We are looking to put a rear entertainment system in my Ex. Haven't decided on DVD vs VHS. But I'm leaning toward DVD since I know I'll have it for a long time. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]What are people doing about the rear air controls? I can't afford the nice $1500 systems and custom set ups that I've seen people post about. And the cheaper Audiovox systems don't seem to address the rear a/c controls. I've never had the headliner down so I don't know what's up there in regards to air ducts and wiring. How do these things mount? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]What could you guys recommend in the price range of $600 and under?
You may think is this is silly but the Audivox portable unit has work extremely well for me over teh past 2-1/2 - 3yrs.
I went though the pricing game with sound stores and it was right near what you are saying ($1,500.00 for a tiny screen). I needed it quick for trip up to a race in New Hampshire (my daughter was riding along)and i would up getting the Audiovox portable DVD unit for roughly $400.00. Since it has worked great (in the vehicle and out of it) great for hotel rooms. I do have a factory installed unit in '04 F150 and had to have it repalced within the 8 months of owning the vehicle. Not digging on my F150, but the point is if the unit goes out your truck goes into the shop as well.
With that in mind, the Audiovox portable dvd doesn't have a lot of bling to it, but it is sure functional and cost effective. You can have the monitor attached or detached, even add extra monitors. Not bad for 1/3 of the cost for an installed unit.
I put 7" monitors is all of the head rests and hooked up a multizone AV controller/tv tuner and hooked up a dvd and xbox to it, that way the kids dont have to cramp thier necks to see the screen, I can still use the rearview mirror, and they can each either watch tv, dvd, or play xbox. and the best thing is that all of the monitors have duel channel wireless headphones so I dont have to hear anything. Costs me less money becuase I did all the work. Although I was a little hesitiant about cutting into the leather driver and passanger seats. I found that it wasnt hard at all and everything came out really nice. for the third seat I orders the larger headrests with the monitor hole already cut so I only had to put the monitor in the hole and slide them into the second row seats. I ran the wires for everything under the carpet and put everything under the rear seat.
You could go with two monitors and a dvd player to start and then add other stuff later, I figure that would run you about $600 if you can do the work youself.
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2002 Ford Excursion Limited 7.3L PowerStroke Turbo 4x4, Banks Power Elbow, Banks Quick Turbo, Banks Big Head Wastegate, Banks Six Gun Tuner, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust, Banks Compressor Wheel, Superlift 6" Suspension (all Springs), FASS Fuel System, Diablo Predator w/ custom Granatelli Program, MAC Cold Air Intake, 37" Procomp XMT on 20" Rims,
2006 Mecedes e320 CDI
2006 VW Jetta TDI
and some other toys
Sounds like a nice system you installed. I'd considered going that route, but my son wants the bling factor of the fold down screen and we all know five year olds make all the rules. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I imagine if I just went ahead and installed them in back of the seats he'd be fine with it, but when life makes you a Disneyland dad you sometimes indulge the child.
I have three kids and they love it... each screen is independant so they each can choose what they want to watch, or they can play games on the xbox. I have modded the xbox so I put all of the games, movies, mp3, and music videos on it. I would say that the bling factor is there... I think it works out better this way... I dont have to hear "but I wanna watch this or that" Also its moduler design allows me to add play station or an xbox 360 simply by plugging it in.
Oh and multi screens are cool... kids can watch cartoons, mom can watch soaps.... and dad dont have to hear either of them.
Ahhh the joy of silence.....
__________________
2002 Ford Excursion Limited 7.3L PowerStroke Turbo 4x4, Banks Power Elbow, Banks Quick Turbo, Banks Big Head Wastegate, Banks Six Gun Tuner, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust, Banks Compressor Wheel, Superlift 6" Suspension (all Springs), FASS Fuel System, Diablo Predator w/ custom Granatelli Program, MAC Cold Air Intake, 37" Procomp XMT on 20" Rims,
2006 Mecedes e320 CDI
2006 VW Jetta TDI
and some other toys
[ QUOTE ]
I have three kids and they love it... each screen is independant so they each can choose what they want to watch, or they can play games on the xbox. I have modded the xbox so I put all of the games, movies, mp3, and music videos on it. I would say that the bling factor is there... I think it works out better this way... I dont have to hear "but I wanna watch this or that" Also its moduler design allows me to add play station or an xbox 360 simply by plugging it in.
Oh and multi screens are cool... kids can watch cartoons, mom can watch soaps.... and dad dont have to hear either of them.
Ahhh the joy of silence.....
[/ QUOTE ]
you got any pictures of your setup. I'd like to do the EXACT same thing.
also you can look on ebay, i just seen one that ended for 375.00 it had the screen and kept all the a/c controls... only thing it was missing was a dvd player but you can pick those up all day for about a 100.00 on there....
__________________
2002 Ford Excursion Limited 7.3L PowerStroke Turbo 4x4, Banks Power Elbow, Banks Quick Turbo, Banks Big Head Wastegate, Banks Six Gun Tuner, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust, Banks Compressor Wheel, Superlift 6" Suspension (all Springs), FASS Fuel System, Diablo Predator w/ custom Granatelli Program, MAC Cold Air Intake, 37" Procomp XMT on 20" Rims,
2006 Mecedes e320 CDI
2006 VW Jetta TDI
and some other toys
[ QUOTE ]
I put 7" monitors is all of the head rests <snip>
You could go with two monitors and a dvd player to start and then add other stuff later, I figure that would run you about $600 if you can do the work youself.
[/ QUOTE ]
Can you provide links to the products you used? (monitors, DVD player, cables/splitters, anything I'm forgetting) How do you mount the monitors in the seats - how are they held in place? Are they plug-n-play? As in can I avoid splicing and soldering?[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img] I realize I'm asking for a really long list of information here. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Is there another site you could direct me to for answers to all these questions? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
First you need
-2 7" monitors (I used Audiovox LCM7069NP $350.00 ea)
-Multizone controller/TV Tuner (Alpine TCS-v430a 350.00)
-DVD Player (Alpine)
-Modded Xbox (xbox 150.00, Chip 75.00, Hard drive 200.00)
I did this awhile ago so some of these may not be available anymore but you can find other ones on the web for a better price than what I paid. (Ebay has duel monitor kits for a couple of hundred)
Everything was plug n play with RCA cables, the monitors came with thier own connecting boxs (so you could start with the dvd and two monitors, just plug the dvd into the box)
Power - I used a AMP wireing kit to run 1 power wire from the battery and one wire I tied into the fuse box. I used the radio fuse so that the accessory delay feature would work for the whole system. I then ran both those wires to the rear seat and connected them to two electrical distribution blocks that I got from an electrical supply store.
Monitors - I followed the instructions that came with my monitors for cutting into the headrest. I used the blue masking tape and a ruler to measure and mark a box on the seat, then used a razor knife to cut an X, Remove enough foam to fit the monitor shroud, then I used 4 self taping screws to attach the shroud to the plate in the headrest. I ran the wires down the inside of the seat and used the existing hole in the carpet to run the wires (following the power seat wires). I cut a 1" hole under the rear seat and routed the wires under the carpet to the hole. (molded carpet is a pain to work with).
I used zip ties and wire loom to hide all the wires under the rear seat. I grounded everything to the rear seat frame.
To hold all of the items in place I used a piece of brushed aluminum sheeting and slide it underneath the bar that runs the length of the rear seat then used self tapping screws to attach everything to the sheet.
Works good, hold everything in place and if i need to get to the components I just pull the rear seat up.
Oh yea... the multizone control box had a few inputs to connect the dvd player and xbox with (all RCA) no splicing or soldering required.
I made sure that the xbox, av controller/tv tuner, and dvd player all used RF remote controls and the monitors have ir remote and ir duel channel headphones.
Glad to answer anymore questions and I will see if I can get some photos online....
Almost forgot.... I replace the power supply on the xbox with one for a carputer, same requirments and it comes with a delay feature to leave the xbox off until 10 seconds after the engine starts. or you could use one of those converters you can get at walmart, best buy etc...
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2002 Ford Excursion Limited 7.3L PowerStroke Turbo 4x4, Banks Power Elbow, Banks Quick Turbo, Banks Big Head Wastegate, Banks Six Gun Tuner, Banks 4" Monster Exhaust, Banks Compressor Wheel, Superlift 6" Suspension (all Springs), FASS Fuel System, Diablo Predator w/ custom Granatelli Program, MAC Cold Air Intake, 37" Procomp XMT on 20" Rims,
2006 Mecedes e320 CDI
2006 VW Jetta TDI
and some other toys
sounds like cutting into the front buckets was pretty easy. as for the 2 rear benches I want to keep it so that the headrest monitors are removable still. never know when I am going to extra room for something. I cant wait to see some pictures. If you want you can email them to me and I'll host them. k5chevyblazer@tdo-mail.org
look in my pics under DVD. I found a 15" yes FIFTEEN [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] dvd monitor, dvd,cd,mp3 player and 5 sets of wireless headphones on ebay from AI Electronics in Hong Kong. $563.93 delivered in two days via air to my front door. I then took the monitor to a local shop and had them fab up the custom mount and install the player for another $150.00. I was a little afraid to purchase from another country but another TDS member had done it and I had a 3350 mile vacation road trip coming up and getting a dvd player was a must! I would do it again in a heartbeat...to heck with paying a grand or more for something local..
I'll see if I can get some more pics up to better show you the setup...the picture is incredible on this thing...
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]
btw I was originally adamant about keeping the AC controls, but I could never find a setup I wanted to pay for that would keep it...and ya know, we dont miss the second set of controls at all....
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