Colin

Anybody using them with the new TSX? Any comments on how well they work?

Midlife Crisis

I bought a 4GB thumb drive and loaded almost 800 songs....segregated certain artists or genres into separate folders, connected it, and let it fly. Drove a total of 5 hours this weekend and probably only listened to about 10% of the available music.

I wish my other cars had this feature....they all can, however, play MP3 disks.

mg7726

midlife, that is sweet. what bitrate were the mp3 files? i wonder if there is a notable difference from the ELS system amongst the bit rates. i didn't get a chance to bring my usb key during my '09 test drive.

Colin

Thanks for the report, I ask because this is something I haven't been able to try for myself yet.

Davediego

the ELS system is superb, I can easily hear the difference when the occasional 128kbps mp3 comes up (most of my collection is 192kpbs+). It easily blows away the 5.1 klipsch ultra + x-fi sound card I have on my computer, although at least part of that has to be due to the fact that the TSX is an enclosed space

its a shame they didnt include a true equalizer in the audio setup for the car

TallGuyNW

I tried a USB drive this morning. Unless I've missed something, and I probably have since I've had my TSX Tech only for a few days, only the album folders show up on the screen. I have a folder hierarchy where I have a folder for each artist, then under those folders, a folder for each album for the artist, then the mp3's are in the album folders. On the TSX's screen, only the album folder names are displayed, so I need to remember that "Foiled" is the artist Blue October. Is there a setting somewhere to display nested folders or do I need to rename my album folders to include the artist name?
Thanks,
-Mike-

Colin

No idea, but hopefully midlife will answer. This is the reason I posted this question! Thanks for posting your experiences here.

tsxrob

I tested out the USB last night on my base TSX and I don't completely uderstand how it works but this is what I discovered. If you press the "title" button it will show the name album, press it again and it will show the song title. Also each time you press the "big" (GPS button on the Tech)) it will go deeper in each folder and you can turn it to move to the next folder or file.

I guess I could read the manual but what fun it that.

Midlife Crisis

I loaded my folders onto the USB drive in no specific order, some by artist's name (for example, Kenny Chesney) and some by genre (i.e., Country Women). The folders appear on the nav screen exactly as they did on my computer, as yellow manila folders. I can scroll thru the available folders using the inner dial surrounding the "enter" button. Once I select a folder by hitting the "enter" button, three of the available songs in that particular folder appear. You can then use the inner dial to scroll up or down to the remainder of the available songs. I can then select a song in the same manner as selecting a folder.

Everybody that I've shown this feature thinks this is an excellent way to store and play music in your car. I agree completely....even my wife understands it and can enjoy lots of music without having to thnk about changing a disk.

Colin

Thanks again, I'm glad I started this thread! Good information

ill45

I loaded my 1st gen ipod shuffle to the USB port and it read as an unsupported device. Im going to try and try my ipod photo later tonight. On another note does anyone know if you leave your ipod/usb drive connected after you turn your car off... will it drain the car battery since its charging/reading?

LuvMyTSX

I read that only "later" iPods will work with the car. What constitutes "later" exactly, I don't know. I have a hard time keeping up with all the iPod generations anyway. All I know if I have a 4G click wheel and I don't think it'll work.

thunderbt3

I believe it states in the manual what ipod firmware versions are supported by the vehicle.

ill45

LuvMyTSX: I believe you may be right.


NOTE: The iPod will be recharged with the ignition switch in the Accessory (I) or ON (II) position.

NOTE: Using the USB port, the system will only play songs stored on the iPod with iTunes (Registered trademarks owned by Apple Inc.

Compatible iPod Models:

5G - Ver. 1.2 or more

Classic -Ver.1.0 or more

Nano - 2nd generation Ver. 1.1.2 or more

Nano - 3rd generation Ver. 1.0 or more

Touch - ver. 1.0 or more

iPhone - Ver. 1.1.1 or more




source: http://ttr.blog-city.com/ipod_inform...tsx_part_1.htm

ill45

I tried running my ipod photo as a hard drive and its still unsupported

Im going to shop around for a USB Flash Drive. Any recommendations on which brand works and which brands dont? Please post your brand and size to help me buy one. Thanks.

Midlife Crisis

I used a Kingston 4GB DataTraveler....got it from Amazon.com for about $20.

ill45

Midlife: thanks, i think im going to pull the trigger on the Kingston.

ill45

Pulled the trigger at Office Depot who had a 8GB Sandisk Flash Drive for $39.99. Great deal if anyone else is in the market for one. Planning on upgrading to the ipod if the price drops when the new iphone 2 comes out in July.

samwlee

I've used the USB and I love it - the MP3s sounds much clearer and crisper than using CD's. Plus it has all the song/artist info that displays on the screen.

Currently I have all the songs in the Root folder, so I need to organize it by Genre and see how that plays in the system. Will let everyone know...

Colin

samwlee, not to be rude or anything, but there is no way that a typical MP3 will sound superior to a CD. MP3s use heavy compression and essentially throw away 80% of the data (compared to a CD). Newer lossless formats help in this regard but they are still compressed formats.

CDs are uncompressed an thus capable of full frequency response of 20Hz to 20,000 Hz. Because this format was invented in the late 70's - early 80's, the technology of the time did not allow the placement of artist info or track info into the data stream. There just wasn't room.

Sorry for the history lesson.... but I am curious to see how your results come out with the folder system

TallGuyNW

I just read in the manual something that cooberates my experience with folders on a USB device. The manual says that only folders that contain song files will be displayed. This mirrors what I've seen - I have folders named for the artists then within those are a folder for each album. The top-level folders (by artist) don't show up at all in the TSX - just the album folders. I've renamed the album folders so they contain the name of the artist.
I sure wish the folders were sorted when displayed.

ill45

I did the same thing and i just had to get used to it, but its another reason why i want to buy an ipod so i can have better organization with my music files.

jdimase821

I was doing the same ^^^ then I got an IPOD. Its the best $229 I have ever spent.

ill45

Did you get a new 8GB Nano?

jdimase821

No, I got an 80GB IPOD Classic. It replaced the IPOD Video. Came out recently I think.

ill45

oh nice, i might just have to grab that same one!

samwlee

Colin,

You're probably right - but most of my CD's are mixes made from MP3s. Perhaps I am not creating them with a quality burner, but MP3s sounds better from my USB.

Now I am ripping a bunch of my CD's so I can consolidate them into a few CDs or into anther USB stick.... hopefully, they sounds as crisp the CD.

As for the folders, they work really well. I separated my music into 80's, 90's, HipHop etc., and it simple to browse to different folders. What I forgot to try out was whether voice recognition will allow me to choose folders or song titles...

davidspalding

If you want the sound "as crisp" as the CD, rip at no less than 128 kbps. I used to do 96 when space was a premium (I remember when a 340 MB MicroDrive was a Big Deal), but some "space music" paid the price. Lately I rip at 192 kbps, as my phone and my Inno will both handle that bandwidth. I would HOPE that the Acura disc changer could play MP3s that large.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

ive read about ipods disconnecting when you just touch the usb wire, does it do the same with usb flash drives too?

IceMan711

My flash drive has never had a problem with this, and I have knocked it around quite a bit showing it to passengers.

Funny thing, my former ride, a 2002 BMW 330i had the ipod kit and it would lose connectivity when I used to move it slightly. Never happened while driving though. I actually haven't had a chance to try my nano in the TSX.

The Dark Knight

iTrader: (1)

i just plugged my 1st gen nano into my tsx

worked perfect and it never disconnected even when i flew the cable around lol

ill45

I've never experienced any problems with my previous 8GB Flash Drive and my current 30GB Ipod Video even when moving the ipod around to grab some things in my center console storage.

gt9228a

Also plugged in a USB and and old nano, all work. Do people usually just lay the iphone or ipod in the center console flat, or are there any good holders/shelves or something similar to lay it on?

Also, you can search on some deal sites (not sure I can put their links on this site), and usually find free-after-rebate USB drives pretty commonly.

JAB00

To simplify the video ipod and up will only work. That came out about 3.5yrs ago. Anything bought after that should work excluding the shuffle (I think?). If you can watch video on your iPod or Nano it should work.

I have a 3G TL. I had an 09 TSX, with Tech package, as a loaner for a whole day. I plugged in my video iPod and it worked seamlessly. The sound was amazing. Higher bit rate songs had astounding sound. Even the 128 bit rate ones were good. It's definitely a worthwhile investment, the tech package.

ill45

192 and up bit rates sound GREAT in Tech package... cant really speak for the base or compare it...

dwsibes

Just purchased a 16GB Sandisk Cruzer flash drive and I get an "unsupported" message in my 09 TSX tech. The drive originally installed software on my home laptop when I first plugged it in...is that keeping it from working on the car (can't install software?). Anyone find a way around this, or do I need to find a different flash drive with driverless support?

dwsibes

Was able to get this flash drive to work by reformatting it through my laptop and removing all the software that came with it. Now works fine in the car...

gab2409

this works for non-tech 09's, right? it would be nice if I didn't need a new mp3 player.

Colin

Yes, and I believe it must be formatted as a FAT drive.

gab2409

thanks...I thought I remembered reading this somewhere as well. is there anywhere that I can verify this before I buy one?