Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Skilless on December 06, 2005, 08:10:11 PM
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I'm curious about a car stereo head unit with a hard drive based MP3 player built in. I've never seen one and I wonder why not. Also I was thinking such a device would be neat if it had a "sync" button that would tell the unit to sync up with your music files on your PC (via wireless). That way as your library grows in the house it will grow in your car(s). An Ipod dock is alright but I'm talking about a selfcontained extention of a household wide media center.
I would have the sync function work with two options: Automatic, where everytime the key is turned off it searches for your local network and updates (if no local network is detected it shuts down), and manual where you have to physically push an update button.
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They need to build a head unit with an Ipod Nano dock built in.
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HD mp3 in a car? Hope it has good suspension. I've read some fools ruin their players after a run or two.
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Kenwood has made something close to that for some time now. It connects just like a CD changer and can be used by most Kenwood head units or with optional RF modulator/controller.
It's called the music Keg and it holds IIRC about 10 gigs worth of music. Also it connects to your PC via docking station.
(http://i23.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/a4/d6/21_1.JPG)
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Kinda neat, but doesnt seem very versatile if yer stuck playing it in your car. Pry costs the same as an 10gig equivalent player (or more). I have a 20gig Rio Karma and I use it in my truck with a $10 cheap cassette deck converter thing. Works fine and sounds better than my POS belkin 'mini radio' (set the station and tune the car's radio).
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Originally posted by Octavius
Kinda neat, but doesnt seem very versatile if yer stuck playing it in your car. Pry costs the same as an 10gig equivalent player (or more). I have a 20gig Rio Karma and I use it in my truck with a $10 cheap cassette deck converter thing. Works fine and sounds better than my POS belkin 'mini radio' (set the station and tune the car's radio).
You would be amazed at the sound quality lost by using that cassette adaptor (I do the same thing with a 40gb RCA Lyra). What I'm talking about is an integration between your PC music file (I have all my cds ripped to my hard drive) and your automobiles; You don't have to take it with you because it's already there. You don't need to carry your portable device with you because it's already there. Your portable device is reduced to long walks and bike rides. I know that if something like this was developed and marketed properly, there would be a huge consumer response. Maybe the RIAA has something to do with the fact that this thing doesn't already exist?
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I was mostly comparing the Belkin mini broadcast to the cassette... but I agree it is a nice idea.
Just how far of an integration are we talking, a full onboard computer? How do the audio files get to this onboard setup? Wireless from a computer at your residence? Rip CDs and record radio inside the vehicle? If it's an actual portable HD, then it seems like just another form of player with the controls stuck in your ride. Heh, bring a laptop or leave your portable player in the car and you'll be set. :p
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My idea is automatic (or manual) updates to sync it with your pc (home server) via wireless. A virtual mobile extention of a household media center. You could set it up to sync when you tell the system to or when you push your garage door opener or when you press a button on the stereo or just search for your local network whenever the ignition is shut off. This could be set up to detect a local network, or, if you don't have a wireless network, operate through a USB wireless system that just coms with your car stereo.
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Originally posted by Octavius
Kinda neat, but doesnt seem very versatile if yer stuck playing it in your car. Pry costs the same as an 10gig equivalent player (or more). I have a 20gig Rio Karma and I use it in my truck with a $10 cheap cassette deck converter thing. Works fine and sounds better than my POS belkin 'mini radio' (set the station and tune the car's radio).
Oct you should ditch that cassete thingy and go with an RF modulator. They're pretty cheap and probably better sound.
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I believe my CD Player also plays MP3's. I.E. If I cram a whole bunch of Mp3's onto a CD (not an Audio CD), I can play them.
The only problem is that it takes a little bit longer to track.
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
I believe my CD Player also plays MP3's. I.E. If I cram a whole bunch of Mp3's onto a CD (not an Audio CD), I can play them.
The only problem is that it takes a little bit longer to track.
I guess I'm a minority. The very idea of having your entire music collection at your fingertips escapes most of you (but why would I want my whole music collection at my fingertips? I can only listen to one song at a time).
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What a waste... simply get a head unit that plays CD-RW and place your MP3s onto the CD, when ya get bored, change the music on the CD.
If you need more than an entire CD worth of music in your car, go with a satellite radio subscription.
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At least here in the north HD units would be suffering from the extreme colds we have here. Have you ever heard what kind of whine a HD makes when you try to boot it up on -10c? I have and I don't want to try it again. :D
Whatever they put into cars has to work more or less universally.
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
At least here in the north HD units would be suffering from the extreme colds we have here. Have you ever heard what kind of whine a HD makes when you try to boot it up on -10c? I have and I don't want to try it again. :D
Whatever they put into cars has to work more or less universally.
Good point.
MP3-CD car radio is a quite common thing here. Cheapest Russian-made radios with MP3-CD cost less then $100. AFAIK AIWA and some other companies make such radios with USB port, to make it even more easy to use.
BTW, tapes don't feel good at -10C too ;)
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I've had an MP3 car stereo with USB port for a few weeks. Pretty handy I must say. Too bad I'll need to take it back as the radio is worthless, Lidl quality...
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Not just the cold would affect it. Growing up in Nebraska I learned that when start up your electronics in the cold air.....the air soon got warm. Taking cold air to warm air quickly causes condensation.
Personally I just use the Kenwood I have now wich can read MP3 CDs just fine. I can put as many folders as I want and about 700meg worth of music on it.
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What you want is a Phatnoise system. I had one installed in my Touareg with the 120 GB cartridge. It holds every CD and music DVD I own at the highest quality ripping setting. It integrates into the head unit.
I broke my music up by type and it has audible listing on both playlists, CD's, and tracks.
http://www.phatnoise.com
I beleive they either have or are working on a wireless interface but I don't know the details on it.
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Originally posted by Skilless
I'm curious about a car stereo head unit with a hard drive based MP3 player built in. I've never seen one and I wonder why not. Also I was thinking such a device would be neat if it had a "sync" button that would tell the unit to sync up with your music files on your PC (via wireless). That way as your library grows in the house it will grow in your car(s). An Ipod dock is alright but I'm talking about a selfcontained extention of a household wide media center.
I would have the sync function work with two options: Automatic, where everytime the key is turned off it searches for your local network and updates (if no local network is detected it shuts down), and manual where you have to physically push an update button.
It can be easily done.
This guy did a good job:
http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/mobile-blackbox/
If you have never played with these mini-itx boards, they are a blast. You get the mobo, Via cpu and heatsink for around $150 $200... I use to stick these in lunchboxes with a cd/dvd burner.. I charged $400 ea and couldn't sell enough of them. The fanless boards are silent and run at 800Mhz
The Via cpus are not good for gaming or much heavy lifting, but a 1Ghz with 1G ram flawlessly plays movies, surfs the intardnet and other daily tasks. They are easily mounted in glove boxes or under seats
The new shiznat is the nano-itx boards that practically fit in the palm of your hand:
(http://www.mini-itx.com/news/images/story0412.jpg)
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Pyle Audio makes a couple of decks that have a USB port built into them. Plug in your jump drive and go. I'm looking at one of them that will pretty much be an all in one. FM/AM/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/DVD/MP3. I'm going to install 6.5" headrest monitors for the backseat of my truck for the kids and a single 7.2" on the dash. Video splitter up under the dash, and 2 10" subs under the backseat with a 500 watt amp. Going to cost about a grand, but it will look and sound good when I'm done:aok
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Audiobahn has a couple with USB also.