Upgrading Audio and Video Components

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Upgrading Audio and Video Components

February 17, 2014, 10:01:12 am

I've been working on bringing our audio and video systems up to date. Here's what I've done so far:

1. Removed the ancient Sony AM-FM-Cassette in-dash head unit and the under-dash Sony 10-CD changer. Installed Blaupunkt Toronto 420 BT CD receiver, which features built-in Bluetooth phone support. The unit can play music off AM, FM, CD, USB stick, SD card, or from an external source via the front Aux-in mini jack. You can also stream music from your laptop or tablet directly to the receiver via Bluetooth.

2. We already had a Sirius Stratus 6 receiver plugged into a SUBX2 speaker dock in the house, along with a "A LA CART" SiriusXM subscription, so I simply purchased a vehicle kit with dock and antenna. The dock is mounted on the dash next to the receiver, and plugs into the Aux-in mini jack. The antenna lays on the dashboard cover below the front window, and shows excellent signal strength. This setup provides 50+ satellite radio channels in the coach.

3. Removed the 4 original "living room" Sony stereo speakers (3 of which were blown). Replaced them with some nice 6.5" Polk DXL651 coaxial units, which fit perfectly in the factory cut-outs. Major improvement in looks and sound.

4. Removed old analog TV. Cleaned up inside of cabinet, made a back panel for it to hide the wiring, installed a shelf. On the shelf sits a Magnavox MDR537H 1 TB DVD Recorder/HDD with Digital tuner. This unit feeds a 39" LG LED LCD flat screen which sits on the factory pull-out shelf just above the old TV cabinet. Having 2 digital tuners available will allow us to watch one channel while simultaneously recording a different channel.

5. Replaced original batwing antenna with new Jack digital antenna, which functions perfectly with the stock Winegard selector box and the OEM antenna wiring. I get better reception in the coach (sitting in driveway) than I do in the house, which has a 10' OTA antenna mounted on the roof. We have lived out in the "sticks" for 30 years without access to cable, so we are perfectly content with what we receive Over The Air (11 channels in our local area).

6. Sound from the bottom-firing speakers in the new LED TV was a little "thin", so I added a Polk SurroundBar 4000 IHT speaker bar with wireless subwoofer. The sub sits in the bottom of the original TV cabinet, and the speaker bar is mounted to a bracket attached to the back of the flat screen. It "floats" about an inch above the screen, and connects via Toslink cable. Tremendous improvement over the built-in TV speakers. (Ran first audio-video test by playing one of my favorite DVD albums, The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over)

Of course, downside to this arrangement is we have to take the TV down and stow it somewhere when on the road. Haven't got that totally worked out yet, but "where there's a will..." If it turns out to be too much of a hassle, I have a back-up plan in mind which involves one of those fancy "TV lift cabinets".

Next project: Upgrade the bedroom (after I give our checkbook some time to recover).

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #1 – February 17, 2014, 10:15:51 am

Chuck,

Hook up those new speakers to your system?

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #2 – February 17, 2014, 10:20:47 am

John,

Sorry, I don't understand your question...?

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #3 – February 17, 2014, 11:49:26 am

Chuck, who redid the upholstery, looks great

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #4 – February 17, 2014, 12:22:55 pm

We are hookin up our output to the coach speakers vs sound bar.

Oops we hve an amp.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #5 – February 17, 2014, 01:18:51 pm

Jimmy,

Thanx! Upholstery was done when we bought the coach last November. The PO's are John and Genni Kerbs (forum name: gkerbs56). They should be able to answer your question about where it was done. I know they told us at some point, but I can't recall who or where they said.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #6 – February 17, 2014, 01:21:39 pm

Chuck, I really like your installation. A nice, clean look you have going there.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #7 – February 17, 2014, 01:31:10 pm

John,

I originally had the same idea - to run the TV sound through the 4 stereo speakers. I was actually able to try it out by using the analog stereo audio output from the DVR, converting over to a single mini-plug cable, and plugging into the AUX input on the in-dash receiver. It sounded OK, but the orientation and placement of the speakers was not ideal for TV viewing, especially for getting the dialog "centered" on the screen. Plus, the TV does not have analog sound output - only digital (optical). So, I decided to go with the 2.1 speaker bar + subwoofer. Having dedicated speakers for each purpose seems to work best, IMHO.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #8 – February 17, 2014, 01:38:29 pm

Chuck, Thanks

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #9 – February 17, 2014, 07:24:02 pm

@Chuck That's the same way I have my 37" LG TV setup. We just unplug the power & the hdmi and lay it on the bed while traveling. Been doing it for a couple of years. You do have to man handle the TV in and out when setting up/breaking down but not too bad. Works great.

I've been thinking about a sound bar but haven't come up with a good place to locate it. On top where you have yours looks like the best for sound but a little fragile for setting up & breaking down. Do you pull it off each time? How is it mounted to the TV?

see ya
ken

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #10 – February 17, 2014, 07:54:24 pm

Ken, that's what we did with our TV last summer and plan on doing again. Someone said that flat screen sets shouldn't be laid down, but others seem to say it doesn't bother anything. What's your experience?

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #11 – February 17, 2014, 08:00:02 pm

@David I've been doing it for a couple of years without problem. Just lay screen side down on the bed. I do try to be as gentle as possible when moving it.

see ya
ken

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #12 – February 17, 2014, 08:00:11 pm

I have done some upgrades, tv's and DVD players. Next to go is the old Bose system, it seems it is just outdated as far as connectivity goes on HDMi and such

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #13 – February 17, 2014, 08:14:44 pm

Jimmy....the upholstery was done at Infinity Upholstery in Nac. They did an great job! The shop owners name is Mitch Holland and was great to work with. We had part of the upholstery done locally (Burleson, Tx) and had a really bad experience. Infinity fixed some bad issues and completed the job and made everything look great. Bill Chaplin also used Infinity for his upholstery upgrade and think he was also quite pleased. I think Mitch and James Stallings at Extreme are hunting buddies.

BTW that coach that Chuck now owns was purchased (by us) in Ardmore, OK. The PO's were wagonmasters of a Foretravel club in OK. We bought it from the estate and daughter said they were very involved in the club. I don't remember the PO's name but there were plaques in the coach that had their names.....if interested maybe Chuch could tell you the names on the plaque.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #14 – February 17, 2014, 10:40:23 pm

Be sure that the TV is placed so that it will not slide off the bed. I have a new MacBook Pro to replace the one that I placed on the bed because I thought it was a safe place. A hard stop flung two MacBooks off the bed. Marilyn's MacBook survived the fall. Mine did not.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #15 – February 18, 2014, 12:11:15 am

Ken,

I'm glad to hear you have had good experience with the TV traveling flat on the bed. That is the most obvious place to carry it, but like David I have been deterred by reading mixed opinions on the subject. One "trend" I have noticed in those opinions is that the bigger the screen, the more warnings you see about potential damage. I.e., bigger screens are deemed more likely to crack. Don't know what would be considered the "critical" size - probably many variables involved. I am also thinking about possible ways to secure the TV in a "normal" vertical position on the bedroom floor between the bed and the wall. Will report if I come up with a brilliant solution.

As to the speaker bar mount, it is quite simple. I used some flat 1" x 0.125" aluminum stock to make 2 vertical pieces bolted to the VESA mount holes. These support a 0.750" x 0.125" flat aluminum horizontal piece that goes behind the speaker bar. A couple properly sized bolts in the horizontal section lock into the wall mount "key holes" in the back of the speaker bar. Although there is a tiny bit of flex in the mount due to using the flat stock, it is quite strong. I have been leaving the speaker connected to the TV when moving it back and forth - hasn't been any problem so far. Next time I disconnect TV to move it I'll get a photo of the back and post it.

And, if I do decide to carry it flat on the bed, I will heed J.D.'s warning and be SURE it is tied down securely!

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #16 – February 18, 2014, 12:25:29 pm

JD, that's one way to get a new computer!

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #17 – February 18, 2014, 11:42:26 pm

John, Thanks on the info for the upholstery work.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #18 – February 19, 2014, 12:10:31 am

If you are going to store the TV on the Bed while travelling why not put it under the covers and that way I do not think it will slide out even in a panic stop!!
JohnH

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #19 – February 19, 2014, 01:38:50 am

Quote from: kb0zke – February 17, 2014, 07:54:24 pm

..............................Someone said that flat screen sets shouldn't be laid down, but others seem to say it doesn't bother anything. What's your experience?

Guys,

Laying large LCD's, especially LED LCD's, down and subjecting them to shock vibrations is begging for trouble. Think about it. It is like framing very (ultra) thin glass in a rigid frame and then shaking the frame -- perpendicular to the flat plane of the glass -- to make the glass "flex and bend" within the frame. It would take very little forceful movement to initiate a crack and shatter the thin glass.
On the other hand, how do the OEM's ship all of this fragile product to the stores without breakage?
If you take that same frame and stand it up on its side, or end, so that the vibrations are in line with the plane of the glass, it will take comparatively huge amounts of vibration shock, because the ultra thin glass mounting is designed to absorb the energy, as long as it is in line with the flat plane of the glass.
Thus, they always ship flat screen TV's vertically, standing up on one of the two, long dimension sides. I have never seen an owner's manual that recommends otherwise. So, do the same in your coach. Stand the large screen LCD TV up beside the bed, snug the frame up to a pillow on a forward wall (for that unforeseen panic stop), loosely stuff a pillow or a puff on either side of the TV to keep it upright. This works well, no problems, been doing it for years and the 40" TV works as well today as the day it came home with us. I use a bedding pillow outboard and a puff folded thickly inboard. That way, I just have to remove the puff for overnights on the road. And the small screen TV always stays in service while the the 40 " screen comes out to play whenever we stop for a few days. DW gets confused with all the remotes but I like the multiple, simultaneous PIP's myself.

Neal

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #20 – February 19, 2014, 11:31:49 am

Neal,

Your image of shaking a large sheet of framed thin glass is quite vivid. Easy to see how it could result in cracks/damage. However, many people carry their LED TV this way, apparently quite successfully. I'm thinking it may be due to the fact that the glass on most new LED sets is almost flush with the frame. If the TV is placed horizontally on a soft bed, with the screen facing down (as Ken recommends), then the entire surface of the screen AND the frame are being supported equally. Any vertical shock to the rear of the coach would first be absorbed by the suspension, then by the mattress and bedding, before being transmitted equally to the glass AND the frame. The likelihood of the glass moving or flexing independently of the frame seems pretty remote, and that may be how people manage to "get away with it".

That being said, I see several disadvantages to storing the TV on the bed. You have to tie it down somehow, or like John says, put it under the covers. Either you have awkward straps going across the bed, or the hassle of having to pull the covers back and forth. AND, once the TV is occupying the bed, pretty much eliminates sleeping in/on it. No flopping down on the bed for a quick noon nap while traveling. For short overnight stops where you don't want to deploy the big screen, you will still have to move it to use the bed. Not the ideal solution.

So, I believe I will follow your lead, and store the screen vertically. My wife likes your idea of using several big fat pillows to support the TV. She says when the TV is set up in "viewing" position, then the pillows can be used by the person sitting on the couch. (Especially handy for the people who, like us, have the J-shaped couch). OR, I may come up with some brackets that could be added to the frame I made to support the speaker bar. I'm thinking these brackets could engage a couple of pins mounted on the bed frame, or perhaps the window frame. The TV would stand securely on the floor, and the pins would hold it upright and prevent it from sliding in either the forward or aft direction. Might be more space efficient than pillows, and allow easier movement around the bed.

Thanks to all for the excellent opinions and ideas!

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #21 – February 19, 2014, 06:55:09 pm

@Chuck Smart to error on the side of caution. As Dave M says do what makes you happy!

see ya
ken

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #22 – February 21, 2014, 11:14:36 pm

Quote from: cajk – February 19, 2014, 11:31:49 am

........................Your image of shaking a large sheet of framed thin glass is quite vivid. Easy to see how it could result in cracks/damage. However, many people carry their LED TV this way, apparently quite successfully. I'm thinking it may be due to the fact that the glass on most new LED sets is almost flush with the frame. If the TV is placed horizontally on a soft bed, with the screen facing down (as Ken recommends), then the entire surface of the screen AND the frame are being supported equally. Any vertical shock to the rear of the coach would first be absorbed by the suspension, then by the mattress and bedding, before being transmitted equally to the glass AND the frame. The likelihood of the glass moving or flexing independently of the frame seems pretty remote, and that may be how people manage to "get away with it"................

Chuck,
When an LCD is laid face down on the bedding, you need to consider that the frame (rigid and strong by design), bears the majority of the weight of the TV (minus the support stand/legs, which may have to be suspended over the edge of the bed to make the screen lay flat on the bedding).
The average 40" LED LCD TV weighs on the order of 25 pounds. If we take off a couple of pounds for the legs (that may be hanging over the edge of the bed) you still have something in excess of 20 pounds pressing that frame into the bedding. That usually means that the center of the "flush" (fragile) screen is already deformed a fraction of an inch as the frame presses into the bedding. The LCD screen itself does not bear much of the 20 pounds of weight -- it just bends. One way to visualize it is to think of the entire TV mass as an inflexible, narrow, 20 (+) pound frame, with saran wrap stretched over it. Now lay the frame on soft bedding and drive over some good potholes or concrete highway expansion joints which will add damped, but still significant, repetitive, acceleration forces to that (narrow dimension) 20 pound weight. You will have some dramatic flexing of the saran wrap (screen) going on, maybe for many minutes/miles.

It is much better to transport an LED/LCD TV vertically, just as the manufacturers suggest in their literature.

In the past, many SOB coaches have used mechanisms that stored TV's horizontally flat to an overhead surface. If you have noticed, that design has all but disappeared. Why? The constant emphasis on TV price reduction and the emphasis on thinner and thinner quartz (the most costly of all the TV raw materials) has led to more fragile sets and to early failures of TV's transported horizontally, even without the above described bedding interference to further torture the screen. The fragile nature of a very thin sheet of quartz crystal, when in the horizontal position, is why manufacturers don't even want you to carry a new LCD TV home from the box store..............horizontally.
Just saying.........Manufacturers cover their tails with their Warning Statements, but these particular warnings have some solid basis. If you want your "larger screen" TV to be reliable, this is not a good warning to ignore. Those fragile crystal sheets are only supported by their edges.

Neal

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #23 – February 22, 2014, 12:01:24 am

Just a side comment. As I was researching this sort of contentious issue (I agree with erring on the side of caution and leaving it vertical, BTW), I did see several notes on the internet that Plasma TVs were really, really susceptible to issues if laid down.

Re: Upgrading Audio and Video Components

Reply #24 – February 22, 2014, 08:45:08 am

Don't know why anyone would want a plasma TV in their RV. I realize that, for a period of time, plasma was the "hot ticket" in big screens. Today, however, with all the high quality LED LCD screens available at such reasonable prices, I don't see any reason to accept the increased complexity and fragility of plasma panel construction. Plus, I've read several anecdotal stories of plasma screens "blowing up" when carried to high altitude (i.e. driving in the mountains in RV). Probably a joke, or gross exaggeration of facts, but why take a chance when a suitable alternative exists?

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