Gramps (NSW) replied:

Lionel,

Get a new radio with MP3 input. There are several options around now but I just plug my MP3 player into the radio and all is fine, no jumps etc etc etc.

Willem replied:

G'day Ol fella....lol


Nah mate, CD players are ancient history.

Buy yourself a new JVC or similar radio with a USB port. Then put all your music on a USB disk-flashcard and away you go

Even the worst corrugations won't stop the music!!!



Cheers

Member - joc45 (WA) replied:

Hi Lionel,
You can get decent CD players which continuously store about 10 seconds of audio in a buffer, so you don't get breaks on rough roads. But times are changing, and MP3s are more the go in disc players. You'd need to research which brands have a decent buffer. But an iPod or similar MP3 player fed into your car audio would give you total immunity to rough roads. You can also now get players with a hard disc, vitually like an iPod, but built into your car audio. Not sure how hard discs would take corrugations in the long run tho.
Gerry

Member - andrew B (Kununurra) replied:

Cheapest option IMO is a $20.00 mp3 player that plugs into the ciggie lighter and you then plug a flash drive, or ipod etc into it, then tune your existing FM radio into it. Works brilliantly, is cheap, is easy to use etc etc. I think the days of the CD are numbered.

If you go this option, best to go with one that remembers what song you are up to, mine doesn't, so if you turn the ign off or bump the thing out of the socket, it goes back to song one (when used with a simple drive, used with an ipod would be different). It can be a pain to scroll through songs.

A thumb drive is cheap, robust, and holds lots of songs. you can pick the smaller units up for a few dollars in bargain bins, and have different peoples songs on each or whatever you want. I think it is dollar for dollar one of my best purchases.

It won't jump, and is so cheap it doesn't reallly matter if you stand on it or loose it.

I should sell them....

Cheers ANdrew

Snowy 3.0iTD replied:

Lionel

Don't know about other brands but I have used Pioneer exclusively as I have never had any problems with them, only on heavy corrugations do they skip a bit. Definitely pay the bit exta for one with MP3 capability though, even if you think you won't use it straight away.

Regards

Snowy

Member - Lionel A (WA) replied:

Thanks guys.....I think.
MP3/USB/Flashcard/I-Pod/80gig/Flashdrive/Thumbdrive ?????????

Looks like Ill be throwing out my trusty cassette tapes then...lol.

I hope you realise your talking to a bloke who thinks Gene Pitney is still top of the charts, mind you this new group out 'ABBA' sound pretty good and look like they will do well....hahaha.

Being a die-hard DIYer, this ones out of my league.
I think the car will go to THE/STE/REO/SHO/P/AND/ TH/EY/CAN/ SOUG/HT/IT/OUT.

Many thanks & kindest regards.......LI/ON/EL.

Gone Bush (WA) replied:

Lionel, I used to own a franchise for a national electronics chain and I just had a sound system installed in my trayback so here is my view:

Most of the answers above are correct in one way or another.

Get a head unit that:

can play mp3 discs (up to 10 hours on one CD)

has a cable input for an IPOD (yes a real IPOD by brand because they are everywhere). The IPOD goes in the locked glovebox and you can have 80GB of music on tap.

has a USB input for a thumbdrive. Current brochures have a 4GB for $40. It will never skip.

Finally I had my gear installed at Alberts Car Stereo in Myaree. Very happy.

cheers

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

I have a Pioneer Radio/CD/MP3. It's over 3 years old now and has never skipped even on the Anne Baedell and Gunbarrel highways.
You can buy a Pioneer Radio/CD/MP3/with IPOD plug in for $129 at Strathfields at present - I installed one in my son's car last weekend.

I still burn my music to MP3 Cds - can fit about 10 albums on each CD. Fit 10 CDs on the sunvisor :-)

I tried the IPOD transmitter but the sound came through badly. I also have a poor opinion of the reliability of IPODs - my kids IPODs seem to break down out of warranty period.

Member - Duncan W (WA) replied:

My current factory CD player is fine. Had 2 replaced under warrenty. Original unit died due to corrugations. Hated dust and cold mornings. Replaced the unit, not much better. Latest unit touch wood seems to be behaving its self.

Member - jjt98 (QLD) replied:

Hi Lionel,
Plenty of options there.
I have an Ipod Touch with a cigarett lighter docking station that has an FM frequency transmitter. Just dial your radio into the FM station that the Ipod says to & BINGO, no wires, no cd's, no jumping & skipping......perfect. Days & days of music on something not much bigger than a Credit Card.
Cheers
Jason

Des Lexic replied:

Lionel, My CD bleep e itself last year so a new unit was required before last years big trip.
I ended up getting a radio with USB port and a SD Card port.
Loaded all my music on the SD card and away we went. Worked like a treat. Never missed a beat (LOL) or skipped. has a removable face panel so not worth nicking if you take the face panel with you. Has blue tooth as well and only takes up half the space of the factory fitted one so that the two way was installed neatly under it.
makes for a happy camper.

Member - Davoe (Yalgoo) replied:

Just get a tape deck- you can get reeeeel good ones would have cost a fortune for almost nothing 2nd hand and tape your CDs .
you keep your cds safe and out the dust. nothing skips and it will cost you less than 50 bux