[Kilgore Trout]

So, I never used an IPOD (I actually have a shuffle, that my sister gave me, but never even turned it on) and, in fact, have never really used an MP3 player. Never had much reason to, because I rarely listen to music outside the home or auto, and my past car had a 5 CD changer.

I did go ahead and order the IPOD interface for my new E91, but I'm starting to wonder if it is even necessary. Memory sticks are ridiculously inexpensive right now (Amazon has a 64 GB Kingston for about $50) and only going to come down more. And, they fit easily in the center console USB slot. I have a nicely organized playlist structure, and lists of my songs, etc. Heck, I paid like $4 for a 2 GB stick at Fry's and I already have like five albums on it.

As a total Noob, here is my question: What am I giving up by going with a USB flash drive instead of an IPOD?

[Joonsup]

hmm i recently bought a 4gb stick and one think I noticed was that there's no option to shuffle the tracks. I dont know what else

[deletedelete]

Why dont you just copy the music to the harddrive? With an ipod you can take the music with you to listen to, a usb stick only works in the car.

[catcher22]

My opinion is that you're not giving up anything, you're actually gaining extra functionality that the iPod interface lacks. I made the switch from using the iPod to USB just a few weeks ago and haven't looked back.

For example, the options to scroll through songs and artists are much easier with the USB. You can create folders and sub-folders with a USB stick, and as we all know, you cannot create sub-folders or playlists with any iPod.

I also feel like the sound quality is better with the USB. Since it’s a direct connection without a cable, it sounds almost as good as the integrated CD player. My iPod cable also twisted and broke a few weeks back, so for some time I know I was listening to less-than-perfect sound quality. I didn’t even notice the contrast until I switched to USB. So yeah, there’s my vote.

[Rotary Rasp]

The iPod and USB are the part of the same option. You can't get one without the other. If you get the new iDrive, then there is a standard usb port in the glove box but you cannot play music directly from the USB drive. It must be copied to the cars hard drive first and is limited at 13gb. The iPod/USB option is something you should get. Chances are, if you don't get it, at some point you'll wish you did.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by Rotary Rasp

The iPod and USB are the part of the same option. You can't get one without the other. If you get the new iDrive, then there is a standard usb port in the glove box but you cannot play music directly from the USB drive. It must be copied to the cars hard drive first and is limited at 13gb. The iPod/USB option is something you should get. Chances are, if you don't get it, at some point you'll wish you did.

You misunderstand. I did get the IPOD/USB interface option. I'm just wondering whether I should get an IPOD now, or just stick with USB flash drives.

And, carrying my music outside the car is not of much interest to me. I listen to music in the car, at work, and at home. So, I'm just looking for the best car-based solution.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

Why dont you just copy the music to the harddrive? With an ipod you can take the music with you to listen to, a usb stick only works in the car.

Is the sound quality lower on the harddrive? I thought I read that it would copy at 128 only.

[deletedelete]

I thought it copied from a cd at a lower quality. Copying from the usb was at full quality. Thats what I read on this forum somewhere, I dont know for sure.

[Kilgore Trout]

You could absolutely be correct. I'm don't know the answer.

[Joonsup]

sorry i'm not mr. fancy pants driving an 09 where you guys have a build in HD. lol

[deletedelete]

Originally Posted by joonsup

sorry i'm not mr. fancy pants driving an 09 where you guys have a build in HD. lol

lol, but the OP is.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

lol, but the OP is.

Yeah, Kilgore is a Fancy Pants, no doubt about it.

[Inzane]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

As a total Noob, here is my question: What am I giving up by going with a USB flash drive instead of an IPOD?

Well for one thing Apple's AAC file format that your ipod uses (and itunes downloadable songs) is top notch, and often superior to standard MP3 format in terms of sound quality. IMHO.

[Rotary Rasp]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

You misunderstand. I did get the IPOD/USB interface option. I'm just wondering whether I should get an IPOD now, or just stick with USB flash drives.

And, carrying my music outside the car is not of much interest to me. I listen to music in the car, at work, and at home. So, I'm just looking for the best car-based solution.

oh ok, then yes. Get a usb drive or small hard drive instead of an iPod. The sound quality from the usb drive is better than the iPod because it is digital. The iPod is analog because it uses a standard 3.5 mini plug.

[emarkd]

Originally Posted by Inzane

Well for one thing Apple's AAC file format that your ipod uses (and itunes downloadable songs) is top notch, and often superior to standard MP3 format in terms of sound quality. IMHO.

First a nit-picky correction: AAC is not Apple's format. It's an IEC/ISO audio standard that is used by Apple, among others. At low bitrates, AAC-encoded media tends to sound much better than MP3-encoded media. As bitrates rise, this difference becomes less and less noticable, and most music is encoded at a pretty high bitrate. But as a general rule, you're right that AAC sounds better.

What isn't better is using the iPod to do the D/A conversion before piping the music through an input jack. I too switched from using an iPod to using a flash drive and find that I prefer the sound of an MP3 from the flash drive over the AAC through an iPod. But that's just my opinion...

[Kilgore Trout]

OK, guys, you've convinced me to go with the flash drive solution. Now, can you give me some hints on how best to set up the drive? I don't even know what software to use to convert my CDs to MP3. I just used Windows Media for the flashdrive I'm listening to now.

[emarkd]

I've got my drive arranged as such:

genre
->artist
--->album
------track 1
------track 2

etc, then I just use the directory view feature and don't worry with the cataloging features.

As for encoding, I just use the lame mp3 encoder from the commandline, but them I'm a Linux guy...