Fed up with using mp3 cd's, what are my options?

saitrix

saitrix

saitrix

Soldato
Joined
2 Jun 2003
Posts
8,950
Location
Nottingham
Hi,

I am getting fed up with using mp3 cd's in my mx5, before it didn't bother me as I had a 2 mile commute so at most I listened to 2 tracks on the journey. Now it has increased to a 16mile one so the number of songs I get through have vastly increased. This means I am wanting to have new songs more often in my car, plus more of my collection available at one time. What is my cheapest option really?

At the moment I have an old Pioneer DEH-P5700MP which as far as I can tell, cannot add any sort of usb input.

Ideally I guess I am best to go for a head unit with usb or sd card? If so is there any budget recommendations.
 
It seems that its a whole extra box required, which is £90. For that price I could have a new Pioneer head unit with usb and sd. :o
 
I fitted my MK1 MX-5 with an Alpine IDA-X305s. It has a rear USB port and the cable runs into the arm rest box where you can connect a USB drive or an iPod. The small colour display makes it a doddle to browse through tracks and displays album artwork etc.

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If it's the original MX5 stereo there's something called the Audiolink. Has both MP3 and ipod versions.

I've got one in the RX8 and it works very well. I've run a cable around into the centre console and the unit lives in the glovebox. It's a bit of a pain to fit, but can be done without pulling the stereo out - but it's likely you will lose some skin off your arm. ;)
 
saitrix said:
Hi,

I am getting fed up with using mp3 cd's in my mx5, before it didn't bother me as I had a 2 mile commute so at most I listened to 2 tracks on the journey. Now it has increased to a 16mile one so the number of songs I get through have vastly increased. This means I am wanting to have new songs more often in my car, plus more of my collection available at one time. What is my cheapest option really?

At the moment I have an old Pioneer DEH-P5700MP which as far as I can tell, cannot add any sort of usb input.

Ideally I guess I am best to go for a head unit with usb or sd card? If so is there any budget recommendations.
Click to expand...

If you have an MP3 player that you want to use, I used this IPBUS 'hack' - costs about a fiver all in - http://stereophonik.com/gutterslide/IP-BUS_Hack/

I wired it using a iPod connector and hooked it up to my battery (along with some resistors to trick the Ipod into thinking the 5v USB power source was genuine) using something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/AUX-INPUT-CA...bleAudio_MP3PlayerCarKits&hash=item27b57daee7

I think I had the same head unit as yourself when I did it. Worked great.
 
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saitrix said:
Exactly, found a good looking Pioneer for £100 with sd card slot and usb. So thats perfect.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the same head unit I got a few months back, plays from my ipod, mp3 player and Ive got a few 8gig sticks loaded with stuff. Great value and sounds pretty reasonable as well :).
 
saitrix said:
Hi,

I am getting fed up with using mp3 cd's in my mx5, before it didn't bother me as I had a 2 mile commute so at most I listened to 2 tracks on the journey. Now it has increased to a 16mile one so the number of songs I get through have vastly increased.
Click to expand...

How long does your 16 mile commute take ? Surely not long enough to listen to a normal CD, let alone one filled with MP3s?
 
saitrix said:
Now it has increased to a 16mile one so the number of songs I get through have vastly increased. This means I am wanting to have new songs more often in my car, plus more of my collection available at one time. What is my cheapest option really?
Click to expand...

To put more MP3s on more CDs, of course.
Just how long does your 16 mile commute take you?
 
I just got my GF a Pioneer DEH-2300UB, £70 new, has front USB. Also bought a 4gb memory stick but one of those that almost sits flush so you dont catch it. Like this you can take the face off and it still fits in the case ok with out removing it!

To me connecting the ipod seems realy backwards, remeber in the 90's when you had that naff plastic cassette fed into the player and a lead into your CD walkman :p

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Building Candy said:
To me connecting the ipod seems realy backwards, remeber in the 90's when you had that naff plastic cassette fed into the player and a lead into your CD walkman :p
Click to expand...

You're wrong though. As the finite control you get with an iPod adapter (a decent one using the dock connector, not an AUX or similar) is superb.

I'd not swap my Intravee II in my BMW or the Pioneer iPod connectivity in my LCR for anything else currently available.
 
Building Candy said:
To me connecting the ipod seems realy backwards, remeber in the 90's when you had that naff plastic cassette fed into the player and a lead into your CD walkman :p
Click to expand...

As above, very wrong.

I never see my iPod (unless I want to change the music on it). It lives in my glovebox, and I have full control over what I listen to via my Alpine head unit, Playlists, Podcasts, by Artist, Album, or Track. My head unit is basically an iPod.

I don't see that as backwards at all.
 
Building Candy said:
To me connecting the ipod seems realy backwards, remeber in the 90's when you had that naff plastic cassette fed into the player and a lead into your CD walkman :p
Click to expand...

The problem is not the connectivity, it's that you have to own an iPod.

Personally I have a 4GB USB stick in my armrest compartment that connects to the audio-in jack which feeds the head unit. Then I have a decent MP3 player for all other circumstances.

iPod-in-car is lame not only because iPods are gash, but also because you can't just leave it in your car and forget about it, because you have to take it out for the gym, train, etc.
 
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