MP3's on Subaru Outback 2005 standard CD Player?

[Han Chung]

Hi,

Does the standard CD player on the Outback 2005 play MP3's? Failing
that, has anyone had any luck replacing the standard unit on the
Outback 2005?

Regards,

Han.

 

[Hallraker]

Hi,

Does the standard CD player on the Outback 2005 play MP3's? Failing
that, has anyone had any luck replacing the standard unit on the
Outback 2005?

Since the vehicle specifications make no mention of mp3 capability, I highly
doubt it. As for replacement...

With the older models, no. I've had two in-dash mp3 player units in my '95
Outback. However, I was looking at the dash pics of the new Legacy a while
back, and noticed that they'd gone the way of many other manufacturers with
a stereo that is integrated into the dash in some way.

On the Legacy/Outback, it's hard to tell from the pictures, but it might be
just a double-DIN stereo behind that dash plastic. If that's the case,
you'll only need to mount the stereo and either replace the dash plastic
with an aftermarket piece designed for the task, or be handy with a rotary
tool on the original plastic.

I emailed Subaru a while back about the stereo, and they gave me the
predictable canned response, that they were unable to test aftermarket
equipment and didn't recommend it, yadda yadda yadda. Since I was asking
out of curiosity rather than actual need, I didn't bother with the next
logical step, which would have been contacting places like Crutchfield and
local stereo installers.

Anyway, suffice to say that it isn't a 10 minute backyard job anymore like
it was on the Subies of old. Yes, I know that the "built in" look is more
modern and appealing to the eye, but this sort of thing just annoys me.

-Matt

 

[Angler]

Hi,

Does the standard CD player on the Outback 2005 play MP3's?
NO

Failing that, has anyone had any luck replacing the standard unit on the
Outback 2005?
NO


Regards,

Han.

Marc

 

[busterb]

Hi,

Does the standard CD player on the Outback 2005 play MP3's? Failing
that, has anyone had any luck replacing the standard unit on the
Outback 2005?

Regards,

Han.

you're sol. subaru has lost me as a future buyer until they use a
standard size stereo again. if the one they gives you sucks (the one
in my 04 sure did)
you're stuck.

 

[Marc]

Only the CD player in the VDC model will handle MP3's. The standard radio I
don't believe can be upgraded as they are odd sized, and part of the climate
control unit. I have customers who want to add a cassette and we cannot
even tie in.
The only option is to have your player transmit on a FM frequency.

Marc
Natick Subaru Sales.

 

[Angler]

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/itrip/

Marc

 

[Hallraker]

Only the CD player in the VDC model will handle MP3's. The standard radio I
don't believe can be upgraded as they are odd sized, and part of the climate
control unit. I have customers who want to add a cassette and we cannot
even tie in.
The only option is to have your player transmit on a FM frequency.

What a shame. Tied into the climate control? Didn't they learn from Ford,
who had a lot of pissed off customers with that dreadful "football" radio in
the old Taurus?

Oh well. FM modulation, in my experience, is of questionable quality.
Upgrading the stock speakers to better aftermarket speakers is one step in
the right direction, but even then you've really got to use an amp to get
the full effect. And in order to do that with a stock stereo, you're stuck
with a line level converter, which again in my experience is another move in
the questionable quality direction.

-Matt

 

[Mr. A]

GAH! I really like the new Legacy, but bought a Forester instead, and one of
the reasons was because of the stereo.

On one hand, a "molded-in" stereo is a bit less attractive to thieves, but
unless it's of high quality, and includes MP3 capability (or at least a
miniplug input fercrissakes) I won't buy one. I spend enough time in my car
that the sound system is of considerable importance.

 

[Han Chung]

Well, it looks like the general consensus is that the base model CD
player on the Outback 2005 doesn't play MP3's. Does anyone know if it
will play a CD-R that I record from my computer? I know there are
some CD players out there that don't play these types of CD's,
hopefully the Outback isn't one of these.

Han.

 

[CompUser]

@posting.google.com>, (e-mail address removed)
says...

Well, it looks like the general consensus is that the base model CD
player on the Outback 2005 doesn't play MP3's. Does anyone know if it
will play a CD-R that I record from my computer?

My 04 WRX plays CD-Rs fine. MP3, no.

 

[jMon]

My '03 Baja plays CD-Rs fine but no MP3s.

 

[David Ryeburn]

Well, it looks like the general consensus is that the base model CD
player on the Outback 2005 doesn't play MP3's. Does anyone know if it
will play a CD-R that I record from my computer? I know there are
some CD players out there that don't play these types of CD's,
hopefully the Outback isn't one of these.

There are two separate questions here. CD-R and CD-RW CDs made at home
behave differently from purchased CDs because the information is stored
on the home made ones in a different way -- a dye layer is altered by
the recording process on home made CDs whereas pits are created in an
aluminum reflecting layer on purchased CDs. Some CD players (most newer
ones) can handle the dye layer method as well as the pitted aluminum
method, but some (most older ones) cannot.

If you record an uncompressed AIFF file to a home made CD and play it
back on a CD player capable of dealing with home made CDs, it should
work fine.

The MP3 format is a different (compressed) format and your CD player
needs additional software to recognize and decode it; the older CD
players don't have that. If what you now have is already an MP3 file,
software to convert MP3 files into AIFF files so that you can record to
CD without MP3 compression is available, but once the fidelity is
compromised by the MP3 compression process, it is gone forever and the
reconstituted AIFF file won't sound as good as the original source,
although it can now be recorded to CD and played back on a player
ignorant of the MP3 format. So the thing to do is to duplicate your
original source (CD, tape, LP, whatever) to the CD directly without
using MP3 compression. What you lose in recording time per disk you gain
in improved audio.

David, who thinks all 8 bit audio sounds bad, and some 8 bit audio
sounds even worse than other 8 bit audio

 

[quisp99]

yes, the CD play will play CD-R's. I burned 6 discs wiht mixed songs
for a long trip because the mp3 option was not available...

 

[Karen Martin]

The following describes my iPod setup: new 4th generation 40GB iPod with DLO
(Digital Lifestyle Outfitters) TransPod FM (all-in-one DC charger, FM
transmitter via dock, and variably adjustable stand, plugged into the cigarette
lighter). I can read and adjust my iPod from the driver's seat (caution: I drive
like you do!). The FM-via-dock connector supposedly gives a much stronger signal
than the headphone jack. The DLO TransPod also comes with a variety of elbow
sections to use a multitude of ways, as well as a flex cable charger/adapter, if
you prefer to use that. And it really sounds great, too!

Check out the pictures on my web site:
http://members.cox.net/kamartin/2005outbackreviews.html

-KarenM-

 

[Karen Martin]

The following describes my iPod setup: new 4th generation 40GB iPod with DLO
(Digital Lifestyle Outfitters) TransPod FM (all-in-one DC charger, FM
transmitter via dock, and variably adjustable stand, plugged into the cigarette
lighter). I can read and adjust my iPod from the driver's seat (caution: I drive
like you do!). The FM-via-dock connector supposedly gives a much stronger signal
than the headphone jack. The DLO TransPod also comes with a variety of elbow
sections to use a multitude of ways, as well as a flex cable charger/adapter, if
you prefer to use that. And it really sounds great, too!

Check out the pictures on my web site:
http://members.cox.net/kamartin/2005outbackreviews.html

-KarenM-