MP3 Upgrade (Kenwood)
 

I've currently got a KENWOOD KMD-673R minidisc head unit with a 6 CD autochanger under the passenger seat.

I like the idea of playing mp3 tracks so the question is what do I upgrade?

Do I need to replace the head unit with a mp3 one (means I lose the ability to play mini discs)?

or

can I get a CD changer that plays mp3s that my current headunit will accept?

or

do I scrap the lot and start afresh?

Cheers

Mike

I read on a previous post that it's the changer that decodes the mp3 signal, not the head unit, so if that's the case i guess an mp3 cd changer will do job.


Try having a search through the forum, i definitely saw something with words to that effect.

Thanks Mike,

Had a search but couldn't see anything definitive.

So you reckon if I get hold of something like the Kenwood KDC-C719MP and do a straight swap for my current changer, the head unit will cope with mp3s from the changer?

The KDC-C719MP is a 10 disc changer, will this still fit under the passenger seat like my current 6 disc changer?

Thanks

Mike

Am looking at something similar myself but want to connect the KDC-719MP to the existing factory head unit in a bugeye WRX. Chaps at CEL Direct are doing a good deal on these but he said I should check whether the head unit will talk to the changer as changer is aftermarket.

Anyone know if this would work?

cheers

will

I have a 2004 WRX and the KDC-719MP plugs straight into the standard headunit and works a treat :)

Do you have the tracks in folders on your mp3 disks? and if so does the head unit recognise them??


Guy at CEL said it probably wouldnt so i would have say 100 tracks on one disk and no descriptions!!

Does this sound right

will

No i don't have them in folders, as you say about 100 tracks on 1 disc with no descriptions as that CD autochanger doesn't recognise MP3 tags or the name of the tracks, doesn't really bother me as i put it on random and let it do it's thing and surprise me with the next track :)

If you have your tracks in folders with the Kenwood MP3 changer, you have to have a pause button on your head unit to access them. Press pause and you can select the folder, it does not list track name, folder name ETC so can be a little confusing. I do the same as Granby and stick to writing ALL the tracks into ONE folder and playback on random.Its a shame that you cannot shuffle ALL 10 disc's in the changer,like you can on the CD audio only model, 1000+ tracks, never get bored.
Another thing with the kenwood changer is that if you burn your disc's above 8x speed the playback becomes distorted and skips, anyone else had this problem???