Wanna Add An External Hdd To Your System?

Rosedog · May 6, 2007

I bought the Premier version (only diff I can tell is that it includes an iPod cable adapter) for myself and the Pioneer verison for my wife ($30 cheaper because no iPod cable adapter).

The reason I bought it was to replace my older Sony ES unit and I must say it took some time to find the right unit to do so. What really sold it for me was the fact that it has a built in 7-band EQ. I was told at the time that they (salesmen) had heard of people connecting external HDD to the unit and getting it to work. I just happened to have my external on me so I tried it. It didn't work but I was still happy with the fact I had something equivalent to my Sony ES.

When I got home I researched the USB function a little more. That's when I found out that I needed to format my HDD to Fat32 in order for it to work (if you need help doing this look here: http://faq.arstechnica.com/link.php?i=1820 DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK THOUGH AS I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILTY IF YOU FUBAR IT - If you didn't know Fat32 limits you to about 32gb so don't run out and buy a 100+gb EX.HDD for this purpose, and trust me if you listen to more that 30gb of music....daaammmnn.)

After I formatted my drive I loaded it up with my library and sweatness it worked! 30gb of music at my finger tips. Needless to say I have no need for CD's (unless I buy a new one on the spur of the moment) and a bigger bonus when I turn off my truck, unplug my drive and listen to it at work, when I get back in the truck and plug it back in, it remembers where it left off.

Oh and before I forget, yes you can have folders and subfolders. Also I tried this on Kennwoods and it worked (read) but it did not work on Sony Decks (this maybe because the USB port doesn't have enough power, I'm not completly sure).

My Ex.HDD is Iomega 80gb 4200rpm. These now can be found in Target.

Indy · May 6, 2007

How do you scroll between folders and subfolders? Does the screen display any information on what folder you are in or just a number?

Rosedog · May 6, 2007

How do you scroll between folders and subfolders? Does the screen display any information on what folder you are in or just a number?

I'm going to try to explain this as best I can...

When you go to the USB mode you can list (press list) and it will display the folder in alphabetical order. On the right of the screen it will show a folder icon with a number next to it and/or underneath it. The numbers next to the folder represent the number of subfolders, the numbers underneath the folder icon represent the amount of tracks.

So for example in my HDD 2Pac Folder shows up first and in that one folder I have six (I believe) subfolders and I can browse read the individual folders once inside the 2Pac Folder.

This is how I have my music organized:

Artist (Folder)

...Album (folder)

......Audio Tracks

Dyabolical · May 10, 2007

Certain models of certain brands have what is called Direct Play...basically you can control the MP3 player through the actual CD player as opposed to connecting the MP3 player to the deck and hitting buttons on the MP3 player.

Ya get me?

This is how some units can control an external HDD.