I need some help. I want to get a HU with a screen on it and two headrest monitors. Can any of you Audio guys help me out with recommendations on what to get. I'm hoping to spend around $700 total but that's not firm. Also, if anyone knows of any place in KC that can do the install and maybe even sell me the equipment, I'd love to know where to go to get a quality job at a fair price. Please don't tell me to do a SEARCH, I did and there is way too much info to get thru. If that's all the help you can offer, please don't.

Thanx in advance to any and all for the help.

Scionlife rocks!!!!

 

Hmmm $700 for a couple screens and a screen HU is pretty limited maybe too limited. All I can offer for help is that you should be able to do the HU install yourself it is pretty easy (will save a little $$ for use toward parts). In the headrest Screens I am not sure I would attempt myself (maybe I would) and I have been modding cars for years. Sonic electronics offers a lot of HU options (I have dealt with them and they are efficient and have excelent prices. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_i...-monitor-.html
They also list a lot of monitors that could be used:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_i...er-7-inch.html

If it was me I would get a killer HU, spend my $700 or maybe more on that and add the headrest units later as money permitted. Remember the Hu is the heart of any audio video system. Cheap units are often just that CHEAP, and dont offer the sound or video quality or upgradeability that you might want later. I love my Kenwood DVD 6019 http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6815.html very high quality and specs but it by itself kills your budget:/ I got it with the optional NAV unit making it even more costly but I love the technology and with real time traffic data from XM subscription it is very useful here in Atlanta.

 

OK. Maybe $700.00 is too cheap. I really don't want to get a POS HU now and have to get another one later and wind up spending twice as much anyway.

I'm not looking to compete in any audio competitions but I'd like to have a "decent" sounding and looking system. Do you think a grand is more like what I need to spend? I'm hoping to use the stock speakers also.

As you can tell, audio is not my thing. I think I can put the HU in and I know I can put the Headrest units in as long as they are already assembled. I've seen them on the net for anywhere from $200. a pair and up. They look like they're plug and play. Am I wrong? The wiring is no biggie. I've wired all of my underdash, under car and lock lights with great success.

Again, If anyone from or around KC area see this, Please give me a heads up. If you would like to call me instead of typing, E-mail me and I'll give you my number.

Thanx Ted for your in put. Great ideas!!! I've seen your work and obviously, you know what you're talking about. Much appreciated!!!

 

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah a grand would help alot as far as giving you many more choices. I would look at better name brand HU's and lesser headrest monitors. Sound quality and video quality improve quite a bit when you spend a few more $$. If you have no intention of adding amps then then #of preamp outputs of the HU are less relevance. If you plan on playing only the same dvd (or music) to all 3 screens then dual zone capabilities may be of little concern (I thought about rear monitors and decided if I was to add those later that dual zone would be nice to have (so I could pipe the dvd and it's sound to the back....would have to include some headphone jacks back there...so that front seat could listen to one thing (radio) and the kids in the rear could watch Barney. If you think you might add additional video sources (game machine or other dvd source) later then extra video inputs (many units have at least 1 some have 2-3) become important. The biggest thing about better units is differences in tuner capability, better amps (built in amps are cleaner) and more sound adjustment capability (some of these capabilitys might be more important using the factory speakers direct from the HU, as opposed to running seperate amps (which provide adjustment) between the HU and the speakers). I would certainly recommend looking primarily at double din units as opposed to single din flip up screen units simply because they fit very nicely and you do not have to worry about weakness of the motorized screen and track units (and you really do not need another indash cubby hole that the custom mounting brackets for single din units would provide (or do you ?? the xB has so many dash cubbies already)).

Be sure to get a wiring connector (schosche or other brand, often privided for free with Hu purchase) and a mounting kit (which for the double din setup is simply a couple little plastic pieces to fill in the sides of the dash hole next to the new HU, also often supplied free). The wiring plug (toyota type) really simplifies install and means no cutting of stock wires Wiring the headrest monitors cleanly is a little involved (must run wires down thru the seat behind the upholstery). That part of their install doesn't scare me but the actual mounting of the screen in the headrest could be a little touchy for a clean result. I wish you luck in your future AV install, have fun!!