I complained to MNAO that their website has not been updated for 2005 and they responded by sending me the new 05 RX-8 brochure. I was looking at the accessory section and saw an option for something called PhatNoise, which is a 20gb audio system which uses digital media cartridges. I did a search and found a couple of references to this system but no actual users.

I am curious how well it works/integrates into the stock audio, as well as how much it costs.

 

This guy beta tested the RX8 Phatbox interface for them:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...hlight=phatbox

... and it ain't cheap!

 

I PM'd the guy.

You're right it's not cheap. I got these numbers from the PhatNoise website. As an add-on the system runs $799. That includes the system, 1 20gb cartridge (~400 CD's), USB cradle and PC software to load music. Extra cartridges are 40gb-$204, 60gb-$294 and 80gb-$349.

In my case the original 20gb cartridge would hold all of my CD's. I was considering the factory mp3 player which costs less ($325 MSRP) but you still have to jockey CD's.

 

I contacted my dealer for pricing info on PhatNoise. He said that they do not have info on PhatNoise (or the Sirius option that I asked about last week). In fact, he said that they do not have any pricing info on any '05 accessories.

 

why not just hook up a Creative Zen Nomad (30Gigs for $200)

 

That's the same reasoning I used to go with my RCA Lyra last year (40gb for $275)... and with the PIE aux-in adapter, it's a pretty good solution. I would love to have song title and steering wheel controls, but at not at that price... that's a lot of beer instead :D

 

I'm not familiar with either of those.

I want a clean, integrated option. Not some cobbled together patch that looks like a bad science fair project.

 

Check out this thread to see what Tamas put in his 8. The NEO jukebox is not as expensive as the Phatbox and adding a larger hard drive to it won't void the warrantee! The Phatbox plays more formats, but only you know if that's important to you.

 

Don't forget to add that the Phatbox will completely integrate into the OEM head unit, steering wheel controls and all. Still too rich for my blood though...

 

That's a very good point. The other choices aren't the same thing.

---jps

 

The advantage of PhatNoise system is that it's a Mazda accessory and will integrate into the HU. Phatnoise uses removable cartridges (20, 40, 60 & 80gb) so additional space is not a problem.

I'm looking for a system to store the music from all my CD's, so I have some control over what format I use.

 

I was going to buy a Phatnoise system, but it isn't made yet, and I got tired of waiting. That's why I bought a Neo. Plus the Neo is open firmware -- I like that.

 

I PM'd Nash today, asking for a date for an update. Hope he replies...

 

ipod+icelink = ~$560.. and your done.. And you can take the music with you..

 

Does the iPod+icelink solution operate automatically? I mean does it have the ability to power up when the car is switched to ACC (or ON) and power down when the car is shut down? Just curious.
If the answer is "yes" and Apple ever gets gapless playback going on the iPods this would be a good setup, IMHO. I would mount it out of sight.

Tha Phatbox soultion looks very good to me, since it supports mp3, wma, flac, and audible formats -- but the absence of ogg is a big drawback. And it will be a factory-type installation.

My own preference is to have a player that is dedicated to the car -- removable for adding more music, of course. I don't want to take my player out of the car every time I get out. Of course YMMV. I have used my Rio Karma (very nice player, BTW) in my RX-8 for some time now (it's now been replaced by the NEO) and it worked very well, but it had to be shut off manually when you left the car. Oddly enough it would start automatically, but not shut off, so it would continue to run on its internal battery even though the car's system was shut down.

I decided to go with the NEO after seeing Tamas' installation and learning that I can change out the 40 GB drive for a larger one without voiding the warrantee.

 

Bob-

Yes, the iPod solution works as you have described. Please see my review here:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/all-you-ipod-freaks-39845/page3/

Playback is near gapless. I have mounted it out of sight. The only visible part is the cable coming into the cupholder area, and it's black- near invisible.

Good luck.

 

That sounds very nice! That icelink seems very well thought-out.

 

Phatbox (Kenwood Music Keg) *does* ogg vorbis format. I haven't tried it, just saw in on the list.

 

Excellent! It's not mentioned on the PhatNoise website.

 

The biggest advantage to all iPod solutions is for those people who already own an iPod. I don't, and I also see no advantage to a removable solution.

Where does the iPod mount? One of the links said that the current song does not display on the HU. That would mean that you have to look down to where the iPod is mounted.

Ogg? I thought Ogg was a Linux format?

 

The iPod will mount wherever your imagination will let you provided you're within 5 feet of the center console.

I've heard of people mounting it on a stalk mount near the seats, in the glovebox, and I have mine installed into the little area to the rear of the cupholders.

Oog Vorbis is a cross-platform open standard for (I think) lossless compression, or at least high quality compression. That being said, I've never used Oog and am therefore unqualified to tell you what the quality of the Oog rips are.

Although I'm not truly an audiophile, I do enjoy music, and can tell the difference between good and bad quality rips. I'm pretty satisfied with MP3 and AAC compression. Maybe Oog is better, but for my purposes, I'd never be able to tell.

Plus, unless I upgrade my stock stereo system, I'd definitely never be able to tell. The stock system is not really an audiophille's dream.

YMMV

 

Oog is definitely better, but there are issues with trying to find a player that plays them

good for phatnoise for taking in the underdog format

 

The PhatNoise system costs more (I don't know how much because Mazda hasn't released a price) but you get a well integrated solution, that is also expandable (but not cheaply).

My salesman says that VW has offered it for years and it works great, but he's a salesman and lies for a living. I still have not heard from anyone who has actually used it.

 

the Phatnoise unit for the rx8 is supposed to have voice guided browsing, as in your voice guiding

 

Are you sure? From what I've read on their website, some models announce the track info but control is still through the buttons on the HU.