Car CD reader mod to read mp3 disc

April_21 · Post by **April_21** » 28 Oct 2016, 01:25

I have read this article teach people how to Modding a CD ROM drive to read DVDs.

In my car trunk I have a 6-CD changer. However, it can read only audio CDs. Would it be possible to change the laser head (or adjust it) to add support for MP3 discs? Or is reading MP3 discs not related to the laser head? After some research, it looks like decoding MP3 audio is not related to laser head but hardware.

I know that a new player with DVD and USB support like this USB Connector gsb343k33hr datasheet is not expensive. I have a built in audio system (SC-816). Its a '99 Volvo C70. Original system sound is good and I am happy with it. I also are seen some adapters to plug into a changer input.
the most of tools

I already have this mod, but I need to switch songs in the MP3 player. Also, when I switch off the radio, the MP3 stays on.

BlueRubber · Post by **BlueRubber** » 26 Jan 2018, 07:30

I'm not an expert but the lazer is unrelated to the players MP3 capability, that is a decoding capability and is either done in software or hardware.

I would say your best bet is to sell your current CD changer and buy one with MP3 capability.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 26 Jan 2018, 08:53

Create Audio CDs from the MP3 files and load them in the 6 CD changer.
There is plenty of burner software that can do it.

Post by **mrbrian200** » 26 Jan 2018, 11:54

Car HUs usually decode compressed audio formats with a hardware codec/decoder chip. Additionally, the software needs to be able to navigate a data disc TOC and associate file extensions with a specific codec (mp3, wav, etc.). Modifying a deck originally designed to strictly play red book audio CDs to play mp3 files is a lost cause at best.

There likely is a RISC type CPU core running the show somewhere inside these HUs, as these use firmware that can be updated. But even if you did manage to extract and rewrite the firmware to handle data discs and decode mp3 via software it's highly unlikely that CPU core would be fast enough to do it in real time.

This is different from a computer CD rom drive and operating system which were designed to work with data discs to begin with where decoding is usually handled in software.