If you are planning a long road trip, you might want to consider getting a couple of headrest DVD players ahead. These nifty media gadgets will entertain the backseat passengers, so you won’t have to deal with screaming toddlers or bored adults.
As a father and a driver, I’ve been on enough journeys to know the difference that in-car DVD players can make. I review some of the most popular models out there to give you a reliable buying guide if you want to enjoy a peaceful car ride the next time you’re out on a road trip.
Table of Contents
Players We Recommend
Rockville RDP711-BK 7″
7” High-Resolution Monitors
800 x 480 Screen Resolution
16:9 or 4:3 Switchable Aspect Ratio
SONY Laser Lens
Dimensions (HxWxD) 7.7” x 11.2” x 5.9”
One of the great things about this DVD player from Rockville is its easy installation. I got it up and running in just half an hour. Another nice feature is the SONY laser lens in the DVD units, which ensures top-level playability. This technology should let you play old DVDs even if they are a bit scratched and worn.
The Rockville RDP711 is a high-quality video system that could make your family trips more entertaining. It comes with one front-loading DVD player and two 7″ monitors that you can easily install on the headrests of most cars. Both screens feature a universal fastening module that includes metal poles for quick attachment. By using the DIY installation guide that comes with the package, you can extend the poles from 4″ inches to 7″.
The two displays offer crystal-clear images in 800 x 480 resolution. Also, they allow you to switch from 16:9 aspect ratio to the classic 4:3 format so that you can also play old, homemade DVDs or CDs. The HDMI and USB inputs as well as the multi-media card reader adapter let you play video files from other devices, too.
Lastly, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a built-in IR transmitter for compatible stereo headphones should enable the backseat audience to enjoy watching a movie without disturbing the driver.
WONNIE Dual DVD Players with Mounting Brackets
10.5″ High-Resolution Displays
Up to 1024 x 800 Screen Resolution
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Dimensions (HxWxD) 12.2″ x 10.6″ x 5.2″
This video entertainment system from WONNIE is great for keeping the kids busy during a long journey. Also, its easy portability features allow them to continue watching a film once you have reached your destination. The long battery life should power the dual monitors for up to 5 hours without a recharge. For longer playing times, you can use the 12V car-charging adapter that comes with the package.
The system includes a main player and a slave screen. Both feature 10.5″ displays with a vivid resolution that can go up to 1024 x 800. However, if you play videos with lower resolution, the overall quality will be dictated by the slave monitor. In my experience, I never encountered major playing issues. We even put in some classic Disney movies, and they ran without skipping or pausing.
Installation is quite easy even for beginners due to its double practical headrest brackets. They are quick to mount, so you could even install the system on the same day you start your road trip. You should easily be able to play any type of format from the DVDs including MP3, AVI, JPEG and WMA files. Additionally, you can use the USB and card reader connections to display files from other devices.
All in all, WONNIE 10.5 is a convenient entertainment module for the entire family whether you choose to use it at home or in your car on long road trips.
NAVISKAUTO Player
10.1″ High-Resolution Displays
800 x 480 Screen Resolution
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Built-in 5 hr rechargeable battery
Dimensions (HxWxD) 13.4″ x 9.4″ x 5.3″
This dual-screen DVD player system from NAVISKAUTO is a reliable entertainment system for your car during family outings. It supports a wide range of video formats including AVI, DVI, MPG and music formats as well as free region disks. The two 10.1″ display screens offer top quality images in high resolution and, from my experience, with very few stopping instances.
I would say that one of the strong points of the NAVISKAUTO player is its ability to play videos, music, and pictures from other gadgets. Thanks to its USB ports, SD card slot, and built-in HDMI connectivity, you can view files even if you don’t have DVDs on hand.
It is fairly easy to install this two-screen DVD player on the headrests of your car. The package comes with sturdy straps and user-friendly remote control for quick installation. The 18-month guarantee should cover any technical mishaps that could occur when using this system on long trips.
If you plan to take the DVD player on the road, you should be able to use it for as much as 5 hours straight without recharging. However, the built-in Lithium battery will last for that long only if you use one of the displays. When you use both screens, the battery life decreases to a little over two hours. Once it depletes, you can use the 9.84 ft car charger to replenish it without halting your journey.
eRapta Headrest DVD Player for Car
10.1″ High-Resolution Displays
800 x 480 Screen Resolution
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Game Mode Available
Dimensions (HxWxD) 11″ x 7″ x 1.5″
If you are in the market for a media player that you can use both at home and in the car, you might want to give this 10.1″ Headrest DVD Player a try. I got two of them for my kids, and they had a blast mostly because they feature an exciting video game mode. The games that come with the package are similar to the early ones produced by Atari or Sega, but they could be highly entertaining for most children during lengthy road trips.
What I like most about this DVD player is its high number of connectivity slots. It comes with inputs for USB, AV, DC, headphones and card readers. So, you can easily connect it to other gadgets if you have a limited collection of DVDs.
The purchase package also comes with numerous adapters and accessories. When you unbox it, you should find a car charger. a wall charger and an ISO adapter cable. A remote control, two bracket boxes, harnesses and drive pipes should also be there to make car installation and use as easy as possible.
All in all, this DVD player should be a decent addition to the entertainment options in your car. The quality is good, and the video games are a nice feature for both kids and adults alike.
PUMPKIN Player
10.1″ High-Resolution Displays
1024 x 600 Screen Resolution
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Game Mode Available
Dimensions (HxWxD) 11″ x 7″ x 1.5″
Featuring a 10.1″ touchscreen that displays vibrant images in 1024 x 600 high resolution, this headrest car DVD player from Pumpkin may become your kids’ favorite travel buddy. It is simple to install, and easy to operate even for toddlers. We used it on a long car trip, and the children in the back barely made any noise throughout it.
This kid-friendly DVD player packs an impressive number of synchronicity features. If you don’t have a DVD around, you can easily pair it with your phone, computer or Xbox. It also comes with slots for USB, AV-IN / OUT and HDMI for additional connectivity options.
The PUMPKIN 10.1″ DVD player has two powerful built-in speakers that emit clear and loud sound, and which you can also connect to a car audio speaker. However, if you don’t want to hear any noise from the backseat, you can ask your kid to wear the cool-looking headphones that come with the package.
In terms of supported files, you will find that this system will play anything that is in VOB, AVI, MPEG, MP3, WMA and JPEG format. The 3 RGB LED backlights are great additions, just like the infrared remote control and the car charger that will come in handy on your journey.
To sum it up, the PUMPKIN 10.1″ headrest car DVD player should reward you with a pleasant experience. It might just be the ideal companion on long trips that will keep boredom away from your backseat passengers.
How To Choose The Best Headrest DVD Player For Your Car
DVD players have plenty of features that may confuse you when you are ready to buy one for the first time. Some consumers may say that video quality matters the most, while others could prefer sound clarity over it. Then, some take connectivity and easy installation over anything.
I have been testing several DVD players in my car over the years, and I have come up with a list of specifications that you should consider before choosing the best one for your vehicle. Here are some of them:
Portability
Technically speaking, most headrest DVD systems are portable, but only a few of them are easy to use outside your car. If you want a device that you can also enjoy in your home, look for a DVD player that you can set on flat surfaces, and which does not depend on straps or poles to stand straight.
Screen Size
You should opt for a DVD player that features a display size of at least 7″. I pick that measurement as a minimum standard because I want my kids to lay back comfortably on the back seat. A smaller size would just have them standing crouched and too close to the front seats.
Supported Formats
Next, you should always look for a headrest DVD player that supports as many media formats as possible. Do not limit the viewing options to video files only, and look for devices that also support MP3, WMA and JPEG files.
Audio Quality
The image quality is important, but then most DVD players come with a screen resolution that is at least 800 x 480, which is more than acceptable. However, you should always pay attention to the audio quality and ensure that the device will emit clear sound with or without using headphones.
Additional Inputs
Last, but not least, a reliable player for your car is one that comes with several input options. Look for devices that allow easy connectivity through USB, HDMI, and card reader slots. This way, you will be able to play files from other media if you do not have any DVDs on hand.
How To Install A Headrest DVD Player In Your Car
Setting up a video entertainment system for your backseat passengers is fairly easy. Most headrest DVD players come with instruction manuals that should help you complete the process in less than an hour.
If you have just purchased a DVD player for your car, and it does not come with an installation guide, here’s what you should do:
Test the device before mounting it on the headrest. This way, you can configure the menu and see what type of formats it supports. The package should come with straps, brackets or poles. At this point, you should use your intuition to attach the DVD player to the headrest in your car. Make sure that it is tightly strapped there, and that it will not fall when you drive or when someone touches it. Start the DVD player and make sure that it is easy to use and access by your kids.
The Controversy – The Health Effects On Children
Since the advent of smart technology, there has been a growing debate regarding the effect of electronic devices on children’s health. Some consider that portable players that you can install in your car are also part of this worrying issue.
While some parents take note of it and opt for tech-free car trips, others consider that watching a movie during a long journey is just as “harmful” as reading a book. So, they leave their kids to choose their preferred entertainment options. In the end, it is up to you to decide what is best for your children.
Conclusion
There you have it! I hope that my personal experience with using these headrest DVD players will come in handy when you decide to buy one for your car. Depending on the regular number of passengers on your backseat, you can opt for a device with one or two displays.
Regardless of your choice, you should consider this purchase as one for the entire family. Think of it as a fun, entertaining companion that will distract everyone from boredom during your long trips.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / *Image Disclaimer: We use images/data from Amazon Product Advertising API solely on products that link to Amazon. On products with the "Price at Crutchfield" button, we use images/data from Crutchfield.com as per the partnership deal.
