Oh, that thread has some of his impressions of the unit too, so never mind about my previous request for impressions Samendolaro (unless of course you have something further to add). It also answers the other question I asked about bypassing the video lock-out feature, so ignore that one too! Thanks for the link JSVH.

 

I am wondering about this too, It is very hard to find pricing information.

 

Yeah, pricing info is tough on some units. To clarify what I meant before is that I'm looking for a DVD, or DVD-Nav system that still has a screen, but a built in... not a flip out. The eclipse nav is just a tad too expensive for me, and since I prefer to get lost and take more time driving around, the one with just the DVD is right for me... at the right price

 

I too was looking for a DVD receiver w/ monitor that will fit in the stereo space. Which one's fit in there, and hopefully it's not that expensive. How big of a monitor can you fit in there anyway?

thanks

 

The Kenwood unit is the same as the eclipse, it has the Radio and can play Movies the Nav unit is another unit but the screen flips down etc. It can be had online for about $1000.

As far as the Eclipse it is DEAD ON... Whoever installed your unit most likely screwed it up. I need to call my installer because I can not find the GPS antenna.. I don't know where the hell he put it but I have never lost lock, he might have stuck it under the tinted glass but it is not visible inside or outside the car.

The Eclipse unit also has a built in Gyroscope which coupled with the connection to the VCC (speedometer) wire provides dead reckoning so you will be able to plot your position while going through tunnels or large downtown areas (where you would normally loose signal).

I kept the stock speakers. When I heard the radio the first time I wasn’t really blown away, but then again it was radio. I put in a DVD not expecting much and “HOLY S**T”. The Movie Quality was great and the Sound!!! I was enveloped in Dolby Digital… The Stock speakers really sounded nice.

The mapping is fast and accurate. If I make a wrong turn the NAV recalculates automatically and corrects me. I can search for Poi’s and touch them to get phone numbers and other info.

My only complaint about the unit is the lack of a Speed Display on the system. I guess they figured that people will go by their own speedometer but I like going by the NAV speed. I spoke to Eclipse about this and apparently they have had several requests for this to be added. From what I understand it is as simple as adding the features to the next DVD release. Since it is DVD driven it can be added but who knows when that will be since the unit is only 3 months old.

 

so the Kenwood Excelon DDX7015 is the only unit dvd w/ monitor that will work on the tC?

 

My AVN2454 GPS antenna was installed on the dash right under the windshield. The installer claimed that the location of the antenna is the cause of the NAVI positioning issue. Please let me know where yours was installed.

 

Does anyone know if the Kenwood unit has the UNdesired feature of not playing DVDs in motion, like the Eclipse? Can it too be bypassed?

 

Wow, I want one of those....not sure if I have the extra $2,000 or so to throw around though. Eventually though, that would be cool.

Nice pics though...thanks

 

Cool, so they can keep updating the maps and system? Do they make you buy the updated DVD? I hope not for $2k.

 

*****DUMB QUESTION ALERT*****

OK, I have one or two questions that I'm sure are obvious to most of you - so you can laugh at me all you want Since the tc has a double din space - can you put 2 different things in there? Or is it just either one regular sized thing or one big thing? I just ask because I have a rather strong attachment to my current head unit, which is just a cd/mp3 player. The navigation stuff seems really cool but I'm not sure I'd be willing to sacrifice my head unit. oh, and the second dumb question - if I do just replace the stock unit with my current one I need to buy another one of those black space keeper things that allow me to turn my double din into a single one, right? They're not reusable I don't think? Thanks for answering the obvious - I really appreciate it!

 

You are absolutely right about getting a spacer for using your current headunit to replace the tC's double-din unit.

And yes, you could put 2 different things in the double-din area as well. Basically your choices are a double-din head unit which takes up the space of two single units, a single headunit and the spacer as you are going to do, or 2 single sized headunits. People choose this because there are flip out single din screens that are just that... the screen, and they put a single-din DVD player underneath.

 

I got in touch with the installer and it looks like he put the GPS antenna UNDER the dash in the center. The material used in the dash allow the GPS signal to pass through... Works for me ....

 

is it possible to be able to use the gps and one other feature (ie cd player/mp3/perhaps dvd) at the same time? Like while listening to a cd, switch to gps, look for directions while still listening to the cd player, and keep the gps on while the cd still plays? Or would the cd player need to stop so that the gps system can run?

I'd kind of rather listen to some music while waiting for instructions rather than drive in silence until the next turn or whatnot..

 

Yes. The GPS runs in the background and will interrupt when it needs too.

 

I have two questions, one does this model offer the option of hooking a mic to it for voice recognition like the kenwood, and what store sells them just in case your not lucky to find it on ebay?

 

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...&highlight=gps

 

I actually have the same head unit. The Eclipse AVN2454 retails for $2300, but I bought mine for $1900 and I installed it myself. I also have mine set up to be able to show video while the car is in motion, though I never do because that would be distracting and dangerous. Even though it is an all in one unit, the sound is very high quality. You can't expect anything but the best from an Eclipse unit. I have pre-outs going to a multichannel amp and Infinity Kappa components and then I'm running a separate 200 watt 10" Kappa Perfect on a mono amplifier. While it's not loud outside of the car, you can play Gran Turismo inside and literally feel the road rumbling beneath you. It's sound quality over loudness. I like how the tC hides the display, because mine is out in the open for everyone to see.

Just to let you know, it doesn't do the music separately from the GPS. The GPS is always running, even if the audio is off. It has separate CD and DVD drives for this purpose. It can always read the map DVD while you have a music CD playing. Another thing it does it that when it is telling you directions, it shifts the music away from the driver and it plays the voice prompts through the driver's speaker. It always surprises people because they think it's a factory GPS system. But then again, it's installed in my Mitsubishi Eclipse and not the Scion, so when my car starts, the head unit says "ECLIPSE" and everyone is like "WOW! Your car has a boot up screen!!!"

I'm probably gonna sell off my Eclipse and put it in the xB soon... pictures will come after the pimp wagon is complete.

 

Was it difficult to install? I just purchased one of these... coming in the mail. Not sure If I should attempt to install it myself or take it somewhere to install.

 

It's very easy to install. I have the Kenwood DDX7015 and the installation is very similar. If you do a search, there's a couple of PDF manuals that explain how to take the front console apart (in the installing subwoofer manual). Also, the Eclipse AVN2454 uses standard Toyota plugs, so you don't have to use/make a wiring harness, just connect the factory ones. You also have to drill new mounting holes on the stock brackets if you want to be able to close the stereo door cover.