Ive heard of cars now, have hard drives installed in them. Is it possible for me if i got an Computer External Hdd and somehow was able to hook a usb up to my radio would it read the MP3 files like an ipod would?


This may sound like a stupid question but there was this one forum where the one guy moded his Center Console so that the ash try next to the cig. lighter is so that it had 4 USB ports and a AUX port. (the image i attached to this post will show you what i mean.)


I want to some how be able to do that idk what kind of ports there are on the back of the radio and if it will read it.

Thank you

 

There have been a many a thread on carputer installations. This is the only way I can see of incorporating a HD into the 8's stereo system. Run a search and you will find some nice do it yourself threads.

 

You have 2 options:

1: CarPC. Basically all the wiring, components, screen, etc to have a build in PC in your car, and have that basically just use the RX-8's audio system as the "computer speakers" if you will. Obviously you can get quite elaborate with this, but even the most basic level isn't simple.

2: USB MP3 Adapter. XLink for example (what I have). This plugs into the multi-disc changer port of the back of the head unit and provides an AUX In, a SD Card port, and a USB port.

It does not provide enough power to read a 320gb USB external hard drive I have, but it powers flash drives just fine. However, you don't gain a benefit from the external hard drive vs the USB. In order for the 8's system to read the MP3 files on the USB source, there has to be a specific file structure, 1 folder for each "CD" in the changer (remember, it's using the CD changer port and functions), and due to the limitations of the track counter (only 2 digits) the head unit will only be able to access the first 99 audio tracks of each folder. And only 6 folders total, so 594 total audio tracks, which can fit onto any decently sized USB drive. This DOES use all function of the built-in audio controls, random, repeat, fastforward, rewind, pick up where you left off, etc...

 

thanks guys i wasnt really aware that that was a common question to me it kinda sounded like id ask that and then you guys would be like is this guy an idiot? lol so i didn't even bother searching thanks tho i will def search first from now on.

and the second response thank you i never even thought about power supply for the HDD USB key seems like its the way to go 500songs is more than enough to drive around to thanks.

 

...and if you have more than 594 songs, you just swap the USB drive with the next set of 594 tracks.
Shoud work just fine with shuffle play where the sequence of songs on the drive does not matter.

 

But by adding the xlink, do you lose the cd changer-won't play cd's anymore?

 

If you have a 6-disc changer, then yes, you have to unplug the changer cable to use the xlink, and therefore lose functionality of the changer.

If you do not have a 6-disc changer, but just have the single disc, then no, you do not lose functionality of the single disc changer, since it uses a different port.

What I don't know is if you unplug the 6-disc changer if you can still use it as a single disc changer.