MP3 players - pay through car stereo

[Reschsmooth]

Not sure if this is the right place to put this query, but...

We have an MP3 player (that is sold with white headphones) that we want to play through our car stereo (particularly for our drive to Brisvegas for Christmas) as we would rather not have to take a stack of CDs.

I know there are various methods of playing an MP3 player through the stereo, but not sure which is most suitable.

I have heard of one accessory which allows you to play it through a specified FM frequency, althoug I understand this not perfect (interference, sub-optimal sound quality, etc).

What other methods are there? What are their pros and cons?

I am not sure what compatibility the stereo will have with the Ipod as we haven't got the car yet.

[MarkW]

This is entirely dependant on your system/brand of vehicle.

The current Ford XR6 has a cable located behind the front half of the centre console that you add the right cable adaptor to, to plug direct into an Ipod.

Most aftermarket systems have this facility in either a cable or socket being available for Ipod. You might have to go searching under the dash for the right cable though and you might need the original manual to check for the right cable.

On some of the better model systems Kenwood Alpine etc you can get they with a USB input for an Ipod cable or even a 2.5" HDD or if you have a P5K you could use that.

There is the system you mentioned but they're not worth jack.

Other than that - take a box of disks

[MarkW]

 BTW
MP3 music is usually recorded at a pretty p&$$ poor quality level so its probably not worth listening to.

The equation is Garbage In = Garbage Out

[losfp]

BTW
MP3 music is usually recorded at a pretty p&$$ poor quality level so its probably not worth listening to.

The equation is Garbage In = Garbage Out

THAT is of course entirely dependent on the person who originally encoded the file

I encode all of my files at 192 kbps VBR AAC files, and find they are very close to the original, particularly as I am normally listening on the train or in the car, ie: non-optimal listening conditions. If you leave your encoder on default, like 128kbps mp3s, then of course you will be in trouble for vocals, acoustic instruments, cymbals etc.

Our car (Ford Focus) has a line-in that works beautifully with the line out from our iPod. The radio transmitter will work at a pinch, but the quality isn't great, and you may have to keep changing the frequency depending on the local radio stations. Next best option to the line-in is probably a cassette adapter IMO.

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks Mark

The idea of not taking a box of CDs is appealing. In terms of quality - I typically opt for better quality options, however, we will have a 6 month old in the car, so it is unlikely we will be concentrating on the music (and therefore quality) too much.

I will check out the existing system when we pick up the car.

[Reschsmooth]

Next best option to the line-in is probably a cassette adapter IMO.

I don't think it will have a cassette deck.

I will check the manual when we get it to see what kind of inputs it can accept.

cheers

[olrac]

If you are getting a second hand car and want to get a great connection ect look at the alpine head units you can pick one up for under 300 at JB that will directly plugin to your ipod and charge it at the same time.

http://www.alpine.com.au/products/product.asp?modelID=357

You control the ipod with the head unit so it is a really nice touch.

all up including install you could prob get away with about 350....

I have this setup and it is great for those ling trips.

[Reschsmooth]

If you are getting a second hand car ...

Nup, getting a newie - I figure I may as well pay for the depreciation.

[olrac]

Allot of new cars offer some kind of connection to an MP3 player usually an aux input via a 2.5 mm headphone cable.

the only problem with this is going to be the need to have a lighter adapter that will keep the mp3 player alive.....

Hope that helps. BTW some cars offer an ipod connection and control from headunit/steering wheel I belive BMW is one...

[glennles]

BTW
MP3 music is usually recorded at a pretty p&$$ poor quality level so its probably not worth listening to.

The equation is Garbage In = Garbage Out

Sorry MarkW but the same could apply looking at JPEGs

I have the XtremeMac Airplay 2 and the performance is a lot better than the name. You can pick the frequency and assign 3 favourites. It only works on ipods though because it uses the dock connector on the bottom.

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks for the info guys. It has been a lot of help, and will be more when I have the manual.

[MATT]

I have the xr6 also and find the line in cable works a treat.

I also have the fm transmitter and for MP3 it is fine. I dont have problems with noise or anything like that.

Remember its only MP3 and this better than the radio.

Also a lot of ne wcars have MP3 cd players one or 2 cds full of mp3s is a fair amount..



MATT

[Biggzie]

BTW
MP3 music is usually recorded at a pretty p&$$ poor quality level so its probably not worth listening to.

The equation is Garbage In = Garbage Out

In a car ??? Im sorry, but this isnt an ideal listening environment anyway, so why would lower sampling rates and compression matter anyway.

I looked around, and after finding out FM transmitters which people did or didnt have problems with, and I bought this 1 from Minidisc Aust and Ive had a good run with it.
I also have a JVC MP3 cd player in my car which has a Aux/CD stacker input selectable in its options. It has RCA type connections at the back where you can attach a MP3 player and run the cable out through the dash / console.

[Greg B]

Patrick, I use the ($50) FM transmitter connected to my MP3 player and
the results are excellent. The transmitter is powered by battery or
through the cigarette lighter. If you use the battery (1 AAA), the results
are poor, but powered through the cig lighter, the results are excellent.

You also need to find a good frequency away from too much competition.
In Melb, 99.7 is good.

I would be trying one using the car's power before dismissing this option.
You may be very pleasantly surprised.

[gstark]

BTW
MP3 music is usually recorded at a pretty p&$$ poor quality level so its probably not worth listening to.

The equation is Garbage In = Garbage Out

Listening to music in a car is affected by all manner of ambient noise and so on. The provision of really high quality input to a sound system is generally moot while driving.



Patrick,

My JVC has RCA inputs for AV that I've had mounted in a recess in the console. I can then plug in an mini-stereo jack-RCA adaptor, and connect that to an MP3 player, and have music coming directly from the player into the radio.

I can also simply record a CD or DVD with music (MP3, audio CD, or whatever) and play them directly in the player.

The unit that was stolen had a mini-jack on it, and that permitted the same sort of thing.

[Killakoala]

I used to use an FM transmitter for my Walkman tape deck and followed by a CD player many years ago. It worked fine.

My car stereo plays MP3 CDs so i can just bang 200 songs on a CD and play that. It's much easier.

[MarkW]

People
You seemed to have used my little equation out of context!!!

It refers to the bitrate used to record the MP3 - if you use a low quality recording setting will will end up with garbage out of your sound system.

Please read the the reply it was used in and don't misquote what I have said.

[gstark]

People
You seemed to have used my little equation out of context!!!

It refers to the bitrate used to record the MP3 - if you use a low quality recording setting will will end up with garbage out of your sound system.

Yes, that's what you said, and that's what others have said.

But others have also added that a vehicle is a high ambient noise environment. You have made no such comment.

Please read the the reply it was used in and don't misquote what I have said.

Nobody has misquoted you. They've simply qualified it, I would suggest.

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks again for the continued information (or is that additional information?).

As I and others have said, music quality in a car is not the priority as other factors will come into play to reduce the ability for one to focus on it.

What is more a priority is having to avoid carrying a box full of CDs - recording CDs with X songs that can allow us to only carry a half dozen or so and provide at 10-20 hours of music would be an idea (I think the stereo will play MP3 files).

Cheers

[Grev]

I thought this would be easily solved with the FM transmitter or install an amplifier that allows inputs or something...

[Glen]

Patrick, I thought you were looking at a Maybach but obviously something smaller. How high would a stack of 20 CDs be, maybe 40mm high? Granted I will concede they are almost 12 cm across and with stuffing nappies and prams into every nook and cranny that may make the difference in size compared to those ubiquitous white marketing statements too much. Did you buy an Ariel Atom, Radical or something else without a glovebox?

[Onyx]

Patrick, most modern CD players can handle MP3 files on CD-R/RW, regardless of what brand of vehicle you're so careful chose not to disclose in this thread...

That means you don't have to make straight CDs that are only ~1hr long each, but have a collection of MP3 files on one disc that will last you to Brisvegas and not have to hear the same song twice.

700 MB per CD, say 5Mb per MP3 file, of 5 minute duration. That's just under 12hrs on 1 disc. And no need to bring the player, its charger or associated accessories.

[Reschsmooth]

...Maybach...
...Ariel Atom...
...Radical...

Glen, Alicia wanted something a little more practical, easy to park, less conspicuous and enough room for a rear-facing baby seat.

what brand of vehicle you're so careful chose not to disclose in this thread...

It was never asked

And, after the last two posts, I am somewhat embarrassed to mention, in the sense that it will underwelm everyone.

[Glen]

Alicia has great taste in automobiles, Patrick. Realistically I would look at the connections when you get the car, or ring the salesman and ask what connections they come with.

[Reschsmooth]

Alicia has great taste in automobiles, Patrick.

Better than mine??

Realistically I would look at the connections when you get the car, or ring the salesman and ask what connections they come with.

I am picking up the car (ok, it's a Mazda) tomorrow - what should I be asking?

[bwhinnen]

Well Patrick I can only assume you are looking at the Mazda 3 as a minimum and then above.

Mazda 3 - MP3 CD player.
Mazda 6 - 6 disc system, MP3 Compatible
Mazda CX7 - MP3 CD Player.

Cheers
Brett

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks Brett - it's the Mazda 6, and I think I recall seeing MP3 inscribed on the face plate of the stereo. I wasn't sure what this meant until it clicked (thanks to this thread) that MP3 can relate to file type.

cheers

[Glen]

Patrick, if you get a Lada make sure you get the Brock Special (true, he really did a special for them), probably knocks ten seconds of the 0-100 time, probably under 30 seconds on the Brock version.

I think Brett has solved your problem, it is as Onyx described, just take 2 CDs with you, should reduce the stack height.

[Killakoala]

Thanks Brett - it's the Mazda 6, and I think I recall seeing MP3 inscribed on the face plate of the stereo. I wasn't sure what this meant until it clicked (thanks to this thread) that MP3 can relate to file type.

cheers

The Mazda will come with an MP3 compatible CD player. My new Mazda BT-50 does and it's a cab-chassis UTE so the Mazda6 will.

[Onyx]

As Brett pointed out, the 6 comes with a 6 disc in dash stacker (although that may only be on Limited and above specs, the base Classic may only have a single disc player). The 3 has an aux input, that would have been more ipod compatible... But you've got potentially 70+ hrs of musical storage spread over 6 discs available in the dash.

I commend you on your sweet choice of ride though Patrick. One of the sharpest and most responsive steering and handling car for a cardigan sedan.

NB: as I recall, the 6's inbuild stereo can't handle folders, so you'll have to dump your MP3s in the root folder of the disc, and have like 70 stray files by default ordered alphabetically.

[Reschsmooth]

Patrick, if you get a Lada make sure you get the Brock Special (true, he really did a special for them), probably knocks ten seconds of the 0-100 time, probably under 30 seconds on the Brock version.

Glen, as long as it comes with the Energy Polariser as standard, I'm laughin'.

Onyx, I don't know what you mean by dumping the mp3 files in a root directory, etc. I don't have much computer know-how, see.

[bwhinnen]

When you burn your CD with your burning software of choice do the following;

Create a Data CD.
Drag and drop the songs (MP3 files) them selves onto the Dialog / Window created.
Do NOT copy folders or create folders on the Data CD you create.

If you tell me what Burning software you are using I can do some screenshots for you.

Cheers
Brett

[who]

In the Mazda, check in the centre console bin for MP3 player input & aux power, thats where it is hidden in the 3.

You can also buy from Mazda a ipod interface as well to allow ipod control from the head unit, pretty sure that is an option for the 6 too.

Although it may be easier and cheaper just to burn a heap of MP3 files to CD and whack that into the cd slot.

My Mazda 3 handles folders of MP3's on the CD, it just gets stuck in a folder at times and needs manual control to change it to the next folder.

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks guys. I have a couple of CDs I burnt from iTunes last year, a go of which I will give.

[dviv]

Thanks guys. I have a couple of CDs I burnt from iTunes last year, a go of which I will give.

"This is the kind of english, up with which I shall not put!"

Winston Churchill

[Reschsmooth]

Thanks guys. I have a couple of CDs I burnt from iTunes last year, a go of which I will give.

"This is the kind of english, up with which I shall not put!"

Winston Churchill

Too often used, is the passive voice.

[dviv]

Thanks guys. I have a couple of CDs I burnt from iTunes last year, a go of which I will give.

"This is the kind of english, up with which I shall not put!"

Winston Churchill

Too often used, is the passive voice.

Yoda was grammatically correct!

[Killakoala]

NB: as I recall, the 6's inbuild stereo can't handle folders, so you'll have to dump your MP3s in the root folder of the disc, and have like 70 stray files by default ordered alphabetically.

My Mazda BT-50 stereo DOES manage and see separate folders so I would imagine a very similar version in the Mazda6 would also. I think it would be unlikely that it wouldn't.