Stereo console usability, MP3 CDs?
 

I am considering a RX8, but I am unsure what I'll think about the unconventional stereo console.

How do people like the stock stereo usability, appearance, and sound? How does it compare to stock stereos found in other cars?

Also, I was wondering, does the stock RX8 single CD player play MP3 CDs?

Thanks for the info.

the stock Bose system sounds fine. Just as good as any other "premium" sound system availible for production vehicles. For the other questions www.mazdausa.com find your own options

need to 'upgrade' the cd player to be mp3 compatible, loose the staker for a single disc mp3 player

I upgraded my single disc to the mp3 unit and I'm lovin' it.

The stock stereo usability is great, better than the average stock stereo. All the controls are easy to reach and easy to adjust. Radio tuning is easy, track seleciton is easy.

The only annoying thing is that the hazard button is close to the FM/CD selection buttons, so if your finger slips, you may trigger the hazards.. but no biggie really.

The stock sound you will have to judge for yourself. Many people like the Bose radio. It depends on the kind of music you listen to. The stock non-Bose radio is pretty well-balanced tonally.

I have the MP3 CD player (which is an option). It has pretty decent usability for a 1-line display, as far as MP3 playback goes. You can see folder, album, artist, song titles and scroll thru the longer titles with a knob.

IMO, stock iPod integration module has terrible usability.

Astral: I was tempted to burn an mp3 CD with folders but I wasnt' sure if our headunits could read the folders. Do they?

I need an MP3.

Yes. It separates the folders into 'disks'. The random function doesn't work across the folders though (meaning, if you use random it will only randomize and play files in the current folder).

I wish the text scrolling was automagic. Having to scroll using the knob is the one thing I do not like about our mp3 player.

It depends on what headunit you have. If you have a stock, non-mp3 headunit, it won't work. If you have the mp3-compatible headunit, it will work.

One way to tell: if you put in a regular audio CD and it says "CD READING..." then you have the MP3 version.

:D:

Yes the MP3 cd player will read MP3s in folders, but only one folder deep.

so you will have the folders with songs in them, but no folders inside of folders

and you can change the folders you are listening to by using the "disk up and down" (preset 1 and 2) buttons..

hope this helps.

thanks wikked! Off to burn a new cd I go...

++++1 . Mazda Ipod Integration unit, not very good. I got it in high hopes of being able to listen to the ipod in the car, but the whole thing is just a nuisance. I installed it myself, which wasn't too difficult, but the usability is awful. I hate how your ipod becomes completely deactivated - such a steep price to pay for high quality mp3 music :icon_tdow i give it a C grade, for good quality, but almost no control over track selection. Its like having an ipod shuffle but STUPIDER

I have the OEM unit and have no problem finding my play lists. Maybe you should have read the instructions... Sure it would have been great to have the display show named lists but it does show them by number.

i wasn't aware ipods could get stupider... ouch.