By Philip P Daniel
Yo suckas, Philip P here with some knowledge that is about to be dropped on your butts! If you’re fans of MTVs hot hit television show “Pimp My Ride” then you know exactly what I am talking about when I say that hot whips are made more for bling then for actual transportation. From the enormous chrome wheels, to the bumping sound systems, there are hundreds of things that you can do to make your ride just as cool as Leonard Nemoy’s. In this article, we will be focusing on one of the quintessential items involved in auto pimping…the video system. If you ain’t able to watch your favorite Star Trek episodes in your car then you ain’t a true playa…ya heard!
There are many factors to keep in mind when purchasing a new car video players system, all of which will impact the amount of products that you have to choose from. Just as a bit of a background, there are multiple ways people set up mobile multimedia systems in almost every vehicle. From players that feature flip up screens that pop out of your receiver, to systems that are placed all over the car including the headrests, there are more ways to watch videos in your automobile then there are races on Babylon 5! Keep in mind that federal law prohibits the driver from being able to view videos when the car is in motion, and that each system requires a different setup, with different wiring and amounts of space needed.
Most DVD players that are available for cars can also perform other functions besides just movie playback. Most units can play MP3s off of burned DVDs, allowing for upwards to 9 GB of music off of a single disc. Some units can also function as a GPS navigation system, letting you to program routes and never get lost in the city again. Yet another function that is available for some, is the ability of an option TV tuner that will allow users to watch local television channels while on the road. This service is, of course, limited to the broadcast range of the stations providing the channels, and for the most part provides limited functionality.
When purchasing a new multimedia player for your whip, consider the fact that most units feature surround sound capability, but are limited to the speakers that you have in your ride. If you are dead set on achieving Dolby 5.1 or even 6.1, you will most likely have to upgrade, or add speakers to your car. At the very least, anticipate mounting a center speaker (arguably the most important of all for surround sound) on your dash to be able to hear any sort of dialogue in movies. If you don’t feel like spending the extra scrilla, realize that the units can also output in 2-channel audio, allowing you to hear all of the different sound in all of the speakers. This will save money, but will definitely make the experience not as realistic or intense.
All in all, these units can not only be pricey in and of themselves, but also be difficult to install, so it important that you realize what you are getting into when you make a purchase. There should be competent professionals in your area who will know what they are doing and can either offer advice, or actually install your new multimedia system for you.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to visit our Newbie forums, the best place to discuss these topics with other newbies, experts and me! Check out our individual reviews and great prices on all car video systems, and remember…keep your ear to the streets!
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