for anyone considering an in dash dvd head unit, you may want to stay away from clarion (which really sucks because i have always been really happy with their head units in the past).

i have a vrx745vd installed and the small cooling fan is loud as hell. it is about a 40mm fan so it has a high pitched whine to it. i already sent one back thinking the fan was bad and the new one does it too. after searching on the web i found others complaining about the same thing. clarion actually says it is "normal".

an additional kick in the arse...as long as the vehicle is on, the fan is on, whether the stereo is on or not. only way to get the fan to shut off is by turning off the vehicle or taking off the faceplate (you didnt really wanna see the clock did you?). i have considered clipping the fan lead but knowing my luck the unit would self destruct.

the features and display are great but for this much $$ you shouldnt have to put up with a noisy fan.

here is the unit for reference...



http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LUbbmqKGszF/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?I=020vrx745&search=VRX745VD

If you're a do-it-yourselfer, get an EPIA M-10000 with a no-fan case like e-Otonashi. Don't use any hard drive (use a solid-state read-only IDE<->flash converter, or use EPIA M-12000 which has built-in CompactFlash slot). Boot Linux from the flash and run your own car media software (or use pycar, http://pymedia.org/pycar/

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DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

Thanks for the good info....


--BlackOps

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2004 Black Renegade
All J Skid, factory skids, tow package
2.5 inch Front Daystar/Rear Skyjacker springs
245/75 Cooper Discoverer STT's
Flowmaster Series 40
Warn Shackle, Mounted Mag light, Drop-In K&N
Corbra Handheld CB w/ 4 foot Firestick
Lifetime # MJ051776