MP3 costs

mp3designer · 01-22-2001, 03:29 PM

Now for a little different question, let us assume there is a high quality near OEM grade MP3/CD car radio with the following functions:
Drop-in replacement for many original equipment audio systems; Automatically detects MP3 CD-ROMs;Over 10 hours of music on one CD; Up to 255 MP3 songs in 255 user defined directories; Supports bit rates of 32kbps-320kbps, including variable bit rate (VBR); Multi-session capable; MACH TracTM allows quick access to any song on the MP3 CD; Supports multi-layer directory structure; Electronic tuning with 6 AM/12 FM station memory; Digital Clock; CD music play; CD changer compatible;Scan and Seek MP3; Shuffle MP3; Repeat MP3; Supports multi-layer directory structure; plays discs in either flat file or directory mode;
Advanced features included Scan/Seek Directory, Repeat Directory, and Shuffle Directory; and more.

Given this, how much would you pay for an in-dash MP3 CD like this?

gizmomkr · 01-22-2001, 04:41 PM

I would say about 200.00 - 300.00
But to put it lightly - I dont want you to build it. Thats 90% of the fun. I want to buld the unit, I want to find the wiring harness at 2:00am after eating cold pizza, and staring blury-eyed at schematics.

I think its great someone is making a Ready-to-go unit , for people that dont want/have the technical abilities.

Every time I get in my car and boot up my player, the lcd comes on ,I feel a rush. Its like a techno-high, knowing the reason the lights are blinking , and displays are scroling is because - I made it hapen. I know every connection inside that car because I put it there... after months of work checking and re-checking. And the satisfaction I get when I pull up to a red light, and the guy in the car next to me says "whats that thing on your dash" I reply "oh just a DvD, TV, GPS, MP3 player"
then they ask " where did you get it" I turn and grin "I built it; Myself"

You cant package that feeling in your box, Mr. Mp3designer.

[This message has been edited by gizmomkr (edited 01-22-2001).]

cenwesi · 01-23-2001, 06:55 AM

damnit gismomkr you beat me to this response. And you said it better. Mr mp3design i think after a while, ppl will want more than those functions you are providing. I for sure would like to see DVD,DIVX....GPS. Also storing mp3 on a CDrom to me is not enough....i mean your average joe user has over 5gigs of mp3 and u expect them to burn it to cd(s) to use ur player???? To me it seems like u are selling another cd changer type stereo/radio, after all isn't this the reason we are all running away from these stuff....

P.S someone take over

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hornet · 01-23-2001, 10:44 AM

A cd full of mp3 encoded songs, isn't going to provide any more music than a 6 dics changer. Again, what we are trying to get away from. A cd changer costs around $AU350, so im presuming a lot let $US, your player would have to me significantly cheaper than one of these, to make people pruchase one, over a changer.

mp3designer · 01-23-2001, 11:44 AM

I appreciate your comments!!! Despite the spamming views in other discussions, many of you don't check out all of the fourms and I want as much real user input as possible. Next, having been a frequent solicitor of YOUR MP3 wishes and ideas, we noted TWO distinct user populations that use MP3. One group is your techno-wizard types who want to build their own solutions. However, a larger MP3 sub-group actually wants an easy-to-use, pre-built and economical way to play MP3 in the car. We are providing products for both groups but really need user and usability data. So what is an in-dash MP3 CD player worth, even if it is pre-built, with the functions described above????

edie209 · 01-23-2001, 05:22 PM

i have just been to your site http://www.evisteon.com/
I'm sorry but it looks like a toy not like what members here are striving for.
some of the features that members have achieved are fantastic,not only that we can continue to upgrade our systems, until you can offer a product that comes close I think your only market are the type of people that prefer to buy at their corner shop rather than go into town.

Chris Snyder · 01-23-2001, 08:22 PM

If your system could have a 60 gig of storage, DVD playback with the ability to store the DVD's on the hard drive using MPEG4, GPS, and motorized display panels, I'd buy it.

That's why I'm building my own...

nyconx · 01-23-2001, 09:05 PM

i checked out the site and realized one major flaw that you need to add to make this thing even interesting... This is ide tag info display. If i only want track number that goes up to 155 why dont i just buy one of those portable discmans that play mp3's for a 100 bucks? i mean what you are offering isnt really anything new for the two reasons of no mp3 storage and no id3 tag usage an indash player is only worth maybe $150-175 tops.

Catlas · 01-23-2001, 11:09 PM

I like the idea that your catering to the 'Direct replacement' market. A lot of pwople don't have the ability to do more than replace a stock head unit. But to really make your product stand out you need more. A text LCD or a hard drive. Or both. Thats what people are going for right now. Look at the NOMAD. It offers 6 gigs of storage. Thats more than any mass-market commercial player at the moment. Your alos working against the fact that major audio companys are making car MP3 players. AIWA Kenwood etc. I know those companies and I know the value of thier products. Your creating a similar product but you don't have the big name to go with it. If your product is to succeed you've gotta do it bigger and better than the big boys.

Catlas

ImpoSSter · 01-24-2001, 01:19 AM

Maybe I'm missing something, but aren't there now CD players that will play MP3's? I think there is one on the cover of Crutchfield.

Or maybe you are designing something that the aforementioned player doesn't do?

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'96 LT1 Caprice
<SAIL>

Jammer · 01-24-2001, 01:49 AM

mp3designer
I hope you not planning to build one,your wasting your time and nonone will buy it.

mp3designer · 01-24-2001, 09:08 AM

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Catlas:
I like the idea that your catering to the 'Direct replacement' market. A lot of pwople don't have the ability to do more than replace a stock head unit. But to really make your product stand out you need more. A text LCD or a hard drive. Or both. Thats what people are going for right now. Look at the NOMAD. It offers 6 gigs of storage. Thats more than any mass-market commercial player at the moment. Your alos working against the fact that major audio companys are making car MP3 players. AIWA Kenwood etc. I know those companies and I know the value of thier products. Your creating a similar product but you don't have the big name to go with it. If your product is to succeed you've gotta do it bigger and better than the big boys.

Catlas</font>

Quite honestly, Visteon has been building quality OEM grade audio products for decades and selling them to other major brand names that you would be more familiar with. Our most recent history was that we were part of Ford and have been supplying the auto industry with our innovative products. While I understand the snootiness of those who have the technical skills to build their own, reality is that most of the MP3 market has no such ability but they still want to use MP3 in their cars. As explained above, these users want a simple and easy to use interface something we are providing with this product. Others, including hard drive easy to install products are also in the pipeline.

Fosgate · 01-24-2001, 09:25 AM

Just few things i would like to add...
First of all you will find it hard to sell the product as its not a single DIN (i think thats what ou call it) what i mean is that its not a normal size deck where you can take your old one and put this one in place. I been working and installing Stereo systems in the cars for past few years and only hand full of cars have dubble din slots for the stereo. (here in OZ)
Secondly the design of the face of the deck looks like a standard factory made unit which you get on the new cars... another words it doesnt look anything special ...its not eye catching...
So the only difference i can see between your designed deck and commersialy made CD players is that your deck can play MP3s of the CDs and thats it ...considering the fuctors which I mentioned above I would recommend retail price of this deck in this stage of design to be around AU$200 (US$110) MAX.

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Fosgate

Jammer · 01-24-2001, 05:10 PM

Quote:

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by mp3designer:
Quite honestly, Visteon has been building quality OEM grade audio products for decades and selling them to other major brand names that you would be more familiar with.(why go down the same road as aiwa and pioneer,make something totally different?)
Sorry this world doesn't need other mp3/cd radio)

Our most recent history was that we were part of Ford and have been supplying the auto industry with our innovative products.
(good for you,I still wouldnt buy one sorry.)

While I understand the snootiness of those who have the technical skills to build their own, reality is that most of the MP3 market has no such ability but they still want to use MP3 in their cars.
(wrong your average 13 year-old could figure how to get mp3s in a car,most people would come up with the idea of putting a laptop in the car.)

As explained above, these users want a simple and easy to use interface something we are providing with this product. (true)

Others, including hard drive easy to install products are also in the pipeline.
(all ready been done,it's called neo)
</font>

What I would like to see,is a double din radio with a lcd screen 6" with a built in
computer(in dash)with a 5.25 Hard Drive.
(this idea is far out there and probably expensive,and probably not worth marketing.)

Meatballman · 01-25-2001, 12:27 AM

Since noone seems to want to just reply to your question, I'll give it a shot.

I would probably pay about $300

but the things that hold me back would be:
1. It needs decent VFD display with ID3 info
2. It needs a hard drive
3. It needs a remote control
4. It needs little more techno-cool styling

On the other hand, it doesn't need to be everything that www.empeg.com is...maybe just the equivalent to the Creative Nomad Jukebox, but in-dash.

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