Upgrade to our Entertainment System

Poppy's 5th Wheel · 05-02-2014, 02:24 PM

I've never been satisfied with the entertainment system in our Cougar HC. The TV was small and lacked definition, the Jensen head unit is probably lower quality than one in a 15 year old car and the speakers were mediocre at best.

I was always unhappy that it wasn't true surround sound. When just watching TV the sound did not come through the speaker system and I couldn't bring my Blu-ray disks with me on the road. Watching movies we would try turning the volume up on the TV to hear conversation (trying to mimic a center channel in a surround sound system) but it only made matters worse as we would get a loud hum. The louder we tried to play it to hear, the louder the hum would get.

Anyway, I decided that we I would add some residential electronics and all I can say is that I can't wait to go on our next trip.

I swapped the 32" low grade Vizio with a nice 38" JVC. I had to modify the mounting plate for the RV's OEM wall mount to fit the bolt pattern on the back of the new TV but that was fairly easy just making a template of the hole pattern and drilling new, matching holes in the wall mount plate.

Next I cut a hole in the cabinet below the Jensen and slipped in a new Samsung Blu-ray DVD player. That cabinet is just hollow and, other than fear when I cut the first hole, it went fairly easy and gave easy wire access behind the cabinet and the Jensen and up through the pre-existing hole in the cabinet counter top.

Then I purchased a new Samsung Sound Bar with wireless sub-woofer. I mounted the bracket on the face of the counter top to hold it when in use. During travel it merely slips off the bracket and goes in a cabinet above the TV.

Finally I had a left over Logitech Harmony remote that I programmed to control the TV, Blu-ray player and sound Bar.

Badda bing, badda boom! This thing really rocks now and we have excellent quality and don't have to blare it. The wireless sub was what sold me on the sound bar system.

Hear are some poor quality pictures. I do want to find some way to trim the DVD player surround but it doesn't look to bad to be honest.

Starting at the end. Here's the new TV viewing from the antenna:

Another benefit of the residential Blu-ray player is the ability to stream if we have decent cell coverage and use our hot spot:

Here's the Sound Bar bracket:

And the Sound Bar as mounted:

Poppy's 5th Wheel · 05-02-2014, 02:24 PM

The new TV and the new Blu-ray player then plus the Sound Bar:

Installation of the Blu-ray player:

Poppy's 5th Wheel · 05-02-2014, 02:26 PM

HappyCamperMN · 05-02-2014, 02:39 PM

Very Nice!

randy69 · 05-03-2014, 12:59 PM

Loved what you have done. But put some molding a round that blueray player so it will look finish,

Poppy's 5th Wheel · 05-03-2014, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randy69

Loved what you have done. But put some molding a round that blueray player so it will look finish,

Yeah, I know. I've got to find something pretty small. Maybe 1/4", or 1/8" quarter round? I've been searching Home Depot and Lowes and it seems the smallest they show is 1/2". I'm sure that would look way to big. Anything other than quarter round in mind? I wouldn't even mind if it was black.

Do you think this would look too big? From Trekwood RV Parts from the catalog for my trailer:http://www.trekwood.com/products/917...red-Cherry-109

PARAPTOR · 05-03-2014, 02:17 PM

POPPY, see what happens when you add an inverter and more plugs

Looks good, Enjoy

Festus2 · 05-03-2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy's 5th Wheel

Anything other than quarter round in mind?

]

You might want to consider keeping the trim the same "look" as what is already there. So, instead of quarter round, perhaps a "flat" piece of cherry - say 1/2x2 or thereabouts across the top and the sides if you can cut it that fine. See what the same 1/2x2 looks like across the bottom.

If you use something that is flat then you aren't creating a different look to it. Quarter round is also a bit "old-looking" IMO.

bsmith0404 · 05-03-2014, 03:24 PM

You could try some colored caulk or wood putty. If you get the gap filled and hide the rough edges it'll look good.

randy69 · 05-04-2014, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy's 5th Wheel

Yeah, I know. I've got to find something pretty small. Maybe 1/4", or 1/8" quarter round? I've been searching Home Depot and Lowes and it seems the smallest they show is 1/2". I'm sure that would look way to big. Anything other than quarter round in mind? I wouldn't even mind if it was black.

Do you think this would look too big? From Trekwood RV Parts from the catalog for my trailer:http://www.trekwood.com/products/917...red-Cherry-109

I like it ....and it matches .

canesfan · 05-04-2014, 06:57 AM

Take a trip to Lowes/HD, they have all sots of trim, I think any 1/4 round will be too big and look funny. You might have to find something and cut it down, not a big deal, especially if you have a table saw or can borrow one. I did this exercise recently when I wanted to add a hand rail to our inside steps and all the premade handrails were way to big and would have looked funny.

Nice mod, very similar to what ours came with from the factory and I really enjoy it, I'm sure you will too.

Poppy's 5th Wheel · 05-05-2014, 09:46 AM

Thanks for the comments and ideas. I think I will check out Lowes first to see if I can find something that will work before I order anything online. I tend to agree that the 1/4 round will look out of place since there isn't any anywhere else in the trailer. It shouldn't be hard to find something that will work. Finding a matching stain might be the toughest part. I do have a table saw and quite a bit of wood working tools, just not much detail / cabinetry level experience so we'll see how I do

Going camping this weekend so it will have to wait for a week.

canesfan · 05-05-2014, 10:03 AM

Another option I thought of is a small plastic trim piece like might go around a car stereo. I'm sure the DVD player isn't the same size, but if you have a Best Buy local you might stop in there and see what they have in car audio/video installation kits, maybe you can come up with something that way, too.

Re stain, I had that problem. I looked at them all, had a sample to match, picked the exact one, it wasn't even close. Our local Ace let me try several on an extra piece of wood I had and we came close, but the 'exact match' wasn't the one. So if you go with wood try different shades on a test piece first.

Rweb · 08-01-2014, 07:36 AM

Really like what you have done to your entertainment centre. Looks great! I would like upgrade to a bigger tv in our trailer. But not sure we have the room. We might, not sure the wife will let me.

BadDogWillie · 08-04-2014, 09:57 AM

Poppy,
Great work, you could use the cherry or even use screen molding which comes in 1/2 thick and about an inch wide and paint or stain it.

What brand and size wireless subwoofer did you use and does it connect to the sound bar you put in?

Thanks
Bad Dog Willie

Poppy's 5th Wheel · 08-04-2014, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadDogWillie

Poppy,
Great work, you could use the cherry or even use screen molding which comes in 1/2 thick and about an inch wide and paint or stain it.

What brand and size wireless subwoofer did you use and does it connect to the sound bar you put in?

Thanks
Bad Dog Willie

I bought the Samsung Sound Bar at Costco which included a wireless subwoofer. It plugs in behind one of the recliners and comes on automatically when the sound bar does. Works great.

I admit that I still haven't finished the trim around the blu-ray player but I will and thanks for the ideas. Too busy dealing with my latest RV headache ..... a busted, leaking black water holding tank!

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