Premium audio - USB stick size

[Highrisedrifter]

I have the USB connection in the centre console on my Vantage along with Premium Audio. Although my 160gig iPod Classic works fine and a 4gig USB stick works fine, my 16gig USB stick comes up as 'unreadable'.

Does anyone know if there is a certain size limit for a device connection to the USB port please?

[drcarrera]

There's no size limit as far as I know (I use a 16GB USB HDD) but it can be very fussy as to the make of device. I've several makes of USB stick but haven't been able to make any of them work reliably - the most common problem I had was not remembering the track/position once switching off the ignition. I think they need to be in FAT32 format, though.

I did see somewhere a post (may have been on the AM forum) where someone recommended a particular make of USB stick which they'd found reliable. Perhaps if anyone uses one that works well they could post on here. I'd like to replace my HDD with a solid state USB stick as it's never great to use hard disks in a car!

Edited by drcarrera on Saturday 18th February 16:28

[steveatesh]

drcarrera said:

There's no size limit as far as I know (I use a 16GB USB HDD) but it can be very fussy as to the make of device. I've several makes of USB stick but haven't been able to make any of them work reliably - the most common problem I had was not remembering the track/position once switching off the ignition. I think they need to be in FAT32 format, though.

I did see somewhere a post (may have been on the AM forum) where someone recommended a particular make of USB stick which they'd found reliable. Perhaps if anyone uses one that works well they could post on here. I'd like to replace my HDD with a solid state USB stick as it's never great to use hard disks in a car!

Edited by drcarrera on Saturday 18th February 16:28

I agree - the USB reader appears to very sensitive to the stick you are using. My first was a 4 Gig Sandisk Cruzer Micro and it was very unreliable in the car. Sometimes it would read it and sometimes it would just sit trying to access it. I then purchased another Sandisk 4gig but about half the physical size (I think its a Cruzer Blade)and it has worked perfectly from day 1. I believe the USB input gives a better quality of music than the ipod because it uses the cars DAC which is better than the ipods. However that may be an urban myth of course! Whatever the truth of it, I prefer leaving a £5.00 usb stick in a car than a £150 ipod. I presume the USB reader is hand made and therefore has the usual AM quirks in it

[Highrisedrifter]

Thanks chaps. I'd be interested to know of any 16gig ones that work, i'm using a Bytestor 16gig USB 2.0 one unsuccessfully and a PNY 4gig USB 1.0 one successfully.

I'd much prefer to have a 16gig stick in the car than a 4gig stick, just for the sheer amount of music I can fit on it.

[johng39]

I use a 16Gb USB that I bought from play.com, works perfectly.

[Highrisedrifter]

s

johng39 said:

I use a 16Gb USB that I bought from play.com, works perfectly.

When you get the opportunity, would you be able to let me know the make and model please John?

[johng39]

Highrisedrifter said:

When you get the opportunity, would you be able to let me know the make and model please John?

it is their own make cheap 8.95 special. it is in a blue see through case

[Adam2S]

I have a 16GB Super Talent Pico-C in chrome and it works fine. Its also a pretty nice looking memory stick and one that I think is worthy of being installed in an Aston.

[Highrisedrifter]

johng39 said:

it is their own make cheap 8.95 special. it is in a blue see through case

Got it, thanks John. I'll get one of those and see if it works.

EDIT: Adam, that does look pretty nice, I have to admit. but it'll spend most of its life hidden from view in the centre console though!

[Guycord]

Does the bit-rate and file formatt have any bearing on play-back?

i.e. will WMA lossless playback?

[AWV12]

I have a 500Gb portable HDD in my car, connected via USB, without separate power and that works great!

The 500Gb is enough for many years imho :-)

for "guests" entering the car, they can use the ipod/pad/phone connector, or of course an USB stick. I tried to get an USB card reader (Sitecom) to work, so you can also play from memory cards (SD, MMC, MS, etc) but for unknown reasons this not seams to work.....

[Highrisedrifter]

AWV12 said:

I have a 500Gb portable HDD in my car, connected via USB, without separate power and that works great!

Aha, now if I could get that to work I would be a happy bunny as I much prefer the file structure on USB compared to iPod.. I gather the V12V comes with the B&O system as standard so I wonder if that provides more power than the Premium Audio. What make/model drive are you using please?

I had a (FAT32) 320gig Western Digital 'Passport' HDD in my S5 which worked flawlessly (Also a B&O system). I couldn't get that drive to work in the Jag or the Aston though. In both cars it receives enough power to spin up the disk but not enough to elicit playback. I wonder if a dual USB power lead like the one below would provide more juice? It might possibly just not be a compatible drive; after all, we know some makes/models of USB HDD just don't work properly in the car, whether we like it or not.

[Adam2S]

Highrisedrifter said:

Aha, now if I could get that to work I would be a happy bunny as I much prefer the file structure on USB compared to iPod.. I gather the V12V comes with the B&O system as standard so I wonder if that provides more power than the Premium Audio. What make/model drive are you using please?

Nope, the V12V comes with Premium as standard. B&O is a cost option.

I have Premium in my V12V.

[Highrisedrifter]

Adam2S said:

Nope, the V12V comes with Premium as standard. B&O is a cost option.

I have Premium in my V12V.

Fair enough, thanks for clarifying. I haven't looked into the V12V much, to be honest. Which make and model of HDD are you using please?

[Adam2S]

Highrisedrifter said:

Adam2S said:

Nope, the V12V comes with Premium as standard. B&O is a cost option.

I have Premium in my V12V.

Fair enough, thanks for clarifying. I haven't looked into the V12V much, to be honest. Which make and model of HDD are you using please?

Im not, Im using a Pico-C USB stick pictured above... I think you are mixing up your V12V owners!

[CarbonV12V]

Adam2S said:

Im not, Im using a Pico-C USB stick pictured above... I think you are mixing up your V12V owners!

Looks good - just bought one off Amazon so I can fill up before my new toy arrives

[AWV12]

Mine is a DBS Volante, but all have the same "music interface" for ipod/etc,. USB and AUX, and this is independent of the B&O or Premium audio system (read my post elsewhere that you are better off having the Premium than the B&O if you like non-compressed and deep sound!).

My harddrive is a Freecom XXS, and works without additional power in both my Aston as well as my Audi!

Considering the price of the car, and the very low cost of a new HDD, I would recommend you buy a new HDD that works without power (like the Freecom, but also many others).

[Guycord]

AWV12 said:

My harddrive is a Freecom XXS, and works without additional power in both my Aston as well as my Audi!

I've tried using a Freecom Toughdrive with no success. Could you advise on the formatt type (NTFS/FAT32) etc... and what file types i.e. (WMA lossless).

Seems to be more formatting than drive type perhaps?

[Highrisedrifter]

Adam2S said:

Im not, Im using a Pico-C USB stick pictured above... I think you are mixing up your V12V owners!

D'oh! Sorry.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll have a look at the Freecom XXS too.

[AWV12]

Guycord said:

I've tried using a Freecom Toughdrive with no success. Could you advise on the formatt type (NTFS/FAT32) etc... and what file types i.e. (WMA lossless).

Seems to be more formatting than drive type perhaps?

It can be that the Toughdrive is a different one and needs more power (IIRC the USB offers max 300mA).

My XXS is used as-is, and it is FAT32.