Curious if anyone knows if the only rear entertainment system offered in the 2017 EL is the dual monitors in headrests, or is there also a ceiling mounted fold down screen option?

The EL seems like a better value than a suburban or Yukon, but having movies only in headrests for 2 kids would not work.

nm

BigNastyNate said:

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Curious if anyone knows if the only rear entertainment system offered in the 2017 EL is the dual monitors in headrests, or is there also a ceiling mounted fold down screen option?

The EL seems like a better value than a suburban or Yukon, but having movies only in headrests for 2 kids would not work.

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I think they still only offer the Invision headrest set-up. The lack of control at the head unit kinda sucks but it sucks a little less as the kids get older.

Somewhat confused on the bolded part. You can play one movie on both screens or two different movies which I think is somewhat nicer than a single screen when it comes to two kids wanting to watch different things.

Headrest systems are the only ones offered, but maybe the 2018 will have other choices.

Sorry, I have 4 kids. 2 would be mad when we're road tripping and stuff.

Really want a '15 or newer SLT or LTZ but can't find anything with relatively low miles for under $40k.

BigNastyNate said:

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Sorry, I have 4 kids. 2 would be mad when we're road tripping and stuff.

Really want a '15 or newer SLT or LTZ but can't find anything with relatively low miles for under $40k.

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I own a '16 EL with the headrest units. I've got 3 kids, but one is still rear-facing. My oldest is in the third row watching the adjacent screen, and we haven't had any problems. We do have the single overhead screen in my wife's minivan, and they've yet to complain about the situation in the Expedition.

We discussed the potential for a single overhead, but we realized it A wasn't as easy to view as watching the adjacent screen and B my kids have tablets they can watch virtually whatever they want on a long planned trip. We also liked the ability for there to be two movies selected and, as the boys get older, they will be able to control the units on their own to determine what they want to watch, so long as they have access to DVDs or other inputs.

My only problem is the system is best used with the supplied wireless headphones. The second best option is FM modulation, which never really works consistently over long trips. I'm trying to figure out a better audio input to the head unit. I can't seem to find anything telling me whether there are external audio inputs on the '16 head unit. Option 2 would be find some headphone jack type connection from the DVD players that will then let me transmit a Bluetooth signal to be picked up by the head unit.

Any thoughts from 1Ags or others would be helpful.

Much much much cheaper option: 4 amazon kindles.

There's a reason airlines are not putting them in many new planes.

Conversion vans have much nicer options and are cheaper

MouthBQ98 said:

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Much much much cheaper option: 4 amazon kindles.

There's a reason airlines are not putting them in many new planes.

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Much much much much much much cheaper option: Have a convo w/ your kids while driving, play a road game, encourage them to be observant and take in the world around them, etc.

Unless your kids are too young, individual tablets and headphones is the way to go as it is cheaper and more versatile than a built-in DVD player. No fights over what to watch.But does take more time and some planning to download stuff ahead of time versus tossing in a disc.

Technology is changing so fast some of delivery has been supplanted by cheaper and/or better options by the time it makes it into a vehicle. Satellite radio is going to be in big trouble with unlimited data plans as you can just steam your favorite music server for less money.

To me the main advantage of the integrated entertainment system is being able to control it at the head unit.

2 of my kids use the headphones in my wife's minivan and the other two are currently too young.

We have the tablet and all that good stuff
but would be nice to control from the head unit.

Considering the older kids sit in the back row and do watch the same shows, maybe the best solution is just an aftermarket unit mounted on ceiling where only they can see it and the two younger ones can use the headrest units as they get old enough.

Wish Ford offered the option for 4 headrest units, that would solve the problem entirely.

Quote:

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I own a '16 EL with the headrest units. I've got 3 kids, but one is still rear-facing. My oldest is in the third row watching the adjacent screen, and we haven't had any problems. We do have the single overhead screen in my wife's minivan, and they've yet to complain about the situation in the Expedition.

We discussed the potential for a single overhead, but we realized it A wasn't as easy to view as watching the adjacent screen and B my kids have tablets they can watch virtually whatever they want on a long planned trip. We also liked the ability for there to be two movies selected and, as the boys get older, they will be able to control the units on their own to determine what they want to watch, so long as they have access to DVDs or other inputs.

My only problem is the system is best used with the supplied wireless headphones. The second best option is FM modulation, which never really works consistently over long trips. I'm trying to figure out a better audio input to the head unit. I can't seem to find anything telling me whether there are external audio inputs on the '16 head unit. Option 2 would be find some headphone jack type connection from the DVD players that will then let me transmit a Bluetooth signal to be picked up by the head unit.

Any thoughts from 1Ags or others would be helpful.

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heres details on the 2018 RSE

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-ford-expedition-takes-rear-seat-entertainment-one-step-further-115785.html

As far as the wireless headphones, thats a little strange that the sound isnt that clear. The revolution series headrests did have a headphone jack, so I'm not sure if you have tried those yet.

Don't guess you can add them as I think the middle row captain's chairs have different headrest than the driver passenger seats.

Check with Invision to see if there is an option to add 4 more. The ones that come "factory" are Invision and are sometimes installed at the dealer. That is the reason for the lack on integration with the head unit

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Quote:

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I own a '16 EL with the headrest units. I've got 3 kids, but one is still rear-facing. My oldest is in the third row watching the adjacent screen, and we haven't had any problems. We do have the single overhead screen in my wife's minivan, and they've yet to complain about the situation in the Expedition.

We discussed the potential for a single overhead, but we realized it A wasn't as easy to view as watching the adjacent screen and B my kids have tablets they can watch virtually whatever they want on a long planned trip. We also liked the ability for there to be two movies selected and, as the boys get older, they will be able to control the units on their own to determine what they want to watch, so long as they have access to DVDs or other inputs.

My only problem is the system is best used with the supplied wireless headphones. The second best option is FM modulation, which never really works consistently over long trips. I'm trying to figure out a better audio input to the head unit. I can't seem to find anything telling me whether there are external audio inputs on the '16 head unit. Option 2 would be find some headphone jack type connection from the DVD players that will then let me transmit a Bluetooth signal to be picked up by the head unit.

Any thoughts from 1Ags or others would be helpful.

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heres details on the 2018 RSE

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-ford-expedition-takes-rear-seat-entertainment-one-step-further-115785.html

As far as the wireless headphones, thats a little strange that the sound isnt that clear. The revolution series headrests did have a headphone jack, so I'm not sure if you have tried those yet.

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Sorry...looking back at my post I don't think I made the issue clear.

At age 4 and 6, for some reason, my boys don't like wearing headphones...and we like still being able to communicate with them if we can on a long drive. We haven't even tried the headphones...and my soon-to-be 2 year old will be forward facing for our trip to SC in July, so he'll be watching, too.

The lack of clarity is in the FM modulation. As to be expected, you eventually go through areas with interference. What I'm trying to find is:
- Can I directly wire from output on the headrest to input on the car? I have 2 USB inputs but no mini/headphone jack style inputs. I'm not sure if there is anything on the back of the head unit.
- There is a headphone jack on the headrest unit. Is there anything out there that converts a headphone jack to a Bluetooth output I could then pick up on the head unit?

jimscott85 said:

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1agswitchin4lanes said:

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Quote:

---

I own a '16 EL with the headrest units. I've got 3 kids, but one is still rear-facing. My oldest is in the third row watching the adjacent screen, and we haven't had any problems. We do have the single overhead screen in my wife's minivan, and they've yet to complain about the situation in the Expedition.

We discussed the potential for a single overhead, but we realized it A wasn't as easy to view as watching the adjacent screen and B my kids have tablets they can watch virtually whatever they want on a long planned trip. We also liked the ability for there to be two movies selected and, as the boys get older, they will be able to control the units on their own to determine what they want to watch, so long as they have access to DVDs or other inputs.

My only problem is the system is best used with the supplied wireless headphones. The second best option is FM modulation, which never really works consistently over long trips. I'm trying to figure out a better audio input to the head unit. I can't seem to find anything telling me whether there are external audio inputs on the '16 head unit. Option 2 would be find some headphone jack type connection from the DVD players that will then let me transmit a Bluetooth signal to be picked up by the head unit.

Any thoughts from 1Ags or others would be helpful.

---

heres details on the 2018 RSE

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-ford-expedition-takes-rear-seat-entertainment-one-step-further-115785.html

As far as the wireless headphones, thats a little strange that the sound isnt that clear. The revolution series headrests did have a headphone jack, so I'm not sure if you have tried those yet.

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Sorry...looking back at my post I don't think I made the issue clear.

At age 4 and 6, for some reason, my boys don't like wearing headphones...and we like still being able to communicate with them if we can on a long drive. We haven't even tried the headphones...and my soon-to-be 2 year old will be forward facing for our trip to SC in July, so he'll be watching, too.

The lack of clarity is in the FM modulation. As to be expected, you eventually go through areas with interference. What I'm trying to find is:
- Can I directly wire from output on the headrest to input on the car? I have 2 USB inputs but no mini/headphone jack style inputs. I'm not sure if there is anything on the back of the head unit.
- There is a headphone jack on the headrest unit. Is there anything out there that converts a headphone jack to a Bluetooth output I could then pick up on the head unit?

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If you have SYNC, why dont you run a long 3.5mm headphone cord from the screen to the aux input next to the USB sync Jack and call it good?

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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heres details on the 2018 RSE

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-ford-expedition-takes-rear-seat-entertainment-one-step-further-115785.html

As far as the wireless headphones, thats a little strange that the sound isnt that clear. The revolution series headrests did have a headphone jack, so I'm not sure if you have tried those yet.

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That would have been really cool a few years ago but playing a dvd is about the only thing you can't do with a tablet. Our kids use the Dish anywhere to stream anything there.

Because there isn't one. Two USB ports. No jacks.

jimscott85 said:

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Because there isn't one. Two USB ports. No jacks.

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https://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Jack-Plug-Data-Cable/dp/B006T95XUS

1agswitchin4lanes said:

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jimscott85 said:

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Because there isn't one. Two USB ports. No jacks.

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https://www.amazon.com/3-5mm-Jack-Plug-Data-Cable/dp/B006T95XUS

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Thanks. I was thinking that was too simple of a solution...ordered and I'll check back in with results.