1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

backseat dvd player, dash control???

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by aira, Jan 7, 2005.

  1. aira

    aira New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2005
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    I'm about to but a 2005 prius (#6), and I'm wonering if there is a dvd player I can get installed for the backseat that I can control in the dash?

    In the descriptions of the 2005 nav system, I see "dvd navigation". But no where does anyone explain what that is in detail. Does it mean that there are dvd controls already there if I install a screen in the back? Is the dvd related only to the nav?

    Is there something like this out there (or coming up soon) in the aftermarket?

    Sorry for the dumb questions! Thanks in advance for the patience...

    Sunny
     
    #1 aira, Jan 7, 2005
  2. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    26
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    The DVD is only data for the NAV, about 8 GB worth. It cannot play movie DVDs. First, it wouldn't have the decoder for movies. Second, only the front driver door speaker (lower) is connected to the NAV, intercepting the signal to it from the amplifier.

    Coastal Dave is supposedly working on a modification to add video/audio to the front display/sound system. I say supposedly because it has been promised for over a year. Some others have been working on intercepting the NAV video and putting it on the front screen.

    You could get an aftermarket DVD player with its own screen for the back seat. You could then get an Aux-In for to the head unit for audio, however it is unclear what works without interfering with the 6 CD changer. Also, if you use an aux-in, don't expect surround sound, even if the JBL is 9 speakers. The center speaker is sum of left and right, and there is no separate channel for front and rear. I suppose you could intercept the speaker ouputs at the amplifier and drive them yourself, but you would have no dash control.
     
    #2 DanMan32, Jan 7, 2005
  3. aira

    aira New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2005
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Thanks for the great explanation! It healps a lot!

    Why can't the company descriptions just say what format, like dvd audio, video, or R? It would clarify so much!

    My purpose is for my little one who is addicted to baby einstein while travelling. It would be such a luxury to be able to control everything from the from while driving! Right now I have a little portable strapped to the seat. It falls all the time and turning it on / off / setting it up is a major PIA - esp while holding a wiggly toddler usually in bad weather.

    I'm not so concerned about having the great audio. It would be awesome if it's possible to run the audio through the car speakers, but I'm more interested in getting the controls up front. I don't need the image on the dash screen! I don't plan on watching movies while driving!

    Another question: Are there any special considerations about having aftermarket goodies installed? Can most places (lke Tweeter) work on them? Is there a special certification technicians should have to work on a Prius? Toyota only?? By default I don't trust those guys. I'm a 30 year old female audio engineer who looks 18. They BS sooooo much!!!!

    I'll check out Coastal Dave for what you're talking about... I don't mind waiting if it's the right thing for us!!

    Thanks again for the info! Very helpful!
     
    #3 aira, Jan 7, 2005
  4. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I want some speakers too! aira, what should i look out for as possible BS? I really don't have much money so I need to know what to do :-/
     
    #4 flareak, Jan 7, 2005
  5. aira

    aira New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2005
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    It's hard to specify exactly *what* to beware of... I don't know if you're male or female, but have witnessed much more BS directed at females.

    I've experienced everything from asking technical questions to the salesguy, only to have him repeatedly *turn his back to me* and answer my male friend - who knew absolutely nothing about audio, to having salesguys either just blatantly lie or just not have any competency whatsoever. You know, like try to impress me about the flux capacitor... Once I went to buy a pro level cassette player for studio referencing, and asked about the bias spec of a particular model. The dude told me bias was a noise reduction feature - not even close! Another annoying thing they do is, if I've mentioned my career, they try to trap me with misleading or impossible questions. Very condescending!

    That said, I also know very little about car audio - I do studio recording...

    Anyhoo, about speakers, you need to know the size speakers that will fit in your moutings and choose among those. I don't know what prius' can take, as I haven't planned to upgrade them. Some brands are far superior to others in sound and durability. But even then, I bought awesome boston acousitcs for my integra a few years ago and one fried out seemingly the day the warranty expired!

    Installation is a whole other problem. Generally Tweeter was good for a while b/c they were strick about hiring competent certified techs. But I've had nothing but bad experiences with them in the past 2 years. I don't know what happened to their standards... Honestly, I'm not sure how to ensure I'm getting a good installer - I don't know enough specifics about car audio to ascertain how much they know.

    I guess word of mouth is the way to go. Maybe there are some good forums out there on this subject where folks can tell about good and bad experiences. I've never checked it out.

    Hope my long-winded drivel helps a little... Good luck!
     
    #5 aira, Jan 7, 2005
  6. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2004
    1,016
    20
    0
    Location:
    St Louis, MO
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i think the speakers are 6.3 inches.. tweeters are 1.5?
     
    #6 flareak, Jan 7, 2005
  7. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    26
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Aira, I know what you mean. I have a back deformity and I am very short. I needed tires Christmas Eve, and my friend came with me for the ride. The tire guy kept looking at him instead of me. Hey buddy, it's my car! He was nice and informative otherwise, and was really speaking to both of us, but he eyeballed m friend more than me.

    Talk about BS to females, check this soundbite out. To get it posted, I had to change the extension. The true extension is ZLZ.

    Hey Danny, any way to get this forum to allow sound?
     
    #7 DanMan32, Jan 8, 2005
  8. aira

    aira New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2005
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    I've never been confused for a computer whiz, so I'm having trouble opening the file, but hubby will be home soon and he's never met a computer problem he couldn't solve, so I'll check it out later...

    The whole condescending attitude thing gets my blood boiling!!! Hope you got good tires without too much trouble... That stuff stays with you long after the encounter is over.

    Anyone with insight into our aftermarket installation / technician questions??? Please???? lol
     
    #8 aira, Jan 8, 2005
  9. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    26
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Yes, I did get tires, but not by him. Nobody in the area carried that size in Goodyear Infinity (need them to maintain roadhazard warranty), and dealer didn't have ANYTHING in that size as a temp.

    Had to wait a few days to get one from another goodyear dealer near work. Despite directing the conversation to my friend by the one guy, they were all friendly and tried to help.
     
    #9 DanMan32, Jan 8, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)