| Mushman |
MDXtrous,
I have been looking for a DVD player like this. Any recommendations where I oculd hide it in the X?
I have a premium X with the CD changer under driver's seat and Nav under pass seat.
Any input would be super highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mush |
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| xcel |
Hi MDXtrous:
___Not to screw the thread but putting out “more than a DVD” is relatively simple and should in fact be mandatory in any HQ video installation. It’s the scaling that makes DVD’s look great as 480p from a simple progressive scan player is nothing in comparison to an HTPC running at 720p, 768p, 1024p, or even 1200p with the proper display albeit a simple SXGA monitor, UXGA LCD screen, or a DILA FP. As for a 16:9 AR’s … You may not know this but running a 16:9 custom Timing and Resolution (T&R) within a 4:3 std. Timing is another easily accomplished task using one of my favorite utilities called PowerStrip. This can give you a 16:9 DT but DVD’s in 16:9 type AR display natively in their respective 16:9 or tighter AR as the director had intended (16:9, 1.85:1, 2.0:1, 2.35:1 or any number of alternates) on a regular 4:3 AR screen. The 4:3 AR screen also gives you a true pixel perfect solution for your gaming needs whether that be a Quake III Arena/UnReal Tournament death match from the HTPC directly or a properly scaled X-Box or PS2 title from the respective gaming console. Halo II is simply going to look fantastic in the back of an X with this setup ;) In a nutshell, the best “in vehicle” display is going to come from a Radeon 9000/9500/9700 equipped HTPC with a Sonic based DVD decoder and scope calibrated outputs. The 15 – 18” 4:3 AR LCD will have to be tuned using Avia for “Best in Class” results.
___What I hope you can do for me is the next time that you speak with Ron, ask him if he has any solution to install a true 17” LCD neatly in the std. RES location w/ RGB or DVI cabling from the LCD, on top of/under the headliner and to the floor behind the third seat? I can build a road ready – low watt HTPC from available HTPC HW that will not only make DVD’s look far better than anything I have seen in an automobile to date but will make an X-Box or PS2 look fantastic with DScaler providing the SW support for deinterlacing the game consoles S-Video output to Capture card into the HTPC and scaled to HiDef type resolutions with the Radeon. As for the price … Lets just say you can pick up a true HQ 17” LCD for less than some of these wannabe LCD screens and the HTPC is just a few hundred more as well. I am also considering a HiDef OTA capture card but not until I get the chance to test mine out in a vehicle with one of those neat looking diversity? antennae you have installed.
___Lastly, would you care to comment on the (2) 120 V power connections you have in your X? I would like to see these two power connections come from two completely different rails. Maybe one from the Passenger side power seat and one from the tow hitch harness if either of them is capable of carrying 80 + W’s safely over the long term? How did Ron set yours up?
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by Mushman
MDXtrous,
I have been looking for a DVD player like this. Any recommendations where I oculd hide it in the X?
I have a premium X with the CD changer under driver's seat and Nav under pass seat.
Any input would be super highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mush
Mush,
There is room on top of the Navi DVD under the passenger seat (that's where I've installed a pretty big tuner) and I would assume depending on the size of the changer under the driver's seat that there would also be room on top of the changer, but with the vacuum loader, it would be difficult to change DVDs when driving. That's why a tray one would be better for those locations. A player more like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=1390427045
If you do want to keep the vaccuum loader, my best suggestion is in a location accessible to you as a driver. Mine is a tray type DVD and installed under my driver's seat, so I can change discs on the fly when driving. But getting back to the vaccuum loaded one. My best suggestion is to see if it fits under the ash-tray in that "hole" or another option would be inside the glove compartment where it's out of site, but if needed you can still change discs while driving. Those are what come to mind without placing it in the factory radio location.
I've attached a pic of my tuner sitting on top of the Navi DVD. Hope this gives you some ideas... |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
___What I hope you can do for me is the next time that you speak with Ron, ask him if he has any solution to install a true 17” LCD neatly in the std. RES location w/ RGB or DVI cabling from the LCD, on top of/under the headliner and to the floor behind the third seat?
___Lastly, would you care to comment on the (2) 120 V power connections you have in your X? I would like to see these two power connections come from two completely different rails. Maybe one from the Passenger side power seat and one from the tow hitch harness if either of them is capable of carrying 80 + W’s safely over the long term? How did Ron set yours up?
Whoa, that's a pretty technical description that's kind of beyond me. But if you do it, you'll have to let us see the pics...
Without asking, I know Ron will be able to install that. In his installs, he's put in anything from leather to motorized PS2 trays, to fiberglassed dashes. Just let him know what you want to do, and I'm sure he'll come up with a solution. He's got to be one of the most creative installers around.
As to the 120V power outlets, they came from a Tripp-Lite 300W dual outlet power inverter. Ron unmounted the center console and fitted the inverter in there. I'm pretty sure he took it out of the original box and just put in the skeleton. He could either the two outlets or you can just buy 2 single-outlet inverters. Again, I think he'll be able to do what you ask him, as long as there is enough space.
Here's the power inverter I got... |
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| MDXtrous |
| Here's what the inverter looks like in the center console. I've had to brighten it up a little since the pic was a bit dark. |
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| laborlitigator |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi MDXtrous:
___Not to screw the thread but putting out “more than a DVD” is relatively simple and should in fact be mandatory in any HQ video installation. It’s the scaling that makes DVD’s look great as 480p from a simple progressive scan player is nothing in comparison to an HTPC running at 720p, 768p, 1024p, or even 1200p with the proper display albeit a simple SXGA monitor, UXGA LCD screen, or a DILA FP. As for a 16:9 AR’s … You may not know this but running a 16:9 custom Timing and Resolution (T&R) within a 4:3 std. Timing is another easily accomplished task using one of my favorite utilities called PowerStrip. This can give you a 16:9 DT but DVD’s in 16:9 type AR display natively in their respective 16:9 or tighter AR as the director had intended (16:9, 1.85:1, 2.0:1, 2.35:1 or any number of alternates) on a regular 4:3 AR screen. The 4:3 AR screen also gives you a true pixel perfect solution for your gaming needs whether that be a Quake III Arena/UnReal Tournament death match from the HTPC directly or a properly scaled X-Box or PS2 title from the respective gaming console. Halo II is simply going to look fantastic in the back of an X with this setup ;) In a nutshell, the best “in vehicle” display is going to come from a Radeon 9000/9500/9700 equipped HTPC with a Sonic based DVD decoder and scope calibrated outputs. The 15 – 18” 4:3 AR LCD will have to be tuned using Avia for “Best in Class” results.
___What I hope you can do for me is the next time that you speak with Ron, ask him if he has any solution to install a true 17” LCD neatly in the std. RES location w/ RGB or DVI cabling from the LCD, on top of/under the headliner and to the floor behind the third seat? I can build a road ready – low watt HTPC from available HTPC HW that will not only make DVD’s look far better than anything I have seen in an automobile to date but will make an X-Box or PS2 look fantastic with DScaler providing the SW support for deinterlacing the game consoles S-Video output to Capture card into the HTPC and scaled to HiDef type resolutions with the Radeon. As for the price … Lets just say you can pick up a true HQ 17” LCD for less than some of these wannabe LCD screens and the HTPC is just a few hundred more as well. I am also considering a HiDef OTA capture card but not until I get the chance to test mine out in a vehicle with one of those neat looking diversity? antennae you have installed.
___Lastly, would you care to comment on the (2) 120 V power connections you have in your X? I would like to see these two power connections come from two completely different rails. Maybe one from the Passenger side power seat and one from the tow hitch harness if either of them is capable of carrying 80 + W’s safely over the long term? How did Ron set yours up?
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
OK. . . my head hurts now. . . :13:
MDXtrous. . . is your set up sufficient for my kids to watch Monsters Inc in the back seat. . . that's all I want to know. . .
How much should I expect to pay for the installation at a shop for this setup? I would want the system wired through my car stereo of course. . . :drool: |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
OK. . . my head hurts now. . . :13:
MDXtrous. . . is your set up sufficient for my kids to watch Monsters Inc in the back seat. . . that's all I want to know. . .
How much should I expect to pay for the installation at a shop for this setup? I would want the system wired through my car stereo of course. . . :drool:
LOL:D Yes your kids will be able to watch Monsters Inc. in the back seat!! Just replace the pilot from Top Gun with a blue monster flying through a factory!!
Equipment cost me about $1,100 (DVD/VCD/MP3 player, Backup Camera, TV Tuner, RGB Decoder, Rear Flip-Down screen, Power Inverter, Steering Wheel control adapters (not installed yet), installation $800, (though my installer has raised his prices).
There is a new video on Nav solution that can be found at www.video-nav.com . It's $299 and you need to buy another Pioneer tuner for around $300.
Sound is wired through the stereo (CD Changer input) using a blitzsafe adapter that's mentioned on another thread for $65.
Hope this helps. |
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| laborlitigator |
MDXtrous,
I'm just looking to put in the flip down 11.2" you showed the link to. . .
So basically, I'll need the following:
1. Flip down around $650
2. DVD player around $150
3. FM Modulator around $50
4. Something that will allow me to play my Playstation in the car?
5. How much more will I need to buy to be able to watch TV on the 11.2" screen.
That's all. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.
:2: |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
MDXtrous,
I'm just looking to put in the flip down 11.2" you showed the link to. . .
So basically, I'll need the following:
1. Flip down around $650
2. DVD player around $150
3. FM Modulator around $50
4. Something that will allow me to play my Playstation in the car?
5. How much more will I need to buy to be able to watch TV on the 11.2" screen.
That's all. Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.
:2:
1) That's about right. Instead of the FM Modulator $50, I'd go with the blitzsafe cable for $65 to go into the Changer input.
2) If the DVD player you get has auxiliary inputs, you can just plug your PS2 into the DVD player and then use the remote to switch between DVD and Aux1, Aux 2 (depending how many inputs you have)
3) TV tuners start at around $129 to $199. Check out www.savinglots.com , www.theautoaccessories.com . |
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| Johnny Law |
| OK, so lawyers like me and Laborlitigator are drawn toward a humongous screen that'll burn holes in your eye sockets...but seriously, everyone seems to be opting for the 7" or 8" screen, but my two boys love to kick back on road trips in the third row with their feet propped up on the folded second row. From this vantage point, the 11" screen appears great but might be a little much for second row occupants. Anyone have or seen a bigger screen and have any comments? Any pics? |
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| xcel |
Hi Johnny Law:
___Not that this means anything in your particular situation but have you ever watched a DVD on your PC while sitting in front of a 19” or larger CRT based monitor? It is just large enough at a std. desktop distance to fill your field of view comfortably as well as large enough so you do not miss much of what is happening on the screen. If you move back even 3 ft., you have lost much of a films immersive ability and you will lose quite a bit of the films detail in the process. When you are speaking of a RES, even a 17” 4:3 AR LCD in the std. RES position from the second row is too small a screen for maximizing the immersive feeling. The same can be said while watching a film via a HTPC/Progressive scan DVD player to a 61” Hi-Def TV from your couch, an HTPC to a DILA or 8”-9” gunned CRT based Hi-Res FP from a High Quality designed Home Theater entertainment seating distance, or even a 70 mm Projector/film on the big screen in one of the better movie houses. When I see 7” – 11” screens being discussed for RES, I keep thinking of Airline entertainment which is about the worst possible way to enjoy a film. If all a RES is supposed to do is keep the kids quiet, it has accomplished it task with these minor size screens. If it’s to keep the kids quiet as well as let them and the wife actually be immersed and enjoy a great film to its fullest while you are tooling down the highway at 70 mph, you really need a much larger screen than 11”. I believe high res LCD glasses of some sort will be a final solution in the not-to-distant future but for now, the bigger the LCD RES screen, the better IMHO.
___We now have the ability to pipe in great - big screen sound albeit 2 channel (I believe 5.1/7.1 DD/DTS surround in the automobile is to drowned out by road noise in the case of the center channel dialog in particular) or even better, HQ headphones and with the proper RES display, you may actually enjoy a film to its fullest instead of just getting by until you rent it from the local Block Buster or Hollywood Video for home viewing on the HDTV or your Hi-RES FP at another time. It may not be exactly the same given the 60 – 70 dB of ambient noise from the road but it will be a lot better than some of these so called High Quality OEM manufacturer RES’s available.
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| laborlitigator |
OK, my head is starting to hurt again. . . :3:
Wayne, you've got to understand, 99 times out of a 100, you and I will not be able to watch any of the films b/c
1. We're driving. . . always. . . by choice or not.
2. My kids would, literally, nag me to the point that I couldn't enjoy the finer points of great films such as "Stripes" or "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" because they don't have character's named Simba or Sponge Bob.
I'll still go for the 11.2 anyway. . . my eyes did strain for the 7 inch screen. On the other hand, the 13 inch would seem just a little too large. Sort of like sitting in the front row of the movie theatre.
:awais: |
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| MDXtrous |
Actually some of my passengers find the 7 inch a bit too close and they get dizzy. They'd rather look at the Navi screen. So I think 11.2 would be a bit too big for some people in the second row, but it really depends on the passenger. But if they are in the third row, I would think it would be great.
I took my car to my installer today and he had a 15.2 inch widescreen from icon-tv. Note that he had one of those full cab 5 seater Dogde Rams. It was HUGE!! |
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| purdue1 |
| My DVD installation just finished last night (will have pictures post soon). The 7" screen is a good size for us. I wouldn't go with a bigger one, the second row passengers might feel dizzy for looking at a big screen too closed. The new higher resolution is exellent. I like the size and portability of the $139 dvd player. It fit right under the coin tray and you can take it out by unplug 3 cables (2 1/8" phono plugs for sound and video, 1 molex plug for the power). Prices are $229 screen, $138 player, $30 FM mod, S&H $25, $163 installation. |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by purdue1
My DVD installation just finished last night (will have pictures post soon). The 7" screen is a good size for us. I wouldn't go with a bigger one, the second row passengers might feel dizzy for looking at a big screen too closed. The new higher resolution is exellent. I like the size and portability of the $139 dvd player. It fit right under the coin tray and you can take it out by unplug 3 cables (2 1/8" phono plugs for sound and video, 1 molex plug for the power). Prices are $229 screen, $138 player, $30 FM mod, S&H $25, $163 installation.
Wow, I'd like to see the pic of the DVD under in the tray!! If I'm able to relocate mine there, I can place the PS2 on the front side of the driver's seat, umm.... |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by xcel
Hi Johnny Law:
___Not that this means anything in your particular situation but have you ever watched a DVD on your PC while sitting in front of a 19” or larger CRT based monitor? It is just large enough at a std. desktop distance to fill your field of view comfortably as well as large enough so you do not miss much of what is happening on the screen. If you move back even 3 ft., you have lost much of a films immersive ability and you will lose quite a bit of the films detail in the process. When you are speaking of a RES, even a 17” 4:3 AR LCD in the std. RES position from the second row is too small a screen for maximizing the immersive feeling. The same can be said while watching a film via a HTPC/Progressive scan DVD player to a 61” Hi-Def TV from your couch, an HTPC to a DILA or 8”-9” gunned CRT based Hi-Res FP from a High Quality designed Home Theater entertainment seating distance, or even a 70 mm Projector/film on the big screen in one of the better movie houses. When I see 7” – 11” screens being discussed for RES, I keep thinking of Airline entertainment which is about the worst possible way to enjoy a film. If all a RES is supposed to do is keep the kids quiet, it has accomplished it task with these minor size screens. If it’s to keep the kids quiet as well as let them and the wife actually be immersed and enjoy a great film to its fullest while you are tooling down the highway at 70 mph, you really need a much larger screen than 11”. I believe high res LCD glasses of some sort will be a final solution in the not-to-distant future but for now, the bigger the LCD RES screen, the better IMHO.
xcel,
Here's a 13.3" put in an MDX for the third row... |
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| jonnygoodboy |
| Who needs a DVD player in the MDX when they could just follow this guy down the road? :D |
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| laborlitigator |
If the 11.2 is too big for the 2nd row. . . how does this sound?
1. (2) 5" head rest screens installed into driver and passenger seats for the 2nd row.
2. (1) 7 or 8" flip down placed further back which would be for the 3rd row occupants.
Suggestions? Anyone?. . . |
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| xcel |
Hi MDXtrous:
___Thank you very much for the pic’s! I wonder now if I am making a mistake thinking of using a 15 or 17” LCD given the discussion to date? I would still only use a HW SXGA or better LCD type display but maybe a 13 – 15” would more than suffice? It’s just the cost of a real HQ SXGA/UXGA 17” LCD is barely above $500 and getting less expensive all the time. That and using the HTPC as an all-purpose general use PC including gaming and surfing the net when data calls become much less expensive in the not to distant future …
___Do you think you could get a pic of the mounting for the 13.3 above the second row seating? I am assuming Ron installed this and without a good looking mount and RGB cabling above the head liner, this is all for naught in my case anyway …
___Thank you for the posts of your install as they have created a ton of ideas for the rest of us.
___Laborlitigator,quote:
Wayne, you've got to understand, 99 times out of a 100, you and I will not be able to watch any of the films b/c
1. We're driving. . . always. . . by choice or not.
Damn, I never thought of that :D
___Good Luck
___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net |
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| MDXtrous |
quote:
Originally posted by laborlitigator
If the 11.2 is too big for the 2nd row. . . how does this sound?
1. (2) 5" head rest screens installed into driver and passenger seats for the 2nd row.
2. (1) 7 or 8" flip down placed further back which would be for the 3rd row occupants.
Suggestions? Anyone?. . .
Why don't you go with 7" in the headrests? I think 5" will be too small. Do you really need a flip down for the third row? Only if you carry people there a lot I would think. For me the 7 inch flip-down was good enough for people in the 3rd row to see. |
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| purdue1 |
| DVD player front. They sent the wrong one but the one I ordered is exactly the same except the name is Soundstorm instead of Boss. |
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| purdue1 |
| DVD screen, Toy Story 2 |
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| purdue1 |
| DVD player installed |
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| purdue1 |
| Another pic of DVD player |
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| purdue1 |
| DVD player with cables |
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| purdue1 |
| Screen mounted, the color matches perfectly with headliner |
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| MDXtrous |
Purdue1,
Very nice!! That player is SOOO small. I didn't realize it until I saw it in the tray. For $139, it's a real deal!!
Looks great!! |
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| paul123 |
quote:
Originally posted by MDXtrous
paul123,
The one downside with these solutions is the inability for the driver to access the DVD, in case there is a problem, or the DVD needs to be changed while driving...
Very good point I never took that into consideration. If you use an under seat location you would still have the same problem. I would assume the only way to clear that up would be the front of shifter for the DVD player. |
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| laborlitigator |
| Plus these combos are significantly more expensive. . . on ebay, the audiovox is $1100. I can get all these items for around $500 for the 7" screen. |
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| Maximus |
Perdue 1
Where did you get that screen and the DVD player? How much and what's the resolution on the screen?
:1: :) :2: :) :D |
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| purdue1 |
Where did you get that screen and the DVD player? How much and what's the resolution on the screen?
Got the DVD, screen and FM modulator from www.cmttrading.com
Here is the link. Screen resolution is 1440x480, cost $229
http://7925.adahost.com/computer/index.html?loadfile=catalog21_0.html |
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| purdue1 |
| This little DVD player can play DVD+RW disc. I will test the cheapo DVD-R once I order them. I have the hot Sony DRU500A burner. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by purdue1
This little DVD player can play DVD+RW disc. I will test the cheapo DVD-R once I order them. I have the hot Sony DRU500A burner.
Purdue, can you test VCD or SVCD on CD-R? |
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| purdue1 |
| Yes, VCD & SVCD on CD-R works, already tested. Just took a long trip down to West Lafayette and Indy this weekend, the DVD player is great, no skipping. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by purdue1
Yes, VCD & SVCD on CD-R works, already tested. Just took a long trip down to West Lafayette and Indy this weekend, the DVD player is great, no skipping.
Great news! This is the one I'll get then. Vacuum-loaded, in-dash and plays everything you throw at it.
I can't tell from the dimensions listed and your pics but do you have an idea if this model from the same manufacturer and same price would work? The difference is tray loaded and inputs.
http://7925.adahost.com/computer/in...atalog21_0.html
::: This is the one you got :::
http://7925.adahost.com/computer/in...atalog21_0.html
Thanks. |
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| crmsnidol |
quote:
Originally posted by purdue1
Yes, VCD & SVCD on CD-R works, already tested. Just took a long trip down to West Lafayette and Indy this weekend, the DVD player is great, no skipping.
Also, what do you think of the Silverstars on your X? Better than the stock bulbs? |
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| purdue1 |
| I couldn't figure out the dvd player models from your links, but the BOSS 2000 and Soundstream are exactly the same (spec). BOSS is $10 cheaper. The Silverstar bulbs are definitely whitter but I am not sure if they are better in term of visibility. I have 20/20 vision (no glasses yet) and I didn't use the stock ones much so I can't really compare. I just like the whitter light. |
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| pogiMDX |
| is there a flip down headset that offers two sets of a/v jacks? i have cousins that like the PS2 and their N64. just want to know if it even exists. oh yeah, 7-8' monitor is the size i'm interested in. thanks. |
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| laborlitigator |
| I've seen plenty on ebay. . . simply do a search such as "flip down" or "flip-down". |
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| X2Z |
Just to throw out another option how about power acoustic
PADVD5000. I installed it in my wifes VW Passat. It is a 5 disc player that plays dvd,vcd,svcd, mp3, cd-r and cd-rw. I have been very pleased with the performance of the unit. I am still awaiting my MDX so i don't know where it can be placed in the MDX because it is about 14" long. The cool thing about it is that I can use the remote IR sensor to control the player from the drivers seat or my wife (when sitting in the back) can control the unit from the IR repeater that is part of the headrest screen. |
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