I picked up my US Spec. 2005 MCS yesterday, and the first thing I did was pop in a CD-R/W to which I had burned MP3's from iTunes. Worked like a charm! So, I can confirm that not only do the 2005 HUs play MP3 files burned to CD-R, but also CD-R/W.

It does not, however, display ID3 tag info. Basically the display shows something like "CD002-TR001" or something like that, where I think "CD002" is the folder and obviously "TR001" is the track number in that folder.

 

how does the MFSW work for navigating through folders? Does it only skip songs one by one or can you skip from folder to folder?

 

It only skips songs. To skip from folder to folder, you have to push the "M" button to put the deck in manual mode, then use the arrow buttons.

 

I suspect that the HU will read ID2 tags though. My old Alpine HU was that way.

 

Current reports are that the Head Unit in the 2005's will NOT display any sort of MP3 track data tags. Sorry guys, maybe the next generation Mini will do that - or someone will come out with a Mini specific Head unit that plays MP3's, works with or without HK upgrade, and displays tags.

It has been reported that the HU will also play WAV, and some other digital audio files. When I get mine, I plan an extensive test that I will write up.

 

I picked up my 2005 MCS two weeks ago. The HK unit does play mp3 CD's. I have burned them as mp3 player disks in Roxio and as a CD data disk also in Roxio. It plays both.

The worst part is finding 300 songs that I want to fit on a CD :-)

 

Please excuse my ignorance but I'm new to all this Mp3 stuff. After reading this thread, I just copied a few files out of my i-tunes library onto a CD R/W, so that when I PU my new MCS this friday or sat I want to see if it plays.

However, I noticed the file extensions for the songs were all .M4A. Will the head unit--or any other Mp3 PB unit--read these files?

If not, what do I need to do? I have the latest version of i-tunes as my importer. thanks, Jimbo

 

i think m4a files are "protected" mpeg4 audio files. no mp3 cd player will read these, that i know of.

if you're importing using itunes, make sure you have mp3 selected in your import preferences.

if you're buying songs off of itunes, either find software that converts m4a to mp3, or burn them as an audio cd and rip them again to make standard mp3s.

the protection on songs from itunes is almost as annoying as the stuff sony puts on their md player import software. i'll stop before i go into a rant about the riaa... anyway i've been liking emusic.com recently. less of a selection, but much cheaper, and you download mp3s, not m4a or other formats. sorry to ramble...

 

Thanks for the info :smile: Screw it: I'm just going to plug my pod into the AJ and be done with it.

 

actually, i made a mistake, m4p is a protected mpeg4, m4a is... not? i think it's the same as an mp4. if you do a search for some software to convert mp4 to mp3, you might find what you're looking for. .. but if you've got an ipod, go for it! much easier

 

Ya know my curiousity got the best of me so I switched importing prefs to mp3 and did my "Top 25" playlist, selected convert to mp3, and it appears that they were converted. I then made sure the burning pref said Mp3 disk. I then tried to burn the converted files and i-tunes would not let me. I then changed the burn prefs to "data disk" and it looked like the burn process was starting when the cd ejected with a red box "Unknown error 4450" cannot burn disk message popped up I guess my original error was not selecting mp3 before ripping 9.7 days of audio files into .m4a fles man what a hassle and a half!

Again, I'm paying for an auxjack, and I have a pod...:smile:

 

My new 05 plays mp3 files on a CD, 175 songs. You can even have the songs in file folders and choose between folders. I also have an iPod that I simply play via a local fm station via a $30 adapter from Apple or Radio Shack.

 

My 05 plays mp3 files. Pressing the 'MAN' button and then the left or right arrow skips between folders.

 

How does the stereo sort MP3s? I haven't looked at it in detail yet, but I can't figure out the sorting method to the unit. It isn't alphabetical order.

My only guess is it reads them based on location on the CD and my burning software didn't burn them alphabetically.

I'm praying they release new firmware so it can display tags.

 

Unfortunately, I wouldn't hold my breath.

-mike

 

Does the base NON-HK stereo play mp3s also???

 

They say it does. I have HK so I can't confirm first-hand.

-mike

 

The head unit on the HK and non-HK system in the U.S. is identical. Anything the HK system plays, the non-HK system will play.

 

On my CD I just had 175 mp3 files in no particular order. The radio merely displayed numbers form 1 to 175. Not pratical when trying to find a particular song. I will try folders next.