CD-Less Car Stereos

We’ve mentioned them before, but now it seems the story is catching on. USA Today wrote about the fact that many aftermarket audio companies are ditching the CD slot on their car stereo head units in favor of making them compatible with iPods, MP3 players or memory cards. The story is interesting mainly because there’s still a push to keep the CD player among the companies.

We post the question to you, dear reader: Should these companies — and potentially the automakers, too — ditch the CD player for a USB input? No CD slot would mean fewer mechanical parts to break and leave more room in the device for other capabilities. Are we at this stage yet? 

Some car-stereo makers see drivers ditching CDs for iPods (USA Today)

Comments

[segfault]

I have--and use--an MP3 CD player in my car. I also have an iPhone, but don't connect it to the car radio. The MP3 CDs are easy to make, convenient, and cheap. I don't want to have to plug in my iPhone every time I get in the car--though it would be nice to have that option.

[ziggy]

I would opt for an MP3 only option. Almost all CD's I own are on the iPod. In fact I very seldom buy CD's anymore - just download and go. The same is true for my kids. Both of my current cars don't have an MP3 jack but I am fortunate to have a cassette player and can play it that way. CD's are on their way out and will eventually join the ranks of the 8track, LP, cassette and VHS tape.

[L]

I have always been behind the times when it comes to technology - I just don't really care that much about the latest and greatest gizmo. I had no experience with an MP3 player until my 9 year old son asked for one for Christmas. We got him the ipod and I've fallen completely in love with the thing! It is great buying songs/albums through itunes and you don't have the hassle of the cds.

So my answer is I would not miss the cd player at all.

[LM]

I never use the CD player in my car. My iPod stays in the glovebox hooked up to the factory system and the iPhone pairs via Bluetooth seamlessly.

Ah, electronic nirvana.

[Dave T.]

I like cds still. I buy them, in the store.

BUT then I take them home, burn them to my hard drive, put them on my Zune (yes Zune) and have 30GB of music all the time. Shuffling through a thousand albums is better than any satellite radio (*especially since I have better taste)

[David in Houston]

I think that removing the CD player is a great idea. With the free space, I'd like to see a 60+ GB hard drive and of course, USB, stereo, and iPod inputs. Also, throw in the now-everywhere Bluetooth capability as nearly every cell phone out there has BT capability and can house/play music. Great forward-thinking!

[Mercedes Rims]

I still like to have a CD player in the car, even though i use my Ipod from time to time.

CD players shouldnt be ditched this early

[Mart]

Cars are the ideal place for MP3 integration. With the outside road noise etc, you are far less likely to notice the significant sound quality loss than if you play MP3s through your home stereo system, and it's gotta be safer to let your MP3 just play for hours on shuffle than to be rooting through your glovebox/doorbins searching for CDs.

I get annoyed when you only get an iPod jack though. What's the point in THAT? not ALL of us HAVE Ipods...

However, I'm not sure CDs are on there way out in total, simply because there will always be a significant number of people who value decent sound quality. Until memory becomes so cheap that I can store all my (several thousand CD) music collection lossless there will be people who will only buy cds, and then rip poor quality 128 kbps versions for their cars/commuting by train etc.

[ziggy]

We're getting a lot more music these days that is download only and never sees a music store shelf. The day will come ... and for DVD's too.

Just as long as the car Mfg. don't start charging $50 for a ipod dock I'm OK with it. They could add XM/HD radio instead. I'd also like to see the factory base radios have a jack or a RCA line in. I don't want to have to buy the bose or cd changer model.

[Patrick O.]

I think it's hysterical that anyone's fighting to keep CD players in cars, especially since it took automakers way too long to add CD players as standard. They've been much smarter (and it's likely way cheaper) in adding MP3 jacks as soon as they have.

[DaveInLBC]

At first I was thinking, "How can they axe the CD player?" But then I was realizing that I use my iPod in my car (it has a built in jack) and don't need the 6CD/MP3 changer that it also has- it is nice to have though if I ever want to play a CD I haven't put on my iPod, or a friend is riding with me on a road trip and doesn't have an iPod. Maybe car companies can include a free iPod in exchange for the cost of the CD player? YEA RIGHT hahaha! I would buy a car that just had an MP3 jack, and no CD player. What I still don't get is new cars NOT having an MP3 jack- come on guys! Cars like the new Saturn Astra- appeals to younger buyers, and no iPod port? please!

[Brent]

I wouldn't go for this idea unless the car also had full iPod integration, meaning that I wouldn't ever have to disconnect the iPod from the car.

[J]

There is a sound quality issue when comparing mp3 and CD.

[DL]

i have a few "road-trip" CD's that i keep in my car. rest of time i listen to radio. how does everyone always remember to take his/her MP3 player in and out all the time? too much of a pain in the behind for me.

does nobody care that you can only use a single computer for the iPod because of the ridiculous thing called iTunes? i'm talking about legal routes. i mean, God forbid you actually own a second computer! and you better have a backup for all your songs, because if the iPod had any mishaps and your computer got too old, good luck! don't get me wrong, i love jumping on the bandwagon. i've bought 4 variations of the iPod/Shuffle things and each time got frustrated. 2 are collecting dust and 2 were given away. i like my Lyra, which basically acts like a USB storage device that happens to have a earphone jack and radio reception.

[ziggy]

DL
It is possible to transfer iPod music to another computer then transfer it to itunes. I do it with my desktop and laptop. And for new song I just burn them to a disk then install them. This way everyone in my family can share the music they download. I have my ipod with me most of the time and it is almost always in my backpack. I have an ipod player at work that i listen to. As far as the favorite cd's for travel. I just create favorite playlists in my ipod and don't need to burn cd's for that.

[andy]

I would say: yes. There are still millions of people who converted to CD less than 20 years ago and will still rely on having a CD player as an option. If anything, the aftermarket approach should be to add a card slot, aux connection for MP3 players, or adding a hard drive. There should be a transition strategy rather than fully converting. I believe there are still car makers that still offer cassette players just because their clients are still familiar with this form of media.

[Ryan]

I use my Sirius Radio, iPod and CDs about equally. If I want to hear good quality sound I pop in a CD, if I want a shuffle of my own music I use my iPod, and if I want a mix of assorted music I use the sateliite radio. I think having all of the options available is the best solution, at least for now.