Multi-Zone output DDin -- suggestions needed

[Burnt]

My expertise is in the Home Theater realm, and i am looking to bring that love into my vehicle... but i need some help!

I currently have a 2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 Ext. all audio/video components are stock (Stock Radio/Mp3, Speakers and Stock Rail mounted DVDplayer/Screen)

I want to set up a system that can output to 4 Headrest Mounted LCD screens for the back passnegers, with each screen able to view One of two sources..

The Inputs would include:

1 Navagation System

1 Laptop (mounted in the glove compartment) for Multimedia playback

1 Game System (XBOX360 or PS3)

What I would like to be able to do is have the passengers be able to play games, or watch movies/listen to music, or view the Navagation progress on their individual screens.

I suspect i may need two heads (one for the laptop/media and one for the video system).

BUT, i am hoping that there is a current market Multizone output that would suit my needs...

Any suggestions?

Click to read more...

 

[DBBOOM 10+ year member]

Go to the Alpine and Kenwood home pages, i believe they offer what you need. Its a start anyway.

 

[Burnt]

Thanks, yeah i already looked at those, but while they have dual outs to support multiple monitors, they aren't multi-zoned.. so what is shown on one screen is shown on the others...

i may just have to go with individual all-in-ones (DVD/Screen) with dual aux inputs (one for the HU/Nav and one for the PC/Multimedia).

I know this isn't "loud as hell stereo" but i was hoping for something more elegant.

 

[DBBOOM 10+ year member]

My Excelon HU is a dual zone, your wanting more than two though right?

 

[jluv 10+ year member]

The Alpine double-dins will allow you to do one thing up front and send a different signal to the rear.

I went with the PKG-M780 and two Playstation 2s in a center console in the backseat. This way, each rear seat passenger can use their headrest (and headphones) to watch their own movies, play their own games, or listen to their own CDs. Each headrest monitor can be switched between 3 sources. So you can tune into either PS2. That way each person has their own, or they can tune into the same one and play a game against each other or watch the same movie, or listen to the same music. The third input comes from the head unit's (Alpine W505) aux output. I can do whatever I want up front with the head unit, and I can send either DVD or one of the aux input sources to the rear passengers.

The 505 has one set of RCA aux inputs and also a USB aux input. You could hook the Xbox to the RCA inputs and the laptop to the USB input. You still have a dedicated input for nav, Ipod, and Ai-net for Sirius, HD Radio, etc. Then, from the head unit, you can send either the DVD/CD signal, the laptiop signal, or the Xbox signal to the rear.

I have no desire to play video games up front from my head unit, so I just put the PS2s in the back anyway. They go directly to an input control box for the headrest monitors. It only comes with the input box and two headrests, but you could always get two packages and have up to 6 separate inputs, or 4 inputs and then one output on each to the other set (the third set of RCAs is selectable via a small switch as an input or an output).

The only thing with this is that not everything goes through your head unit. They go into an input box and the passengers themselves make the source selection at the monitor.

I have not seen/heard of a head unit that allows you to control the source selection for 4 different outboard monitors individually. I doubt such an animal exists. It would be huge and would have a crapload of outputs on the back.

 

[Burnt]

The only thing with this is that not everything goes through your head unit. They go into an input box and the passengers themselves make the source selection at the monitor.

I have not seen/heard of a head unit that allows you to control the source selection for 4 different outboard monitors individually. I doubt such an animal exists. It would be huge and would have a crapload of outputs on the back.

Actually, this is EXACTLY what i want to do (i don't want control from the front, i want the passengers to have the control, but at the same time, be able to select seperate sources (i.e. one to select a movie, while the other plays a video game) while I (driver) can access the Nav/Music features for non headset/private audio use.

Oddly i didn't get the impression from the marketting material that this was possible. Thanks for the feedback, i will take another look at this.

 

[jluv 10+ year member]

Actually, this is EXACTLY what i want to do (i don't want control from the front, i want the passengers to have the control, but at the same time, be able to select seperate sources (i.e. one to select a movie, while the other plays a video game) while I (driver) can access the Nav/Music features for non headset/private audio use.
Oddly i didn't get the impression from the marketting material that this was possible. Thanks for the feedback, i will take another look at this.

Definitely possible. I've been doing it this way for a long time. PS2 was the perfect solution for me. $120 for a relatively small unit that plays games, movies, and CDs? That's tough to beat. And the PKG-M780 made it all possible. If you already have the monitors, I think you can still get a video switcher from Alpine. There are others on the market, too. I believe Directed offers one (or more).

The M780 comes with wireless headphones, but they ****. The input box has two jacks for headphone output, so I use those instead with some nice wired headphones.

Glad I could help. My setup and ideas are pretty ridiculous, so it's nice to see it prove helpful to someone else besides just me. lol