Hey all, currently looking into a way to get more of my music off my CDs and into MP3 format instead. This way I don't have to pack a wack load of CDs around all the time. Currently I'm using a USB memory stick, and plugging it directly into my Kenwood HU. Down side, it's only 8 gig, no where near big enough for all my music. I've looked into solid stat hard drives, but they are very expensive still. My question is, what do you all think about using a regular external HD? I'm worried that vibration will wreck it.

 

i've been wondering the same thing for quite some time now.. i imagine if you wrap it in some sort of a shock abssorbing jelly like ballistics gel or something similiar.. but again i'm not sure if that would even be required..

 

Does the deck have Ipod integration. If so grab an Ipod with a large capacity. Easily removable and you can hide them anywhere.

 

Just get a 64 gb patriot flash drive for 150.00 from tiger direct! that's enough for over 200 full cd's in lossless format, or multiple 32 gb drives, there's even a 128gb flash drive available now...though really expensive. Assuming you don't like ipods or want pure digital to your deck's dac. It's cheaper than an ipod, doesn't have any features though, but will store a lot of files. here's the link;

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=3787&name=64GB%20or%20more

 

I have a Kenwood DNX5120 and from the literature I've read on my head unit I'm limited to 32gb formatted fat32.... so make sure you read up on the limitations before you buy something bigger than you might be able to use...

 

hmmm, I didn't consider that, I'll look into it.

although, I used to have an 80 gig Ipod, it it plugged right in, I'm not sure if thats any different though.

if I were to get a hard drive I'd probably get like a 200 gig or so. I have about 500 cds. so I'd like alot of space.

 

Sorry to post so late

About 2 years ago at CES it became obvious to me that CD based music is winding down. And not just because of downloads but because memory sticks were getting to gigabit size, no moving parts, no shock/ vibe/ heat issues like CD/ cassette/ records and the high end home audio guys were embracing hard drive based music servers (those guys hate anything new but a HD based system could meet or exceed data rates for CD). So a rugged HD in a HU is reasonable, buying music on a thumb drive is reasonable, having WiFi in your HU download music to your HD is reasonable. folks life without CD will be just fine. Stuff I have downloaded to a solid state drive sounds fine (better than radio at least) but may be lagging in fidelity to CD for a little while till more high quality download sites become available.

 

Right, but like Sinemeup mentioned, we need to get the HU's up to par with the tech that's already out there. I mean, we're close with netbooks and iPads and s##t but none of them are single DIN lol

To the O.P:
Are you using iTunes or some other program to compress them into .mp3 and then putting them on the USB drive, or are you ripping the CD in it's original format and simply pulling that into the drive?

 

The size limitation is for connection via USB, I don't think there is a limit via IPOD connection. How much for a 32gig drive? Anyone?

 

Has anyone noticed a difference between aac (ipod) and mp3 sound quality? I've set the mp3 rip to max quality which is 320 on my software. Just got hooked up with an ipod for the first time and been loading it. I know, a little behind the times. I'll make you feel even younger. It's my daughter's. lol! But I use it more than she does.

Right now I have 2 8gig sticks to store various music on and play in my car. Have a stack of cd's from over the years that I'm slowly putting on the usb sticks. This is WAY better than trucking cd's around. Just got this HU about 3 months ago. I'm from the old school car audio when cd's just started to come out. So when I got a HU that had and iPod hookup, 2 usb connections and an aux input, I prettner jizzed myself. I honestly considered living in my car just to take advantage of all these new features.