I'm looking to buy a mobile multimedia head unit soon like the Clarion VXD925VD. But i've read somewhere that you can't watch DVDs unless the parking park is on...is that true?

If that's the case, i probably won't be getting one. I was really interested because i figured the passenger could watch DVDs while i was driving...for road trips and stuff.

So can someone with a mobile multimedia unit clarify this for me? Is it possible to watch DVDs while driving?

thanks

 

Just ground the parking brake wire, it'll work fine.

 

Ya, thats a safety feature that the shops installing the unit are required to do. Its prolly illegal if you drive and watch a movie, thats asking for an accident... but all you have to do is take that wire that is supposed to be spliced into the ebrake and ground it anywhere.

Huy

 

I see...thanks a lot guys!

Ok...now i'm probably gonna order mine soon...probably within the next week or so.

Some questions i have on the installation. I've never actually installed a head unit before, but i'm a pretty handy guy and i learn fast. I know i'll have to get a wiring harness which will make the install easier. How much work is involved if i get a wiring harness? Is there a lot of wire connecting and soldering?

I'm looking to buy the Clarion VXD925VD...i've read a thread about this unit compared to another unit. it was very conclusive though...anyone one have any recommendations? i'm mainly looking to play cds, mp3s, dvds, and vcds. Are there any visualizations when playing regular cds?

also, i'm thinking about buying it factory reconditioned from www.onlinecaraudio.com ...the price difference between a brand new one is about $250...worth it? Anyone have any experience with them...good and bad. Does anyone recommend against factory reconditioned head units? there's a 180 day warranty which seems pretty fair to me.

are there other car audio vendors out there that are trustworthy and reliable? etronics.com seems to be pretty good also...but they sell all brand new units...

oh, i also plan on getting the HKS CAMP to work with the LCD display...will i have any problems connecting it?

 

^What he said. My friend had his car done with the same setup, and it worked out fine for when he was driving, and his passenger wanted to watch.

 

Any thoughts on purchasing factory reconditioned units?

$250 worth the risk? or should i just go with a new unit?

and i see Pioneer has some units that come with AV receivers...what's the benefit of an AV receiver?

if i get the HKS CAMP, will i be able to hook it up without an extra AV receiver?

 

Look on E-bay for a new one. You can get them cheaper from a large wholeseller than the local stereo shops can buy them from the factory. Thats what I did. Check out my stereo below.

My stereo pics

A few pics of Installs from the shop who did mine.

 

Oh and yes it's illegal to watch dvd's while driving but.... if your gonna spend 2k or so on a monitor and dvd setup to heck with it, I'm watchin it. Mainly use DVD concerts and not movies while I drive though. If I do put a movie in I just listen to it. No wanna take a chance on scrwewin up my car cause I was paying too much attention to the screen.

 

haha...i know what you mean.

i've checked out ebay...but most of their units are factory reconditioned...and that was one of my questions...is it worth it to get a factory reconditioned unit to save a couple hundred dollars.

oh, btw, the head units play VCDs too right?

 

No, its only a couple hundred dollars. Personally I'd rather have a longer warranty, plus have something thats really new.

No, I dont think they play VCDs, although I'll let you know.. I'm the one that started the other thread and I ended up ordering a vrx935vd.

 

What are you planning to do with the 925 unit? Cause, depending on what you want to do, I would and wouldt not recommend it. There is SOO much mashed into that little unit that its prone to not do what you want it to do. The touch screen feature is badass, and its VERY sensitive so you wont be punching it like you would with the pioneer, BUT these screens go bad very easily and quickly. When i rev sometimes, my exhuast will create eithe soo much signal disturbance or vibration that the CD will stop playing. I usually play Mp3s. And when it gets too hot, the VCD's or dvds wont play or will be very choppy. Im also lucky if it decideds to play a DVD. Im not downing the system, its VERY badass, but if you want some serious sounds with bass that breaks glass dont get this. It wont work for you. It could have easily just been my system becuase I got that sucker right when clarion put it on the shelves. Older model maybe.... anywho, talk to an audio shop, see what they say. Im just giving you my experiece with the unit.

Huy

 

oh man, where were you when the previous thread was alive.. I'm regretting my purchase now.

 

wait about a month or so alpine and kenwood have some serious units coming out. and if a paasenger wants to watch a dvd while riding in a rx7, must be out of there mind. i don't even listen to the radio when i was driving my fd (now for sale).

luigi

 

damn it, since no one posted anything negative two weeks ago in the other thread I ordered mine last week.

god damn it.

 

Don't fret, I bet you'll like it. I use the VRX815 with a seperate DVD and sound processor. Clarion is good stuff.

 

Well i'm just looking for a unit that does what it's supposed to do...play DVDs, CDs, MP3s, etc.

I wanna use it for my HKS CAMP unit that i'll be getting...which is why i'm leaning towards this Clarion unit because of the touch screen...it'll make going through the menus in the CAMP much easier.

The other unit i was thinking about getting is the Pioneer AVH7800...it looks really nice...just lacks the touch screen...

i don't plan on getting subs or anything...but i might get new speakers sometime in the future...so i'm not building a sound system for competition or show even...

If there's nothing really bad about the Clarion 925 unit...i'm sure i'll be happy with it...but if people out there have bad experiences, please let me know.

or if anyone recommends the Pioneer Unit...let me know also.

 

Damn, and we were talking about that too. I myself don't plan on ordering one for a good while.