Thread: DIN mount mp3 players?

Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

Hence the reason for a carputer. Unfortunately, unless you have a BMW with IBUS, you can't control the carputer like you like, (though there are always powermates, game pads, and various other hardware projects to correct that, as well as being able to interface existing buttons on your steering wheel into a project) but I think, in the end, you will find that carputer is your best option because each product, as you mentioned, is lacking in some regard, whether it is the display, folder navigation, USB connector, whatever, it will be lacking.

Thanks. My problem with using a full blown carputer is that it's kind of overkill for just playing music. They take a long time to boot, are hard to fit into a DIN slot properly and are hard to cool in the harsh environment of the dash. I'm thinking more in terms of something cheaper, more stripped down, and cooler running, such as a dedicated ARM-based box, running Linux. A good example is the Omnifi DMP1. I've hacked mine to do folder navigation, interface to my HU and steering wheel buttons, stream music wirelessly to anyone near my car, and interface to a USB GPS. The only thing which keeps the DMP1 from being a perfect solution is that it won't fit into a DIN slot unless I fabricate a new housing for it. Before doing that, I just wanted to know if there was already something on the market that's affordably priced, and already did everything I want it to do.

Originally Posted by lincomatic

Thanks. This one has the USB, but there's no internal HDD. I've found that the displays on most HU are quite lacking in terms of displaying ID3 info, etc.
Also, most of them don't have good navigation abilities if you have tons of songs in multilevel trees... they just blob them all into one huge list.

Any 1-din headunit will provide problems navigating through tons of mp3's. You are searching for a holy grail that is not available nor conceivable. You want buttons to be able to use to search your media easily, knobs to control volume (and possibly scrolling), and a screen that would make it easy to navigate nested media. 1 din is simply not enough room to do all of this unfortunately. You would either need to use a magnifying glass to read the text or limit yourself to 2-3 lines of easily (while driving) readable text.

The empeg was the closest thing to what you are looking for, but the only viable option I see in the future is a double din unit. No matter what the solution that may eventually come, it will certainly not be cheap. Figure at least a 2.5" drive, text readable lcd screen, built-in amp, CD/DVD drive and processor will not keep this unit anywhere close to your desired figures. If a unit like this did come along, I don't imagine it being anything less than ~$1,000 until years later when you'll find them for ~$500.

If you did search, the reason your searches came up with no results is because no such beast exists. The first reply was to "start brewing" because nothing like this existed commercially (at least anymore). There are people who have made their own, and with nano-itx boards, it is becoming more possible, but certainly not cheap. The Subaru in-dash kit allows for a 7" Lilliput and an Epia based system. That requires 2-din's and is not cheap.

As far as your threats about not wanting to help out the community with your knowledge, I find that somewhat childish. If you really had the ability to help us, and had any intentions on doing so, you would not have made it conditional. If you can help us, do not let a few off comments deter you if you had any intention on doing so. This community is far larger than the subset of users that responded. Your question is the search for the holy grail that is posed entirely too often. Some users get tired of the repititious nature of these questions. If you really thought it through, you would realize that any solution made available could not fit your needs very well. Bottom line, if you can help, do not make it conditional on us finding a device for you that does not exist.

sony make a hdd head unit. but ti will cost you your left testicle.

Wow, didn't know Sony made that. It is really expensive for a 10gb unit. Pioneer has something similar as well, but again, single-din (can't possibly be very user friendly) and also very expensive. Better off getting a Kenwood music keg and a kenwood headunit to control it if you are going this route.

Originally Posted by Haystack

yeah, for some reason they dont like noobz, not saying you are one. There is alot of people that just register ask one question that dosent make sense flame us and then leave. So there isnt alot of likeablitlity to newer people. I searched for quite some time and havent found a good solution, but the sony looks like its the best bet. performance=money alot of the time. Till walmart makes there own brand at least.

Don't turn this into a n00b hate discussion thread. There are enough of them already. You have asked some very basic (to many people) questions in your thread and received some very good advice. You choose to ignore most of it as you think you know better. Problem is, if you ask questions, try to accept the answers, or no one will bother answering you. Perhaps when you are around long enough, you will realize that there are people out there that know more about a particular topic than you do, and are trying to help you help yourself. I'm not saying everyone on here is always right, but asking for advice and claiming infinite knowledge just doesn't make a lot of sense.

I won't get into the n00b discussion and I hope others will do the same.