I'm getting very frustrated in my search for information.. I currently have a JVC-KDG820 with a USB port on the front face. It has all the features I'm looking for:
-Plays randomly within one folder or all folders (12 folder limit)
-Last song return, plays the same spot when I restart the car
-Displays the artist/title mp3 tag on screen, even scrolls for 15+ characters
But.. it won't read a flash drive larger than 4GB. I knew this when I bought it, but I thought I could just pick up 2 flash drives and I'd be happy. I want it all, though. Because I don't have/need/want an mp3 player, I'm searching for a new head unit with rear USB input (so I can run the cable to a dash pocket) that will read a 16GB drive.
I'm looking at the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X890. I'm hoping it doesn't have a limit for the size of the flash drive, but even the owner's manual isn't very specific about this. It does state that it supports USB devices belonging to the USB mass storage class, which they define as this:
"USB devices that the PC can recognize as external storage without using any special driver or application software."
My Corsair Voyager 4GB flash drive is recognized by any PC I've used it on with Windows XP, so I assume this fits their definition. Even though that gives me hope, I'd rather not rely on that small section of the manual. I'd hate to buy the Kenwood head unit, install it, and have it not read a 16GB flash drive. I'd not only have an open and technically used head unit, but I don't yet have a 16GB flash drive, I'd only buy one if I knew it would work with this head unit.
I sent an email to Kenwood through their site, and I hope it finds it's way to someone that can answer my question, but you never know with those contact forms. If anyone has any help they can offer about this specific head unit, I'd greatly appreciate it. If you or someone you know has an 'in' at Kenwood and can ask them, I'd really appreciate that.
Thanks! :)
You could take your drive to your nearest Kenwood dealer and try it. I know the '07 model you can hook up a 4 card reader and use sd cards too. We've use 2G without problems. Do you really need 4000 songs on a single stick?
You're right, I could take my drive to a local Kenwood dealer and try it. But my drive is only 4GB, as I said I'm trying to find out if a 16GB flash drive is supported. If you read the OP, I don't have a 16GB flash drive to try it with. I'm trying to find out if this will work before I'm stuck with equipment I can't use and don't need.
I also never mentioned 4k songs on a single stick, only the size of the flash drive. I'm glad you've used a 2GB drive with no problems, but I'm not sure how that information helps me..?