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Movies on wheels

BUYER'S CORNER

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Surajeet Das Gupta New Delhi
Last Updated : Feb 06 2013 | 8:20 AM IST
Want to see the latest blockbuster in the cold comfort of your car while you are driving out of town? Then read on. What you need is a car video system, which consists of a DVD player and a monitor, to watch the movie.
 
And the hottest ones on offer include a range from Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, and Blaunpunkt, just to name a few. But before you make a beeline for any of them, here are a few tips.
 
Of course this is not a guide for customers looking for cheap Chinese or Taiwanese products. It's meant to help those afficionados who are willing to fork out more than Rs 60,000 without batting an eyelid.
 
If you are one of those who frequently wing abroad, it might make more sense to pick up an auto DVD system from, say, Singapore or the US. Get on to the internet; you just might be in time to avail of some fabulous discounts.
 
If they are cheaper abroad, it is because import duties make these products at least 25 per cent to 30 per cent more expensive in India. But check out whether their warranties are applicable in India, or else you could land up in trouble. For instance, Sony does not accept international warranties in India.
 
But there's still cause to cheer. The good news is that most of the large companies like Kenwood, Blaunpunkt and Sony have a reasonably well organised after sales service within the country. So if you are a Blaunpunkt freak and refuse to see any other brand, the company offers you a range of products in the country.
 
Such simple pleasures of life will no doubt set you back by over Rs 70,000. You will have to buy the DVD player and the monitor separately.
 
The only product available through official channels is the DVD ME 2 which can play DVDs, CDs, MP3 and CD-R, and can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. It comes with a wireless remote and offers a one-year warranty to boot. The price tag? Rs 25,000.
 
But it is the Blaunpunkt monitors which are pretty expensive, especially if you want that typical cinema like experience, for which you will have to install a roof-mounted display. The two models on offer in India are IVMR 1042 (for Rs 62,500) and 9002 (retailing at Rs 47,500).
 
The 1042 has a monitor with a 10.4-inch diameter screen offering an amazing resolution. In comparison, the 9002 offers a screen with a 9-inch diameter and can be folded neatly when not in use.
 
Then there is the Japanese giant Sony's XVM-R-90 model. This comes with an overhead nine inch TFT monitor with a 120-degree swivel screen, with a DVD player attached over the screen.
 
You also get an infra red sensor for a wireless headphone. It is primarily meant for those sitting in the rear. It costs Rs 69,990 in India.
 
In fact, Sony has perhaps the most exhaustive range in the market. Its XAV 77 offers a seven-inch monitor with an in-dash receiver with a price tag of Rs 45,000. And the DVD player will cost you around Rs 26,000 extra.
 
Pioneer too has some interesting options at the upper end. The Pioneer AVH-P-7550 DVD comes with a seven-inch wide fully motorised LCD colour display, and five channel high power DVD VCD and CD receiver. I checked with a shop in Delhi and the price tag was Rs 79,000.
 
But if you are going to the US, you might want to check out on the new Pioneer introduction in the market "� AVIC-N1 "� which is touted as the next generation DVD experience. While it has navigation capabilities, which might be of no use in India, it comes with 6.5-inch screen and retails at $2200.
 
But for those looking for value for money products, Sony offers the "Dream Station" (MV65ST). It is a portable DVD player with a 6.5-inch screen, which can be mounted even on the armrest of the back seat and detached and brought home in case you want to use it at home.
 
The product comes with a carry case, an AC-DC adapter (so that it can be used at home where you need AC current while in the car you need DC current). And the price tag is a reasonable Rs 33,000.
 
For those with budgets which are less than Rs 50,000, you can pick up the Kenwood combination of a DVD player like the 4026V with a choice of screens.

 

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First Published: Apr 06 2005 | 12:00 AM IST

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