What options do I have to recreate the playing of music as I do on my computer desktop? I have about 1400 song files and my dream would be to have the ability to listen to random songs from that collection in my car. Are there any systems that have a hard drive that can store large amounts of music files and play them?

Or is my best bet to try and make a little mp3 player with a harddrive and then patch it into a car stero that supports an external input.

Any advice/comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

 

Hi...

You can install an EMPEG (aka RioCar) to your HU as long as it has an AUX input. The EMPEGs pop every now and then on Ebay...

Advantages: Geeky cool, nice graphics, removable
Disadvantages: Hughe, no longer in production

Or using that same AUX input and a cable adapter, you could hook up an iPOD...

Advantages: Geeky cool, size, portable
Disadvantages: Firewire (but you can use an add-in card for your PC)

Here's a link for more info on the EMPEG:

 

you could get one of those kenwood music kegs.. there is 2 models ,one has a 10 gig, harddrive and the other has a 20 gig hard drive.. the 20 gig one will hold 5,000 mp3's... they are kinda expensive, but you would never need to buy another cd.
you can probably get them cheaper somewhere else, but here is the link to crutchfield, just for info.,

Crutchfield....kenwood music keg

 

1400 ripped songs??
Don't let the ASCAP,RIAA, BMI or the RAC find your PC!!

Besides the mentioned Kenwoods (probably the best fit for you) you might check out the Sony MEX 1HD and the Pioneer DEH P90, both are hard drive equiped.
Good luck and let us all know what you find!

 

I agree with that suggestion.... I have about 6 discs in the car that pretty much cover about everything I would want to listen to while driving.

I do not have all my music with me (16.6GB = 4,331 files) but pretty much everything I listen to a lot.

And, YES, all the MP3 files I have are from CDs that I own

 

I vote for the EMPEG (RioCar) as well. This is what I have used for the past 2 years. I would die without my empeg. I think I have roughly 6,000 songs (20 gigs) on the sucker now. None of the other car mp3 players will even come close to the functionality of the EMPEG.

To bad it is no longer in production. The EMPEG just ahead of it's time.

 

In addition to the Kenwood music Keg, the Empeg and HD equipped head units, you may want to consider a CD changer that supports MP3 playback, though it would have the convenience of the others, it is probably significantly cheaper.

I found a few linux based MP3 pc's with car playback in mind, they ran on a skeletal OS and used only the numpad to control playback.......

 

Thanks for all your help. I ended up going with the MP3 deck and have started sorting out my files and ripping my CD's.

I went with the Alpine CDA-9807 deck, new Alpine 5x7's in the front, and Alpine 6.5" in the back. Sound is much better then stock and I really like the new deck. Now all I need to do is figure out where I can hide an amplifier and a subwoofer that won't limit the space I have in the trunk.

Any suggestions would be great

Thanks,

Dave