I just installed the PAC box in my car.
I would like to buy a 5+ GB mp3 player to hook to the PAC and use in the car. There are lots of them out there. I don't have any experience with the high capacity players and would like some feedback from people who are using them in their cars.
How well do they work and sound in the car?
How long do the batteries last when used in the car compared to using with headphones? (I tried one and had to turn the volume way up to hear it in the car, battery life suffered)
Is a 12 volt adapter a must have?
Any and all info is appreciated.
Thanks

 

http://www.phatnoise.com/products/di...yers/index.php

Works better than any portable player, no batteries needed. It interfaces with your stock headunit and steering wheel controls!

 

Phatnoise is a neat idea, but it is really expensive and not really portable. If they could make an interface that integrates into a car's stereo but can play from portable mp3 players, they would sell more units. People don't want an $800 Phat box that you can only use in the car. They want a portable player that they can use in the car and also take w/ them on planes, etc.

Yes, you can get a home stereo version, but I'd rather buy a $150 Prismiq or other media hub that you just stream music from your computers w/out having to first transfer songs over to a hard drive.

 

Thanks for the tip on the "phatbox". But it is a bit more dedicated than I am looking for. I just want a portable player that will work well in the car . . . and out.
I would like feedback from people who use these MP3 players in their car.
What's the best thing about your player?
What's the worst?
Would you buy that player again or something else?
I know lots of people are big on the IPODs, but I want to see what else people are using and how well they work in this application.
Thanks again.

 

My bad then, but you don't know what you're missing out on! good luck!

 

get an Ipod or a Dell Jukebox. I have the Dell Jukebox 30GB holds about 19,000 songs. Although I dont think I even know that many songs

 

Thanks for the response about your Dell.
Tell me a little bit more about it please. What do you like most about it? What do you like least? How's the battery life? How's the sound? Does it work well in the car or is it hard to operate and drive at the same time? Would you buy another one if this one were to disappear?
Thanks

 

Ok well, it works basically the same way as any standard MP3 player(in the category of IPOD, Jukebox, etc) The battery life is really good. I play it and turn it off in a given day like 8-10 times, and play it for about a good 3-4hrs and basically I dont have to charge the battery for a good week or so. It works really well in the car, also depends on what cables you get. I have the PAC audio, (b/c of my navi conversion) So I basically just plugged in the RCAs into the unit, which is connected to my SAT in, in the radio. I have the monster cable wires, which the sound quality(depending on your recordings, etc) is extremely good. You can make a playlist and just let it play through the playlist, picking out the songs you want to hear @ random. I would buy another one, although I got this one for free, the only drawback is its slightly bigger than the IPOD, but to me I dont care, its a difference of cm. Hope that helps.

 

Yeah, I too have the PAC aux input through the headunit and have my 40g ipod plugged in to there. I have the Belkin Auto Kit adapter as well, so it gives me a real audio line output (versus the worse quality from the headphone jack) and it charges the battery as well.

As I mentioned in another post, the Belkin has an amplified line-output.... Basically, the low volumes and quiet music are a non-issue (since there is an amplified volume output on the connector). The unit is amazing... One wire to the bottom of my iPod, and I have sound and charging in one. Plus, I hid the cables and the car kit in my armrest console. I only have one small dock connector that sticks out with the iPod when I use it. When I'm parking someplace, I just put it in the armrest.

Oh yeah, there are times that I feel my iPod + PAC + Belkin setup sounds better than my CD player. That's saying alot.

Since someone mentioned thier MP3 usage:
I have my ipod on during my workout in the evening, and now of course everytime I drive my car. How the hell did I drive without it before ??

I have about 1 gig free on my 40 gigger.
The battery lasts from 12-15 hrs.

 

Thanks, that is the kind of information I was hoping to get.
I have been leaning away from the IPODs mostly because of their non plug and play format. (Maybe I'm wrong about this but I have been told that to get MP3s onto an IPOD you must first process them through iTunes, which takes time.) I like to hook up a product and just drag files into it. The less additional software and steps I have to deal with the better. I'm very lazy like that.
However, that being said. It is hard to ignore all the aftermarket accessories that the IPODs have available. Lots of cool stuff.
Anybody have any "Creative" MP3 products?
Thanks

 

Well as for the Dell all you use is the jukebox and drag the music files right into it, then click on send to portable device and wala, you have your files on your jukebox. Pretty lazy righht there. lol
Ive messed with an old creative nomad before, it's cool but doesnt hhave a 5gb capacity

 

I use a Neuros (www.neurosaudio.com) MP-3 player. It has a built-in FM modulator to broadcast its output to your car (or home stereo). It comes in 20 to 80 GB sizes and is much less than an iPod.

 

i love my ipod / PAC unit / Belkin auto charger combo. the Belkin amp is a non issue. i have it turned up about 1/3 of the way and the result is CD quality sound. when cranked to the max, the Belkin amp will produce some distortion, ...but there is no need to have it past halfway.

 

Thanks for the info. I have never heard of the nuero unit. Too bad I already installed the PAC unit in my car. After all that trouble I am going to use it and it's RCA inputs.
I picked up an IPOD (mostly because of all the accessories available for them) and have been messing with that. It works well. I will have to get the Belkin unit too.
I like these high capacity MP3 players. No more having to pick and choose music via 20 song CDs. Now I can take my entire music collection with me . . . then take it inside and listen to it on my home system too.
Technology is a good thing.

 

Like other MP3 players the Neuros also can be used via the headphone out jack to feed an amp.