well i got my clarion double din installed today. i still have to wait to get my i-pod video cable, then ill be set and ready to ride. I got them to install it with a switch so if im daring enough i COULD watch a movie while driving down the road. i tested that out, and its a huge distraction from driving. BUt my speakers sound louder then my other kenwood after market head unit, but now i have a 7 inch dvd screen. I dont however like how far it stick out, and they said that they dont make a double din unit face for the element, so i had to get one made for it...what you think

I think it looks great. From your pics I can't tell how it sticks out. That was one of the knocks on the Clarion.

Nice set up but can you explain what a "double din or "single din" is? What's a din? Thanks.

DIN stands for "Deutsches Institut für Normung" standards. These are the standards that are used for mainland Europe and Asia.

In the US we have the National Institute for Standards (NIST).

In this case that was used this refers to the "size" standard of the opening for the radio.

I hope this ia an adequate explanation.

Bob

Generally speaking: you can look at "Din" as a crude form of measurement in reference to head units.

Double din is like having two single din's stacked on top of eachother to put it that way. Double din takes up twice as much vertical space as a single din unit would. So, since the element has a double din, putting in a single din would take up 1/2 the (vertical) space. So, if you're ever looking for a new headunit for your E, you have the option of installing a double din radio (not just touchscreen dvd player units, some have CD+Tape players for example) or you can install 2 single din units - one head unit and one additional unit like an equalizer if you desired. If you have ever seen pictures of the Element DX center console, you can see what a factory single din unit looks like in a slot large enough for a double din.

Not all cars have room for "double din". The element is one that does and so installing a double din cd/dvd/(other multimedia, i.e. iPod) player head unit has become a popular choice from what I can see on this forum.

they said that they dont make a double din unit face for the element, so i had to get one made for it...what you think
first off, it looks good! second, when looking at Crutchfield they don't allow me to pick any double din stereos for the Element. what did you have to do to get the special face plate made? i would rather go with double din than the single din with motorized screen.

reason why i got the double din was becase of the Vent placement for the air condition. I am from GA, so our summers get pretty HOT and a flip out dvd player would block the air flow. I didnt know they didnt make a double din face plate. the guy said taht he just made one real quick, maybe thats one reason why its doesnt look as clean as it could have. sO cant help you there. there is enough space for a double din, but most stores wont know what to do, anyone liek best buys would kill you on prices. I kind of am starting my car as a show car for this guys business. he mainly does trucks so im like a little car for him, but he gave me his retail price of 850.

yeah, i hear ya on not blocking the vents. here in WI the winters get COLD so wouldn't want to be blocking them then either :) i'll have to poke around a bit and see what some places can do. we have a custom stereo install joint here that i should check out. thanks for the info!

I got a double din head unit installed (avic-d3) and the shop I used (Hi-Fi Shop in Riverdale, UT - FYI you may recognize the name from the "hi-fi shop massacre" in the 70's) they had a dash kit that fit the double din for the element. I think I remember the guy saying they use a company named "Best" for their dash kits so you may wanna check that out because mine looks awesome.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2306/avicd3installedsx7.th.jpg (http://img132.imageshack.us/my.php?image=avicd3installedsx7.jpg)

thanks! i'll have to check that out too.