
Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
7-2 Infotainment System
To minimize taking your eyes off the
road while driving, do the following
while the vehicle is parked:
.Become familiar with the
operation and controls of the
audio system.
.Set up the tone, speaker
adjustments, and preset radio
stations.
For more information, see Defensive
Driving on page 9‑3.
Notice: Contact your dealer
before adding any equipment. Adding audio or communication
equipment could interfere with
the operation of the engine, radio,
or other systems, and could
damage them. Follow federal
rules covering mobile radio and
telephone equipment.
The vehicle has Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP,
the audio system can be played
even after the ignition is turned off.
See
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑28 for more
information.
Navigation/Radio System
For vehicles with a navigation radio
system, see the separate Navigation
System Manual.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
TheftLock®is designed to
discourage theft of the vehicle's
radio by learning a portion of the
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
The radio does not operate if it is
stolen or moved to a different
vehicle.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-13
XM Not Available:If this message
does not clear within a short period
of time, the receiver could have a
fault. Consult with your dealer.
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the
item from the accessory power
outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere
with each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
FM Stereo
FM signals only reach about
16 to 65 km (10 to 40 mi). Although
the radio has a built-in electronic
circuit that automatically works to
reduce interference, some static
can occur, especially around tall
buildings or hills, causing the sound
to fade in and out.
XM™
Satellite Radio Service
XM Satellite Radio Service gives
digital radio reception from coast to
coast in the 48 contiguous United
States, and in Canada. Just as
with FM, tall buildings or hills can
interfere with satellite radio signals,
causing the sound to fade in and
out. In addition, traveling or standing
under heavy foliage, bridges,
garages, or tunnels may cause loss
of the XM signal for a period of time.
Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause
interference with the vehicle's radio.
This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls,
charging the phone's battery,
or simply having the phone on. This
interference causes an increased
level of static while listening to the
radio. If static is received while
listening to the radio, unplug the
cellular phone and turn it off.
Satellite Radio Antenna
The XM Satellite Radio antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
Keep the antenna clear of
obstructions for clear radio
reception.
If the vehicle has a sunroof, the
performance of the XM system
(if equipped) may be affected if the
sunroof is open.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
7-30 Infotainment System
Player Error:This message
displays if there are disc load or
disc eject problems.
.It is very hot. When the
temperature returns to normal,
the disc should play.
.The road is very rough. When
the road becomes smoother, the
disc should play.
.The disc is dirty, scratched, wet,
or upside down.
.The air is very humid. If so, wait
about an hour and try again.
.There was a problem while
burning the disc.
.The label is caught in the CD/
DVD player.
If the disc is not playing correctly, for
any other reason, try a known
good disc.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if
an error cannot be corrected,
contact your dealer. If the radio displays an error message, write it
down and provide it to your dealer
when reporting the problem.
Auxiliary Devices
Using the Auxiliary Input Jack
Radios with an auxiliary input jack
located on the lower right side of the
faceplate can connect to an external
audio device such as an iPod
®,
MP3 player, CD player, for use as
another source for audio listening.
This input jack is not an audio
output; do not plug headphones into
the front auxiliary input jack.
Drivers are encouraged to set up
any auxiliary device while the
vehicle is in P (Park). See
Defensive Driving on page 9‑3 for
more information on driver
distraction.
To use a portable audio player,
connect a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) cable to
the radio's front auxiliary input jack.
When a device is connected, press the radio CD/AUX button to begin
playing audio from the device over
the vehicle speakers.
For optimal sound quality, increase
the portable audio device's volume
to the loudest level.
It is always best to power the
portable audio device through its
own battery while playing.O(Power/Volume):
Turn clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the volume of the portable
player. Additional volume
adjustments might have to be made
from the portable device if the
volume is not loud or soft enough.
BAND: Press to listen to the radio
when a portable audio device is
playing. The portable audio device
continues playing.
CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary): Press to
play a CD when a portable audio
device is playing. Press again and
the system begins playing audio
from the connected portable audio

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-35
Rear Seat
Infotainment
Rear Seat Entertainment
(RSE) System
The vehicle may have an Overhead
DVD Rear Seat
Entertainment (RSE) system. The
RSE system works with the
vehicle's audio system. The DVD
player is part of the front radio. The
RSE system includes a radio with a
DVD player, a video display screen,
audio/video jacks, two wireless
headphones, and a remote control.
SeeCD/DVD Player on page 7‑19
for more information on the vehicle's
DVD system.
Before Driving
The RSE is designed for rear seat
passengers only. The driver cannot
safely view the video screen while
driving and should not try to do so.
In severe or extreme weather
conditions, the RSE system might
not work until the temperature is
within the operating range. The
operating range for the RSE system
is above −20°C (−4°F) or below
60°C (140°F). If the temperature of
the vehicle is outside this range,
heat or cool the vehicle until the
temperature is within the operating
range of the RSE system.
Parental Control
The RSE system may have a
Parental Control feature, depending
on which radio the vehicle has. To
start Parental Control, press and
hold the radio power button for more than two seconds to stop all system
features such as: radio, video
screen, Rear Seat Audio (RSA),
DVD, and/or CD. While Parental
Control is on, a padlock icon
displays.
The radio can be turned back on
with a single press of the power
button, but the RSE system will
remain under Parental Control.
To turn Parental Control off, press
and hold the radio power button for
more than two seconds. The RSE
returns from where it was previously
left and the padlock icon disappears
from the radio display.
Parental Control can also be turned
off by inserting or ejecting any disc,
pressing the play icon on the radio
DVD display menu, or changing an
ignition position.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
7-36 Infotainment System
Headphones
A. Battery cover
B. Channel 1 or 2 switch
C. Power button
D. Volume control
E. Power indicator light
The RSE includes two 2-channel
wireless headphones that are
dedicated to this system. Channel 1
is dedicated to the video screen,
while Channel 2 is dedicated to
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) selections.
These headphones can be used tolisten to the radio, CDs, DVDs,
MP3s, DVD‐As, or any auxiliary
source connected to A/V jacks or
the auxiliary input jack, if the vehicle
has this feature. The wireless
headphones have a power button,
channel 1 or 2 switch, and a volume
control.
Push the power button to turn on
the headphones. An indicator light
located on the headphones comes
on. If the light comes on, but there
is intermittent sound and/or static on
the headphones, or if the indicator
light does not come on, the batteries
might need to be replaced. See
“Battery Replacement”
later in this
section for more information. Switch
the headphones to Off when not
in use.
Infrared transmitters are located at
the rear of the overhead console.
The headphones shut off
automatically to save the battery
power if the RSE system and RSA
are shut off, or if the headphones
are out of range of the transmitters
for more than three minutes. If you move too far forward or step out of
the vehicle, the headphones lose
the audio signal.
To adjust the volume on the
headphones, use the volume control
located on the right side.
For optimal audio performance, the
headphones must be worn correctly.
Headphones should be worn with
the headband over the top of the
head for best audio reception. The
symbol L (Left) appears on the
outside bottom edge of the ear cup
and should be positioned on the left
ear. The symbol R (Right) appears
on the outside bottom edge of the
ear cup and should be positioned on
the right ear.
Notice:
Do not store the
headphones in heat or direct
sunlight. This could damage the
headphones and repairs will not
be covered by the warranty.
Storage in extreme cold can
weaken the batteries. Keep the
headphones stored in a cool, dry
place.

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-37
If the foam ear pads attached to the
headphones become worn or
damaged, the pads can be replaced
separately from the headphone set.
To purchase replacement ear pads,
call 1‐888‐293‐3332, then prompt
zero (0), or contact your dealer.
Battery Replacement
To change the batteries on the
headphones:
1. Turn the screw to loosen thebattery door located on the left
side of the headphones. Slide
the battery door open.
2. Replace the two batteries in the compartment. Make sure that
they are installed correctly, using
the diagram on the inside of the
battery compartment.
3. Replace the battery door and tighten the door screw.
If the headphones are to be stored
for a long period of time, remove the
batteries and keep them in a cool,
dry place.Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks
A. Yellow: Video Input
B. White: Left Audio Input
C. Red: Right Audio Input
The A/V jacks are color coded to
match typical home entertainment
system equipment.
The A/V jacks, located on the rear
of the floor console, allow audio
or video signals to be connected
from an auxiliary device such as
a camcorder or a video game
unit to the RSE system. Adapter connectors or cables (not included)
may be required to connect the
auxiliary device to the A/V jacks.
Refer to the manufacturer
’s
instructions for proper usage.
Power for auxiliary devices is not
supplied by the radio system.
To use the auxiliary inputs of the
RSE system, connect an external
auxiliary device to the color-coded
A/V jacks and turn both the auxiliary
device and the video screen power
on. If the video screen is in the DVD
player mode, pressing the AUX
(auxiliary) button on the remote
control switches the video screen
from the DVD player mode to the
auxiliary device. The audio of the
connected source can be listened to
over the speakers by sourcing the
radio to the auxiliary device or by
sourcing the RSA to the Rear Aux
and listening with the wireless
headphones on Channel 2 or with
the wired headphones. See “Using
the Auxiliary Input Jack” under

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
7-38 Infotainment System
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30for
more information about changing
the source.
How to Change the RSE Video
Screen Settings
The screen display mode (normal,
full, and zoom), screen brightness,
and setup menu language can be
changed from the on screen setup
menu. To change any feature:
1. Press the
z(display menu)
button on the remote control.
2. Use the remote control
n,q,
p,o(navigation) arrows and
the
r(enter) button to use the
setup menu.
3. Press the
zbutton again to
remove the setup menu from the
screen.
Audio Output
Audio from the DVD player or
auxiliary inputs can be heard
through the following possible
sources:
.Wireless Headphones
.Vehicle Speakers
.Vehicle wired headphone jacks
on the rear seat audio system,
if the vehicle has this feature.
The RSE system always transmits
the audio signal to the wireless
headphones, if there is audio
available. See “Headphones” earlier
in this section for more information.
The DVD player is capable of
outputting audio to the wired
headphone jacks on the RSA
system, if the vehicle has this
feature. The DVD player can be
selected as an audio source on the
RSA system. See Rear Seat Audio
(RSA) System on page 7‑45 for
more information. When a device is connected to the
A/V jacks, or the radio's auxiliary
input jack, if the vehicle has this
feature, the rear seat passengers
are able to hear audio from the
auxiliary device through the wireless
or wired headphones. The front seat
passengers are able to listen to
playback from this device through
the vehicle speakers by selecting
AUX as the source on the radio.
Audio Output
Audio from the DVD player or
auxiliary inputs can be heard
through the following possible
sources:
.Wireless headphones
.Vehicle speakers
.Vehicle‐wired headphone jacks
on the RSA system, if the
vehicle has this feature.
The RSE system always transmits
the audio signal to the wireless
headphones, if there is audio
available. See “Headphones” earlier
in this section for more information.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-39
The DVD player is capable of
outputting audio to the wired
headphone jacks on the RSA
system, if the vehicle has this
feature. The DVD player can be
selected as an audio source on the
RSA system. SeeRear Seat Audio
(RSA) System on page 7‑45 for
more information.
When a device is connected to the
A/V jacks, or the radio's auxiliary
input jack if the vehicle has this
feature, the rear seat passengers
are able to hear audio from the
auxiliary device through the wireless
or wired headphones. The front seat
passengers are able to listen to
playback from this device through
the vehicle speakers by selecting
AUX as the source on the radio.Video Screen
The video screen is located in the
overhead console.
To use the video screen:
1. Push the release button located
on the overhead console.
2. Move the screen to the desired position.
When the video screen is not in
use, push it up into its locked
position.
If a DVD is playing and the screen
is raised to its locked position, the
screen remains on. This is normal,
and the DVD continues to play
through the previous audio source.
Use the remote control power button
or eject the disc to turn off the
screen. The overhead console contains the
infrared transmitters for the wireless
headphones and the infrared
receivers for the remote control.
They are located at the rear of the
console.
Notice:
Avoid directly touching
the video screen, as damage may
occur. See “Cleaning the Video
Screens” later in this section for
more information.