retro stereo question

[BlazerDawg]

Looking at and comparing retro-style radios for my 72 with an uncut dash. Going over the various specs and there is one feature I would love but just can't find. Is there any model from retrosound, custom audio, etc. that feature a USB port that will play audio directly from your phone. Many state they have a USB port that will play music from a thumb drive (wtf, it's 2026), in addition to bluetooth and aux. I prefer a wired connection to my phone vs bluetooth for fidelity, and also like being able to charge and stream at the same time. I'll settle for using an aux or bluetooth if they're the only option, but hopefullyv someone here has had experience integrating their phone with USB. Thanks!

 

[mrk5]

You should be able to get an adapter that would let you connect your phone via the aux cable. I even have an adapter with 2 ports, one for charging and another for the aux cable.

 

[Blue85]

From a Retrosound listing:

iPod/iPhone Direct Connect: Either rear-panel USB port can act as an iPod/iPhone high-speed direct connection. The RetroSound Long Beach (M4HD) supports audio playback of stored music or music apps, music navigation, information display, and charging of select iPod/iPhone models.

• Control: You can control your connected iPod/iPhone from the head unit's front-panel control knobs. You can browse your iPod/iPhone's music by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, Genre, Composer, or Podcast. In addition, you can activate Repeat playback modes (all/track). Most iPod/iPhone device's clickwheel or touchscreen will be locked during connection (Apple devices w/ iOS 6.0+ will stay unlocked).
• Display: The Long Beach (M4HD) will display your iPod/iPhone's music file information from stored music. The head unit will display Track number, Elapsed playing time, Artist name and Song/Album title.
• Charging: The unit's USB connection provides 2.1A of current to power and charge your connected iPod/iPhone when your vehicle's ignition switch is set to the 'ACC' or 'On' position. This unit does not charge the iPad. If your iPod/iPhone has no initial battery charge, then the unit will not recognize it.

iPod/iPhone Compatibility: The Long Beach (M4HD) supports select iPod and iPhone models (not compatible with iPad).

• Full Size: Classic (all generations)
• Nano: 3rd Generation and newer
• Touch: 2nd Generation and newer
• iPhone: 3G and newer

My question would be how it finds those files. You may have to load them in a certain location or run a certain app. I can tell you from experience searching or scrolling through hundreds of tracks on a car stereo display is pretty grim. You should ask Crutchfield or Retrosound if they have an app on the phone to search. At minimum you need a way to jump between folders and not have it always play the whole collection from the top every time.

It also says they have no Android support.

As for an aux cable, phone outputs are usually not very good. A good Bluetooth adapter running LDAC with quality ADCs will actually sound better than an Aux cable in some cases.

 

[ktmoutfront]

The phone app you are using to play music will feed it. I use Pandora and had a Retrosound unit 8 years ago. Worked well either Bluetooth or USB. I did blue tooth after I forgot to disconnect the cable once.

 

[Wes Harden]

I have never tried to play audio through a usb cable on my custom audio usa-630. I should give it a try, I think I have a cable that'll work. I will say this I have a usb thumb drive with 40ish gigs of music, we default to when phone has no signal. For some reason the radio will only find certain folders maybe 8, there are over 50 folders by artist. I see them all with a computer but radio only find a few. I'll admit I have dug to deep into the issue, streaming works 95% of the time.