DVD/RADIO upgrade

westend wrote:

Slate CM wrote:
myredracer, from what I have seen there isn't much out there that will fit that Jensen size opening. I also checked on the Kenwood car units and none of them have HDMI output. They do have a composite (yellow) video output.

If you are mostly using the tv while connected to AC power, you could look at home A/V units.

There are available all manner of accessory fascia plates that will accommodate using a different sized head unit in an opening that is larger. Crutchfield is a good place to shop for such things.

IMO, I'd rather have a separate DVD player than a combination unit. In all the cases where a player has failed in my electronics, it is paired with a radio or TV. That means the whole device needs to be replaced.

For those wanting the best video quality, a DVD Blue ray player with HDMI output is an easy pick. For most small screens, however, the advantage of the higher Blue ray resolution isn't needed.

Standard off the shelf DVDs do not support any "quality" ABOVE SD (Standard Definition) AKA 480i.

There is NO "advantage" to picture OR sound "quality" if the DVD player has built in HDMI.

Just because a DVD player has a HDMI (hence built in scaler) it does not necessarily mean it will be "better" or "best". There simply is no more "data" to be had and you can not make SD "look better" than the source (DVD).

In a nutshell a DVD player with HDMI output built in is the same as using an external Component to HDMI scaler.

Any HD TV which has an analog SD composite input HAS A BUILT IN SCALER on the Composite input.. Typically the HD TVS have a very good scaler (often BETTER than a DVD player with HDMI built in).

The ONLY "advantage" I see is in reducing wiring "clutter" by running one wire (although that is a pretty lame excuse since you can get one single cable for Composite which also has left and right audio, it just has three connectors on each end)..

If you like buying junk, then go ahead and buy that Jensen, in a year or two you will be back complaining about it..

I would personally take the better car stereo brands like Pioneer, JVC, Kenwood, Clarion before wasting my time and money on a Jensen..

Do it once with better quality equipment up front and you will not be redoing it in a year or two..

My post was trying to answer a question about a DVD with HDMI. Maybe he just wants it for the ease of connection. As far as kits from Crutchfield, they are all based on year, make and model of vehicle. Most of the RV units I have replaced are not a standard automotive size.

Slate CM wrote:
myredracer, from what I have seen there isn't much out there that will fit that Jensen size opening. I also checked on the Kenwood car units and none of them have HDMI output. They do have a composite (yellow) video output.

If you are mostly using the tv while connected to AC power, you could look at home A/V units.

There are available all manner of accessory fascia plates that will accommodate using a different sized head unit in an opening that is larger. Crutchfield is a good place to shop for such things.

IMO, I'd rather have a separate DVD player than a combination unit. In all the cases where a player has failed in my electronics, it is paired with a radio or TV. That means the whole device needs to be replaced.

For those wanting the best video quality, a DVD Blue ray player with HDMI output is an easy pick. For most small screens, however, the advantage of the higher Blue ray resolution isn't needed.

Slate CM wrote:
myredracer, from what I have seen there isn't much out there that will fit that Jensen size opening. I also checked on the Kenwood car units and none of them have HDMI output. They do have a composite (yellow) video output.

If you are mostly using the tv while connected to AC power, you could look at home A/V units.

Worrying about HDMI output for DVD is a bit on the silly side. DVDs are only SD so any DVD player you buy that has a HDMI output has to SCALE UP the video (IE a built in scaler), good chance those cheapo DVD scalers will not be as good as the TV scaler.

Pretty much a wash and most likely the TV HAS A BETTER SCALER BUILT IN on the Composite video in.

If you really MUST HAVE HDMI then purchase a Composite to HDMI scaler.. Hook the Composite out into the scaler then hook the HDMI output of the scaler to your TV..

COMPOSITE TO HDMI SCALER

Subscribing.

We have the Jensen AWM9xx. Not sure of the exact model, but they are pretty much the same with varying features. The DVD player portion barely lasted for the 1 yr warranty period. I assume the laser is gone. Everything else works fine except it won't play a disc.

Don't really want to drop $2-$300 on a like unit that I won't trust to last. So we've been using a cheapo DVD player. But would really like to install a good replacement combo unit.

myredracer, from what I have seen there isn't much out there that will fit that Jensen size opening. I also checked on the Kenwood car units and none of them have HDMI output. They do have a composite (yellow) video output.

If you are mostly using the tv while connected to AC power, you could look at home A/V units.

Slate CM wrote:
daveor, have you replaced your radio yet? Just got around to installing that Jensen 975. It is of course not super high quality like Kenwood etc. But everything seems to work fine. It has lots of inputs and outputs including USB for iPod and HDMI to the tv.

And as for reception, I would rate it very good to excellent. It was a replacement for a Concertone. The customer said he was lucky to get one station at his house and no weather channel. Using seek I found at least 10 FM stations and the weather channel came in great.

Thanks,,,, the reception is one of the things I wondered about,, I think the Jensen will fit in the same hole as the radio is in now. Glad to hear that I has some decent reception. I have not replaced mine yet, but definitely want to.

I don't particularly like the Jensen that came with our TT and would like to replace it. Looking for one with HDMI for the TV for one thing. Also something that is simple to use. Do replacements fit in the same Jensen opening size?

Can't really do anything about it, but it bugs me that the radio/DVD player is against an outside wall and you have to lean lengthwise way over a dinette seat to reach it.

daveor, have you replaced your radio yet? Just got around to installing that Jensen 975. It is of course not super high quality like Kenwood etc. But everything seems to work fine. It has lots of inputs and outputs including USB for iPod and HDMI to the tv.

And as for reception, I would rate it very good to excellent. It was a replacement for a Concertone. The customer said he was lucky to get one station at his house and no weather channel. Using seek I found at least 10 FM stations and the weather channel came in great.

Slate CM wrote:
daveor, I will be installing one of those Jensen units in about a week. The RV is in Gasquet, I'm over on the coast. I won't be able to give any long term feedback, but I can tell you about the look and feel of the Jensen.

Thanks,, wondering how the radio reception is too..