Xantia Multichanger and CD-R's

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 03 Sep 2010, 16:55

Has anyone made their own CD's to play in the car via the standard CD multichanger player in the boot?

I made a CD from my MP3 collection (converted by Nero) not sure if it would work but was pleased to realise it does.

However, I get a lot of skipping, most noticeable when going over bumps so I'm curious to know if anyone else has tried this and how did it play?

davetherave · Unread post by **davetherave** » 03 Sep 2010, 17:11

I found the same, it has to be over a smooth surface and is much more prone to skipping.
I never looked into it any further though as the xm seems ok in this respect.
Dave

Sl4yer · Unread post by **Sl4yer** » 03 Sep 2010, 17:13

I've never had any problems with CDRs. However, my multichanger does skip quite a lot (not just on CDRs), especially over some of the potholes we have to put up with nowadays. I think a lens clean might be in order!

Burning at a slower speed may help though.

James

Toby_HDi · Unread post by **Toby_HDi** » 03 Sep 2010, 17:23

Mike,

They do work, as you have found they need to be in Audio-CD format - won't work in MP3 unfortunately.

I burn mine at the lowest speed possible and don't use cheap CDs.

Have never had a problem with skipping except for the odd one when going over harsh bumps and potholes.

This applies to the changer in the Activa and the one in the Coupe.

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 03 Sep 2010, 17:25

If you don't have Nero, and are running windows, import your mp3's etc into the Windows Media player library, create a playlist of the music you want to burn to CDs and burn the playlist.
WMP will automatically ask for the next blank CD when it fills one.

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 03 Sep 2010, 17:42

I'm using PHILIPS CD-R's. Retail CD's play fine without any skipping whatsoever so I'm leaning towards the discs being the culprit - something to do with the dye used perhaps but will try burning at the slowest speed too.

Can anyone recommend a good brand for CD-Audio format? I've seen discs sold specifically for Audio which could be a marketing bluff, I suppose.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 03 Sep 2010, 17:58

The best ones, if you can get them, are Taio Yuden but they are generally quite expensive - I got some a few years back and they were £2.30 per disk.
I generally use Datasafe or Ridisc at low speed, around 16x.
Don't use Nero though, K3b does it for me

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 03 Sep 2010, 18:19

I use cheapo Tesco brand ones and have no skipping (unless I turn left hard and something heavy hits the changer!)

pug_owner2002 · Unread post by **pug_owner2002** » 03 Sep 2010, 19:38

In the cd players/changers I've had over the years I have had skipping, this has been using a variety of CDR's.
I sorted it by burning at the slowest speed possible (as Toby and others have mentioned), this cured the problem.
It may also be worth running a cd lens cleaner in the changer if it hasn't been done for a while.

Simon.

Sid_the_Squid · Unread post by **Sid_the_Squid** » 03 Sep 2010, 22:25

All my car cd are cdr's. I don't have any skipping except on the old scratched CDs, I use memorex cdr's usually I used to be a big fan of the old memorex tapes.
I find burning at 16 speeds ok, sometimes one car get away with 32 speed, but the slower the safer really.

MikeT · Unread post by **MikeT** » 03 Sep 2010, 22:57

Thanks, I burnt my second one at the slowest 12x and the skipping was greatly reduced (but still present over large enough potholes etc). Original music CD's, despite being old and worn have never skipped that I recall.

I'll try a lens clean next.

jgra1 · Unread post by **jgra1** » 03 Sep 2010, 23:43

Mike I put an MP40 headunit from Sony in my xant, about £40 from ebay, (it's blue led's and not in keeping but.._) it plays MP3 Cd's fine, so that's 150-200 songs? on one cd and no skipping.. there is also I think a CDX50 or something that will go in there.. add the cost of a remote control (steering buttons) connector and job is good

Series 2 xant..

I am going to add a 6 disc MP3 changer to the coupe this weekend, which will work from the Clarion headunit - also Sony.. so that should = 6 MP3 cds in the boot

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 04 Sep 2010, 07:23

Listen to Radio 4

It never skips...

Back years ago I had a Rover Metro with a CD player and it would not play burned CDs at all except...

I got hold of some coloured CD-Rs and black ones, looking like Sony PlayStation 2 disks, worked a treat. Blue and red ones wouldn't..

My changers skip occasionally on CD-Rs but as stated, burn as slowly as possible and it'll be better.

dnsey · Unread post by **dnsey** » 04 Sep 2010, 07:44

Unfortunately, it's difficult to settle on a reliable brand of CD-R, as even the major brands regularly change supplier, and therefore dye technology. If you find some that work well, it's worth buying a good quantity fom the same batch.
In any case, it's becoming very clear that CD-R recordings are only temporary, and become unplayable within a few years - faster when kept under adverse conditions.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 04 Sep 2010, 07:56

I've some audio CD-Rs that I burned about 8 years ago now and they are still fine. That was admittedly on good disks, back in the days when they were reassuringly expensive and the technology was quite new.

CD-Rs suffer a condition known as bit-rot!!!!

What does amaze me is that I still use a 25 year old Philips CD-160 player on my lounge stereo and that will play absolutely anything, despite being a very early example of a player; quite basic and designed before CD-Rs were even dreamed of.

It will even play damaged CDs that no other player will even deign to look at

I guess again that the age of the thing, it was built and designed properly for a very (then) nascent technology; it had something to prove at the time and it still is the best CD player I've ever known.

I note that some of my 25 year old CDs are a lot thicker, heavier and clearly made of better materials than modern ones. My copy of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is at least 25 years old now and still as good as gold. That and Dvorák's From the New World were among the first two CDs I ever bought...