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[Unka Bart]

>> I mostly play CDs - Remote CD changer is probably a given.  I could
>> utilize a few Audi and ALPINE Changers if they would be compatable
>> with the newer. .
>
> I think CD Changers for the car are an idea that's come and gone.  My
> 8GB usb drive can hold 100 hours worth of music, and it's all easily
> accessible.  Plus you don't scratch your CD's up using them in the
> car, no worry about them being stolen, and you don't have a CD
> changer taking up room in the trunk.
>
> So here's my suggestion:  You have a computer, it's high time you
> input your entire music library into your computer in MP3
> format.  You can input the tapes, too, just takes more effort
> dividing them into tracks (or you can do an entire tape side as 1
> track.)  Once you've done this for your collection, you don't have to
> worry about doing it again, except for new albums you buy. (Make sure
> you have a backup.)  If you do the tapes you can make CD's out of
> them if you want to.
>
> I've been happy with my Kenwood eXcelon head unit, it has a USB
> input, plays CD's, satellite input (I love XM, don't even listen to
> FM anymore)and has good crossovers for the line-level outputs built
> in, and it mostly matches my BMW dash (buttons are red, but knobs are
> blue backlit.)

Ben, I've got to agree with George here.  Start with your existing  
CDs and rip them first.  I don't have any tapes, but I do have a  
metric sh*t-load of excellently preserved LPs that I'll eventually  
get around to converting to MP3.

I had a 200 disc changer when I got to Florida 10 years ago, but  
quickly decided that it was still too much hassle to play songs from  
10 or more discs; got iTunes and started ripping my collection.  WOW,  
once you've tried a playlist made (literally in just seconds) from a  
bunch of disparate discs by just dragging the song titles into a  
folder, you'll never want to futz around with any kind of mechanical  
player again.

iTunes is a great application for building your library this way.   
Most  new CD drives have pretty high ripping speeds making the task  
doable over the winter.  Start with a stack, feed in the first one  
while you read a book, and pause long enough to eject, stick the  
ripped music files into a play list (or hell, even skip that step and  
just) pop another CD in the drive.

Rinse and repeat as often as necessary.  And when you buy new CDs,  
rip them before doing anything else when you open them.  If an  8 GB  
thumb drive is too small for your library (it is for mine) get an  
iPod or a bigger thumb drive.  Or keep your library on a portable  
hard-drive with a USB connection, (I think that) most new high  
quality head units will be able to access your music from that, and  
they damn sure will be able to acomodate your library if it's on an  
iPod.   Or better, an iPhone.

I've just discovered that having survived this fatal disease called  
life to get to be old enough to require hearing aids is not all bad.   
Next week, I'm getting fitted for a pair with Bluetooth, which I will  
be able to pair with my cell phone (iPhone) and have both hands-free  
telephone capability, but hands free music as well.  And the bloody  
things even have a remote to adjust volume and change listening  
programs (for differing ambient noise situations like driving in  
traffic, sitting in a theater, being at a party, etc.

Life is good.

Yer kindly ol' Unka Bart