It's the CHA-S634 which is a 6-disk MP3 changer. I heard that you can plug it into the existing harness in the back and go, control it from the radio controls and even the steering wheel controls - sounds too good too be true.

Has anyone had experience with this model? How did it sound? How quickly did it switch MP3 tracks and disks (especially in "shuffle" mode)?

Could it be this easy?

Mo

 

try either of these products:

http://www.blitzsafe.com
or
http://www.soundgate.com

If you search the forums under blitzsafe or soundgate I think there has been some good first hand accounts. My mini comes in this week and I think I might put one in at the first of the year


Blake

 

doesn't the 03 MCS have a port in the back of the stereo that you can hook up audio in? I really don't want to spend more money on one of those adapters. My car will be here in january and as far as I understood they do have the rear port.

Anyone who knows anything about this please help..

Thank You

 

Soory, I forgot to mention that I have an '02 mini.

Mo

 

Is it that easy?

Plug Blitzafe to harness in trunk, plug MP3 changer to blitzafe, mount changer and voila?

Its not cheap but it sure sounds easy. I going to seriously think about it.

How about the MFSW? What can I control with the MFSW and the head unit?

 

>>It's the CHA-S634 which is a 6-disk MP3 changer. I heard that you can plug it into the existing harness in the back and go, control it from the radio controls and even the steering wheel controls - sounds too good too be true.
>>
>>Has anyone had experience with this model? How did it sound? How quickly did it switch MP3 tracks and disks (especially in "shuffle" mode)?
>>
>>Could it be this easy?
>>
>>Mo

So did you get the changer and does it work with the steering wheel controls? I am also interested in this add-on and it would be great to hear that it works through the existing front-end.

 

actually you need one more adaptor. the alpine s634 is an AINET (protocol) changer. blitzsafe does not make a BMW->Alpine AINET adaptor. they only make a BMW->Alpine MBUS adaptor. To make this work you need the Blitzsafe BMW->ALPINE MBUS Adaptor (i think MINI/BMW ALP DMX V1) as well as the Alpine MBUS->Alpine AINET Adaptor (Alpine KCA-130B). the changer becomes a new source on the radio and you can control the changer from the radio (and track up/track down from the steering wheel). It is a little difficult controlling it since you do not have access to the ID3 tags, but it does work.

 

I just added an Alpine S634 CD/MP3 changer to my '03 MCS today. It works fine and I can control it through the MFSW.
What is required is the S634 (duh), a Blitzsafe adaptor, and the alpine AI-net to Mbus adaptor. I bought the changer on eBay and the other two parts at Crutchfield.
The total install time was about 30 minutes and cost about $350 for everything.
The hardest part was the mounting of the unit. Wiring was a breeze with the instructions that are posted on this site. I don't have the link, but do a search for 'blitzsafe' and you'll find them.
A big thank you to MCO for providing the information for me to get this project done.

 

is there any space to mount the s634 in the front of the car - will it fit in the glovebox?

 

I have the factory changer. Can I just By the MP3 ver and swap it out, or will I have to buy all the adapters.


Frank

 

>>is there any space to mount the s634 in the front of the car - will it fit in the glovebox?

The changer is pretty small. It might be able to fit in the glove box. I'll try and get out later to get the exact measurements on the changer. It's cold out here!

 

>>I have the factory changer. Can I just By the MP3 ver and swap it out, or will I have to buy all the adapters.
>>
>>
>>Frank

I doubt the factory changer would use an adaptor such as the Blitzsafe. You can look at the connectors and if the factory unit uses the two standard plugs in the car, then yes you would need to buy all of the parts I have listed.

 

How's the sound? Do the MP3s have to be recorded at 192, or will 128 do?

 

>>How's the sound? Do the MP3s have to be recorded at 192, or will 128 do?

Haven't had a chance to burn some mp3 disks yet. Regular CDs sound great through the standard HU and speakers.
As for the bitrate, I prefer at least 192. I'll try a 128 and see how it sounds in comparison.

 

Morales:

I'm embarrassed to say that even though I started this thread I still havent bitten the bullet and bought the changer. One of the reasons I'm hesitating is that I heard that it takes several seconds for the changer to go from track to track using MP3s and significantly longer for going from one disc to another - especially in random mode. When you get some MP3 disks burned and loaded into the changer I'd be interested in the performance.

Thanks!

Steve

 

Track to track changing is not bad. No worse than a regular CD.
The swapping of discs is a little lengthy, but nothing that is intolerable. I like it.
The sound is fantastic. I've also not had the thing skip at all. I've driven through some nasty roads where I was expecting some skipping, and the player didn't have a problem at all.

 

Should this same setup work w/ the H&K upgrade system?

 

Hi there,

Quick dumb question: Is the Blitzsafe DMX V. 1 for the BMW the same as the one for the mini MINI?

Thanks!
Marc

 

>>How's the sound? Do the MP3s have to be recorded at 192, or will 128 do?

I have some that are down at 96K and they sound fine depending on the complexity of the music, but 128 is the lowest I'd go when recording yourself. If you're the type who trades or sells your CDs after recording to MP3, I'd go 192 or even 256 so you have the full CD quality.

 

I've just pulled the Alpine HU and changer out of my old car, prior to buying my new Passat. The changer (the 634) won't fit in the changer bracket on the VW, so I'm considering intalling it in my wife's '02 MCS.

The adapter requirements are pretty clear, but I am curious how people have been mounting the changer. Horizonal or vertical, to the sidewall or the floor, what kind of bracket, pictures?

Thanks,

--Mike

 

I had Magnolia HiFi in Seattle install my CHA634. They used the Soundgate adaptor. I have had the setup for nearly a month now. IT takes approx 10 seconds for the disk change to register, does do random play well but does not shuffle from disk to disk. The display on my HK Head unit only shows 2 digits, so you have to guess what track your on whne past the 99th track. THe CHA manual states that you can have up to 255 songs per disk; I had some disks with over 300 songs and I am sure that it has played up to the end of the disk which in that particular time as track 305 .

I really do like haveing almost 2000 songs available. I keep my fav hipity hopity tunes on one disk, my classic rocks on another, my CW on another, Jazz on onather, pop tunes, etc... I was going to add XM radio, but now I do not feel that it is necessary. People whom hear the result are very impressed and cannot believe that they are listening to mp3.

I am really glad I did the CHA over the stock BMW changer, and it cost less!

 

How is the changer physically mounted?

 

>>How is the changer physically mounted?
My changer is mounted in the same location as the factory cd changer. I you want, I will post a pic of it.

 

A pic would be great, or a link to a pic of a factory changer. I haven't seen any changer installs, so I don't have an index to compare to.

Thanks,

--Mike

 

Today I installed the Alpine 634 MP3 player, it was a very easy install drilled four holes and mounted the unit in the vertical position where the factory unit would have been installed. Hookup was straight forward set the switch to position 2 for MD Bus insert the AI-net to MD cable between the unit and the blitzsafe unit then plug the Mini cables into the blitzsafe and away you go MP3 music to enjoy. HK head unit and MFSW works great.