Car audio 10GB add-on MP3 player

[BooneRebel]

They still want way too much for it, but I saw this in the new Crutchfield catalog I've been looking for something like this for a while, it sure beats trying to hook up a PC in the car:

Kenwood KHD-CX910 - $749.95

Your home PC has a hard drive; now you can put one in your vehicle with the Kenwood eXcelon KHD-CX910 Music Keg! This state-of-the-art Digital Media Player, powered by PhatNoise?, has a 10-gigabyte memory and stores up to 2500 of your MP3, WAV, or Windows Media (WMA) files for skip-free digital playback. The system includes the Music Keg car player, a music storage cartridge, and the desktop unit.

Here's the "411." Using the music management software, you organize the music files on your PC. Insert the data storage cartridge into its desktop cradle, and download the files onto the cartridge through your computer's USB port. Then, pop the cartridge into the Music Keg in your car (connected to select 1998 and newer Kenwood receivers with CD changer controls), and you're ready to rock for days!

You control the Keg just as you would a changer ? the folders act like discs, and the files act like tracks on a CD (folder and file access is almost instantaneous). Power and ground are supplied through the Music Keg's cable (included).

Key Features:
Music Keg plays MP3, WAV, and Windows Media (WMA) files (mounts like a standard changer)
USB computer desktop cradle loads music files from your PC ? Music Manager software is compatible with a Pentium II 200 mHz processor and 64 MB RAM used with Windows 98 Second Edition, ME, 2000, or XP operating system (does not currently work with Mac OS)
transfers files from the computer to the Hard Drive at USB speeds
music storage cartridge
user-friendly Kenwood PhatNoise Music Manager software CD-Rom included
10-gigabyte storage cartridge (holds roughly 2,500 songs) and desktop cradle
connects to select 1998 and newer Kenwood changer-controlling receivers. (If you are unsure if your Kenwood receiver is compatible with the Music Keg, call one of our product advisors).
occupies the CD changer port on the headunit, so an optional 2-changer adapter is needed to run both the KHD-CX910 and a CD changer
displays MP3 file names and ID3 tags
2-11/16"H x 8-11/16" W x 6-1/2"D (car player)
2-year warranty

 

[iamwiz82]

i'll stick to putting a computer in my car 🙂

 

[StageLeft]

2 much $

 

[hoihtah]

for that price, i can get a nice head unit and a cheap laptop for my own mp3 setup 🙂

 

[stev0]

nice, sony just came out with a car cd player that had a built in 10 or 20 gig hd, all in dash, put a cd in, copy mp3's to the hd, take the cd out. looks pretty sweet, around 1g though. saw it in last months wired mag, sorry no link 🙁

 

[BooneRebel]

One benefit to this one, you can dump 10GB at a time via USB on your PC and be done with it. Faster than burning 15 CDs and trying to copy them one at a time onto the Sony unit.

 

[beat mania]

<< One benefit to this one, you can dump 10GB at a time via USB on your PC and be done with it. Faster than burning 15 CDs and trying to copy them one at a time onto the Sony unit. >>



10gb over USB is gonna take a long time though 😛 should really go usb2/firewire.

 

[BooneRebel]

After a little more checking, looks like this unit was developed by Phatnoise and uses a 2.5" ATA HDD. 20GB cartridge is $199, 30GB is $299.

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

😉 Maybe if it cost less I'd consider it. But I'd rather spend $100 CND to get a computer set up in my car (with a 40 gigger) instead.

 

[amnesiac]

ooh, this would be perfect for my car. I have a kenwood head unit 😀

 

[Ultima]

Hmm.. I'd rather have a PC, then I could play OGG's, SPC's, NSF's, S3M's, IT's, UMX's, MODS, MIDIS, ... everything 🙂