Best MP3 Player - Test Results

[CreeperRS]

Originally Posted by Snoman

Auto manufactures don't build radios. They are farmed out to the cheapest bidder and generally can be replaced with a complete retail comparable for $200 or less.

Blame Panasonic, they designed the stereo. For those having issues, take it to the dealership and have them update the firmware. That's it!

[Leo72793]

Originally Posted by Artifice

I still can't believe Chevy skimped out on the radio system! I'm also using my 160GB iPod with ALAC files and I'll either get choppy songs while the radio tries to index everything, or the iPod will freeze and I have to manually reset it
From what I've seen, the radio seemed like an afterthought in these cars

I feel ya man. adding a DSP for ipod use did really help clean it up and sound better. the radio is panasonic iirc. pathetic. no dash kit looks good to me except new DDmods kit that styles just like the factory one with double din radio. I added my own BT 4.0 to the DSP and use the DSP to control volume and bass.

[CreeperRS]

Originally Posted by Leo72793

I feel ya man. adding a DSP for ipod use did really help clean it up and sound better. the radio is panasonic iirc. pathetic. no dash kit looks good to me except new DDmods kit that styles just like the factory one with double din radio. I added my own BT 4.0 to the DSP and use the DSP to control volume and bass.

It's a PAC unit, not DDmods.

[Leo72793]

Originally Posted by CreeperRS

It's a PAC unit, not DDmods.

DDmods

http://shopddmods-com.3dcartstores.c...aro_p_433.html

[CreeperRS]

That's the vendor who sells it, LOL, not the manufacturer. Explain why a big ol' "PAC" is on the box? Just for kicks huh? LOL.

http://pac-audio.com/productDetails....&CategoryID=26

[BSR-1]

Just read through the thread and notice only a couple of people notice that MP3 (even on the highest settings) sound like shit, no matter how it's connected.
Some people just don't have an ear and will never know the difference but I think most have just become accustomed to "High Tech", Modern, sound reproduction.
When I first copied my CD's onto MP3's (Highest possible quality) and plugged it in, it was awful, just not worth listening to.
It took some time but I found a lossless method of copying the CD's.
It sounds WAY better. Perhaps this may help some of you who haven't found a work around?

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by Leo72793

DDmods

http://shopddmods-com.3dcartstores.c...aro_p_433.html

Ugh, probably a forgotten mislabeled ad at best. He's a Vendor, the product is PAC

Originally Posted by CreeperRS

That's the vendor who sells it, LOL, not the manufacturer. Explain why a big ol' "PAC" is on the box? Just for kicks huh? LOL.

http://pac-audio.com/productDetails....&CategoryID=26

+1

Originally Posted by BSR-1

Just read through the thread and notice only a couple of people notice that MP3 (even on the highest settings) sound like shit, no matter how it's connected.
Some people just don't have an ear and will never know the difference but I think most have just become accustomed to "High Tech", Modern, sound reproduction.
When I first copied my CD's onto MP3's (Highest possible quality) and plugged it in, it was awful, just not worth listening to.
It took some time but I found a lossless method of copying the CD's.
It sounds WAY better. Perhaps this may help some of you who haven't found a work around?

Don't get me started lol ...clueless people were cheering MP3 during the final stages of developed in the 90s. The irony of it all, it was created as data compression (MPEG), not audio. Audiophiles were livid as big business kept pushing and pushing and pushing, literally destroying sound quality we haven't seen the likes of now for almost 20 years. Something mind blowing ridiculous, like over 40% of the music is deleted in MP3. You can and always could rip cds to wav (lossless) files all day long, but people wanted compression.

Big industry (mainly Apple) stood tall and flat out lied through their teeth to the public in order to push technology and digital sales while absolutely destroying audio quality in the process. One of the reasons many people hate Apple, they were the primary promoters of compression based music. It sounded like crap, but billions across the world had never experienced or understood what quality audio was. Was also a minor reason to the demise of Circuit City, hi-fidelity audio equipment sales went from $100k/month to $10k after Winamp and Napster. The idea of 1000's of songs on a handheld device which sounded "as good or better than the radio" was accepted like the reinvention of the wheel or something. Hence, the birth of the iPod and explosion of Apple.

Today with obscene drive compression ratios, Audio quality is slowly making a comeback. The irony of it all, music is recorded in lossless form and then destroyed to make 128khz MP3s but now, Apple's new snake oil is iFlac or some bs instead of passing you the original recording in it's original form. Don't get caught up in the hype, Apple lossless was created as a means to control customers and has zero benefits over FLAC. Since most anyone born after 1990 (Millennial?) has NFC what true audio sounds like (because they've never heard it), they all think Apple is the second coming of Jesus when it comes to audio. They couldn't be further from the truth and Apple doesn't give 2c about pure audiophile recordings unless they can scam an artists and customers out through their marketing control strong arm tactics, but don't tell them that.

The greatest compatibility, convenience and best quality is going to be a 320khz MP3 on a USB port on the front side of a head unit using a 24bit DAC. ...and no, it is not Applecrapanything. The minimum qualification to meet hi-fidelity standards is 192khz, which is in itself a challenge since most MP3s are recorded at 128khz (with 40% sonic loss). Even if you are able to obtain hi quality recordings, you're pretty much screwed on equipment. The best transmission line is TOSLINK, then DP then HDMI (and much heated debates over the insignificant differences between the three), however such expense was never justified (read: Sales) for car audio use here in the United States over digital lines. Yes, such equipment exists and is for sale outside of America. Unless you are actively attempting to create your own hi quality audio library, you are basically fubar'd when it comes to hi-fidelity car audio today. Even if you do, you will meet a brick wall once you plug it into the analog equipment available.

[Rainbow1616]

I'll agree with some of that although its obvious your not an Apple fan. I store all My music in FLAC on my computer. Then I can convert it to any format I want later on. Usually AAC at a high bit-rate. Most people that aren't audiophiles won't be able to hear the difference especially older people. Even MP3's are acceptable to most done at a high enough bit-rate. Apple Lossless is similar to FLAC although the compression is not as good, but it Is compatible with itunes, ipods, ios because its Apple. The main problem with FLAC is it is not well supported on portable devices.
While I'm not an Apple fan boy its hard to avoid since We use their products at work and it only makes sense to keep My devices the same.

[BSR-1]

Originally Posted by Rainbow1616

I'll agree with some of that although its obvious your not an Apple fan. I store all My music in FLAC on my computer. Then I can convert it to any format I want later on. Usually AAC at a high bit-rate. Most people that aren't audiophiles won't be able to hear the difference especially older people. Even MP3's are acceptable to most done at a high enough bit-rate. Apple Lossless is similar to FLAC although the compression is not as good, but it Is compatible with itunes, ipods, ios because its Apple. The main problem with FLAC is it is not well supported on portable devices.
While I'm not an Apple fan boy its hard to avoid since We use their products at work and it only makes sense to keep My devices the same.

I'm not anti Apple. I do have an Iphone but use a PC for computing.
I've just always used PC. I know the people that use Mac are sold on Mac but I've never known anyone with one close enough to ask them to let me try out their computer so I've just stuck with what I know.

As for the music, I was at a loss (Pun intended) when I got my Camaro without a CD player. I had to google options and EAC was what I found.
I'm sure there are other ways, like FLAC, that I know nothing about.

I just made the video because I wished there was some kind of guidance, like that, when I had my realization that I was stuck with crappy music.
Generally my videos are about porting cylinder heads.

P.S. As for your comment about non audiophiles not being able to tell the difference, I was assuming younger people would be the biggest group because they are being raised on compressed music and have no reference to know the difference.
I'm 53 and I have some hearing loss from shooting guns, loud music, and wind noise from riding motorcycles but I have no problem hearing the difference between clean music and crap!
No offense taken!

[Rainbow1616]

I'm in your boat too with the slight hearing loos from everything you mentioned and more plus I have you by a couple years.
But like you I can still hear the differences too. I'd rather listen to a talk show than a crappy mp3 recording. lol

[BSR-1]

Originally Posted by Rainbow1616

I'd rather listen to a talk show than a crappy mp3 recording. lol

Exactly what I did until my free XM ran out!

[PerryNC]

...and even XM radio is heavily compressed and doesn't sound real good.

[BSR-1]

Originally Posted by PerryNC

...and even XM radio is heavily compressed and doesn't sound real good.

Agreed!