Headrest monitors for the stereo challenged

[Jeffksf B]

OK so I haven't messed with car stereos in about 15 or more years. Now I have kids and have noticed these headrest monitor things and thought those could be useful.

So what is involved with installing these things? How much could I expect to pay? What other items might you need to make them work? I need a "head rest monitors for dummies" kinda info.

 

[user 62851]

I have Alpine monitors cut into my head rests. I got 7" screens and they are controlled by my aftermarket Alpine head unit. I wasn't up for the challenge on installing myself, so I went to a local stereo shop to get it done. The cost of the monitors were fairly cheap because I got them on EBAY instead at the stereo place. EBAY= $475, stereo shop= $750... that was just for the monitors. My head unit which controls everything is also a 7" screen flip out and I got it about 2 years ago for about $1500. The install price at the shop was $300. The monitors came with a brain unit that connected up to my head unit brain. All Alpine compatible products made it easy for install. Though, they had my truck for about a day. Don't know how long they actually worked on, just b/c they also had other installs going on as well. Well here is a look-see:

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[Chris Castineira]

Sweet setup.

CHRIS

 

[rob chaw]

Very nice....

 

[Jeffksf B]

so do all three screens show the same thing at all times? Or can seperate movies be watched by all? I'm not to interested in changing the factory head unit, so how would the screens be operated if I stayed with the factory head unit?

 

[Clay Campbell]

in that case then you would need to get stand alone units that have their own dvd players. They would also have their own remote and most likely their own headphones. but they will cost more than the ones pictured above because they have all that stuff. But they will be easier to install because the only need a positve power source and a ground. (unless you want the sound to come out of your speakers.)

 

[user 62851]

In the pictures above you see my Head Unit playing a DVD. I can turn the main HU to the radio and have the rear continue to play the DVD I have in the HU. While doing this, the radio is played out of the speakers and those that want to listen to the DVD that plays. Well the TV's came with wireless head sets for both. So turn them on and it connects. Say the driver wants to listen to the radio, he can. Also the right rear passenger wants to watch the DVD in the HU, he can with the headset. And say the left rear passenger wants to play PS3 or something. There is a switch on the screen that allows the user to switch between, the main DVD player and 2 other things that could be hooked up to it. IE: DVD player, TV, video game system. Again all can be listened with the other headset. Both TV's have the switch to change between Aux1/Aux2/DVD. The main HU can switch between radio/DVD/Aux1.



Also say the kids in the back aren't listening to you while you drive. Key function in the front, you can go into the options part and turn them off.



I don't believe these screens can be hooked up to the factory HU. I could be wrong, but I don't know. For a sure thing, be best to check out the local stereo shop for ideas. But as Clay mentioned above that is another route. Some screens you might see on EBAY come with a DVD player built in, plus with speakers in them.



For whatever route you take, had you thought the idea of a ceiling mount single screen?

 

[Jeffksf B]

I have thought aboutthe ceiling mount but I'm not a fan of blocked rearview vision. I also like the clean look of the headrest monitors

I found these on Crutchfield, seems like a good route for me