The age of digital music is here, and it's changed the way people make, market, and enjoy their tunes. Read the articles below to get up to speed on the latest in online music services, cool MP3-capable gear, file compression formats, and more!
A/V Learning Center
- The MP3 Format
- Get the lowdown on this well-known music file format.
- How to Choose an iPod
- We guide you through the different varieties of the world's most popular MP3 player.
- Get the Most Out of your iPod: Choosing the right accessories
- Whether you'll be listening in the car, at home, or on the go, there are great add-ons that can help. This guide tells you a little about the different options, and how they might be of use to you.
- Connecting an iPod to your Car Stereo
- This installation guide will help you make your iPod into the perfect traveling companion.
- Portable MP3 Players
- Tiny portable digital music players have changed the way people listen to music. Check here for hints on choosing your portable.
- Digital Music in your Car
- There are a number of ways to enjoy digital music in your car -- read this article to find out how.
- MP3 CD-Rs
- Learn before you burn! The Advisor brings you the basics on burning MP3 CDs.
- File Formats
- Understanding file formats is a key part of enjoying digital music.
- File Formats Glossary
- What does AAC stand for? Is MPEG an audio or video format? You can answer all these questions -- and more -- using our File Formats Glossary.
Reviews and Reports
- Creative's Zen Portable Media Center: Adding video to the mix
- The Creative Zen Portable Media Center is a compact digital device that plays music, displays photos, and shows videos. Ralph Graves test drives this multi-faceted player..
- Audio Invasion: A Review of the JBL Creature IIs
- Ralph Graves checks out the uniquely styled JBL Creature II desktop speaker system.
- A Review of Apple's AirPort Express
- In this review of the Apple AirPort Express, we see just how this tiny Wi-Fi® device lets you stream iTunes music to your sound system -- and a great deal more.
- Accessorizing the iPod™
- Getting an iPod is just the beginning. It's the accessories that make it an indispensable part of your life! Ralph Graves has this guide.
- Apple's iPod Hits the Road with Alpine
- CrutchfieldAdvisor.com's in-depth review of Alpine's KCA-420i iPod Interface Adapter -- one of the most hotly anticipated car audio products of 2004.
- On the Go with Samsung's yepp YP-T5H
- One of the smallest portable MP3 players in the industry gets sized up.
- Reviewing Rhapsody
- Rhapsody has been called a "celestial jukebox." Ralph Graves checks out the Internet music service to see how true that is.
- The Magic of Audible.com
- Audible is one of the few places where you can download audiobooks, NPR programs, and major periodicals like The New York Times. Find out just what Audible offers, and why the Advisor's Julie Govan is hooked.
- Reviewing the iPod™ mini: Apple's popular MP3 player gets a makeover
- Smaller and sleeker than an iPod? That's right! The Advisor's Melanie Seibert reviews Apple's colorful, super-slim iPod mini, and likes what she sees.
- A Review of the Omnifi DMS1
- Explore the freedom of Wi-Fi® digital music with the Omnifi™ DMS1 home Digital Media Streamer! Leslie Shapiro has this review on getting PC music to your home system with ease.
- Wi-Fi® Hits the Road
- Leslie Shapiro reviews the Omnifi™ DMP1 mobile Digital Media Streamer, and reports on this cool solution for enjoying PC music on your car system.
- Going Mobile with iPod
- Jim Richardson explores how to plug Apple's iPod music player into your car stereo.
- Reviewing Apple's iPod: A Love Story
- Why does Apple's incredibly popular iPod have such devoted fans? Not-so-secret admirer Julie Govan may have the answer, in her review of the iPod digital music player.
- Portable MP3 on a Budget: Comparing the Creative NOMAD® MuVo™ and the Sony MZ-NE410
- Getting a good MP3 player without spending a mint isn't so tough. Melanie Seibert takes a look at two attractive -- and affordable -- options for listening to MP3 on the go.
- USB Uncovered: Breakthroughs, bottlenecks, and bits on the move
- Ever wondered just what USB 2.0 is, whether you want it (or whether your gear has it already)? We've got the answer.
- Digital Music Quiz!
- From "AAC" to "VBR," the language of music is changing. Don’t be left behind! Test your digital music knowledge with Crutchfield Advisor's Digital Music Quiz, compiled by quizmaster Erin Blanton.
- Three Digital Performers for Your Dash
- Todd Cabell reviews three CD/MP3/WMA in-dash receivers that cost less than $300: the Panasonic CQ-DP383U, Pioneer's DEH-P5500MP, and the Alpine CDA-98078.
- The Players Club -- A look at four popular digital music players
- MusicMatch, iTunes, RealOne Player, and Windows Media Player are four of the most popular digital media players. Learn how these powerful programs stack up against one another.
- Beyond MP3? Comparing digital audio formats
- Ever wondered what the difference was? The Advisor examines the quality of different digital compression formats (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV) at different compression rates. You can too!
- Music To Go -- A review of Toshiba's hard-drive-based Mobilphile™
- Wondering how Toshiba's new hard-disk MP3 player stacks up? Mark Fleischmann reviews the MEG50AS Mobilphile portable.
- Out and About with the Panasonic SV-AV20
- MP3 player, digital camera, camcorder, voice recorder -- the SV-AV20 is a great example of the all-in-one gadgets tempting music lovers. Melanie Seibert tests it out.
- Tunes on Tap: The Kenwood Excelon Music Keg
- Kenwood's revolutionary Music Keg lets you take an entire music library on the road. Leslie Shapiro reviews this impressive new digital music player for the car.
