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Headrest Monitors | The Best Way to Add Video for Rear Seat Passengers

Once only found in limousines, headrests with integrated rear-facing screens now feature WiFi & HDMI input jacks, touchscreens, broadcasts to your car stereo, and more!
Headrest Monitors | The Best Way to Add Video for Rear Seat Passengers

Once a hallmark of luxury limousines, rear-facing video screens inside your vehicle can really improve the quality of life for backseat passengers. Known as headrest monitors, these video screens display input from virtually any source - keeping younger minds (and older ones) stimulated for long stretches. To be sure, driving becomes a much more enjoyable experience if your passengers can be entertained.

Seats Equipped With Headrest Monitors in Family Car

Ordering headrest monitors as a factory option on a new vehicle can cost big bucks - even if they're not part of a pricier package. Additionally, those monitors may be fitted inside a headrest that's integrated into a one-piece seat.

If your vehicle is equipped with detachable headrests, you've got the option to replace them with portable, self-contained headrest monitors from CARiD. Not only are our monitors equipped with the most up-to-date technology, they're wrapped in stylish-looking, comfortable headrests well-made enough to pass for OEM equipment.

Once your original headrests are removed, our universal-fit replacements slide right into place. While wiring is neatly contained within the attachment posts, some minor electrical connections will be necessary.

When choosing among headrest monitors, dual input jacks are important if you're interested in switching between different types of media (such as smartphone input, videogames, etc.). Both media devices can remain plugged in, and the user can alternate between them via remote control. Almost 80% of the headrest monitors we sell feature dual inputs, and you can select "2" under the AV Inputs checkbox if you prefer to see only those so equipped.

AV Input / Headrest Monitor Size Checkboxes

Additional check boxes will help you narrow your search by screen size, resolution, headrest color, and many other features. Below, we'll look at those features available and clarify the benefits of each.

Built-In Infrared (IR) Transmitter

Infrared (IR) signals are electromagnetic energy waves. Headrest monitors with IR transmitters are capable of broadcasting audio to IR wireless headphones, and they create wireless remote control functionality. With exception of several lowest-priced monitors, approximately 97% of those we offer have IR capability.

Built-In Infrared Transmitter For Headrest Monitors

Another check box allows you to narrow your search between headrest monitors with and without remote controls.

Pair Of Power Acoustik 8.8" Dark Gray Headrest LCD Monitors
Power Acoustik 8.8" Dark Gray Headrest LCD Monitor pair.
Tview Headrest TFT Monitor With IR Transmitter
Tview 9" Headrest TFT Monitor w/ IR Transmitter.

Built-In FM Transmitter

Built-in FM frequency transmitters broadcast audio signals from the headrest to the vehicle's OEM FM radio, so that anything played on the monitors can be heard in the car through the factory stereo system. After determining an FM frequency not in use in your area, dial the headset and your vehicle radio to that same "station". Just under half of the units we offer are equipped with FM broadcasting capability.

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Boss FM Headrest Monitor With USB Input
At just over $40, the BOSS FM 7" Headrest Monitor w/ USB Input offers exceptional value.

DVD Players

Tview Black Headrest LCD Monitor with Built-In DVD Player
Tview Black Headrest LCD Monitor with Built-In DVD Player.

We've got a large selection of headrest monitors with DVD players (over a third of our selection) built right into the unit. Depending on the monitor design, DVDs may load from the side, or from underneath a flip-up viewing screen. We've got monitors with DVD capacity from Concept, Boss, Planet Audio, Sound Storm Lab, Power Acoustik, and Tview.

Because many of these DVD players represent excellent values, they may or may not be equipped with other, more complex capabilities discussed in this article. A careful look at the Features list in any product page will provide details and specifications.

HDMI Input Jacks

We've got a large selection of headrest monitors with DVD players (over a third of our selection) built right into the unit. Depending on the monitor design, DVDs may load from the side, or from underneath a flip-up viewing screen. We've got monitors with DVD capacity from Concept, Boss, Planet Audio, Sound Storm Lab, Power Acoustik, and Tview.

HDMI Input

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an all-digital video/audio connection via a standard HDMI cable. This allows live streaming from a smartphone, laptop, portable DVD player, or other video device. So from a smartphone, for example, whatever you see and hear on the screen appears on the monitor - whether you're checking emails, viewing social media, watching videos, listening to music, or anything else.

Concept Chameleon Rear Seat Headrest Monitor With HDMI
The Concept 9" Chameleon Rear Seat Headrest Monitor w/HDMI.

Some products will use "USB Port" in their product titles or descriptions to refer to HDMI input jacks. Our HDMI check box allows you to view monitors with and without these input jacks.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi Emblems
Concept Headrest TFT Monitor With Wi-Fi
Concept 9" Headrest TFT Monitor with Wi-Fi.

Headrest monitors with built-in Wifi can synch up wirelessly to any smartphone or laptop in order to mirror that device. This type of headrest monitor does not need an HDMI cable. For example, we've got Concept 9" Chameleon Headrest Wifi monitors that are available with or without a built-in DVD player.

Headphone Jacks

Headphone Jack Input

If you prefer an audio jack for headphones with a traditional cord, we've got a search box that lets you view headrest monitors with and without headphone output jacks. Since approximately two-thirds of the monitors we offer are equipped with them, finding one won't be difficult.

Touchscreen Capability

If the convenience of touch-screen controls is preferable, we've got a small number of choices ranging from the value-packed Soundstream 6.5" Headrest Touchscreen Monitor up to the feature-packed Power Acoustik 8.8" Dark Gray Headrest LCD Monitors which come as an interconnecting pair.

Scheme OF How Touchscreen Control Works
Power Acoustik Headrest Touchscreen Monitor With DVD Player
Power Acoustik 9" Headrest Touchscreen Monitor w/DVD Player.

These touch-screen units offer unparalleled ease of operation - a real convenience when wireless remote controls get misplaced.

Interchangeable Covers

We understand there are times when switching your headrest to a different vehicle is necessary, so we offer monitors with 3 interchangeable covers - each of a different color. To match most vehicle interiors, colors are black, tan, and gray. Check out our selection from Sound Storm Lab, Planet Audio, BOSS, and Tview.

Sound Storm Lab Headrest Monitor
Sound Storm Lab 7" Headrest Monitor.

When you consider the high quality, good looks, and easy installation our headrest monitors offer, there's no reason to wait. But don't ask us: ask your 2nd and 3rd row passengers what they think (and we think we know what they'll say!).

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All manufacturer names, symbols, and descriptions, used in our images and text are used solely for identification purposes only. It is neither inferred nor implied that any item sold by CARiD.com is a product authorized by or in any way connected with any vehicle manufacturers displayed on this page.
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