Audio/Video system upgrade

[psican]

I just purchased a new International CCD which includes the Audio/Video factory installed upgrade. Can anyone please clarify what it includes? I see a 10 CD dic changer and speaker selector switch next to it. I am curious if there is a video switcher that allows controls of 2 TV with different input and output options. The upgrade shows a factory invoice cost of $2800 which includes a LCD TV but I question why the cost is so high - certainly I must be missing something? Thanks

[overlander63]

I think the upgrade includes better (and more) speakers, an upgraded cd/dvd unit, and a better television than stock. You should have a subwoofer kicking around somewhere under one of the seats.

[Westfalia]

The upgrade certainly is NOT anywhere near the $2800 they are asking for it.

All it provides you in an 08 model is:

•1 LCD HDTV with stereo audio to/from audio system with COMPOSITE video to the TV. Support sending audio received by Antenna/Cable on the TV to the DVD Receiver. Can also receive audio output from the DVD receiver for playback on the TV speakers but it only plays back the same audio you'd get on the overhead speakers, so this is of limited use.

•1 DVD Receiver head unit with and AUX inputs and COMPOSITE out video to the TV. The head unit does support Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio decoding and playback using the internal DVD drive, has onboard support 5.1 for and is wired for 4.1 (or 4.0, see sub comment below). An additional amp and speaker will give you a dedicated center channel. Manufacturer of the unit seems to vary from year to year, but my 08 has a Sony.

•1 10 Disc CD changer, of same manufacturer and the DVD receiver, in my case a Sony. This is for audio CD playback only.

•1 amplified subwoofer (which is of POOR quality, unknown manufacture and is wired incorrectly from the factory, see sub comment below). Location varies from trailer to trailer.

•1 Speaker control switch for indoor/pseudo outdoor control. In actuality, you need to buy and add a wireless speaker AND receiver to get audio to the outside. The new trailers are no longer wired for outdoor speakers. Switching the unit to OUT will cut sound from one internal speaker set, usually the rears.

•4 automotive grade speakers

•If you have the Sony unit, you should also have an AUX switch box hidden behind the stereo that gives you AUX-in (for an iPod, etc), CD changer control and TV audio in from the TV, I think on input AUX-2 and is selectable on the DVD head unit.


Subwoofer:
While all of this is worth something, Airstream GROSSLY over charges for this system upgrade, especially considering that it is miswired from the beginning, including the mentioned subwoofer. In my unit, the sub does not turn off with the stereo. It also gets its signal from the wrong output in the DVD receiver. They had it wired out to the rear amp out instead of the SUB out. This will effect you when watching movies as it only pulls bass output from the left and right channels instead of the dedicated low frequency out that Dolby Digital gives you (4.0 audio versus 4.1 audio). Both problems are easily fixable by the end user, but it should be wired correctly in the first place. The sub should just be replaced with a quality unit and the original thrown thru the window of the Airstream dealership or used for wheel chock purposes.

Video:
I don't love the fact that the DVD receiver unit sends only composite video to the TV instead of component (Y-Pb-Pr), but I have yet to find an automotive grade DVD player that does have component out or DVD upscaling, so I'm not sure I can fully blame Airstream. If you wanted to add your own upscaling DVD player, you could rewire the system to send component video to the TV if you were willing to sacrifice the audio either going to the TV or coming from the TV. You would also loose the ability to play surround sound since the receiver head unit has no input for digital sources.

All of the wiring supports only one TV, wired in the factory location which I believe is the bedroom on the 23' model. If you added another TV, you'd have to add the wiring with the exception being the coax cable, depending on the location that you choose.

This is all probably more than you wanted to know, but it's all laid out now.

[Silvertwinkie]

I passed on that because of the cost. I added a sub to my existing unit for $100, and it was a Bazooka sub, not the small one they shove in the arm rest.

All in all, it would take some time to do, but the trailers are all pre-wired. If you are handy, getting components and installing them can be done less than half what the factory charges, and to be honest, the gear you buy will most likely be far better than what is installed for $2800. Just my opinion as sound and picture quality is very subjective, but $$ isn't.

[psican]

Originally Posted by Westfalia

The upgrade certainly is NOT anywhere near the $2800 they are asking for it.

All it provides you in an 08 model is:

•1 LCD HDTV with stereo audio to/from audio system with COMPOSITE video to the TV. Support sending audio received by Antenna/Cable on the TV to the DVD Receiver. Can also receive audio output from the DVD receiver for playback on the TV speakers but it only plays back the same audio you'd get on the overhead speakers, so this is of limited use.

•1 DVD Receiver head unit with and AUX inputs and COMPOSITE out video to the TV. The head unit does support Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio decoding and playback using the internal DVD drive, has onboard support 5.1 for and is wired for 4.1 (or 4.0, see sub comment below). An additional amp and speaker will give you a dedicated center channel. Manufacturer of the unit seems to vary from year to year, but my 08 has a Sony.

•1 10 Disc CD changer, of same manufacturer and the DVD receiver, in my case a Sony. This is for audio CD playback only.

•1 amplified subwoofer (which is of POOR quality, unknown manufacture and is wired incorrectly from the factory, see sub comment below). Location varies from trailer to trailer.

•1 Speaker control switch for indoor/pseudo outdoor control. In actuality, you need to buy and add a wireless speaker AND receiver to get audio to the outside. The new trailers are no longer wired for outdoor speakers. Switching the unit to OUT will cut sound from one internal speaker set, usually the rears.

•4 automotive grade speakers

•If you have the Sony unit, you should also have an AUX switch box hidden behind the stereo that gives you AUX-in (for an iPod, etc), CD changer control and TV audio in from the TV, I think on input AUX-2 and is selectable on the DVD head unit.


Subwoofer:
While all of this is worth something, Airstream GROSSLY over charges for this system upgrade, especially considering that it is miswired from the beginning, including the mentioned subwoofer. In my unit, the sub does not turn off with the stereo. It also gets its signal from the wrong output in the DVD receiver. They had it wired out to the rear amp out instead of the SUB out. This will effect you when watching movies as it only pulls bass output from the left and right channels instead of the dedicated low frequency out that Dolby Digital gives you (4.0 audio versus 4.1 audio). Both problems are easily fixable by the end user, but it should be wired correctly in the first place. The sub should just be replaced with a quality unit and the original thrown thru the window of the Airstream dealership or used for wheel chock purposes.

Video:
I don't love the fact that the DVD receiver unit sends only composite video to the TV instead of component (Y-Pb-Pr), but I have yet to find an automotive grade DVD player that does have component out or DVD upscaling, so I'm not sure I can fully blame Airstream. If you wanted to add your own upscaling DVD player, you could rewire the system to send component video to the TV if you were willing to sacrifice the audio either going to the TV or coming from the TV. You would also loose the ability to play surround sound since the receiver head unit has no input for digital sources.

All of the wiring supports only one TV, wired in the factory location which I believe is the bedroom on the 23' model. If you added another TV, you'd have to add the wiring with the exception being the coax cable, depending on the location that you choose.

This is all probably more than you wanted to know, but it's all laid out now.

Thanks for the great (and impressively detailed) response. The unit I purchased new is a 28" International CCD model year 2007 - would that be any different from what you described?

[psican]

Thanks and I do believe every word about Mac users as well (I am one of them)

[psican]

Thanks - I may visit my local auto stereo specialist to see how an uncomplicated and relatively inexpensive (if that's possible) reconstruction could be had. I will install a 2nd TV in the bedroom and it would be good if I could control the source (cable, DVD, iPod - yes, you can play movies from an iPod), and direct to each TV independently.

[Westfalia]

Originally Posted by psican

Thanks for the great (and impressively detailed) response. The unit I purchased new is a 28" International CCD model year 2007 - would that be any different from what you described?

Sorry, I was going off of the 23' that was listed in your profile, but the song should remain the same and the unit should be functionally identical to my description.

Glad to give a details response. Parts of the systems have been talked about in various threads, but I don't recall seeing a more comprehensive outlay of how the system worked.

[Miss Vicki]

Originally Posted by Westfalia

The upgrade certainly is NOT anywhere near the $2800 they are asking for it.

All it provides you in an 08 model is:

•1 LCD HDTV with stereo audio to/from audio system with COMPOSITE video to the TV. Support sending audio received by Antenna/Cable on the TV to the DVD Receiver. Can also receive audio output from the DVD receiver for playback on the TV speakers but it only plays back the same audio you'd get on the overhead speakers, so this is of limited use.

•1 DVD Receiver head unit with and AUX inputs and COMPOSITE out video to the TV. The head unit does support Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 audio decoding and playback using the internal DVD drive, has onboard support 5.1 for and is wired for 4.1 (or 4.0, see sub comment below). An additional amp and speaker will give you a dedicated center channel. Manufacturer of the unit seems to vary from year to year, but my 08 has a Sony.

•1 10 Disc CD changer, of same manufacturer and the DVD receiver, in my case a Sony. This is for audio CD playback only.

•1 amplified subwoofer (which is of POOR quality, unknown manufacture and is wired incorrectly from the factory, see sub comment below). Location varies from trailer to trailer.

•1 Speaker control switch for indoor/pseudo outdoor control. In actuality, you need to buy and add a wireless speaker AND receiver to get audio to the outside. The new trailers are no longer wired for outdoor speakers. Switching the unit to OUT will cut sound from one internal speaker set, usually the rears.

•4 automotive grade speakers

•If you have the Sony unit, you should also have an AUX switch box hidden behind the stereo that gives you AUX-in (for an iPod, etc), CD changer control and TV audio in from the TV, I think on input AUX-2 and is selectable on the DVD head unit.


Subwoofer:
While all of this is worth something, Airstream GROSSLY over charges for this system upgrade, especially considering that it is miswired from the beginning, including the mentioned subwoofer. In my unit, the sub does not turn off with the stereo. It also gets its signal from the wrong output in the DVD receiver. They had it wired out to the rear amp out instead of the SUB out. This will effect you when watching movies as it only pulls bass output from the left and right channels instead of the dedicated low frequency out that Dolby Digital gives you (4.0 audio versus 4.1 audio). Both problems are easily fixable by the end user, but it should be wired correctly in the first place. The sub should just be replaced with a quality unit and the original thrown thru the window of the Airstream dealership or used for wheel chock purposes.

Video:
I don't love the fact that the DVD receiver unit sends only composite video to the TV instead of component (Y-Pb-Pr), but I have yet to find an automotive grade DVD player that does have component out or DVD upscaling, so I'm not sure I can fully blame Airstream. If you wanted to add your own upscaling DVD player, you could rewire the system to send component video to the TV if you were willing to sacrifice the audio either going to the TV or coming from the TV. You would also loose the ability to play surround sound since the receiver head unit has no input for digital sources.

All of the wiring supports only one TV, wired in the factory location which I believe is the bedroom on the 23' model. If you added another TV, you'd have to add the wiring with the exception being the coax cable, depending on the location that you choose.

This is all probably more than you wanted to know, but it's all laid out now.

So - as a new owner of a 16' Quicksilver CCD, does that mean I have the capability to watch DVD's on my TV currently? I was going to try to buy a small DVD player for the TV. I am a new-bie with limited understanding of these things so make the explanation simple! Thanks!

[Aage]

Welcome to Airforums, Miss Vicky!

[Miss Vicki]

thanks!

[psican]

Hi Miss Vicki,
I am also a newbee and just joined today. FWIW, you can buy a cheapie portable DVD player (that runs on 12 volt as well as 110 volt) and use the 3 color coded wire and plug into the back of the TV set - it is probably the easiest thing to do plus you can use the portable DVD outside as well. Sony and Panasonic both make nice units

[Westfalia]

Possibly, depending on the manufacturer and model of the head unit. Look on the front of it for words like 'DVD' or 'Dolby Digital'. If you see those, you are probably good. It's also easy to test by putting a video DVD in the unit. At worst it won't play and you can eject it.

[c177tx]

I just put money down on a 2008 19' safari SE with the Audio/Video upgrade package. The Bambi has a 19" TV, the TV has audio/video composite cables coming from a wire harnes attatched to the TV. I can not find a DVD player. It does have a 6 CD changer above the dinett, and a subwoffer below the street side dinett seat. I was watching the TV and was only getting audio from the TV and not the speaker system. I am due to pick the unit up this Wednesday. I am in love with this little unit, I better be for the price I paid but I want to make sure everything is operating correctly.

[Westfalia]

The DVD player is the car stereo looking head unit that sits flush in the front of the cabinet. Have a sales person fully demonstrate the systems for you. Might as well get your $2800 worth.

[c177tx]

That might explain thangs lucy, because the head to that unit was missing seems that some one walked off with it during a recent rv show and a new one has been ordered. They called today and told me that the TT will be ready on Wednesday with the new unit. I also found some interesting info on the forum regarding the sound system. My walk through is when I pick up the unit.

[psican]

Well, you are correct and the Sony car stereo looking player is also the DVD player for the TV - Haven't tried it yet but will let you know my comments when I do

[KerriO]

So glad I found this thread! I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out where the DVD player was. We bought a used 27FBunit that had the audio/video upgrade, and I assumed the DVD player would in the overhead cabinet with the CD changer. No player there, no big deal, easy and cheap enough to replace— but I couldn't see anywhere to connect it. Glad to know it's already there!

Also, I'm glad to hear that there is audio out from the TV to the speakers. I actually haven't tried the TV yet, because we're replacing it anyway with a newer one from our house. (the 2008 models still have a TV that isn't digital-capable). But the speakers on our replacement TV are terrible, so we definitely need external sound.