Audio Formats
Audio CD
The 1980’s marked a significant change in car audio system,
for this was the year when CDs are introduced and became the prime means
of recording. Since being introduced to the home market in the 1980s,
CDs have become the most popular method of recording and circulating
music. Tape decks were immediately replaced by CD players which improved
the way people store recorded music including higher quality audio that
doesn’t depreciate even after a long time.
But unlike their older cassette cousins, CDs are not that easy to record
on. Special hardware and a keen knowledge in computers are required,
and the blank media is rather hard to come by. Another problem is that
of cross compatibility. With the number of manufacturers and subtle
variations in media format doubling by the day, not to mention steps
taken by recording companies to curb piracy, most older CD players are
programmed to read only original recordings and have difficulty reading
CD-Rs or CR-RWs.
The massive production of music in CD format largely influenced the
trend in car audio system. Most cars that are produced after the transition
from tapes to CDs are equipped with CD or DVD players that will play
almost all kinds of CD-Rs and CD-RWs. You can also install a CD player
in your old car, which will roughly cost you from £80 to £150,
varying according to the features that you wish to include in your system.
If you feel that upgrading your car audio system’s analogue cassette
player to a digital disc player is a bit too costly for you, a CD-to-cassette
adapter will do the trick. All you need is a portable CD player or Walkman
and an adapter that you will connect to the cassette deck using a wired-plastic
dummy tape. And voila, you can now play CD using your old car analog
audio speaker system. The adapter also enables playing Mini-discs and
MP3 without the hassle of upgrading your car’s audio system.
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