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If you take driving vacations with young children, that familiar refrain of “are we there yet” has probably long since lost its comical charm. Fortunately, technology can come to the rescue with in-car entertainment packages that will keep young minds engaged for hours on end. But with a bewildering array of available features and prices ranging from $100 to more than $2,000, settling on the right product for your progeny can be a difficult choice.
Portable DVD players were all the rage about five years ago, but experts say they can become dangerous projectiles. “In an accident, any system that isn’t securely fixed to the vehicle can become a serious problem,” says Bill Edmonds, a sales and installation expert at Kromer Radio in Toronto.
With that in mind, we limited our search for in-car video systems to models that are either roof mounted, securely strapped to headrests or built right into car headrests. Below are our picks for video-to-go with an eye on price, value and features. Please note that prices are in Canadian dollars.
Venturer Mobile DVD System ($119)
This DVD player with a single, seven-inch screen is about as cheap as they come, but delivers a basic set of features for those with a limited budget. It straps on to the back of a front seat headrest and runs off power supplied by your car’s lighter socket. You can also opt for a rechargeable battery, but that costs another $20-$30 and gets you about 2 ½ hours of unplugged play time. Sound is only delivered through internal speakers with no option for headphones.
Alpine Car Multimedia Package PKG-RSE2 ($799.99)
More than just a video player, this overhead system can also connect to a gaming console so kids can battle each other on the large 10.2” screen. You can also hook up a video camera so you can preview your holiday movies on the way home. Mounting where your dome light would normally reside, the Alpine wires directly into your car’s electrical system so charging is never an issue. Audio is transmitted wirelessly through your vehicle’s stereo or the included wireless headphones. Additional headphones are recommended and cost about $20-$30 each. “A good set of wireless headphones is really best because it allows parents to listen to their own music while the kids are watching a movie in the back,” says Edmonds, who also recommends keeping a spare on board along with extra batteries to power them.
Rosen AV7500 Dual-DVD, Dual-Game Headrest Replacement Systems ($1,500) The Cadillac of in-car entertainment, this system consists of two replacement headrests with integrated 7″ LCD displays that are matched to your vehicle’s original interior. Two pairs of wireless, fold-flat headphones are included with the kit, though the audio can also be transmitted through the vehicle’s stereo. Besides playing movies, the Rosen AV7500 comes with 25 pre-installed video games and one wireless game controller. It also has a USB input for flashdrive media devices and another input for MP3 players. Best of all, each screen can independently play different games, movies or music so your kids will never argue over what to watch.
Story: Phil Raby
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