Graphical (multimedia) Head Units - Worth the money?

[FR_Flavoured]

Hi guys,

I'm also looking at my options, selecting a new Head Unit for my Mk2 Leon.

I'm drawn to the HU's that have the graphical display, that you can watch music videos or other multimedia content on, or even a rear facing CAM.

They are mostly touch screen, and you navigate their menus that appear on the screen.
Some even allow you to add GPS functionality too......

Are these HU's worth paying out for, and how much usage have you got out of yours (if you have one of this style)? Any model recommendations? As alot of these DECENT ones dont seem to go for much less than £500 !!!?

Look forward to feedback.

 

[FR_Flavoured]

So is anyone using a Head unit that incorporates a display? Integrated or even motorised?

Any recommendations on units ?
I'm thinking the motorised units might be better now, requiring smaller space in the dash, however still nice to have the screen flip out should you need to access it.

Look forward to any feedback.

 

[mt audio]

motorised screen is more likely to fail than any other type as the ribbon gets weaker and breaks

 

[Fl@pper]

used to say motorised was a gimmick but having had both now ill admit motorised is more stable

mainly depends on wether you 'need' it and be honest how often do you have chance to sit and watch it ?

only had mine to keep kids amused but they are grown up now and rarely use it screen up at all even with the tv tuner too

 

[FR_Flavoured]

Thankyou both for your feedback. Has given me more to think about.

Well I drive 2 hours every day to work and back (round trip), and just having a nice display there to control all my music and pick out tracks and albums to listen to, would be alot nicely to do, with such a system. Also for when I'm out in the car driving around in general......

Also, I am really quite interested in fitting a rear view Camera, which would plug into the display.
But again, maybe in the same context as such a multimedia display, is a rear view/parking camera also a gimmic or overkill ?? We might have said the same for proximity rear parking sensors, 5 years ago, but now they are almost seen as a "standard" feature.

Was just a thought. Perhaps I'd be better spending the money elsewhere?

Again, thanks for your time in replying, always appreciated.

 

[Fl@pper]

had camera on mine but as a i rarely had the screen up when i hit reverse the screen would motor out and i'd be off by the time i saw what was happening

was only a cheap thing though and even with the 'nightvision led' could hardly see anything at night


i see ya point with the ease of choice on travelling etc though so make sure you test the one you are looking at as some of the cheap ones are dvd players with a radio and not that friendly an interface with a cd in for example and can be quite fiddly to use

 

[FR_Flavoured]

Cheers Fl@pper, interesting to hear of your experiences with the Cam also. Good point on the quality of these systems. I'd probably like for the display to automatically switch to the Cam display, once Reverse gear is selected. Saying that, it would be cool if the reverse camera could be viewed at any time... even while not in reverse, just cruising along on the motorway! lol.

Can I ask, have you been renovating a kit car / "rat" recently?
I ask this as I am sure I was chatting about it some time ago, but you might have changed your Profile pictures/information since then??

Well, researching these multimedia type displays further, for a decent one you wont see much change from £500!

Got to think about priorities, and whether a multimedia display comes at the top of that list. Theres alot you can do with that chunk of money, some more important, like for home/family... decisions.

 

[Fl@pper]

feel like i'm putting you off em now - lol sorry better do soem good points i guess

as for viewing the cam all the time all you need to do is run the trigger to a manual switch instead of the
reverse switch as it overides the rest of the system usually but easy enough

great fun if you gaffer tape to the front bumper right down low and plug em into a camcorder but then you only need the camera for that

they are handy though if like me you strop and sulk when dragged round tesco by the mrs so much she gives up and leaves you in the car until she's at the till can kick back and watch cannonball run all over again then

and ye the rats a bit of fun that taking forever but still work in progress - link

click on hot rodding in my sig for the pic gallery

 

[FR_Flavoured]

great fun if you gaffer tape to the front bumper right down low and plug em into a camcorder but then you only need the camera for that

What comes to mind are the ROAD WARS episodes in SLOUGH.... usually!
And you see that shot of the cam down behind the wheel arch, on the Vauxhall Omega ! Yeah, alot of fun could be had.

Thats right, I remember your Ratty project. Was chatting to you back then, however I was under a different alias (dont ask)! Surely it must be ripping it up at Santa Pod by now? You have been on that project for a good while now?

Im starting to think a Remap would be money better spent!? Also wouldnt cost as much!
Perhaps looking through For Sale or end of clearance ad's, for a nice monitor head unit, that way i wont feel so guilty, and wont spend as much either ! Still something I'd enjoy to have to hand though.

............yeah, thanks for putting me off............... Pahahaha ! Nah, I might finally have seen sense.

 

[ibizatom]

I have a Kenwood flip screen in my Ibiza Fr. I recently took it out and fitted a JVC standard cd player as I couldn't get it to fit but moved some cables, lost some blood and job done. lol

Apart from the naff sound quality, I missed the screen screen coming out and selecting music is soo much easier instead of having to press small buttons.

I paid £350 for my Kenwood which is now discontinued but well worth if you plan to plug in an ipod, iphone or a large usb stick ect. With the one I got, you can but extra bits like Sat nav, tv tuner, reversing camera ect.

 

[digby130?]

ive got a kenwood 522 dvd and can highly recommend it
can plug in any device and get tv as well if i wanted lol...but at a massive cost lol!
have a look at justkenwood for more info