Panasonic CQ-VAD7300U

[JuBu]

Has anyone had experience with the Panasonic CQ-VAD7300U in-dash DVD unit? Any feedback/opinions/criticisms you can give me are appreciated. Does it fit well in the DIN opening or does it stick out? Here are the specs.



LCD Monitor 7" (diagonal) 16:9 wide screen color monitor
High definition 336,960 pixels LCD Panel
Fully-automatic open/close, flip up/down, and front/rear positioning
Selectable 5 tilt angles and 2 horizontal positions with memory
Manually adjustableleft/right swivel angle
One-touch tilt for easy access to air conditioner, etc.
TFT active matrix LCD drive
L-shaped cold cathode fluorescent backlight and anti-glare coating
Selectable display modes Normal, Full, Zoom, Just
Automatic dimmer or 4-step manual dimmer
DVD Video, Video CD, Music CD, and MP3 playback from CD-R/RW discs
ID3Tag information and CD Text display
Ultra-miniature dual focus pickup
Anti-shock memory and floating mechanism
Automatic Disc Loading
Discrete 4-channel MOS-FET high-power amp (45Wx 4 max. at 16V)
Private Mode during front/rear dual program playback
High-precision D/A Converter 96 kHz/24bit
Aluminum Diecast Heat Sink Yes
Dolby Digital® & DTS® Double Decoder
Dolby Digital Decoder (2-channel downmix) only
Speaker Impedance 4 ohms
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz, +/- 1dB (DVD)
Distortion (PCM Input, 1kHz, 0dB) 0.01% (DVD)
S/N Ratio 100dB (DVD)
AM Usable Sensitivity (S/N 20dB) 28dB/uV
FM Usable Sensitivity (S/N 30dB) 12dBf (75 ohms)
Receivable TV Channels Ch. 2 to 69
TV Channel Presets 18-channel auto preset memory
TV Antenna 4-line diversity antenna (supplied)
Radio Presets 12 FM and 12 AM presets with preset scan
Auto Preset Memory Followed by Auto Scan
Adaptive FM Front End (AFE)
Impulse Noise Quieting (INQ)
FM Optimizer (FMO) Yes
Digital Audio-in/out Optical
Pre-Amp out RCA x 4ch
Speaker Connector Front/Rear
CD Changer Control Terminal Yes
CD Changer-in RCA x 1ch
VTR-in RCA x 2 sets for additional audio/video source
VTR-out RCA x 1ch for rear-seat monitor
RGB-in
Preamp Output Level/Impedance 4v rms, 60 ohms
Video Input/Output (Composite) 1.0V p-p, 75 ohms
Audio Input Sensitivity 2V rms
Security 4-digit ID Code
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Multi-function joystick on front panel
Beep on/off
Full-function AV remote control
Sirius® Satellite Radio Ready

[mauro3280]

Bump. I would like to know as well.

[JuBu]

Originally posted by mauro3280
Bump. I would like to know as well.

Mauro3280,

I got a lot of info from this guy on BimmerForums.com. Click here to check out the stuff he told me about it. He has it in his E36 M3 as well.

But in the end, he told me that it DOES NOT mount flush with the dash. It sticks out about an INCH when closed and I decided that was a bit too tacky for my tastes, even though it seems like such a good unit.

If you're interested, Crutchfield has a special right now for an Alpine CVA-1003 in-dash flip out, Alpine CHA-S634 MP3/CD 6-Disc Changer, and a Farenheit DVD player, all NEW IN THE BOX for only $999.

Also, where in NJ are you? If I do end up getting my system soon, I'd like to work on installing it with someone to help each other out. I'm in northern Bergen County.

Let me know if interested.

-Justin

[mauro3280]

thanks for the info, do you think the alpine will stick out like that too?

[JuBu]

Originally posted by mauro3280
thanks for the info, do you think the alpine will stick out like that too?

No...Seems like Alpine fits really well...However, back to the Panasonic, I saw some pics of it installed in another application (I forget the car) and it DID NOT stick out. Now I'm thinking about whether or not its the DEPTH or the INSTALLER SKILL that causes it to stick out.

Justin

[Eric]

it WILL stick out in your car, you have a regular DIN mounting system. If you have an ISO mount system like my 91 toyota 4runner, then you can make it fit further back in the dash. but no matter how hard you try, it will still stick out. I know, i've installed half a dozen of them.

I personally would buy the alpine IVA-D900, it has the BEST screen on the market with over a million pixels, that's almost double what all the other screens are. it also does not stick out as far, is not as "plastic" looking, and has a nicer oveall feel to it. (i've sold and installed all major brand screens minus a sony)

the only downsided to the alpine, is that it is harder to use than the panasonic. but i would put myself through a couple of hours of tranning with the manual and the unit to figure everything out over having a crappier looking screen (aka panasonic, pioneer, eclipse, sony, everything else)

that's just my .02

[BayBimmerM3]

The alpine is definately the best. I have looked at all the different screens and it has the best image quality. Since all the screens are about the same price its worth that extra little bit for the Alpine.

[hamann1000]

OK well I measured to see how much it actually sticks out, that is the panasonic cq vad----- and I over exagerated when I said 1 inch, it actually sticks out on my car no more than a 1/2 inch

[Eric]

on a regular install the panasonic will stick out more than 1/2 and inch, buy the alpine

[Weems19]

hey.. i read somewhere that the CQ-VAD7300U WILL NOT play dvd video when the car is not in park and emergency break is not up.. is this true???

[hamann1000]

Originally posted by Weems19
hey.. i read somewhere that the CQ-VAD7300U WILL NOT play dvd video when the car is not in park and emergency break is not up.. is this true???

That is true if you were to get it professionally installed. I think professional places are supposed to install it accordingly. I installed my deck and you just have to ground the ebrake safety wire and it will play dvd's without the ebrake being up.

[Weems19]

and you would also be able to use the TV tuner as well while the car is moving??

[Weems19]

so basically if i ground the ebrake safety wire i will be able to watch tv, play dvd's , and use a playstation 2 that i would hook up to it WHILE the car is moving?...

[hamann1000]

Originally posted by Weems19
so basically if i ground the ebrake safety wire i will be able to watch tv, play dvd's , and use a playstation 2 that i would hook up to it WHILE the car is moving?...

yes to all ure questions

[Weems19]

Footnotes
1 Video feature is designed to function only when vehicle is parked and emergency brake is applied.

.... I got this from the Panasonic website.. i was just wondering about the part where it says the vehicle has to be parked AND ebrake appilied.. by grounding the ebrake safety wire would i have to do anything additional about my car being in park or would grounding the ebrake safety wire take care of everythign.. Thank you so much for your help.. greatly appreciated