For my new Prius II, with the base audio system, I've burned a couple of CD-RW's with MP3s (two different brands, TDK & Verbatim), and in both cases had some tracks that exhibited skipping/glitches. The discs playback fine on the computer of course. What's been your experience? Have you had issues with playback of MP3s on CD-RWs?
I've been using Memorex CD-R CDs for years with no issues. One key I found for my previous car, is to burn the CDs at as slow a speed as possible. Before doing this for CDs used in my previous car, I would get an occasional skipping, but since lowering the burn speed, no issues. Also--why use CD-RW? I seem to recall reading about issues in car CD players with them.
I used CD-RW for compiling our own audio CDs in our old car (Peugeot 206) fine. In our UK Prius, I use DVD-RW without problem - again so we can chop and change at a whim. Our UK Prius has the HDD Sat Nav, so the DVD drive is just for audio. I do agree with the idea of burning at lower speeds for greater compatibility.
Well, with CD-RW's you can always burn whatever combination of albums/tracks you happen to want to listen to for a while on a single disc, and re-burn when you want a new selection of material (which may overlap, etc). More environmentally friendly than doing the same with CD-Rs. MP3s on CD-RWs are not my first choice, and my one strong dislike about the Prius (in Canada at least) is the lack of a reasonable USB upgrade option provided by Toyota. Here in Canada I believe the only way to get the NAV system is with the top of the line Prius (extra $10,000 with everything else they require you to buy). Not heard about that.
My previous car was a BMW, and folks on the forums reported problems using CD-RW CDs. Worth a try, no? Here's info based on a quick Google: Nashua Media Products - FAQ CD-RW Support CD-Recordable FAQ - section 4
CDRWs work fine on my 2008 Lexus; haven't tried them on the 2010 prius yet. My BMW has a 2005 CDRW-compatible CD head unit and I hear what I term "dropouts" (not really skipping) on this player. I suspect the head unit is the cause, as the same CDRW plays fine in my Lexus.
It isn't just car CD players. If you want to use CD-RWs, you have to test them with your particular player, and with your brand of CD-RW. That's my main complaint: They seem to lack standardization. CD-Rs, on the other hand, seem to work well in almost everything except the oldest of players. Tom
No problem with CD-RW MP3/WMA in my gen3 Prius either. I burn at a slow speed and use memorex / verbatim. I use CD-RW so I can re-use the CD when I have got fed up with the track selection. Edit: Wouldn't you just know it. Popped a newly burned CD-RW into the Pri and it starts to skip. First one ever.
Compared to my previous Pioneer MP3 aftermarket radio, the Prius plays CD-RW pretty well. I had no skips. I use high quality CD-RW though and burn at lower speeds. I use also standard 650MB CDs, not the higher capacity ones. I also do a complete clean, instead of simply rewriting them, every now and then. In any case the Prius plays better than before my Pioneer.
