I figure since I get a graduation rebate of $500, maybe I'll do that

Either that, or I'm getting the chrome accents I want, like the front and rear rotary symbols and those fender things... I am not keen on the aero kit so that will stay off my car.

I think that the changer is too expensive, and I'd likely be fine without it.

 

I expected to get it with the GT package, given the price of the package and the inclusion of a 'premium' sound system. So, no - I'm not getting it as a matter of principle. As you know, we were all misled by Mazda and given the shaft when we called them on it.

 

I ordered it, but I'm sure a read somewhere that an MP3 disc player was going to be a dealer installed option, so none of us should buy the 6 disc. I need to follow up with my dealer.

 

I also read that, so if I were buying I would wait for a conformation on that.

 

There's an MP3 player listed in the accessories in the new brochure. I may or may not get it. I don't, however, need a 6-disc cd changer. That's what I've got a husband for.

 

I'm definitely getting the 6 disc changer. It doesn't cost any more than any other manufacturers charge for a changer. I really like to be able to listen to a different disc after one's finished, without having to fumble around in the car and load another. And I don't want to immediately start tearing into the dash after I get the car to put in an aftermarket stereo.

Of course, it would be nice to have a front panel auxilary input for a portable MP3 player, but I can live without it. The actual sound quality of CDs is so much better than MP3s anyway.

What I'd really like to have, though, is about a 20-40 Gig hard drive MP3 player in the car. One that would let you pop the drive out, take it in, plug into a PC, and load tunes into it. There are some aftermarket versions available, but they're still pretty pricey.

Definitely getting the changer.

 

I am, no sorry - we are!!! OH I forgot, the 6 CD changer is not standard in the States, is it.

 

I didnt go for the cd changer because i thought getting a 20 gb neo jukebox mp3 player in my trunk would be a better idea. I only use cds sporatically and my PERSONAL opinion is that buying a $350 mp3 player that holds about 67X more then a 6 cd changer would be cheaper and better. I dont have that many cds to listen to, so i can see why someone with lets say 1,000 cds would go for the changer. I would prefer having all my music at my fingertips

 

MP3 player if I can.. hold more than 6CDs that's for sure.. Meaning I can have less junk in my car.. to me, there's no other disadvantage to the MP3 player.

 

I was told by my dealer that the Bose Premium Sound package includes the 6-Disc in Dash Changer? Anyone know if that is a lie?

 

yup- probably wasn't on purpose though. As far as anyone has been able to get out of Mazda Corporate through multiple emails, the 6-CD changer is a $500 option, not part of the premium sound system.

 

All the Canadians are getting the 6 disc changer - it's standard! :D

Regards,
Gordon

 

here is the straight scoop on the changer and mp3 player.

neither is standard in any level or package in the states.
they both go in the top slot and replace the standard 1 disc player.
so you can have one or the other not both. the mp3 player is a 1 disc player.
i don't know the technical things about what type of mp3 encoding the player can read.


that said i don't download much music so i ordered the changer.

 

Exactly the same feelings here. Most 'flagship' Japanese cars have a standard CD-changer (as do many 'low-end' cars like the base Lexus IS300) or have it as part of a 'premium package' (G35 etc).
I think Mazda should give the USA what they are giving the rest of the world (and to Canada for less money even!) and I guarantee this will happen for next year's model in the USA. I expected to get the changer with the $3900 GT package (as pre-production reviews stated) - I certainly will not pay Mazda extra for it on principle. Plus I won't get $500 worth of use out of it as I listen to the same CD mix over and over and over again. Either that or I talk to myself in the car for entertainment :o

 

I had a kenwood CD player with MP3 playing capability (model no. MPV 8017). Exceptional sound quality on MP3 and I could burn tons of MP3s on a single CD.

The only disadvantage I experienced was that browsing the MP3 files was a slower as compared to a regular CD... like a one second delay if you skip from one MP3 file to another. It was a bit irritating at first but then i learned to live with it :-)

 

This will be my first car with a CD player. I think the 6-disc should have been standard with the GT package, so like others I will not pay extra for it.

Since having a CD player in the car will be a new experience, I'm not at that stage of complaining about changing discs. Plus I have my own recording studio at home. I can create my own disc collections and maximze the content of each one.:D

 

Uh, except for sound quality.

 

That depends entirely on the bit-rate that the MP3 was encoded at. MP3s encoded at 320kpbs are generally accepted as CD quality althogh only the most extreme audiophiles can detect the difference between an MP3 encoded at 320kbps and 160kbps. Most MP3s that people download (I choose to rip my own and support the artist) are encoded at 128kbps, so it's true that the "average MP3" is below CD quality. On the other hand, if you have the CD itself, you can rip it at a higher bit-rate and you won't be able to tell the difference.

 

An automobile cabin is hardly an audiophile listening environment. 128kb/s is plenty for MP3s that are destined to be played in the car, IMHO.

 

Does anyone know how the standard (100 watt) audio system sounds? Can you connect other devices (ipod or other mp3 players) to it?

 

yay, i just removed the 6-disc Changer from my order in order to get the MP3 player...dealer said it was ok so that notifies me that my car has not arrived at the port yet =(

anyways, 128kb/sec. do sound like crap...it more resembles a tape than a CD recording...i try and get all my music at 192kb/sec or higher...in the car, 160 - 320kb/sec would be perfect...on the RX's 300-watt, 9 speaker Bose system, it would most likely sound flawless like a CD

 

Anyone looking into adding a XM Satellite Radio Receiver into their RX8? It would really nice if Mazda offered the option to add a premium XM Satellite Receiver system as a manufacturer -supported option, installed at the dealership. For only $9.99 a month, you get 100 premium, high quality, digital genre-focused stations to choose from! The quality of the sound is even better then mp3's encoded at high rates. You don't ever need to download mp3's or pop in another cd ever again when you're cruising around in your RX8!

 

actually, i think Ford has a bid on Sirius Satellite Radio so the RX would have Sirius and NOT XM...i'm not 100% sure tho...

anyways, i have friends with XM and Sirius and they all promote the two products...they like the variety of music and the sound quality...i myself don't listen to too much radio, i prefer to create my own CDs full of MP3s and listen to what i want when i want so i opted for the MP3 player

 

I will be getting a XM radio installed the first week I get the car. My wife has it in her Suburban and it is great! I love listening to the comedy channel that has none stop stand up comedy.

I will not get the changer and put the money into the XM unit.

roachman

 

I'm getting it ! (multi-disk BOSE is standard fit in UK - kinda makes up for the other probs... )