Newbee question for you guys (thanks)

Only thing I can think of is that your Zen might be uncompressing the files and your CD player does a better and faster job of it off your CD player.

It's just a guess though cause I'm still in the CD era (I'm always a bit behind technology, LOL)

My 8GB Zen Microphoto's been sitting on a shelf for 5 years now.......

 

I had this same problem with my Ipod being plugged into my Headunit. I really believe that its just the simple fact that the sound you are hearing rather then coming rite from your cd to your speakers now has to go through the IPOD\mp3 player (which has its own final sound already) THEN to the headunit (which modifies the sound even more) then to your speakers.. But thats just how i look at it, im probably completely wrong lol, sorry!

 

You are right. Now lets explain it a little differently

The iPod's (applies to Zen) output is designed for those little headphones and it works well with those headphones. The sound processor does not output a signal designed to work with our stereos.

Enter USB. The reason many of us use iPods is the fact that the iPod can output an UNPROCESSED Digital signal to our USB Capable Head Unit. Now the Head Unit uses its sound processor (which is designed to work in a car) to send the sound to our speakers.

When my iPod is hooked in my wifes car through the USB, it sounds awesome. But the same iPod hooked to the Aux IN it doesn't sound nearly as good.

Your CD sounds good because your radios processor is converting the digital signal. Hope this explination works

 

Ranger thanks alot bud. 2 birds with one stone in this thread . Good to know my theory was correct!

Edit : Wish my 7800mp had usb input =(

 

How does the ZEN hook to the computer? Does it hook up through USB, how is music loaded on it?

 

OK so I assume, by your responce, it is hooked to a computer through a USB cable, but will it send a digital signal to a USB Head Unit? Can you access the music?

The next step is go to a Car Audo Store and see if they will let you hook it to one of their Demo radios to see if it will work. Check it before you buy a Radio, make sure it will work first. I dont ever remember hooking a Zen to a radio before. I've hooked up Flash Drives, Hard Drives and iPods but I don't remember a Zen.

Check first

 

I personally haven't hooked my Zen up to the usb on my HU, but in reading many reviews when researching my Pioneer 8000BT, a few complained how their Zen would not work with the HU.

Seems its mostly Ipods that are the only devices that you can control fully with most HUs.

 

I have checked around and tested my Zune at a few stores on the demos and it doesnt play. Most of the guys I have talked to say its all about Ipod. The Kenwood Excelon 494 will fully control the ipod function on an Iphone as well as an Ipod and will charge them as well. Plus it has 3 sets of 4 volt outs. I think thats what Ima buy.

 

I have the Kenwood x794 and the ipod/iphone controls work amazingly well.

Given how cheaply you can get an old ipod, I don't see any reason to mess around with anything else.

 

Sad but true.

And people say Microsoft and Intel are an evil empire.

 

Good one, Ranger. Perhaps I can simplify this a bit:

All digital audio sources must go through a D/A (digital-to-analog) converter to change the digital signal into the analog signal we hear. The D/A converter in the small portables is inferior to the one in better head units. When you input through the 3.5mm jack, your small portable unit is doing the conversion.

 

We use a lot of I-Pods at work and they have a problem of locking up a lot. I bought a 2GB SanDisk for $20 that has an FM radio with 40 presets, 5-band EQ, and a voice recorder. It has USB and works on most car players, although most Alpine units have a problem with it.

 

The Sony units will most likely play it.

Flash drives work great. That's what I use.

 

My daughter had a cheapo sandisk MP3 player that would lock up Windows Vista (pre Windows 7) whenever it was plugged in to the USB port. Finally trashed it and bought her a Zen.

 

My guess would be that was more of a Vista problem than a player problem.

 

True that....Vista SUCKED! I can't believe Windows 7 uses the same shell and I think Win 7 is the best OS Microsoft has built yet. Talk about some serious debugging.

I thought it might have been the player though, cause that was the only device that would lock it. My Zen worked fine with Vista at the time. It was only a $20 MP3 player, so I blamed that.