By: the_amazing_purple_dave

the_amazing_purple_dave — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:25:48 +0000

The three basic CD formats (-ROM, -R, and -RW) are all used to store the same type of information, but physically the three formats are quite different. A player designed specifically for CD-ROMs (including music CDs) will not always be able to read CD-Rs or finalized CD-RWs. Likewise, the players that were specifically designed to work with CD-Rs might not be able to do anything with finalized CD-RWs. Unfinalized CD-RWs will always require a computer drive and CD-burning software with CD-RW functionality (all current CD and DVD burners should include this). Additionally, to play them on a standalone player (i.e. not a computer drive), they usually have to be formatted as a music CD, not just a CD full of MP3 files. It sounds like you’ve got them formatted correctly, but your hardware isn’t capable of reading anything but pressed originals. It still might be the format, which you could check by opening one of your CD-Rs as a standard folder on your computer. If they’re all MP3 format, then obviously your car stereo does play them. If they’re CDA format, then it was encoded as a standard music CD (and it’s very likely a hardware issue), and if it’s encoded as anything else then it’s still a format issue…just not one that has anything to do with the MP3 format.

By: galgor87

galgor87 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:39:35 +0000

Maybe your stereos dont play CD-Rs

By: Greg S

Greg S — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:42:26 +0000

If all of them are reasonably new, the Cds should play! Really old CD players may not play CDs burned on a computer.

Comments on: Why do the CDs I burn work in my car CD player but not on my portable player or Nakamichi CD alarm/radio?

By: the_amazing_purple_dave

By: galgor87

By: Greg S