Will a Zune work with the USB on my Kenwood HU

[siver-SI]

I am buying more music and it looks like I need to get anouther flash drive for my Kenwood HU. I do not carry CD's any more and I have a USB port right on the front of my Kenwood DPX501. I am just wondering if I get a zume when I plug that into my front USB port and HU will be able to read what is on it?

I am looking at the 80gig version. Thanks for any help.

[Oxygen]

Looking at the User's Manual (PDF), page 10. It says that anything that is a "USB Mass Storage Device" should work. This means that when you plug it into the computer, it shows up as another drive letter and you can copy MP3s directly onto it. Can you do that with the Zune? I do not know since I do not have one, but you would know or maybe another member with a Zune can chime in.

If the Zune does not show up as another drive in My Computer where you can drag MP3s onto it, I would venture to say that it will not work.

Unfortunately, Kenwood's list of compatible USB devices is not too helpful because it was last updated two years ago.

[siver-SI]

I do not have the Zune yet. That is one reason I am asking before I buy. I think it should work but I am not 100% sure. I wanted to ask and see if anyone else might know.

[Oxygen]

Did a little looking up, and I do not think the Zune 80GB works as a USB device:
From one review:

Even in Windows though the Zune doesn’t see the device as a Mass Storage Device so the only way to access the Zune is via the Zune software. I believe that this is a negative aspect of the player.

From a forum post:

There is a reg hack that allows zunes to be used as an external drive on xp. But other than xp everything else will pick it up as an unknown device. Not the best device if you need one with mass storage support

So your best bet might be another player. Some suggestions would be the Creative Zen or a Sandisk Sansa or an iAudio or even an iPod Classic. I can help you out with this if you want.

[siver-SI]

Thanks. That would be a great help.

[Oxygen]

Did some more digging, this time on the headunit itself. Apparently, it has an axillary input on the back (a pair of RCA connectors). It is a small cable coming from the back of the headunit that has one red connector and one white connector at the end. It should be labeled "AUX IN". That means you can hook up just about any audio device to it, including the Zune, if you have the right cable.

The cable you would want is a cable that converts the two connectors (white and red which correspond to the left and right audio channels, respectively) into something that plugs into the headphone port on the MP3 player. Luckily, those cables are inexpensive and common.

Here is one from Radio Shack (catalog / item number 42-2483). You can get longer lengths if needed.

Plug the red and white connectors into the corresponding inputs on the headunit, and the headphone-looking end into the audio player, and you should be good to go .

[siver-SI]

Thanks for your help. I might go with that then. I just found out there is a new 120gig version that is the price at the 80gig. So might go with that.

[Oxygen]

Two things: If you connect the audio player up via the AUX IN, it will not display the song info on the screen of the headunit. Also, you have to enable the AUX IN (the procedure is in the manual - you just have to change a setting).

[siver-SI]

Two things: If you connect the audio player up via the AUX IN, it will not display the song info on the screen of the headunit. Also, you have to enable the AUX IN (the procedure is in the manual - you just have to change a setting).

Thanks. I saw that adaptor on e-bay. That might work better. I with having Siruis I have the AUX plug right under my driver side seat. I will have to play with this idea of what unit to get. Think I might look at mounting kits that I can use for it. I do not want to modify or drill into the dash though. I will look around and see what I can find.