2020 - No CD Player - The Solution

Yeah, that would be a good idea, and it also tells me all I need to know.

 

I tried an old CD/ DVD player for a computer which I had but the truck didn't like it. So I since I have to get a player with a USB out, still looking for recommendations. Lots of them out there it seems from brands I've never seen.

Reason for this isn't music; I've got plenty ripped to USB sticks. It's recorded books which I do on trips. Local libe has lots of them, more than free downloadable books I can put on my phone.

 

Understood. I don't have any experience using a portable CD Player with Entune via USB, but I'm guessing that there are some folks here on TW who do. Perhaps you would benefit from starting a new thread for just that topic, and see what folks have to say. I would be interested in that info myself.

 

Yeah, this thread is pretty fat, so I'll start a specific one.

 

For those who are interested in following this new thread started by @seabag, regarding connecting a portable CD Player to a 2020+ Entune Head Unit, here is the link:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cd-player-for-2020.715392/

 

I got this CD player for my new Tacoma and it works great
https://www.ensightauto.com/products/universal-usb-integrated-add-on-cd-player-for-any-vehicle

 

I just use Pandora premium . Listen to any band you want . They have a huge database . No need to download or rip your cd to a usb drive .make your own playlists .

 

Doesn’t work without internet. Try that on the Texas panhandle between El Paso and fort Stockton. Doesn’t work in the mountains either. Sometimes only physical media will do.

 

Spotify allows local download

Also re: ebooks: many digital options there from apps like Audible to ripping to format of your choice. Spoken word does not need a super high bitrate for high fidelity.

 

U can download also so when you lose connection u still have music .

 

Well that’s essentially physical media. I have over 10,000 songs on my iPhone at any given time, but they cannot be accessed manually over 5MPH nor by Siri if there is no cell service. So, if you are in an area with no cell service, playlists are your friend. Playing anything spontaneously requires pulling over, or grabbing your phone at 85MPH, which is what I thought CarPlay was created to avoid. Anyway, not perfect but on major trips, streaming has not been the answer for me.

 

Well at least I'm not the only one. I can't tell you how butt hurt I was when I took delivery on my off road today. First I noticed they removed the larger storage box on the driver's side of the bed. Ehh, no biggie. Then I saw there was no cd player and I was hit with sadness thinking about ripping all my disc's, losing quality, and spending time putting them on a jump drive. I guess times have changed and I'm a bit old school.

 

Yep. I changed all of mine over years ago. Makes it easier to figure out what music to take with you on a long trip, Lol!!!

 

Try the Libby app for audio books and your library. There is a carplay version of libby that i use all the time

 

I don't know. I'm encoding iTunes MP3 from CD's at 320, and they sound pretty amazing. The biggest thing you *might* hear could be a very slight loss of stereo separation, but that you'll never ever hear in a truck, not with speaker placement and ambient noise. And often I'm comparing to music I've recorded at 48/24 through an x8p Apollo and played back through calibrated Genelec speakers. Not saying that the OP can't hear the difference, but there's ALWAYS going to be a difference once you get into a moving truck. And as for plugging in a portable CD player, then you're at the mercy of what are probably really shitty DAC's which, themselves, will limit the fidelity of what you're listening to.

 

I know the sound isn't that different. I hate the naming and organizing of 500 files. I guess I'll just have to get use to not having a couple random discs that I switch based on my mood

 

I've got close to 10,000 songs in iTunes on my phone (and also on one laptop) and iTunes does all the heavy lifting for you plus you can organize by genre, band, type of music or whatever you want and make whatever custom playlists you desire or just let it play back randomly.

 

Jeebus!

I have yet to use my CD player in my ‘18 Taco.
My music library is locally stored on my phones micro SD card, or I use Pandora and Spotify too.