Has anyone heard of the Estone Car MP3 Player Ripper-510 from zMedia? It looks very much like an Empeg Unit.
http://www.z-media.us/index.asp

If you check the specs, it looks suspiciously like a somewhat updated Empeg unit, with a nicer display, built-in AM/FM tuner, and CD player. It can rip from the CD player, it can record AM/FM radio (that's a killer app), and the internal HDD is removeable, so you can update it using USB 2.0. Built-in amplifier and CDDB database.

This looks like the logical successor of the Empeg. I may have to pick one up. And keep my Empeg at home for a network MP3 player server.

George

Still too many questions unanswered, for me, to say that it even just matches the empeg.
What software features are there? I doub't it comes with anything closer to the empeg-player.
What other compression formats are supported?
How is music stored and organized in the hdd?
Can the hdd be upgraded?


The only real advanteges I see here are: better display (supposedly). Nicer metal look. Integrated radio.

Hey, wow! That unit looks great!

I'm outa here now, man!

Looks like the max storage possible is 20GB.

That's pretty much the spec the Mk.3 might have been a few years ago. Sadly the DIN format is starting to become so niche that I doubt there is any mainstream opportunity for a high end aftermarket head unit. The opportunity has to be in OEM, or interfacing with OEM.

Even that opportunity is slipping away and we all realise by now that hacking an iPod into the system is how it's going to be for most people. Those hacks could get a lot more elegant though.

Rob

We've been hearing about this for a long time. DIN is still the only way to go in retail for a car audio HU. And despite all the fancy new proprietary OEM installations, you can put a DIN unit into practically all cars - with some work.

Now, that said, I think these guys have missed a the boat. The unit looks too retro. With only 20GB of storage, you might as well integrate an iPod into an existing system. Personally I don't like the built-in CD nor radio, but those would definitely be selling points for someone who isn't convinced about file-based digital audio.

That said, I'd favor the Dension unit over this any day.

Bruno

A nice try, no doubt, but just like Alpine's previous offerings of this nature, I'm not going to sit in my car to rip my CD collection to the device. Ok, move it in 4 GB chunks with the proprietary hard drives. But none of that comes close to empeg's connectivity: take the unit inside, connect to standard network, transfer as much as you want.

Quote:
hacking an iPod into the system is how it's going to be for most people.

Amen. "Connectivity box under the seat" to bridge handhelds to factory units, sold as an OEM option when you buy your car. We'll see it soon enough.

More info here. Flash site.

-Zeke

To be fair, it looks like the whole 20GB drive pulls out and can be connected to your PC. So you can load all 20GB at one time.

Bruno

If it recorded XM and had Tivo like features, that'd rock. It wouldn't be a "jukebox" player like the empeg, but rather a tricked out normal radio.

Is the "DIN is dead" argument real? Seems like the navigation and after market stereo business is doing good. No shortage of new models in my Crutchfield.

I disagree. DIN is all I see in the aftermarket car stereo world. OEM is never the choice for professionals or enthusiasts. Unless.... you know something that we don't But you probably do

The price looks like a steal too.

Without the seemingly real pictures (and with the flash based webpage) I'd normally say vaporware.

Certainly does look it could be decent though and at a reasonable price too.

HI, I saw this last year at CES. It was in the tent outside the maln hall, installed in a S2000. I had a long talk with the guys at the booth, they had never heard of the Empeg. They seemed almost indignant when I told them I had been doing the same thing for three years.
From what I remember, it may be good for a common user, but is missing the advanced features of the empeg. The USB harddrive is indeed upgradable, as nothing but music is stored on it. They didn't have XM support planned, and I'm not sure about ripping from CD to HD.
max_

Oh, I got a pen that changes color from them too Has the company name on the side. I'll try to take a pic once I find my camera.

I have no business being admitted to CES, yet I go almost every year. I don't think I'm the only one.

I bought a first-gen NEO35 on the show floor at PCExpo back in 1998 or 99 from SSI America's booth. It's unlikely that would happen at Rio's booth, but Estone having product visible to all attendees probably gave them a lot of sales after the show. And, if the product is good, they spread the word. Convincing Best Buy to carry the Karma and lock it in an unlit glass case at knee-level isn't everything.

CES provides a tremendous opportunity beyond the closed-door deals. Meeting press one-on-one is always good, but there's a bunch more free press to be had by having something demoing to the public. Not to mention innovations awards, etc.

Bruno

Well I'm not going to spend any time defending Rio :-)

Rob

So has anyone found a review or some more info about this unit. From their annoying website it looks to be lacking in features.

I found some more info on it
(see links)

http://www.12volt.com/archives/2004/us013004.html

http://technology360.typepad.com/technology360/2004/11/estone_car_amfm.html

So it records from the radio that would be a neat feature. I wonder if the HDD can be upgraded 20 GB isn't close to enough.

Sure, you'll probably eventually see an OEM option for a MP3 or WMA HD under the seat. How much you want to bet that option will cost you at least $1000? And probably won't be a very well designed option?

What I like about the Estone MP3 player is that it has a built in CD player and tuner. That it can rip songs from the CD player is a nice feature, since I admit it, I would use it on occasion rip a CD from a friend in the car. That it can record FM radio is neat since on occasion you may hear a song you want to save. I doubt you'd want to archive it, since FM reception can be spotty.

I test drove a Toyota Solara the other day. It comes with a 6-CD in dash CD player. I asked the salesdroid if it played MP3. I could tell he never heard that question before. Like I'm supposed to be impressed with a 6-CD player, when I have hundreds of CD on my Empeg? The first thing when I buy a new car is to either rip out the factory unit, or add the Empeg to the system.