Blaupunkt rolls out USB-ready MP47, MP57 car stereos

Blaupunkt recently rolled out an SD-equipped car stereo, but if flash cards aren't your thing, you might want to consider either the company's new Kingston MP47 or Hamburg MP57 stereo, each of which boast USB inputs to accommodate your mass storage device of choice. If that's not enough for you, both models also sport standard 3.5mm front panel inputs to let you jack in any old audio device, and the MP57 ups the options even further
with built-in Bluetooth capability (something that can be added to the MP47 with an optional module). Otherwise, you can expect to get 45 watts of power through four channels from each stereo, along with removable front panels, a three-band parametric equalizer, and an included microphone on the MP57 model for Bluetooth hands-free operation. The MP47 also boasts a customizable Variocolour display, while the MP57 opts for a standard black-and-white dot matrix deal. If that suits, you should be able to grab either one now, with the MP47 running $210 and the MP57 setting you back $320.

[Grant @ Oct 9th 2007 2:33PM]

too bad when they say "mass storage device" they really mean "flash based mass storage device" unless your looking for a corrupted HDD, that is, unless you get one of those insane drop proof drive encolsures.

[Mark @ Oct 9th 2007 4:25PM]

You can get a 2.5" drive and enclosure. Notebook drives are rated for this kind of use.

But the best bet would be a hybrid flash/disc drive that caches the next few songs, and replenishes the cache at stoplights. [/dreaming]

[insertAlias @ Oct 9th 2007 2:36PM]

I really wish I would have seen this before I bought my new Pioneer...The only reason I put a new stereo in was for the AUX input that my factory one didn't have. I like the Variocolour thing as well, that looks really good.

Also, the USB port seems pretty useful...I don't use buy/use CDs anymore, so between the AUX and the USB ports, I would be set.

[patsy @ Oct 9th 2007 3:50PM]

I've had an Insight USB deck from BB for a couple of years, and while it works well enough, it takes FOREVER from plug-in till it starts playing if you have more than a few songs on the drive, often more than a minute. Recently I dropped by BB again and tested a couple of their display models, and this Dual deck (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8237348&st=in-dash+usb&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1168043811573) was very speedy, only took it 10-15 seconds to index and start playing. It also has a front AUX input. Yeah, the controls and navigation are shite as usual, and the display (alpha-enhanced 7 seg) isn't the most readable in bright sun, but for $70 you can't knock it too much. I will probably swap mine out for this. I wouldn't pay too much for these decks, since the technology changes so fast that it just isn't worth it. In fact, I wish they would just drop CD or tape players entirely and go all flash, or at least make some models that way. Just put an FM tuner and a few USB ports on the face, with easy source selection between them, plus some meaningful player controls, and put the money saved on the CD drive into a multi-line LCD dot matrix display. Once you've played music off a USB drive in the car, you don't really want to go back to carrying stacks of CDs that forever slide under the seats.

[Kilraven @ Oct 9th 2007 4:45PM]

Picked this Kenwood up for the USB.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8226537&type=product&id=1166840602501

Paid about $115 after tax - they had some store sale going on in the audio. I'd agree it takes about 10 seconds to load; however, it doesn't seem to vary no matter how many files or how large the media is. Ran fine with an Insignia 2G media player, a Samsung 1G mp3 player, two different thumb drives (sorry, can't remember what type we tried). I figure it was a pretty good unit for what I wanted/needed: little to no CDs in the car, good replacement stereo while money goes to other parts of the car, and can hook up Sirius/XM if I get that for Christmas.

[Bigg Russ @ Oct 9th 2007 4:30PM]

I want. Not now. But RIGHT now.

[kerunt @ Oct 9th 2007 4:31PM]

Overpriced, underfeatured, and ugly!

I bought a Sony 610UI a few weeks ago:
- iPod connector (charge and control the iPod from the deck or supplied remote)
- Built-in USB (not hanging off some wire)
- Aux in
- Satellite radio ready
- 52 watts of power through 4 channels

The only thing these Blaupunkt decks have that mine doesn't is Bluetooth. But, considering all the extra features mine has, plus a considerably smaller price tag, it's a no brainer.

[Shibathedog @ Oct 9th 2007 5:33PM]

Yeah, but its a Sony, so the specs are severely overrated, Your probably getting about 2/3rds of that power (Or less, depending on how they wanted to play games with the Ohms rating) and your THD is probably terrible.

In plain English it probably only sounds half as good as they told you.

These are pretty fairly priced units, there is slightly better for the price, but theres something about owning a Blaupunkt. They are definitely quality units that should last a long time.

[Sirocco @ Oct 9th 2007 4:50PM]

Having an SD slot right in the "head unit" is convenient. I want.

[Neal @ Oct 9th 2007 7:02PM]

That dude on the left looks like the guy from "Meet the Fockers"

[3rdsun @ Oct 9th 2007 9:31PM]

I got me a Logic deck with usb and aux ports, 70 watts per channel. Works great with my Sansa 4 gig player. Only thing that gets to me is I have to turn off and restart my Sansa every time i go to start the car or the music starts from the beginning. A big enough flash drive should solve that problem though.

[Chris @ Oct 10th 2007 1:45AM]

USB on the rear is FAR more convenient than USB on the faceplace - leave the HDD in the glovebox, or if you're using flash drives mount the USB on a blank switch somewhere where you're not going to smash the port off every time you change gear.

I work in notebook repair and some people just don't seem to understand that a USB port, by design, is fairly flimsy. The thought of a pendrive sticking at right angles out of a £150 head unit scares me.... a cable is much cheaper to replace when it inevitably gets damaged than the entire face of the head unit, which are typically overpriced to deter theft of faceless headunits.

Seriously going to consider this model, believe it has been out in Europe for a while now. Need to demo one to see how quickly it'll scan through 120Gb of music though....

[Dean Truman @ Oct 10th 2007 2:33AM]

So what car deck should I get for use with an ipod ?

[Joyntkid @ Oct 10th 2007 8:45AM]

Alpine DA-X001.
Best stereo i've had. Doesn't play CD's except in changer, but if you have an iPod or flash drive it's amazing.
None of that slow delay like that guy mentioned on his crappy Dual. Dual sucks; but they're cheap.

[patsy @ Oct 10th 2007 11:47AM]

Actually, that guy was saying that the Dual deck is fairly speedy, unlike his old Insignia deck. Speedy, but not terribly user friendly, but cheap...

[patsy @ Oct 10th 2007 11:51AM]

Just looked up the Alpine IDA-X001. Very nice, but $399 for a solid state deck? Ouch! I guess that color LCD makes up half the price. At half the price it might be tempting, but that's waaay too much for my 10 minute commute a day.

[Matt @ Nov 4th 2007 7:03PM]

I don't like blaupunkt very much. I've heard thier stereos and speakers, and both sound like utter crap. For a little more $$$, get a Pioneer. Pioneer makes great headunits. Stay away from Sony, lately thier HU's have gone down the drain, and don't even think about Dual. If you're really on a tight budget, Best Buy's Insignia brand is not a bad alternative to blaupunkt, and the quality is better too.