Once you have made the decision to buy an LCD for your car you need to consider what options are most suitable for your situation.
In Dash Screens
If you are going to instal an in dash screen you need to consider the following factors;
Will it be distracting to the driver? It is extremely dangerous as well as illegal for an LCD screen to be visible to the driver while the vehicle is in motion unless it is being used for a driver aid. This means reversing system or navigation.
If you are going to add a DVD, PS2, X-Box or any other type of entertainment product to your system you should ensure that the system is safe & legal. This may require some modification such as running that input via a handbrake control.
If in doubt consult a reputable installer. Bypassing this feature could cost the lives of the ones you care about most & may even have legal ramifications. In a word – don’t risk it.
Do you have the room?
Many cars have a spare pocket under the radio. Your choices for in dash screens are;
1. Replace the existing radio with an AM/FM/DVD/Screen in dash combo. (Keep the pocket)
2. Replace the existing radio with an AM/FM/DVD & a separate screen. (Lose the pocket)
3. Keep the existing radio, add an in dash screen & a remote mount DVD such as under the seat or ceiling combo unit. (Lose the pocket)
Ceiling Screens vs Ceiling Combos
Ceiling units are suitable for rear seat passenger entertainment & appeal mostly to families.
Ceiling Combos are ceiling screens with a built in DVD player. They are becoming increasingly popular which has driven the price down to levels that are affordable to most budgets. Starting at 7” & going up to 15”, there is an ever increasing range of combos on the market. Consider the quality & features first.
Built in IR allows for wireless audio transmission to headphones in the rear, leaving the driver to enjoy the existing sound system. The range is 7m & there is no limit to the number of headphones that can be used.
Built in FM TX allows the FM radio to tune into the DVD audio to play through the car.
Ceiling Screens are slave screens which require a separate DVD or other input. They range in size from 5.6”~17”. Due to weight the larger models do not swivel as the stresses on the hinges are too extreme.
Headrest Screens The main benefit of headrest screens is that each rear seat passenger has their own screen. If the screen has 2 inputs, individual sources can be selected by each viewer. They come in 2 types.
- Individual screens designed to fit your existing headrests. These range in size from 5”~7” & come with a shroud or bucket to mount into the headrest that the screen clips in to.
- VST Prefitted headrests. The VST branded headrests come ready to replace your existing headrests, pre-fitted with (in most cases) 6.5mm touchscreens, come with a DVD player, wireless headphones, wireless fm modulator & can take a 2nd source unit such as PS-2 or X-Box. Each screen has control over both audio & video sources as well as touch control over the DVD functions.
A comprehensive list of available models can be found on our web site.
Sunvisor Screens These are slimline TFT screens that have a longer tapered shroud similar to the headrest screens.
Stand Mount Screens are suitable for situations where there is no dash room. Smaller models such as 5.6” & 7” often are what we call “Dual Mount” & come with both a stand & a headrest shroud. These are well suited in vehicles that need the screen to be visible all the time, such as for a reversing camera system.
Specialist Reversing Screens complement the Nesa range. These are suitable where a screen is required all the time & room restriction may be a problem. The image can be triggered on by the reverse light wire.
The NSM-3533 is a 3.5” reversing screen that is stuck to the windscreen like a rear view mirror.
The NRM-4500 is a 5.5” reversing screen that clips on the existing rear view mirror. The image can be set to disappear unless reverse gear is selected.
