thompson

I hope this is in the right section.

I'm not sure if this has been discussed here before, but I want to find
opinions about the BA audio system. I was planning to upgrade the
stereo in my EL Fairmont and was going to spend about $1500 on an Alpine
CDA-7894RB MP3/CD TUNER and speakers. This was untill the interior of
the BA was released. (So much for putting the new stereo in the new
car!)

I realise that Ford have an adapter to plug in a cassette walkman or MP3
player into the factory audio system, but I don't feel that this is the
(dare I say it) elegant solution for MP3 in the BA. I could also argue
that trying to navigate an iPod or other MP3 player while driving more
dangerous than using a mobile phone. (Though I would like an excuse to
by an iPod)

Since they have made it impossible to upgrade the factory audio unit, do
you think they should offer MP3 playback (or at least CD-RW audio
playback) in the premium range of audio systems. This should be
possible with a software update and a cd player unit capable of reading
CDRs, such as would available in the sat-nav system (I am guessing it
can read CDRs as it will read the DVD with the maps on them) The
Premium System as it is now would not read an audio CD-RW when I tried
it at my local Ford dealer.

I can hear some people saying "isn't six CD's enough!!!" (I get enough
of that from Dad), but I would like to, for example, put all 13 AC/DC
albums I have on one CD and hit Random. (In my six stacker at the
moment is Frank Sinatra, ACDC, a classical CDR, Dire Straits, Moby and
Rage Against The Machine.) As for CD-RW audio, my home stereo can read
them (Sony LBT-LX10AV) and so can many cheap stereos. I would really
like this feature so I can make a CDR mix of songs which I can erase
later, instead of having a pile of CDRs I no longer listen to.

I feel the Premium system with the TFT screen would be the best option
for MP3 as it will be the easiest to navigate. Check out the Pioneer
7450 at Autobarn etc. for a good example for ease of navigation and
presentation. The six menu buttons on the BA ICC would make software
integration fairly easy (Easy enough for the BA2, mid 2004 would be nice
[hint hint]).

Sorry for the long post, (I have a big mouth and don't know when to
shut-up) but I would like to find if I am the only one miffed about the
lack of current audio upgradability. It may be a small thing to some,
and I will still by a BA, but it will bug me everytime I drive it, as it
won't be as I want it, as I feel the audio system is/was the easiest way
to personalise the interior of your car (besides fuzzy dice).

I'll stop now.

laminge

I agree

After installing a MP3 player Alpine unit, I will be dammed if I am going to buy normal cds again!

199 tracks on 1 cd... you carnt go wrong

Grunter

Now there's a diverse range of music. :s4

I agree, after being introduced to the wonderful world of incar MP3 players by 3Toed, it would definately be the way to go.

Here's another one for the series II.

__________________

the house of grunt
Click on the above link to go to a site about my cars, old and new.

Sammy

Also has anyone tried to play a burnt CD in a new BA. I don't mean a CD with mp3's on it but just one you have copied. The reason I ask is because some systems simply will not read a copied CD and I certainly hope this isn't the case with the BA.

__________________
Not allowed a sig?..

thompson

The CD I tried was a CD-RW which didn't work (no great surprise), but a standard CDR should work with no problems in any CD player less than about 5-6 years old (purely speculation). I think the reasons the CD-RW wont work in all is because the laser can't read the physical characteristics of the disc.

Hope bludger doesn't mind me using his pics!

Attached Images

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