Community Forums

loranimal · 04-30-2008, 04:44 PM

Well that POS in dash Magnadyne radio/DVD player died again and will not be replaced. Number 4 if your counting. So I was thinking of just adding a home type "home theater system" vice an in dash unit. The pain in the rump part would be having to redo all the wiring. Looks like a compact unit would fit in the cabinet over the driver that has the video switcher in. Anyone add a system to theirs? Of course I could just get an in dash unit again (not a Magnadyne), but they seem awful pround of those things.

Carl

loranimal · 04-30-2008, 04:44 PM

Well that POS in dash Magnadyne radio/DVD player died again and will not be replaced. Number 4 if your counting. So I was thinking of just adding a home type "home theater system" vice an in dash unit. The pain in the rump part would be having to redo all the wiring. Looks like a compact unit would fit in the cabinet over the driver that has the video switcher in. Anyone add a system to theirs? Of course I could just get an in dash unit again (not a Magnadyne), but they seem awful pround of those things.

Carl

Camelot Camper · 04-30-2008, 05:01 PM

Carl,
We had to replace ours one time in Dec 2007 and received a new unit installed by Buddy Gregg MH. The new unit had the latest updated software and it's worked good ever since. If your coach is still under warranty I would ask for a new unit, and even if your coach is now out of warranty Monaco should recognize that the issue orginated during your warranty period and still remains defective.

If you do decide to put in something different, there are several posts in the second thread down called "Quick Tips and Easy Mods", and you can also just go to the "Find" tab and search on Magnadyne.

Good Luck,
CC

Dutch Star Don · 04-30-2008, 06:46 PM

Loranimal, my coach came with the Home Entertainment System as an option. I had a Magnadyne in-dash AM/FM/CD player. I tossed the Magnadyne and replaced it with the Pioneer AM/FM/XM/CD/GPS unit. I love it and the GPS information plays through the stereo speakers.

I didn't like the RCA Home Entertainment System because it was old technology and didn't hook up with my new 32" flat panel. I replaced it with a Sony Entertainment unit and just reconnected the old wiring. I found an open box unit with beat up speakers at Best Buy. Since I didn't need the speakers, I bought the unit.

I believe you can add a new Entertainment System and run the speaker wires (several feet of them) down the "A" pillar and connect them to the existing wires from the Magnadyne surround sound speakers.

Robin_M · 05-01-2008, 03:52 AM

Carl, I would think that you could probably replace the junky stuff that Monaco installs with just about anything that will fit using most of the same wires. Of course, if you want a REALLY nice system you could do what Great Dane did here.

An alternative, if you want to take the "lazy way out" might be to take the motorhome to a good sound shop. They should have lots of options to offer, and their labor rate won't be anywhere near what you'd pay an RV dealer. That's what I did with my last motor home, and I ended up with a nice Sony system that was state-of-the-art for that time.

Don, what is the "'A' Pillar"?

MonacoMama · 05-01-2008, 05:38 AM

Robin...
I believe what D.Don is referring to is the area between the windshield and the front side windows... (I am sure he will correct me if I am wrong

)

MM

Mbl Cndo · 05-01-2008, 09:33 AM

Believe it or not, we're on number 6, and it won't listen to the remote, either of them. Monaco is such a great RV manufacturer, why would they keep using these pieces of crap after they know they are pieces of crap??

Camelot Camper · 05-01-2008, 02:18 PM

Yea, I forgot how bad the Magnadyne remote is. I called them and asked if they had a larger model that would work but they didn't. Per Magnadyne's suggestion, I purchased a Sony Integrated Remote Commander, RM-VL600, which "learned" the codes from the Magnadyne credit card remote. It's been so long since I used the Magnadyne remote I forgot how bad it really was.
CC

Dutch Star Don · 05-01-2008, 06:17 PM

Mama is right as usual about the "A" pillar. The covers come loose easily and there is a lot of room to run wiring behind them.

MonacoMama · 05-01-2008, 08:05 PM

Hey Don... This looks like your 300th post!

Congrats...now all you need to do is stay online 10 times more than you do...so you can catch up with me!

...Thanks for admitting that I was "right as usual" ...now will just tell the "Office Manager" at work...

MM

Robin_M · 05-02-2008, 03:23 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Mama is right as usual about the "A" pillar. The covers come loose easily and there is a lot of room to run wiring behind them. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Don,

Thanks. But now you've got to tell me why it's called an "A" Pillar. I've never heard that nomenclature before. Curious minds want to know.

Is that a common automotive design nomenclature where maybe the driver's side is "A" and the passenger side is "B"?

loranimal · 05-02-2008, 04:27 AM

Robin,

A-Pillar is usually the one by the windshield.

B-Pillar is usually between the doors.

C-Pillar is usually by the rear window.

Of course it all depend how many doors and windows your vehicle has.

It moves front to back.

As far as the radio is concerned, I'm heading off to the big city (Reno) this weekend to look at both dash units and home type systems. I've had the front area torn out a few time already working on other things so that doesn't bother me. It's just a pain...

Carl

Robin_M · 05-02-2008, 04:48 AM

Thanks for the explanation, Carl. I'd not heard the nomenclature before, but it makes sense.

Working in that area is a pain - awkward to reach many of the places you've got to get your hands into. Hope you find what you're looking for in the big city.

Sixpack98 · 05-03-2008, 06:30 PM

Op for the standalone player. The Magnadyne is very cheap and the RCA is almost as bad. I almost felt bad about giving them to Goodwill but got over it. The only thing I missed with the Magnadyne was integrated weather band but my el cheapo Midland has much better reception.
I did craft a metal bracket that attached to the upper steel strut to hold the replacment receiver since it weighed much more than the RCA. That is something you will have to deal with. Even entry level Sony, Yamaha, etc will be much heavier than the RCA. The replacement DVD player has HDMI audio/video which the replacement LCD TV also has. Huge improvement in picture quality as well as audio. I will also replace the speakers when I get the time.
With a little effort and expense the result will be a superior audio/video.

mark