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Thinking About Putting In A DVD Theater But...

Chief

Chief

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There are a couple of issues/barriers.

I like an Audiovox system I saw (I know, I know). It has an 8" screen (yes, 8") - the DVD player is built into the overhead (SWEET) and plays CD's and I believe MP3. It has two auxilary inputs as well as a built in TV tuner (double sweet). It comes with two wireless headphones and all of the wiring and trim required to hook it up, etc. etc. It also comes with a built in replacement dome light - the whole unit is sold for $1,399 (everywhere I checked) and install is $250 to $300. The biggest thing I like is everything, including the player is self-contained into one unit.

So here are the issues:

1) I have a power sunroof. Now every installer that looked said plenty of room but they all wanted to do the same thing - mount into the metal supports of the headliner without adding any additional sheet metal or wood - I'm a tad worried about that as there seems to be plenty of room up there.

2) I do a lot of 4-wheel driving and I'm worried about the weight on the headliner (hence a big reason for my concerns in point one) and the vibration/abuse of an overhead unit.

If the 4-wheel drive work is going to wreak havoc on the install I'm not adverse to going into the headrests - but now I'm not self contained.

Well - thoughts? I've got the damn mod bug! :C:
 
Hrm, just a few days ago you were talking about getting XM Radio.

That's a big jump to go from XM to a DVD Theater. :)

I considered some kind of A/V Entertainment center and I decided the roof was out since I also had a sunroof. If I did it, I would go for the seat backs or something that mounted to the center console in the middle between the seat.

If you DO go with DVD, you can't forget the XBox, PS2, GameCube, Atari 2600, PONG or whatever you're into.

David
 
Well, the voting on the XM made me kill the project. I'm going to do what the people here are interested in seeing/reading about so I can write it up for CAFCNA Magazine.
 
Let's see if I can help with a few more data points.

-I wouldn't be worried as much about the weight of the unit as the glare from the sun from the sunroof. I had one in my tahoe but moved it to my Porsche. Alpine 8 inch screen. Sun will be your biggest enemy.

I would suggest looking at one that has a motorized screen in the head unit. I have the Alpine myself but know several others out these make them. I fit nicely with our dash layout with one exception. because of the angle of the dash, the screen was slightly tilted towards the driver which made it difficult for the passenger to see unless their seat was set all the way back. I have made several trips through the desert with 4 people and the only person complaining about not seeing properly was my wife in the passenger seat. :mad:

Mine had the Alpine DVD player hooked up, Alpine DVD GPS, cell handsfree and custom aux. connection for a portable MP3 player.

I have pictures if you are interested except they are in the porsche and not the AV. :(
 
I was at the news stand the other day looking through mags and "Truckin SUV" had a letter from the editor saying sometime in the next few months they will feature an article on this topic. Seems the editor has an AV and has installed a complete video entertainment system by Audiovox. If I remember correctly he had a monitor in each headrest and an overhead. Not sure when the mag will be out but thought it was interesting it will feature an AV.

BTW, mine are in the headrest and have been pleased with them. myronanddavis.com has come out with a replacement headrest for the AV with monitors already mounted.
 
I have seen that unit, though never installed it, but have installed many overhead pods and from my experience most pods will fit even with a sunroof, the only negative is they are mounted a little further to the rear than what is the best veiwing postion and like you said that causes me to be unable to mount the pod directly into the overhead metal"I"beam if you will. So then you have to use the sandwich technique.

I can understand your concern about movement , there is a difference. I have never had someone complain about thiers when using that technique though I dont belive any have seen a puddle let alone off-road.
 
I just put in a DVD today. I went with a Blaupunkt DVD ME1. This unit will play DVD+ CD + NP3. I have a 7" wide screen mounted in the place of the dome light . The new unit has the lights on either side of the screen. I do not have the sun roof. The main roof support is to far forward for the screen unit and a piece of wood was cut to reach the rear roof support. The headliner did not have to be removed to do this. I left the original head radio unit (so far) and also have XM Radio. I added a remote 7" screen for the front of the AV and it sits nicely on the center console (blocking the door) cubby hole. I did not do a permanent mount for the front unit but went with velcro. This way, and with some extra cable the remote unit can be moved around. I think there is about 6 feet of cable. Since it just installed this afternoon I have not had any time to play with it. Total cost was 650 for the rear screen with the DVD player and 350 for the remote 7" screen installation was included. I think this was a very good deal. I am still thinkin about adding the Pioneer AVH 6000,, I think thats the right number. It has the 6.5" motorized screen and am fm tuner and is also XM compatible. I will probably add the wireless headset eventually. The dvd works the same as my XM-- with an fm modulator. I have the XM on 89.1 and the dvd on 88.7 and a switch to toggle between the two systems.

Gary
 
I have had several installers here in Nashville and on business trips in other cities speak highly of teh Pioneer systms suggest the following;

Pioneer AVHP6400CD - 6.5 LCD am/fm/cd 50wx4
AVIC9DVD - Nav/DVD Player
GEXP 900XM Receiver

I do hear that the screen if mounted in place of the oem radio does have a clearance problem with the gear shift. And not all systems are XM compatibile some are Sirius.

I have run across some interesting other items through internet research.

TMI Products - www.tmiproducts.com has a back seat, overhead theater system with stereo transmitter for wireless transmission of audio and video, mounting brackets and all necessary installation hardware. Screen is a generous 6.8" They have install pictures on the site as well. (See atcched above)

TMI also has additional set ups in their Vizual Logic's section. www.vizuallogic.com They have a headrest with a monitor already built in that is prewired through the tubular post. These head rest also tilt into three positions, mine don't!!!!! Color matched factory replacement headrest with 5.6? standard or 7.0? wide LCD screen. Built-in IR receiver to control on screen display monitor features and A/V inputs. A/V control module with 2 in - 2 out video inputs, and remote control.

Under the "Find Your Headrest" section they have options specifically for the Avalanche. My only problem is I have a North Face Edition and the headrest will not match.

And my favorite, Vizualogic has a sunvisor monitor that is killer. It replaces factory secondary visor. Mounts on existing hardware. Folds away when not in use..... Now tie this into a camera for backing up and it is as good as a heads up display.

http://www.vizualogic.com/images/visortv2.jpg

Now tie this into the camera for backing up and a nav sys and it is as good as a heads up display

Vizualogic also has wireless headsets, command module and a glove to protect electronics from dust and dirt when under a seat.

Lastly Accele Vision makes a 5" Swivel Design Headrest Monitor in several trims.

http://www.affsave.com/acce13.htm

Now it is justing trying to find out dependability.











 

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Snowlep,
Thanks for the info and links. I just emailed the company to see where I can purchase some of those items. Those sunvisor monitors are too cool! I could really use those headreast monitors too!

Cindy :B:
 
Cindy,

Glad it could help...the info says the monitors do not operate while the vehicle is moving. What are the chancesthhat can be bypassed? MMMMMM...100%

Checked out your Av...nice work. And I especially like your windpower connection. That must just absolutely environmentalists crazy. Someone who has one of those BAD SUVs, that is also environmentally conscious!!! You go girl.

Doug :cool:
 
If someone gets price info on the Visualogic components, please share it with the group. I really like those monitors built in to the back of the headrests! :love:
 
has anybody had any experience with the Pyle line of LCD screens I can get them off ebay rather cheap ($89 headrest dash mount) but want to know what the quality is.
 
Ok gang here is the scoop!!

I spoke to a manager at Vizualogic and they can not sell direct. They work through a network of retailers. He is putting togther a list for me that I will share with the group. I believe their network of distributors is small at this time but growing, ie no dealer for me here in Nashville. I spoke to him about a group buy and he is receptive to it. It would more than likely have to work off of a preorder arrangement, with merchandise shipping to us from the closest dealer or the merchandise would ship directly to us from the manufacturer and the manufacturer would cut checks to the dealer. Anyway that is what we talked about. But before I go any further with him....I need to know if there is enough interest for me to pursue it. I am sure their will be a minimum order, (if it were me I would have one). So what do we think.

The website to check out is www.tmiproducts.com and once there the headings are "Backseat Theater", "Vizualogic" and "The Glove".

Additional infor. He informed me, that the sunvisor is tied into the emergency brake and only works when it is engaged. Also I learned that ALL video forward of the front seats are ILLEGAL!!!!!!! So I asked him how Acura gets away with it and how other manufacturers (Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood etc) get away without having a safety feature that disables video when the vehicle is in motion like he has too. He said great question and they (regulators) had no answer. Any way I have no desire to have video in my face while driving (sitting maybe). But I would love to have a rear vison camera hooked up for backing up and have a nav sys tied in.

More later...comments and suggestions welcome.
 
I got the names of two suppliers in my area from TMI who are supposed to carry the Vizualogic headrest and sun visor monitors. One didn't have any...and the other one can custom order them for your vehicle and have them in 24 hours.

Performance Wired for Sound (909) 587-6353 located in Temecula, CA. quoted me:

5" Headrest Monitor $499
7" Headrest Monitor $599
Sunvisor Monitor $649

Seems a little pricey. Or is that just me? I was hoping they would be a little less than what the local stereo shops would charge me to install some.

Cindy :B:
 
Thanks for the info snowlep. I am very intrested in a DVD setup like what you had in your post. I have done some minor mods, but I might be interested in having some one locally install the entertainment center. >:D
Paradox

PS. Anyone else has any suggestions I would interested. What I want is DVD/or VCR combo. Monitor in head rests it would be nice if the tuner could spit the signal so each demon spawn child ( just kidding) could watch different shows. with the possiblity of adding on an xbox or something later when my kids get old enough to play computer games. And now that I seen those visor screens maybe a rear view camera. Not asking much huh????
 
SoCalCindy said:
I got the names of two suppliers in my area from TMI who are supposed to carry the Vizualogic headrest and sun visor monitors. One didn't have any...and the other one can custom order them for your vehicle and have them in 24 hours.

Performance Wired for Sound (909) 587-6353 located in Temecula, CA. quoted me:

5" Headrest Monitor $499
7" Headrest Monitor $599
Sunvisor Monitor $649

Seems a little pricey. Or is that just me? I was hoping they would be a little less than what the local stereo shops would charge me to install some.

Cindy :B:
Click to expand...

Cindy,

I would agree that the prices seem a little high although there is no reference for the sunvisor. If the quality is there then I dont mind the price. The plus with the headrest is that you can take them with you if for some sill reason you sell your AV. Oh what the heck...it is only money right? AVs are supposed to be fun, and this is fun. Maybe with enough interest we can get a good group buy. And those are great rims...details!!

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Paradox,

I will keep the group updated on pricing and will keep negotiating.

Doug
 
Jeff,

Looks like we live in the same city. Question...who are we going to go to to get this entertainment stuff done here in town? What info do you have on rearview cameras? Working as a GM Vendor I am going to see what schematics I can get to tap into the gps onboard. I really want a kick ass nav sys.

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Cindy and others,

Found more stuff.....as you can tell this is my day off and really just felt like doing nothing but AV stuff so....

Blaupunkt has a new DVD/CD/CR-R/MP3 unit out that is incredibly small - 6 5/8"W x 2 5/8" H x 81/2" D- Model DVD-ME1 pricedd in the $400s.

Also other sources for equip:

www.myronanddavis.com AUAV told me and used them.
www.stylinconcets.com
www.partsexpress.com

Guess that all for now...off to the accessory site to get info on the AV BAse Camp package. I have attached a schematic I foundthat may help someone.

doug
 

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Hey guys and gals, here's my experience so far. I am using the Myron&Davis ADVD-370 which is a DVD/CD/SVCD/MP3 player with built in AM/FM tuner. No complaints so far other than the radio tuner is sub-par to most after market units I've had before ( JVC, Sony, Pioneer). But with MP3, who needs radio?
My video goes to 2 Pyle PLVW5MN 5" LCD monitors in the headrests. VF454, I compared these monitors to ICON and several other 5" and 5.6" monitors and the quality was about the same between all I looked at. My deciding factor was cost. The Pyle's were $199 compared to $399 each for the ICON's and $299 for some of the others. Also the conrols for the Pyle's were easier to use and took up less room on the face.
I also had the installer put in a splitter so I can add a PS2 and wireless headphones when the boys are a little older.

Myron & Davis also makes a variety of monitors, from 5.6" to 7" replacement headrests and overhead flip downs from 6.8" to 10.4" ( some of which swivel for better viewing).
Hope this helps some.
MIke (y)

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Oh yeah, at night with the monitors on you can see them in the rear view mirror. Add a rear camera to the splitter and instant back up system with out breaking any laws. no monitors in front of seats. :0:
 
Hey AUAV,
Can you listen to the radio and play a dvd (video on the monitors and audio thru wireless headphones) at the same time?
In other words can that thing multi-task?
Thanks,
Damon
 
Damon Collins, no multi tasking yet. Once I add an inverter, PS2, and the wireless headphones I'll be able to listen to the radio while kids play games, watch DVD, or CD's. That's my plan anyhoo, so I can use either the head unit or the PS2 to provide video to the monitors. The audio outputs from the PS2 will go to the wireless sending unit.
I may even add a visor monitor for wife up front.

BTW, has anyone out there seen or heard of a 5.1 channel amp that runs off 12V? The head unit has a digital output and I would really like to find an amp other than a home unit that will accept this input.
 
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