We are currently making the decision to buy our first XTerra. The dealer and this awesome site have answered many of our questions.

One left...

Does the six CD changer read recorded CDs? Boy it would be nice to have 120+ of our favorite songs on deck at all times.

Thanks for all of your help. We look forward to joining you all as owners, soon.

Mick and Lori Cameron

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My XE reads CD-R but not CD-RW

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but you have a 2000 right oleg? and this is the 2001 SE changer. so it is a totally different head unit.

Mick-n-Lori:
if no one here answers (which i cannot imagine someone wouldn't), you might be able to find this info on the clarion site since that is who makes the head unit if memory serves me. wish i could help, but i have the 2000 with the external 6 dik changer.

If I'm not mistaken, the 2000 and 2001 Clarion head units differ, but the 6 disk CD changers are the same. Both head units have CD changer controls built-in and therefore, Nissan installs the same Clarion CD changer. If what I assume is correct, then I can definitely tell you that the head unit will read CDR CDs with no sweat, but not CDRWs. The CD changer CANNOT read CDRs. When I took delivery of my X, it had the CD changer (which I had the dealer remove and not charge me for) installed for about a week and I tested it with CDRs. It failed every test. Since CDRWs are even less reflective than CDRs (CDRs are very close to pressed CDs in reflectivity), there's no way the changer will read CDRWs either.

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2000 Silver Ice SE 4X4 Auto
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1406935&a=10805120

I have a 2001 SE with the in dash 6 CD changer, and it reads CDs I've burned no problem. I don't have a CDRW, so I don't know if they'll work, but standard CDr's definitely do.

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I've used CD-R's I burned in both my wifes 2000 Quest and in my 2001 Xterra. Never had any problems. A CD-R disc is readable if it is closed properly when you burn it. CR-RW disks are only readable on other systems with MultiRead CD-ROM drives with UDF (universal disc format) software.

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2001 SE 4x4
SALSA
Cheektowaga=Buffalo,NY

That statement isn't necessarily true. You don't have to use the UDF file system with CDRWs. CDRWs can be written exactly the same way as CDRs. UDF just allows you to write to a CDRW much the same way as a floppy. UDF can also be used with CDRs, though once written on, it is permanent and cannot be erased. However, you can burn an audio CD onto a CDRW exactly the same way you would burn it to a CDR and it can only be read by a reader that is sensitive enough to read the CD (less reflective as I mentioned in my last post). I do agree with you in that the disk must be closed properly. Burning the CD in "disk at once" mode gives it a greater possibility of being compatible with most CD players. "Track at once" works with most of today's CD players as well, as long as you have selected to "finalize" or "close" the CD so no more can be written on the disk.

Even though Pioneer head units are not listed as being CDRW compatible, my last 2 (one is in my old Z3 and one in my X) have read every CDRW audio CD that I have created with no problems. I bought a Pioneer so I could recycle my CDRWs and reburn new songs when I get tired of the ones that are on them now.

I stand corrected on the CD changer issue it seems. I guess Nissan realized that many people have burners and would like to be able to burn custom audio CDRs for listening in their changers.

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2000 Silver Ice SE 4X4 Auto
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1406935&a=10805120

[This message has been edited by killerx (edited 02-12-2001).]

The issue wouldn't be Nissan/Clarion programming the head unit to allow CDR's. It would simply be quality and size of the CDR media. Some CDRs are thicker than others ... which might cause a jam inside the changer. Also, some CDRs are cheaper than others, which could cause read problems.

I haven't tested my changer yet. I'll let you know.

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2001 Silver Ice 4x4 SE V6 Auto

cd-r's will work like a champ in the stock deck.. How ever.. cd-rw's won't.. Atleast the ones we tried.. Now.. i've seen a kenwood an clarion deck out that do read mp3's and cd-rw's.. run around $650 - $750.. depends on what ya want.. =-)

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- Josh
'01 SuperBlack XE 4x4 V6
Utah Xterras -
http://www.prowlerz.net/xterra/

The only cd my changer won't play(or even let be inserted) is NOFX - decline. That's because the disk is an 18 minute single and 2/3 of the disk(outer part) is completely clear. The changer plays CDRs just fine.

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'01 SE Just Blue 4x4
-PNWX member-

I don't really understand why it won't take it, but it won't even let me insert the disk much at all. As if the stereo thinks that what I'm trying to insert isn't a cd, so its rejecting it or putting some sort of barricade up. I haven't tried to "force" the disk in, but I really haven't wanted to listen to it that bad I guess.

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'01 SE Just Blue 4x4
-PNWX member-

I have played "open" CD-Rs in my 2001 single CD player. Once in a while it will stall when it gets to the end of the disk, but usually it just jumps back to track one.

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Hey Mick and Lori... First of all, Welcome
to XOC... This is a great site to find
answers to your questions... It sure did
for me when I bought mine a few months ago!

As for playing burned audio CD's; The 2001
stock audio unit DOES read it... In both
the XE and SE models... I bought the '01 SE
with the built-in 6 Disc CD Changer and all
I play on them are CDR's... Hope this helps!

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Xterra 2001 SE 4x2
Air Butchie Productions

Judging by your "120 song on a CD" comment, it looks like you are asking if the stock stereo will play mp3's burned onto a CD rom. They will not.

They will, however play >audio< CD's that you burn yourself. I play them all the time...

There are car stereo's out there that will play mp3's burned onto CD- and that is something I have considered. It's really great to be able to listen to 10 hours of music on one CD!!!

Also- I'm a big fan of techno mixes, and some of the mixes I have are over two hours long! Can't fit that all onto an audio CD!!!



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Yellow '00 SE X "Mojo" standard, Yellow Triumph Tiger motorcycle. Waltham MA.

"... does the six CD changer read recorded CDs? Boy it would be nice to have 120+ of our favorite songs on deck ..."

I think the inquiry was towards standard .wav files on a CD-R, albeit short cuts...let's hope there's no Backstreet Boys spinning in an Xterra! (70 min CD X 6 / 120 songs...3.5 min each/avg). No probs. with CD-R playing in my '01 SE.

Whoa -- MP3's tho? That would be schweeet!

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Dan.
2001 Solar Yellow
SE 4 x 4.

The '01 se will play all my cd-r discks, but not cd-rw. you can buy aftermarket mp3 players but will cost you a couple of hundred. That way you can play up to 650 mega bytes of mp3s on one disk.

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The Rossignol Ski Racer

Welcome to XOC. Buy some XOC stickers for your X. (A plug for ya Ian)

How about taking a CDR with you to the dealership and sticking it in the CD player???????????????????????????????

Then Just listen!!!

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XChemist and Xylon
ChemistDCTimpe@aol.com
2001 4x4 V6 Auto 3-pack
Cloud White
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MAXC Member

No problem with mine playing CD-R's.

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Cris
'00 Aztec Red 4X4 V6 XE 3 Pack

I have no problems playing music that was originally an MP3 and then burned onto a CD-R. I don't have the disk changer so I can't tell you if that works or not, but my in-dash works just fine.

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'00 Solar Yellow XE
Automatic
3-pack

[This message has been edited by DeFibVT (edited 02-17-2001).]

hmmm... On page 4-16 of the owners manual for my 2001 SE it says:

- Do not use 8 cm disks.

- Recordable compact disks (CD-R) may not function properly in the CD player.

I have the 6 disk changer and haven't tried a CD-R in it yet.

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Electrobuzz-

Check this out:
http://tech-report.com/reviews/2000q3/cdcmp3/

I have a portable mp3 on cd-rom player and it is great. An in-dash one will be what I'd replace my stock stereo with when I do. But that will be after all of my off-roading mods...



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Yellow '00 SE X "Mojo" standard, Yellow Triumph Tiger motorcycle. Waltham MA.

I got one of them Aiwa MP3 head units. It's great. The Aiwa six disc CD changer DOES NOT play mp3's. It will play CD-R's and CD-RW's, I believe. Here's a post of mine back in October if you need more info.

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The instructions from Crutchfield are very straightforward and easy to follow for a first timer. The radio in the Xterra is very easy to take out. No mounting kit is necessary, you can use the existing brackets to mount the head unit and pocket underneath. You might have to use the Aiwa screws to mount the head unit to the brackets (that's what I did), but you can use the existing screws to mount the pocket. If you plan on "trying" out the radio, it might be best to use wire caps insted of soldering the connections. Later on if you are certain that it's the head unit for you, you can solder the connections. Everything is color coded and Crutchfield will give you the proper wiring diagram.

Here are some additional instructions with pictures:
http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Nissan/Xterra.html

The unit being installed is a Blaupunkt (I think). However, the install should be similar with most aftermarket radios.

Here are some scans of the head unit. First is the dashboard view.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1306177&a=10374674&p=35052996&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

Second, the radio w/ pocket.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1306177&a=10374674&p=35052994&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

Finally, the open faceplate.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1306177&a=10374674&p=35052991&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]


So there you have it. Happy installing.

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2000 SE 4x4 5sp Alpine Green

My SE 2001 would play both CDR and CDRW. But funny, it only play CDRW with 2x speed, anything faster than that it would reject the disk.


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2001 SE GoldRush.

I have a 12x cd burner, and my Xterra plays them just fine.
Little question I know that has been discussed, but I forgot what the answer was. Will the steering wheel audio controls still work if you replace the head unit?
Thanks

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PoorBoy
=-=-=-=-=-=
2001 SE 4x2
Alpine Green
"Spooky"
http://poorboy.virtualave.net/Xterra/spooky.html