Playing MP3s in the Mazda 5 GT 2009?

[mothernature]

I didn't realize the mazda 2009 gt is not capable of playing mp3s until a month ago when I threw a data disc in there and it won't play.

Anyone know why they did this and is there a way round it without replacing the player in there now?

 

[Heat]

The US models have an auxilliary input next to the 12V plug (next to the floor / cup holder). You can then buy a connecting cable - both ends of the cable will look like an earphone jack plug (I can't remember the excact size, 2.5 or 3.5 mm?) - and hook it up to an .mp3 player.

I bought my cable (a 1 foot cable) for about US$5 from RadioShack but you can buy them from lots of places.

 

[AwaKeN]

Yup we have the same on the canadian models

 

[el_Don]

The US models have an auxilliary input next to the 12V plug (next to the floor / cup holder). You can then buy a connecting cable - both ends of the cable will look like an earphone jack plug (I can't remember the excact size, 2.5 or 3.5 mm?) - and hook it up to an .mp3 player.

I bought my cable (a 1 foot cable) for about US$5 from RadioShack but you can buy them from lots of places.

3.5 mm

 

[mothernature]

The US models have an auxilliary input next to the 12V plug (next to the floor / cup holder). You can then buy a connecting cable - both ends of the cable will look like an earphone jack plug (I can't remember the excact size, 2.5 or 3.5 mm?) - and hook it up to an .mp3 player.

I bought my cable (a 1 foot cable) for about US$5 from RadioShack but you can buy them from lots of places.

Thx for that...you got a pic of that so I know what am looking for?

Still doesn't help me in playing mp3s on a cd though

 

[Trdkamuri51o]

^^ you ever use a set of headphones?? or an iphone lol

if you have thats the size of the jack lol

 

[x10dude]

Thx for that...you got a pic of that so I know what am looking for?

Still doesn't help me in playing mp3s on a cd though

The only relatively cheap option is to buy a portable CD player that can play MP3-CDs and plug it into the MP3 input jack on the Mazda5

 

[Heat]

Of course there is the option of replacing your head unit with an aftermarket radio.

Why didn't Mazda put in an .mp3 playing radio? I have no idea, except that maybe they were wanting to sell their in-dash CD changers ($500) which, as of '06, play .mp3s. But for $500 you could get a really nice aftermarket radio with some new speakers.

And here is the 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable:

 

[Kenshin 1029]

I have 1 MP3 plaver and also bought a portable CD player with MP3 capabilities for 28 dollars at Wmart. By the way in black to match with the interiors, ja, ja, ja! (rockon)

 

[DKaz]

I believe you need either the CD Changer or NAVI unit to play mp3s on the 08-09.

iPods and any mp3 player for that matter is getting cheap, just connect it to the auxillary port and you're good to go. And they hold way more songs than a 700 MB CD, and you never have to burn a CD again.

 

[morethan5]

My 2008's 6-disk changer does not read MP3 discs.

When an MP3 disc is inserted, the display starts with the "reading" message, and will eventually start counting seconds on the first track. Nothing plays, and all CD navigation related buttons cause the same result -- they start the second counter over at zero, on the first track.

The same discs play just fine on my 2007 Toyota.

 

[DKaz]

Ok then you need the NAVI then.

 

[mothernature]

Possible to change the system and replace it with an after market one?

Which are the good ones out there

 

[Heat]

I don't think it's possible to change the head unit and keep navigation (but I'm not 100% sure on this), but assuming you don't have navigation then sure, it's possible.

Here is a thread I started showing my head unit / speaker install. I still have to do the front speakers but I am very happy with the sound quality of the head unit I picked up (JVC KD-S100) with my stock front speakers. Much better display options, certainly a lot more input options, and of course .mp3 capability. Plus iPod capability if I want. Just this morning I put in my first CD-R loaded with six albums worth of .mp3 music (only six albums because I rip at 256 kbps) - worked and sounded excellent. Was like having a six-disk CD changer, except the speed between tracks was faster.

Just check out Crutchfield and see what you like / what has the input options you want. I'm assuming Crutchfield ships to Canada... Any model over US$130 or so will play .mp3s (and some will play other formats as well, like .wma). Be thinking about what sort of inputs you want and filter the selections that way. Personally, I love USB ports because I use flash drives (also called thumb drives) on a regular basis, I can just plug it directly into the radio and have many albums worth of music (or podcasts).

I went with the JVC KD-S100 because of a great speaker / head unit bundle they were running at the time (no longer offered), it is now US$150 and it's worth that amount. Great sound and very nice display. Other head units that I was looking at were the Alpine CDA-105 (US$200) and the Alpine CDA-9886.

 

[P_bouchr]

My 2008's 6-disk changer does not read MP3 discs.

When an MP3 disc is inserted, the display starts with the "reading" message, and will eventually start counting seconds on the first track. Nothing plays, and all CD navigation related buttons cause the same result -- they start the second counter over at zero, on the first track.

The same discs play just fine on my 2007 Toyota.

I believe the 6 disc changer automatically got the MP3 option, at least for the canadian model. Maybe you should have that checked or try some other files... If your radio wouldn't read the disc it would probably throw it back at you with a disc error... Sounds like a bad radio or a bad disc. Some radios are very picky about the disks (check for CD-R, CD+R). Some doesn't take the rewritables discs. Better check your manual or have the radio checked.

But, that said you maybe right there are no mention on the mazda site that the changer can read MP3s...

 

[Robotazky]

I believe the 6 disc changer automatically got the MP3 option, at least for the canadian model. Maybe you should have that checked or try some other files... If your radio wouldn't read the disc it would probably throw it back at you with a disc error... Sounds like a bad radio or a bad disc. Some radios are very picky about the disks (check for CD-R, CD+R). Some doesn't take the rewritables discs. Better check your manual or have the radio checked.

But, that said you maybe right there are no mention on the mazda site that the changer can read MP3s...

Also make sure it's not a DVR. I've foolishly thought that something was wrong on mine because it was not a CD.