USB Key for a Car Head Unit.

Dreadhead · 23 Apr 2009 at 09:00

Hello There.

I recently bought myself a Sony Head Unit for my car as it has the ability to play from USB. The function is brilliant, and as a result I am now looking to buy a USB stick that is particularly short; as to not stick out from the head unit too far.

Has anyone had any experience with the short USB sticks, and can you make any recommendations?

I have seen the Sony micro-vault sticks, however have read that the performance is not up to scratch:

http://www.sony.co.uk/product/sm-micro-vault-tiny/usm8gh

Really just interested to see what other options are out there, and if anyone else has used these types of stick in a similar setting.

Cheers.

Yellowbeard · 23 Apr 2009 at 20:22

One of these sounds perfect for you, the Corsair Voyager Mini:

http://www.corsairmemory.com/products/voyagermini/default.aspx

I bet a Survivor would look really cool. But, it would be larger and heavier:

http://www.corsairmemory.com/products/survivor/default.aspx

Dreadhead · 24 Apr 2009 at 10:39

Cool, had not seen that mini-voyager. Cheers for the link.

The other one does look good, but I need a short one so that I don't knock it out.

Art · 24 Apr 2009 at 10:51

Survivors aren't small and aren't light, I really doubt they'll be any good to you. As much as I love mine it's not the kind of thing you can stick on your keychain.

Generally all of the small sticks are a bit rubbish at the performance end compared to bigger sticks, that's just the price of having small drives.

Something like the ATP Nano might do you: it's about 3cm long by 1cm wide, so it's nice and small and light. Again it's not great on the speeds, and although it's cheap it's hard to get (I've only found one UK website with it, if you don't like that websit you're kinda sunk).

The Voyager mini might be the easiest thing to get hold of, if you don't mind it being a rubbery USB drive.

mrgubby · 24 Apr 2009 at 11:35

I use a "Dane Elec Mini-Mate JELLY BEAN ". You should be able to find suppliers easy enough

Yellowbeard · 24 Apr 2009 at 19:22

Dreadhead said:
Cool, had not seen that mini-voyager. Cheers for the link.

The other one does look good, but I need a short one so that I don't knock it out.

Oh, I agree on the Survivor. I just like the cool factor :cool:

One thing you might want to consider is using a USB extension cable. That way, you won't be quite as limited on the drives you can choose from and, you can stash the drive in a safe place around your dash. You'd have a flexible cable sticking out of the head unit instead of the drive.

Malt_Vinegar · 24 Apr 2009 at 19:38

I have a survivor

Its the only stick I have had thats lasted 6 months! Its been about 8 months now and still going as well as the day I first got it

I also use it in my car headunit!

hawker1986 · 25 Apr 2009 at 04:07

Ive got a voyager mini and would recommend it to anyone looking for a small drive, its tough and very compact, speed is pretty good too.

Hawker

Yellowbeard · 30 Apr 2009 at 21:47

If you have not already decided on a drive for your head unit:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13987862#post13987862

At that price, I'd buy several. More music and a backup in case you do have a mishap or leave a drive at home, etc.

Ninja Please! · 2 May 2009 at 22:26

I have a car CD player that will take SD and USB and standard mp3 player input (small looking headphone jack). But the point of me posting on here is one day desparate to charge my phone in my car without a car charger, I decided to try my usb cable for my phone in my car cd player. Not only did it charge my phone, but I could play the music I had stored on it as well. Something to maybe try to see if it works on your cd player.