Entertainment System

[jeepsrule]

The entertainment system in my coach is in need of replacement. Has anyone replaced one and what did you put in? There are a heck of a lot of speaker connections in this 40' PDQ.

Oh, I wouldn't mind keeping the cost to a moderate level.

[The Danes Are Coming]

We have (amongst others) replaced the ceiling speakers with Pioneer TS-MR2040 marine speakers. They are tough speakers that color wise fit into the ceiling design. Fantastic sound. You will need to enlarge the existing hole as these speakers are a larger diameter but this is easily done with a jig saw. Just don't cut the wires i the process.

Regular price for these speakers are $200 for a set of 2 but a bit of Googling can half the price. See f.x. this link. You may or may not consider the price expensive but remember that your RV will last a long time so new speakers are a long term "investment" in quality sound.

We also replaced the entire Hi-Fi system with a standard home style receiver. This wouldn't fit into the original compartment so we added a shelf under the cupboard. We did this about 2 years ago and we have no regrets. The sound that we now get is many many times better than what we would get from the original system. As I recall the price of the Sony receiver was about $210 at Best Buy.

[itdave]

I replaced mine with Yamaha home surround A/V Receiver. I also had to add a DVD player did not have any VHS tapes so no need for a player. Like Great Dane I added a shelf below the entertainment cabinet, but I relocated my DirecTV receiver to the shelf and put the A/V receiver and DVD player in the cabinet. I did have to widen the cabinet opening about 1/2" to get he receiver in. The only issue I still have is that the original sub woofer was not powered and the Yamaha requires a powered sub woofer, so we have been living without a sub woofer.

[jeepsrule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by itdave I replaced mine with Yamaha home surround A/V Receiver. I also had to add a DVD player did not have any VHS tapes so no need for a player. Like Great Dane I added a shelf below the entertainment cabinet, but I relocated my DirecTV receiver to the shelf and put the A/V receiver and DVD player in the cabinet. I did have to widen the cabinet opening about 1/2" to get he receiver in. The only issue I still have is that the original sub woofer was not powered and the Yamaha requires a powered sub woofer, so we have been living without a sub woofer.

How does it all sound without a sub woofer? I would love to pull that out and gain the cabinet space.

[The Danes Are Coming]

We do have a sub woofer connected to our system and it is powered. However - on our receiver (which is a surround sound receiver) you can set up the receiver with or without a sub woofer. If you haven't a sub woofer connected the speakers kicks in supply the bass otherwise supplied by the sub woofer. More than often we disconnect the sub woofer because it is so powerful that the whole RV shakes and we don't want to upset the neighbours. With the Pioneer speakers it works well even without the sub woofer.

STR-DH500 can be bought on Amozon. com for $159. I think this a very cheap for what you get.

Best Buy wants $201 for the same receiver.

[itdave]

I think Dane has it right, with the small space involved the sub woofer can be overpowering. We don't watch a lot of big action movies or concerts so we don't miss the Sub Woofer. The Yamaha is also able to compensated in the rear speakers for the missing sub woofer. We did not replace the OEM speakers if we did I think it would improve the overall sound and do a little better job of making up for the missing sub woofer.

[Diplomat Don]

jeepsrule....Mine had the RCA home theater system when we purchased new. I replaced it with a Sony home theater system. I used the same speaker wires (which had connectors specifically for the RCA unit). I cut the connectors off and soldered the Sony connectors on. Plugged everything in and it sounds great. I left the woofer in because I like the sound.

I have a Sony home theater system in the house too. When I went shopping for the second one for the coach, I found an open box unit at Best Buy with beat up speakers. It was only $200.00 and I gave the speakers away.

[jeepsrule]

Diplomat Don and itdave, thanks I was debating whether to replace speakers or not, I'm leaning toward not (lazy at times). I think I'll keep an eye out for a system like Don found, it seems like you get better pricing on the whole system than on components. Or maybe more places have them at discounted prices?

[itdave]

The only reason I went with a component was to be able to have better options for connecting other things like a DirecTV receiver and Nintendo Wii and having everything output via HDMI to the TV. Many of the Home Theater in a Box units lack the needed component input needed to hookup a DirecTV receiver or things like Xbox 360. However if you don't need or want these types of connections I agree the Theater in a Box is a less expensive way to go.

[jeepsrule]

Good point, currently my Wii is plugged into the TV directly.

[jeepsrule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don jeepsrule....Mine had the RCA home theater system when we purchased new. I replaced it with a Sony home theater system. I used the same speaker wires (which had connectors specifically for the RCA unit). I cut the connectors off and soldered the Sony connectors on. Plugged everything in and it sounds great. I left the woofer in because I like the sound. I have a Sony home theater system in the house too. When I went shopping for the second one for the coach, I found an open box unit at Best Buy with beat up speakers. It was only $200.00 and I gave the speakers away.

Diplomat Don.. How many of these speakers plug into the stereo system? I have nine speakers in the front of the coach and two in the bedroom.

[Diplomat Don]

jeepsrule.....Two up front and the two in the bedroom are connected to the in-dash stereo. The two midcoach are your rear speakers, the woofer in the cabinet and three up front in a row comprise the Home Entertainment System. (5) total.

[jeepsrule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don jeepsrule.....Two up front and the two in the bedroom are connected to the in-dash stereo. The two midcoach are your rear speakers, the woofer in the cabinet and three up front in a row comprise the Home Entertainment System. (5) total.

So if watching a DVD played through the TV in the bedroom the speakers in the bedroom will not be on the entertainment system? That TV just plays through the TV's speakers correct?

[Diplomat Don]

I never tried it, but I suppose you could use the switch box to show DVD on the rear TV and on the front, turn the surround up and be able to hear it from the bedroom.

Recently, I changed over to HD and replaced the bedroom TV with a flat panel. I dumped the Winegard switch box completely. My front TV has several inputs. I plugged the Home Entertainment system into the front TV via component cables, the DirecTv receiver via HDMI cable and then the cable (campground cable) into the coax connection of the TV. I ran the second output of the DirecTv box to the rear TV. By dumping the switchbox, I loss the ability to watch DVD's and campground cable on the rear TV......so....when I replaced the rear TV, I bought one with a DVD player built in. The switchbox was just a pain and got in the way. I was able to eliminate a bunch of cables.

Side Note: When I replaced my rear TV, I had Monaco build a new cabinet door for me (three months ago). It was pricey, but it matched perfectly to my original cabinets.