In Dash Tv

okey heres my question, I was looking at a 7' tft/lcd for my car, the head unit says it plays dvd's, but doesn"t say anything about cd's or mp3. So do I have to also keep my head unit I have now? Also how is the wiring is it the say principles as a cd head unit.

[mikegett]

I suppose you are refering to the flip out dvd players. Any dvd player will support cd playback. MP3 must be stated or it will not work. Be aware that cd MP3 and DVD MP3 require different firmware. As of yet, I do not know of any dvd deck supporting dvd MP3 playback. On another note. Not all dvd decks are created equal. If you want superior sound from cd then get a high end cd deck with aux in for dvd.

[ptrudel]

high end deck with aux in is best way to go IMO

so would I be able to get a head unit that plays dvd and cd , then be able to hook it up to any LCD screen. I not sure what would be the best way to go, using a head unit lcd combo, or a head unit that plays dvd and hooking it up to a lcd. I looked in the how to and i like the way that one alero was done.

[mikegett]

That will give you the aame results as a fold out display. Do not misunderstand me. There are many dvd drives that play cd well. It is a matter of what you are looking for. As of yet, no car dvd player will match a high end cd deck in audio reproduction. If you are not as concerned with the sound as you are the video, then find a nice fold out. Or a dvd HU and seperate lcd display. It is all about your priorities. For me, the sound comes first. I bought a high end unit with 24 bit burr brown DAC's (the same as in a Harmond Kardon) and have the option of digital and analog auxilary in. I can then add a dedicated dvd player and screen. This will probably be added when companies start offering dvd MP3 playback.

So I could in fact just get the head unit and seperate sceen and hook them two together? Are there any specil wiring to do or is it just the basic wiring like putting in a stereo and amp or is it a hole lot more poop to deal with, basicly on the 1-10 scale with modest audio smarts.

also i dont understant what you mean about sound quality, am i gonna lose regular sound or is the quality gonna be not as good when it comes to moves playing, I dont wanna lose any quality is playing cd's.

[mikegett]

The instal is the same as a cd. The main difference is going to be adding a parking sensor so that you can't play dvd's unless it is in park. If you can put in a cd player a dvd will pose little problems for you. what I mean about sound quality is how a drive reproduces the signal. DVD drives can read cd's but are made with a different laser. If you look at the cd specs dvd players in cars will always be lower than a high end cd player. There are some that will compare to the quality of a lower level cd but not the high end decks. This is one thing you are paying for in the upper level HU. With every manufacturer the lower level cd deck uses the same deck that is in OEM cars. The same holds true with the internal componants that process your audio signal. Higher end decks use a more advanced Digital to Analog controller. This is the heart of what your signal is coming from. On average, you will need to spend over 1600 on a dvd drive to get even close to a lower end cd deck in parts. This is due in part with the cost. One good example is Kenwood. Not to bash there products, but the dvd drives are some of the worst sounding units on the market. Even the upper level EX line uses the same audio parts and drive. They won't even list all of the cd specs for the products for this reason. What you do pay for in there higher level dvd is better screen. I would suggest sticking Alpine, high end pioneer or eclipse on the dvds. Otherwise go with a upper level HU and seperate dvd player.

ive never understood that whole the dvd player wont play movies if not in park, how does it know?

and if i understand you right your comparing a flip out tv with built in dvd player compared to maybe a tv and dvd player seperate.......they are right, you arent going to get as good quality sound because a dvd player does not have the ability to adjust the sound like a mid to higher end head unit does......

you got lots of posibilities......id personally go with a head unit with an auxillary input, get a dvd player and look into a monitor seperately........just depends what u want.......and where you want it.....

[mikegett]

The dvd players have a wire that must be placed on the parking brake or it will not start the dvd. Think of it as a input waiting to see the output of the parking brake sensor. It is not hard to fool it, but a small understaning of wiring and a meter will be needed.

I have two switches on mine, one to fool it, the other to fool the dash so the e-brake light dosen't come on!

how would i hook ip the e-brack cable anyway, and how can i bypass it like hobbes say's he did. I want to be able to play dvd's while Im driving and does every lcd have they gay ass cable.

[ptrudel]

all screens have this safety feature...and like hobbes said, its pretty easy to fool...if u know what ur doin

[mikegett]

It is not hard, but I would not suggest posting how to's on this. It may seem gay but there is a liability issue here. The cable is in place so that the driver is not distracted while driving. This is a State Law that every state follows. If you were in a accident and the officer or Insurance company notes that the dvd player is bi-passed (yes they do check) then you may be looking at a law suite. All Insurance companies look for any way out of payment. I don't suggest to give it to them. The States are entitled to fine you for this as well. By law no TV is allowed in the dash of a moving vehicle. By eliminating the play back out of park, you have defeated the TV and found a loop hole around the law.
As for installing the line. It is not hard. The sensor is located under your shifter. If you do not understand the basic priciple behind your electrical system, then have someone install this for you. If you hurt your sensor or move it the car will not run. This is what tells your car that you are in park. The same goes for when you are driving. IF you have a bad connection that causes the sensor to go out, your car can stall while driving. (I believe this only applies to automatics).
It is always good to do the work your self. There is a sense of pride and economicly it helps your wallet. However, electronics in your car are becoming very advanced. It is easy for someone to cause extreme harm to the vehicle. I have been installing my own radios for 12 years now and have a decent understanding of electronics. However, I nearly made a big mistake while installing my eclipse HU. Take your time and read alot of information on car electronics prior to attempting anything. You can never be too prepared.

You can always install a flip-down and bypass that so it can play while driving.

I have a flip-down in my car but I put it in for my kids to watch. It is where the dome lights used to be. The monitor does have it's own dome lights and my dvd player is in the trunk. Mine goes through my aux on my head unit so I can listen if I want or the kids can wear wireless headphones. Cost me about 400$ for the whole thing. Anyways I can post pics if you want to see what it looks like.

I can only see the screen if I sit in the back or tilt my head back but I don't really care to watch while driving.

cool i would like to see pics i want to do the same thing but up between the visors.

well I have to install it anyway but what if I put the m0niter in the back like blue, I still don't know how to bypass it, this is my only concern on the install, also all the audio places arround here wont bypass it, so how can anyone in my car watch it unless Im parked, the purpose is for the passengers anyway, so can anyone tell me the bypass procedures.

I don't know how to bypass. I don't even know if the flip-down has where you have to only watch while in park. I think the manufactors made them for suv's and van's but I don't know. My friend installed it for me. I'll put pics up later today or tomorrow.

OK I got a couple pics.....

another