound quality is good.
- It has a highly responsive touchscreen.
- It supports a European Radio tuner.
- It Works perfectly with steering wheel control (bought separately)
- Easy to install the head unit
Cons
- Lacks physical buttons for adjusting volume.
- The input for a second camera is omitted in this new design.
Alpine ILX-W650 Review
The Alpine ILX-W650 receiver is worth the bucks if you’re looking for a car stereo that guarantees easy use, a user-friendly interface with a straightforward menu. The level of sound quality you get from the Alpine ILX-W650 makes your driving experience memorable.
The EQ settings control allows you to configure the sound coming out of your car speakers to match your preferred music styles. Simply put, this head unit is a perfect pick for everyone planning to upgrade their car stereo.
Features You Cannot Afford to Miss Out
Sleek Design
The condition you receive a product after placing your order matters. The Alpine ILX-W650 radio comes in a well-protected bag with foam to cushion against its fragile nature. It’s also a short chassis radio measuring 7 inches x 4 inches x 2 inches. Thus, providing easy fitting into cars that have tight space in the dash opening.
It also leaves some room for mounting an amplifier at the back of the unit if you need one. Its protrusion of 0.3125 inches provides a lip that makes mounting in a dash kit a walk in the park. The back of this car radio is a silverback panel that has heat sinks for the radio. You never need to worry about the overheating of the radio due to extended use.
Multiple Inputs
The Alpine ILX-W650 has multiple inputs that allow you to get the best from this digital multimedia receiver. There’s a microphone input at the receiver’s back panel (red) bordered by a wired remote port (black) that allows you to retain your steering wheel controls. All you need is an add-on module and get started with the SWC.
There’s also a universal radio antenna that supports the AM and FM radio frequencies. Additionally, there’s an input port if you’re planning to add the SiriusXM sxv300 tuner. All you need is to plug in and enjoy the vast benefits of this satellite radio.
Moreover, the Alpine ILX-W650 car receiver has a microphone input, which allows you to perform hands-free controls such as requesting navigation routes to the nearest gas station. The Alpine ILX-W650 also comes with backup cam inputs, which provide more visibility on the rear to prevent crashing when reversing your vehicle.
Magnificent Touchscreen Response
Searching for the volume up, volume down, next, and previous controls as you drive on a busy roadway has been simplified by the Alpine ILX-W650. The touch screen responds accordingly depending on the direction you swipe. For instance, swiping the touch display up using two fingers increases the volume of the car speakers while left swipes selects the previously played song.
Your Safety Matters
The Alpine ILX-W650 has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in-car assistant systems. These systems make it easy to work with Google Assistant and Siri without typing while on the go. Additionally, the Google Maps and Waze apps grant access to navigation through voice controls. With the hands-free calls feature, your focus is always on the road.
Having too much light inside the car can be straining when you’re driving at night. It’s our delight to inform you that the Alpine ILX-W650 display unit automatically dims when you turn off the lights. This feature allows you to focus on what lies on the road ahead.
Pros
- Easy to connect and set up the audio to achieve excellent Alpine sound quality.
- Easy to use with Pandora, Spotify, XM radio, and YouTube.
- Well-designed and straightforward software
- It comes with two camera inputs
- SiriusXM capable head unit
- Superb working of Android screen mirroring
Cons
- The one USB slot poses a dilemma to choose between plugging your USB stick or phone.
- A CD player is missing out in this head unit.
Kenwood DMX4707S vs Alpine ILX-W650- Final Verdict
Peeping on your smartphone for directions on Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps while on the go can get you distracted. However, connecting the head unit to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will get you sorted out.
The Kenwood DMX4707S digital multimedia receiver is a perfect pick for car audio lovers wishing to get the best from SiriusXM. Lastly, its satellite radio allows you to scan over 140 channels from Europe.
The Alpine ILX-W650 head unit, on the other side, makes you get the best from its incredible sound quality. You’ve got a reason to smile if you’re planning to have an extra camera for your car. Also, Alpine ILX has a preamp input port that increases expandability to accommodate a second camera.
Also Read: Alpine vs Kenwood- Are They Worth Buying?
Choosing between Kenwood DMX4707S vs Alpine ILX-W650 can be narrowed down to overall good performance vs top-quality sound. So, whether you choose Kenwood DMX4707S or Alpine ILX-W650, you’ll still get a top-performing car stereo.
