OK, I don't understand the advantages of MP3 on disk
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I have the Kensington Charger/FM Transmitter for the iPod and it works great. There is virtually no static and it sounds just like I'm listening to the radio. I am no audiophile but for me it sounds great. It also charges the iPod while it plays.
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[/quote]
I believe that the iPod quality is very good, better than MP3 CDs, since the encoding can be AAC (AAC is a losless encoder, far better at sound reproduction than MP3) and both are converted to analog before being amplified.
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Robert
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MP3 files are much inferior to CD quality to begin with, and through AUX they will sound even worse. I'd stick with copies of original CDs if you prefer CD-quality.
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Originally Posted by netjazz' post='229105' date='Jan 24 2006, 08:08 PM
Thanks for the response.
It was mentioned that for $300 BMW can add an Aux. Imput for Ipod.
Can someone that has already had the Aux. installed respond to the following questions?
Can you receive the info from Ipod on the I-Drive screen?
What shows on screen. Do you get Title and artist? Exactly how does it operate?
Netjazz
It was mentioned that for $300 BMW can add an Aux. Imput for Ipod.
Can someone that has already had the Aux. installed respond to the following questions?
Can you receive the info from Ipod on the I-Drive screen?
What shows on screen. Do you get Title and artist? Exactly how does it operate?
Netjazz
+ Simple User Interface: Clearly, the iPod interface is superior for finding and playing content (I doubt that even staunch iDrive supporters would prefer to use iDrive to iPod to navigate through a music collection). Your content is simply organized and accessible on the iPod.
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- No Hands-free Operation: It's not a good idea to take your eyes off of the wheel to scroll through the iPod menus to find your next tune! And if you use polarized glasses, it's nearly impossible ... if you were daft enough to try, uh, hypothetically speaking.
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+ Complete Library: Your iPod can carry all of your music and podcasts along with you, immediately accessible.
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Robert
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Originally Posted by netjazz' post='229105' date='Jan 24 2006, 05:08 PM
Most important, How is the sound quality. Is it close to CD quality?
Netjazz
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Robert
[/quote]
Sorry, this is inaccurate. I've been encoding and playing back audio using AAC since before it was ever commercially available - back when people were hacking together GNU code for coders and decoders.
AAC is not a lossless codec. It is lossy, just like MP3. It generally does a better job at the same bit rates, but the bit rate Apple sells on the ITMS certainly does not perform as well as an MP3 encoded with LAME at a higher bitrate by someone who knows what settings to choose.
I also fail to see how adding an analog stage is desirable. Especially considering the lackluster S/N of the iPod and the tinny frequency response compared to other portable music players.
MP3 CDs are great, and allow the onscreen display of song and artist information. This is the big win as far as I'm concerned. Fitting 10 or 11 CDs is great too, and for my listening style, more than adequate. I have an iPod and a PSP with media that I could be playing via an AUX-in, but I have no desire to add it.
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Originally Posted by TexaZ3' post='229356' date='Jan 25 2006, 07:38 AM
MP3 files are much inferior to CD quality to begin with, and through AUX they will sound even worse. I'd stick with copies of original CDs if you prefer CD-quality.
Especially when you play them in the car while driving, I really don't think you can tell the difference.
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Originally Posted by Freewilly' post='228992' date='Jan 24 2006, 11:23 PM
It's for people don't have iPod and want to play tons of music in the car.
In other words : unfortunately iPod commands are not not integrated in iDrive (Aux Inp solution), on the contrary you can fully manage your Cd/DVD full of MP3 with iDrive controls.
List of directories:
![](https://img82.imageshack.us/img82/3141/mp3001jo.jpg)
![](https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/7295/mp3010ih.jpg)
List of files in a Directory.
![](https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4840/mp3028gr.jpg)
File now playing with info.
![](https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/8113/mp3044ud.jpg)
![](https://img67.imageshack.us/img67/4905/mp3056vc.jpg)
OOps... this is another matter,
managing and re-burning your DVD Map Nav you can change/add/delete Points of Interest of your .....peculiar interest
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Especially when you play them in the car while driving, I really don't think you can tell the difference.
[/quote]
It's far better than that even. If you throw enough bits at it and use the proper encoder + switches, it's transparent, and most sane bit rates are as close to transparent as to be able to fool all but those trained to detect the artifacts.
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=40863
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Here's my view. I had the aux input installed & bought an iPod 6 months ago. I rip my CDs using Exact Audio Copy w/ LAME encoder @ 256kbps VBR, then normalize with MP3Gain @ 94 dB. I also use the Monster iCarCharger, and a Monster shielded mini-stereo cable (see my install here: http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=12430 ). If you rip using high quality software at reasonably high bit rates, and use high quality hardware (I swear by Monster Cable products), you'll get excellent sound quality.
When I first got my iPod, before I invested the time and effort to rip a bunch of CDs, I first ripped a few (of different types of music) to test the sound quality, and even with the car parked, the iPod tracks are virtually indistinguishable from the original CDs. The only difference you'll notice is the iPod is slightly lower volume--no big deal. And while you're driving, with all the environmental noise, I can't believe even the most over-the-top audiophile could distinguish between the 2.
The only drawback is the lack of iPod integration with iDrive, so I'll be having the dealer update my car to CIP 20 and (hopefully) activate MP3 CD/DVD playing, and see how I like having ~8MB of MP3s on a DVD.
When I first got my iPod, before I invested the time and effort to rip a bunch of CDs, I first ripped a few (of different types of music) to test the sound quality, and even with the car parked, the iPod tracks are virtually indistinguishable from the original CDs. The only difference you'll notice is the iPod is slightly lower volume--no big deal. And while you're driving, with all the environmental noise, I can't believe even the most over-the-top audiophile could distinguish between the 2.
The only drawback is the lack of iPod integration with iDrive, so I'll be having the dealer update my car to CIP 20 and (hopefully) activate MP3 CD/DVD playing, and see how I like having ~8MB of MP3s on a DVD.
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Don't get me wrong, MP3s give you very good quality for what they are - small files. But even at 320 bps they are not as good as original recordings. Of course it is not as important for the sound system most of us have in e60 anyway... :-) Sorry, I'm just a bit of audiophile... used to do professional sound editing...