Home Burnt CDs and DVDs is Saab Audio system

[pompey]

Firstly, sorry moderators if this isn't the right place for this post but I wanted to pose this question to all applicable Saab owners with the same Saab Audio system that I have in my 9-5 and figured they were bound to be the same as some 9-3 models.

So... my 2009 9-5 has the Saab Audio system with built in sat nav and is a touch screen model (as probably all the sat nav ones are). It's the Harman Kardon version although I have a feeling that might just relate to the speakers and/or amp. Anyway, my question is this. The manual for said system states in one point that it will play mp3 discs (CDs and DVDs I believe) but then in another place it says not to use home burnt discs as it will cause overheating issues. I have tried to contact Harman Kardon but they were unable to provide any help so can anyone confirm if you can use home burnt discs in this unit without fear of frying it?

[TomPaine]

I have a 9-5 Aero auto with the 8-speaker HK system (9 in the manual) and found that home-burnt CDs mostly either didn't play or skipped quite badly; occasionally they did play but came out pretty hot. I then read that same warning in the manual (doh) so have avoided doing so since then.

[sgould]

Since you can't use the sat nav and play music at the same time, I just used original discs in the boot changer.  But I did use a copy DVD in the head unit for the sat nav.  After 12 months the head unit failed.

The Harman Kardon system AS3 audio in the 9-5 uses the same Pioneer head unit as the AS2 system (AS1 is different) from 1998-2004.  From 2005 in the satnav changed to the Denso system which is very basic, not user friendly and very out of date now.  The audio unit changed for the 2006 Dame Edna version to a GM type unit.  The amplifiers were the same as the earlier cars for AS2 & AS3.  AS1 has no amp and drives the 4 speakers directly from the head unit.

[pompey]

TomPaine - if your's is an estate it's right to have only 8 speakers as the manual states this is the case for "wagon" models.

Just before I read these replies I remembered that the navigation DVD I have is A home burnt one. I think I'll get in the habit of only having it in the head unit when it's needed.

[Audax]

There are a couple of things you can try if you find home burnt discs get too hot. I used to have a head unit back when I had 9000's so over 6 years ago that was specifically designed to play home burned discs but that would still sometimes skip when hot.

Anyway, burning discs at single speed improved things massively and also trying a few different types of discs to see which was best helped as it turned out that some types of disc worked far better than others. You could try this although I have no experience with that Saab head unit myself.

[collywobble]

I use home burnt CD's in my Linear estate in which the unit is a Clarion I believe.  I buy the proper audio blank CD's and burn them at the slowest speed.  Never had a problem with skipping but they are a little warm when I eject them.

[phoenix]

Burnt (as opposed to pressed) CDs will make any player warmer. It's harder for the laser to read the contrast between sections, and as a consequence it turns the power up and has to work harder focussing, hence the heat.

As has been said, buy the best audio grade CD-Rs you can afford, rated at the highest burn speed but them burn them at the lowest possible speed.

[pompey]

This is all really good info. Has anyone tried mp3 discs in it?

[ScarbSaab]

If it doesn't work you might consider the SaabAux http://www.saabaux.com/

I have one in my 2004 Aero and other than an annoying mute issue after phone calls, I'd say it's a good compromise solution to playing music into the standard head unit.

[TomPaine]

TomPaine - if your's is an estate it's right to have only 8 speakers as the manual states this is the case for "wagon" models.

Indeed, sorry, I mistyped: when I wrote "I have a 9-5 Aero auto with the 8-speaker HK system (9 in the manual)" I meant to say "I have a 9-5 Aero auto with the 8-speaker HK system (9 in the saloon)"... doh!

[Norfolk Jim]

I have the HK 6 disc in dash system and must admit I've never had a problem with the real mixture of discs I use but then again on a trip the wife will say 'fed up with that one now' so swap it out for another or I select random which in light of this issue might not be a good idea??

I agree with phoenix though to by best and fastest and burn slow with good burning software.

[aerojon]

in my 04 9-3 I use audio cds in both changers never had a problem..

[CitTone]

Pompey - my 2006 9-5's CD player plays home-(slow)-burned MP3 discs, though since I have an AUX-IN on the dash, it rarely gets used for that.

[pompey]

I know this is an old thread started by me but it was only last week that I tried burning an MP3 CD and playing it in the main head unit. It only partially worked in so much as it only detected a few of the folders and those that it did detect seemed out of step IE the name of the folder (the album name) didn't correspond to the tracks. There were no nested folders, just the CD root with 5 folders and the tracks contained therein. Has anyone else noticed odd behavior like this?

[jmblack]

I've stopped using my 9-5 CD player altogether. I've got an iPod mini velcroed to the dash with a short cable to the aux in. Yours should have one? It's very neat with the short cable and easy to use. Perhaps a better solution?


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