Sorry to start yet another thread on Canton, but I can't find a definitive answer on this anywhere.  What mediums/devices can I plug into the Canton?  E.g.: iPod/USB stick etc.? 

 

I'm looking to compile a playlist and unsure what to download it on to.  I really should have done more research before idly ticking options I had not seen or tested....

 

(I have not ordered Mitsumi, whatever that is....)

Having Canton makes no difference to the head unit etc... so it depends on what else you have spec'd on the car.....

Canton is just speakers, a sub and an Amp.  It has no bearing on connectivity of other devices.

from the manual:

 

Bolero : Aux in, USB Input, CD Drive, 1 x SD Slot, Bluetooth

Amudsen / Columbus : Aux in, USB Input, CD Drive, 2 x SD Slot, Bluetooth

Head Unit is the standard option. 

 

So err....  what plugs into the standard unit?

Head Unit is the standard option.

So err.... what plugs into the standard unit?

There's a USB, aux-in and SD card slot as standard, but for apple devices you need the Mitsumi option.

There's a USB, aux-in and SD card slot as standard, but for apple devices you need the Mitsumi option.

Yes, and if you choose the mitsumi connector you will lose the USB and aux-in. To get USB/aux-in with the mitsumi you would need a cable to plug into the mitsumi socket.

It's very confusing :-s

Very confusing for a stupid person like me....

 

So if I download MP3s onto a USB and whack it in the port, I can listen to my dodgy 80s glam rock to my heart's content?

Either USB or SD should be good..

Just to clarify, the second SD Card slot is for the Sat Nav! 

Yes, and if you choose the mitsumi connector you will lose the USB and aux-in. To get USB/aux-in with the mitsumi you would need a cable to plug into the mitsumi socket.

It's very confusing :-s

 

"Like Ladyboys, i'm not interested, but it's very confusing"

Very confusing for a stupid person like me....

 

So if I download MP3s onto a USB and whack it in the port, I can listen to my dodgy 80s glam rock to my heart's content?

Yep!

The usual argument is that most mp3s are too poor quality to take full advantage of the Canton upgrade, but it will work just fine. So will downloading them to an SD card.

I believe the Mitsumi is needed to interface digitally with Apple devices. It enables you to read an iPhone or iPad like you would a USB drive. But even without it you can still connect an iPod (and probably the others, I'm not sure what plugs they come with) through a male-male minijack, with the obvious disadvantage that you need to control what's being played on the device itself.

Just to clarify, the second SD Card slot is for the Sat Nav! 

It's different with a Columbus.  Navigation runs from internal storage allowing both SD card slots to be used for media files without affecting the navigation.

The Columbus can play more types of media (FLAC, DVD etc) that the Bolero or Amundsen, however both of those can handle a fair few types (MP3, ACC, WMA).

 

As already mentioned the Columbus stores it's Navigation data on a built in hard drive, so both SD slots can be used for media.

 

The Canton Sound System is an amp and extra speakers for better sound and can be combined with any of the head units.

Or you just use Spotify through Bluetooth. Really handy stuff for mobile phones - calls can be accepted and dialed from the wheel (at least recent calls) and on top of that you can skip songs if you don't like what is playing. Mind you, you can play mp3 files over bluetooth as well, so for me I really do not need the USB or SD card. But if you do want stationary card in your car, then something like one 16GB/32 GB SD card is more than enough for anyone needs.

 

But as said before it does not matter if you have Canton or not - Canton is just an speaker and amp upgrade to standard 8 speaker system. For listening you will be needing at least Bolero type of equipment and for added comfort toss in Bluetooth.

 

For notes I do not know if iPhone or iPad can be used over Bluetooth, so you might need that Mitsumi or what not...

Edited 12 December, 201312 yr by conn

For notes I do not know if iPhone or iPad can be used over Bluetooth, so you might need that Mitsumi or what not...

They can indeed it was the first thing i tested when i went for a test drive

Yes, and if you choose the mitsumi connector you will lose the USB and aux-in. To get USB/aux-in with the mitsumi you would need a cable to plug into the mitsumi socket.

It's very confusing :-s

But if you're choosing mitsumi it's because you have an iPod or iPhone so you don't need either of those anyway.

So if iPhone and iPad can be hooked up over Bluetooth, what bonuses does Mitsumi give?

 

For notes I am in process of looking around if cordless charging is possible in the car or not. If I find a suitable charging pad which fits in the small box near the upper part of the gear lever to charge Galaxy S3 / S4 with enough juice 0.7-1.0A I will be totally wire free. Think about it like this - bluetooth is enabled, toss your phone in the box, calls and music is on demand + the damn thing gets charged in the process.

 

(Charging wires could be connected somewhere near the 12V charging "hole")

So if iPhone and iPad can be hooked up over Bluetooth, what bonuses does Mitsumi give?

 

It allows full control of apple devices, allowing full browsing of artists, albums, tracks, etc.... Also allows movies to be played.

As I have just found out with the Columbus you can rip CDs directly to the Jukebox (HDD). Quite cool, saves converting them all to mp3 and then copying across. Not sure what file format and bit rate it is though.

Sent from my phone so please excuse brevity and spelling

Now that is interesting! What's the playback quality like?

I just specced Canton on top of the Columbus and have a number of CDs that could do with uploading directly onto the HDD.

Seems close to CD quality, I would guess at 256 or 320kbps

Sent from my phone so please excuse brevity and spelling

As I have just found out with the Columbus you can rip CDs directly to the Jukebox (HDD). Quite cool, saves converting them all to mp3 and then copying across. Not sure what file format and bit rate it is though.Sent from my phone so please excuse brevity and spelling

I've had my car for 3 weeks now and have tried a couple of times to rip a CD to the Columbus jukebox and it won't allow it. Have already established my iPod is too old to connect and realise I need to use and SD or USB for this but hoped to able to copy CD's over like a could in my old 5 series. andyvee please give me some tips as I have consulted the manual and it is not exactly that clear!

Without going out and looking at it I can't be sure but it was along the lines of Jukebox > Import > CD and then selecting 'All'

Thanks andyvee, sure that's what I've tried already but will have another go this morning.