MP3's will not play on the 6 CD MP3 system

[Gordond54]

:cool: I have the bose 6 cd and MP# with navigation when i try to play a MP# CD all it says is check CD and will not play. Are there certain CD that will and will not work with this unit?

[fat tony]

It could be the burner that you are using. Its not uncommon for low quality CD's not to play well or at all. You could try try burning at a slower speed. I'm assuming you made the CD...

If anyone can play MP3's in your car if you could say which type of cd your using that could help.

I assume the CD that doesnt play in the car plays on your computer?

[AWmustang]

If you are using Windows media player to "rip" your music, make sure it's creating MP3's. By Default Windows media player creates WMA's, which the CX-7 cannot play.

[Leeep]

Make sure you're closing the session when you burn the disc.

[Gordond54]

I lowed speed from 48 to 24 and used Cheetah CD Burner instead of the one that comes with visa and it worked thanks:) :)

[Alpha Wolf]

If you check the owners manual there are 3 CD players available for this car.

Unforntunately only one of them will play MP 3 CDs..

Mind doesn't

[Lepre-con]

How can you tell which one is which? And what are the three? To my knowledge, there's the single disc player (non-mp3 compat), the Bose 6-disc (non-mp3 compat) and the regular 6-disc (supposedly mp3-compat). I have the regular 6-disc (non-Bose) and supposedly I can play them, but all that happens is the player boots the disc, and starts playing (as if it's a CD), yet no sound. I was able to fast forward the track for 6 minutes, and I know the mp3 songs I used weren't 6 minute songs. There's no track 2 or anything. I used Cheetah and Nero. I know they are MP3, not WMA. Perhaps the decoder used to make the MP3's? Anyone try to convert current MP3's to WAV, then back to MP3 using something specific to make it work?

[Dan]

To my knowledge, there's the single disc player (non-mp3 compat), the Bose 6-disc (non-mp3 compat) ...

The Bose 6 disc system definitely will play burned MP3 CD's. I have 5 of them in my CX-7 right now. All sound great, no skips, no problems.

[TechnoRD]

Well I have the Bose 6-Disc changer system and it sure DOESN'T play MP3 cd's. It behaves exactly like Lepro-con described in the post above yours. The reason MP3 cd's plays in yours is because you probably have the NAV system. The Bose system without the NAV system does NOT play MP3's, I tested those discs and they play flawlessly in my settop DVD player so the discs are fine.

So to resume....

CX-7 without Luxury Package or NAV (regular CD player) : Does NOT play MP3
CX-7 with Luxury Package but without NAV (Bose 6-CD): Does NOT play MP3
CX-7 with Luxury Package and NAV (Bose 6-CD): Does play MP3

[Dan]

TechnoRD --
I have a Sport, with Bose, and no NAV system. MP3's play with absolutely no problems. I've only had my CX-7 for 2 weeks and from some shipping documents I found in the glove box, looks like it was received at the port in late Jan 07. Maybe a difference between early and later manufactured vehicles? All I know is MP3's work for me.

[papaalex]

I also have the Bose/Moonroof package (not the Tech), mine doesnt also play MP3's.. I think its more of luck on the draw wether you get the ones that play MP3s..

Btw try looking at the upper corner of your head unit, if there's an MP3 logo there then you are in luck your unit WILL play MP3. If none then you just have to burn cds like i do or install an IPOD jack :)

[Dan]

Identically optioned vehicles yet, some can play mp3, and some can't. What was Mazda thinking? In 2007 vehicles, ANY cd player should play mp3 and wma. Every audio system should have an aux-in jack. The cost to add these necessities is minimal, less than $5 per vehicle. It's even more vital to the potential buyers of an 'enthusiast' type vechicle like the CX-7. I would bet Toyota, Honda and Nissan offer these capabilities.This isn't Grandpa's Buick.

CX-7 Owner's Manual - Audio System/MP3 starts on page 285 :
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2007CX7OM.pdf

Similar questions on Edmunds CX-7 forum as well:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0da31c/10

[AWmustang]

Identically optioned vehicles yet, some can play mp3, and some can't. What was Mazda thinking? In 2007 vehicles, ANY cd player should play mp3 and wma. Every audio system should have an aux-in jack. The cost to add these necessities is minimal, less than $5 per vehicle. It's even more vital to the potential buyers of an 'enthusiast' type vechicle like the CX-7. I would bet Toyota, Honda and Nissan offer these capabilities.This isn't Grandpa's Buick.

CX-7 Owner's Manual - Audio System/MP3 starts on page 285 :
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2007CX7OM.pdf

Similar questions on Edmunds CX-7 forum as well:
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0da31c/10


I went to page 285 of the manual link and it talks about flat tires and overheating.
I believe you meant 235

[TechnoRD]

TechnoRD --
I have a Sport, with Bose, and no NAV system. MP3's play with absolutely no problems. I've only had my CX-7 for 2 weeks and from some shipping documents I found in the glove box, looks like it was received at the port in late Jan 07. Maybe a difference between early and later manufactured vehicles? All I know is MP3's work for me.

Hi Dan,

Thanks for the feedback. Your post got me thinking so I went back and I searched through my owner's manual again and found something that caught my attention on page 6-38 (Chapter 6: Interior Comfort, Audio System subsection):

On the drawing of the CD changer's front panel at the top of the page, there's a legend that indicates 2 possible logos on the left-hand side of the LOAD button. The characters in the legend are tiny and hard to read so I included a scan of the page along with enlarged detail views of the relevant information (this is from the Canadian manual so yours may or may not differ):

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1383/6discindashchangerus7.gif

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4/6discindashchanger1jc5.gif

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/7476/6discindashchanger2hx6.gif

So it apears that there are 2 models of 6-Disc CD changer after all. Now the unanswered question is: What option package determines which model you get in your CX-7? This is something I'll have to try and sort out by making a phone call to the dealer... Hope someone over there knows their stuff. I'll keep you posted.

[TechnoRD]

I went to page 285 of the manual link and it talks about flat tires and overheating.
I believe you meant 235

Actually, the 2 pages that refer to this in the on-line PDF version of the manual are pages 242 and 253 (which is the page I scanned my pictures from).

And Dan is right. Identically optionned vehicles having different versions of CD-changer is totally unacceptable.

Furthermore, for a vehicle of this price range and category in 2007...

1. Not having an AUX audio input is unacceptable.
2. The "NAV system preventing iPod integration" situation is unacceptable.
3. Vehicles of this class should also have Bluetooth hands-free capability which the CX-7 doesn't.

I have a hunch that the 2008 model might correct those flaws but of course that's no help for us.

[AWmustang]

Actually, the 2 pages that refer to this in the on-line PDF version of the manual are pages 242 and 253 (which is the page I scanned my pictures from).

And Dan is right. Identically optionned vehicles having different versions of CD-changer is totally unacceptable.

Furthermore, for a vehicle of this price range and category in 2007...

1. Not having an AUX audio input is unacceptable.
2. The "NAV system preventing iPod integration" situation is unacceptable.
3. Vehicles of this class should also have Bluetooth hands-free capability which the CX-7 doesn't.

I have a hunch that the 2008 model might correct those flaws but of course that's no help for us.

I agree with all three of your points (even though I'd never buy an Ipod). Though my gut says that the 08 model won't take care of these. Maybe an aux jack, but I'd be shocked if the cx-7 got bluetooth.

And the page number I quoted was just the beginning of the audio section.

[TechnoRD]

Well I checked further and finally unraveled all this mess...

It seems that in Canada, the 6-CD changer + Bose system you get with the LP (Luxury Package) does NOT play MP3's. There IS indeed an MP3 capable 6-CD changer but it's sold as an unjustifiably expensive accessory (over $600 CAD). It should be included in the Luxury Package without having to spend extra $$ . This one's a genuine rip-off :mad:

So in conclusion there's 4 ways to get MP3 capability on the CX-7:

1. Buy the NAV system option (not worth it, waaaay too expensive and inflexible)
2. Buy the MP3 capable 6-CD changer (DEFINITELY not worth it unless you enjoy getting ripped off)
3. Buy the Mazda iPod integration kit (overpriced and unflexible: avoid like the plague)
4. Get an after-market AudioLink iPod integration kit or MP3 player integration kit with aux audio input <--- this is THE best (and oddly enough, least expensive) solution. This is the one I went for and I'm VERY satisfied with the outcome

NB:
The Luxury Package option is only available on the GT and includes the Bose 9-speaker 6-CD changer system with Intelligent Keyless entry and start.

[Dan]

FWIW, I just completed the new car delivery survey I received from Mazda North America. How were you treated at the dealership? Did they go over the owner's manual with you? Etc, etc, etc.... In the comments section, I advised my disappointment in the lack of an aux-in jack and the inability of some CX-7's to play MP3's. I advised ( in all caps) that I absolutely would not have purchased a CX-7 that couldn't play MP3's

[gabrielh]

That's a RIP OFF !! I asked the dealer if it plays mp3's and he says yes, I checked the manual and there's a whole section about mp3's (I have the GT model with single CD player).

I have the same problem as stated obove...the player "read" only one track with no sound.

It's 2007 !!! Come on !!! No mp3 ?????? :mad:

[rickety]

Maybe it's the black cherry models! Mine has 6 in dash and I have just discovered it does not play MP3. Same symptoms as mentioned above. It has a logo without the MP3 mark.

Please if anyone gets a resolution to let us know here! I have raised the issue with the dealer and they will be talking to the rep. I am not holding out hope.

[rickety]

Maybe it's the black cherry models! Mine has 6 in dash and I have just discovered it does not play MP3 :( . Same symptoms as mentioned above. It has a logo without the MP3 mark.

Please if anyone gets a resolution to let us know here! I have raised the issue with the dealer and they will be talking to the rep. I am not holding out hope.

It seems really odd as my copy of the owner's manual is clear that the 6 disc unit should do it. Ah well, it'll just take a load of CDs I guess.

[gabrielh]

yep, they didn't include mp3 compatibility on all the CD players and that's a shame.

[Calessi]

To all:

I think I might be able to shed some light on why certain MP3 CDs may not play on your CX7's Bose stereo, while others might play.

When I first bought my CX7 GT in October 2006, I tried formatting a CD-RW using Windows XP, then copying MP3 tracks to it. Sure enough, the Bose 6-disk player in the vehicle did not recognize the disk.

I took that disk back to my computer for an examination. Within Windows Explorer, I selected the disk, and displayed its Properties. The format that Windows had imposed upon the disk was "UDF" (or Universal Disk Format).

I then tried a different approach on my next disk. This time, I used a blank CD-RW, and I utilized iTunes for the entire operation of burning the disk with a playlist of MP3 tracks. As a normal conclusion to the burn, iTunes formats the disk for you. When I examined the properties of the disk, its format was "CDFS" (Compact Disk Format System--an older format type).

The bottom line is that CDFS disks play fine every single time on my Bose player, while UDF disks are unrecognizable. Consequently, I always use iTunes to create my CDs and CDRWs.

Hope this helps,

Carl

[Raider]

Good to know! We will try it out!

[rexercx7]

I don't know what all this fuss is about in this thread. I have the Non-Tech Pckg Bose 6-CD/9 speaker stereo system, and I have had ZERO problems playing everything you can throw at it...everything, literally everything out of iTunes and my PowerMac G5's Pioneer DVR-110 optical drive(s) (I have two of them) works perfect. I'm using some TDK blank CD discs to make my car's CD's on the Mac, and iTunes to burn them @ 24X. Really nothing unusual.

I've been doing the same thing for years, and in 5 different automobiles that I can think of offhand: 2 Honda's, 1 Lexus, 1 Mercedes-Benz, and the Mazda CX-7.

Maybe it's my Mac, but I don't see why that should make a difference. At this time I've got all 6 CD's loaded in the Bose system in my CX-7; 2 are dupes of CD's run through iTunes and burned to the TDK discs, and the other 4 are MP3 albums compiled into playlists in iTunes, then burned to the TDK discs. All of them play 100% aok--perfectly fine!

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[MAZOOM]

Yeah, I don't have the CX-7's audio anymore but the MP3 cd's I've been burning have worked in everyone of our cars, the RX-8 too.