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MP3 compatibility

7918 Views 24 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  MrTyke
Anyone know if the stock stereo's can play WMA files as well as mp3 files?
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was98strat said:
Anyone know if the stock stereo's can play WMA files as well as mp3 files?
The stock stereo can play mp3 and wma files via the input jack on the radio(as long as your mp3 player is capable of playing wma files). I do not think the stock stereo can play mp3 CD's. I believe you have to upgrade the radio for mp3 playback from CD. Maybe DodgeInfoCenter or SilverFox can confirm this.
Yeah can someone that knows specify, this is another good question!
Yep... single disk player does not play mp3 cds. It has an AUX jack for ipod/etc. input. 6 disk changed does play mp3 cds, however!
Thanks for clearing that up for us OUWxGuesser!
hmmm, That's a pretty cheap way of saying your stereo is mp3 compatible!! Oh well, Guess I'm chucking the stock stereo! I hope the 6 disc changer is capable of Having 6 mp3 CD's loaded into it! I guess car companies still don't quite "get" the mp3 thing yet!!
Hm i would have thought mp3 on a cd would be possible by now to be stock... kind of dissapointing.
6 disc changer has MP3 WMA capabilities. It will hold 6 MP3 Cds. That's a lot of music. :D
Personally I would rather have the aux input so I can hook up my ipod. That way I can use my play lists and create new ones with out having to burn new mp3 cds all the time. But that is just my preference.
Just to clarify...

The MP3/WMA compatable headunit is an option. Above and beyond that there is the 6 disk changer.

SO, you can have either a single disc MP3 deck option, or a 6 disc mp3 deck option. On both of those however, you lose the AUX input. (at least on the front)
ah, but if you look at the website, that's not what dodge says "Caliber's radio's are mp3 compatible"

see http://www.get2knowcaliber.ca/index.php?id=4

Why on earth would you pay an extra $350 CAD to get a factory radio upgrade, when their website says all their radios are MP3 compatible. I can get a much better aftermarket radio for that!

Man I hate those marketing types sometimes!!!
They can say that all the radios are compatable because of that aux jack on the standard radio. Some would say that is cleaver marketing but it is kind of deciving.
was98strat said:
ah, but if you look at the website, that's not what dodge says "Caliber's radio's are mp3 compatible"... Man I hate those marketing types sometimes!!!
Well technically it’s true. The standard radio will play mp3s through the AUX jack while the remaining units will play mp3 cd’s. I understand what you’re saying though. :(

Here is what it lists on the sales brochures:

Standard Equipment - (Sales Code REF)
AM/FM stereo radio with CD, changer controls and auxiliary jack

Optional - (Sales Code RAQ)
AM/FM 6-disc CD changer with MP3 play capability
Optional satellite radio, hands free phone capability

Optional - (Sales Code RAK)
AM/FM cassette, 6-disc CD changer with MP3 play capability
Optional satellite Radio, Hands Free Phone compatibility

Here are some specific details for MP3 playback with the 6-disc changers.

Format Compatibility:
MP3, WMA

Disc Capability:
Compact discs (CD, CD-R, CD-RW).
Discs with MP3 tracks and multisession compact discs with CD and MP3 tracks.

Notice on Disc Playback:
When a medium containing MP3 data is loaded, the radio checks all files on the medium. If the medium contains a lot of folders or files, the radio will take more time to start playing the MP3 files.

Notice on Loading Times:
• Media - CD-RW media may take longer to load than CD-R media
• Medium formats - Multisession discs may take longer to load than non-multisession discs
• Number of files and folders - Loading times will increase with more files and folders
• To increase the speed of disc loading, It is recommended to use CD-R media and single-session discs.

Supported File System Formats:
ISO 9660 Level 1 and Level 2 and includes the Joliet extension.
The radio uses the following limits for file systems:
• Maximum number of directory levels: 15
• Maximum number of files: 255
• Maximum number of folders: 100
• Maximum number of characters in file/folder names:
• Level 1: 12 (including a separator "." and a 3-character extension)
• Level 2: 31 (including a separator "." and a 3-character extension)

MP3/WMA Bit Rates Supported:
The following table of bit rate and sampling frequencies are supported.
Sampling Frequency (kHz) Bit rate (kbps)

MPEG-1 (Audio 48, 44.1, 32 kHz)
VBR, 320, 256, 224, 192, 160, 128, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32

MPEG-2 Audio (24, 22.05, 16 kHz)
VBR, 160, 128, 144, 112, 96, 80, 64, 56, 48, 40, 32, 24, 16, 8,

ID3 Tag: Version 1 ID3 tags are supported, ID3 version 2 is not.
Playlist files: Not supported.
MP3 Pro files: Not supported.

Hopefully that gives you all the information you need.

Dan.
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was98strat said:
hmmm, That's a pretty cheap way of saying your stereo is mp3 compatible!! ...I guess car companies still don't quite "get" the mp3 thing yet!!
Yes, it's quite unbelievable. The salesguy was telling me that the CD player did play mp3 CDs... NOT.

sr4tuner said:
Hm i would have thought mp3 on a cd would be possible by now to be stock... kind of dissapointing.
Yep!!!

Fuzz 40 said:
Personally I would rather have the aux input so I can hook up my ipod. That way I can use my play lists and create new ones with out having to burn new mp3 cds all the time. But that is just my preference.
The aux input does not show playlist.

This is it, my one gripe with the Caliber. WTH (!!!) don't the base radio play mp3 CDs!!!??? I don't want a stupid 6-disk CD player. I want a CD player that will play mp3 CDs like all my friends and co-workers have. So simple yet, "car companies still don't quite "get" the mp3 thing yet!!".

I still like the Caliber but it sure is lame-to-end that the base radio won't play mp3 CDs. I know that's minor thing compared to having a good performing car that is reliable (which should be a given), but when most of the other new cars and trucks out there play mp3 CD it makes me feel slighted big time.
Amandyke said:
My stereo plays MP3 cd's...
Is it the base radio? You're talking about the one in your Caliber right? And are those mp3 CDs filled with mp3 files (and not AIFF or WMA files)?

I'm wondering because the last thing the salesguy was tellign me is that some of his mp3 CDs would play in his CD player but other wouldn't. So if it's merely some kind of file formate problem then I would just have to figure out what's going on at the computer end.

All I know is that I've burned several mp3 CDs for friends and co-workers and they all played fine. Now they're going to be wondering why I just bought a car with a CD player that won't play mp3 CDs when I've been burning mp3-CDs for them for a while now:confused:
Wicked....I just hope the SRT has the same sound options as the other models - I'd hate for them to skimp out on what seems to be a very competent system just to save weight or whatever else....

It'll go well with the new 20GB Olympus m:robe I just bought.... (oooo! touchscreen!)
With the auxiliary jack, you could use just about any third-party MP3 player (iPods are especially good) and have thousands of MP3s right at your fingertips. In esseence, the Calibers with the auxiliary jack have better capabilities than the Calibers with the MP3 CD capabilities. You're limited to however many MP3s you can burn to a disc (or six) and you have to go through the hassle of burning them every time. With the auxiliary jack, all you have to do is plug in and go. :)
Silverfox said:
With the auxiliary jack, you could use just about any third-party MP3 player (iPods are especially good) and have thousands of MP3s right at your fingertips. In esseence, the Calibers with the auxiliary jack have better capabilities than the Calibers with the MP3 CD capabilities. You're limited to however many MP3s you can burn to a disc (or six) and you have to go through the hassle of burning them every time. With the auxiliary jack, all you have to do is plug in and go. :)
agreed. i like having my 60gigs of music wherever i go.:D
You can still get the boston acoustics 9 speaker system with the base steroe right though?
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