What if burned CDs are not working in your car? [Old but gold] 

As more and more people grow capable of buying a car, the problem with traffic and road congestion worsens. This is why the need for in-car entertainment also becomes greater.

The good news is that newer vehicles these days come with a lot more entertainment options that can keep you busy while you wait for that green light.

But what if your favorite burned CD doesn’t work with your in-car CD player?

In the case of older cars, however, the entertainment options are quite limited. One of the favorite options is the built-in CD players where users can play the tunes they want.

But what if your favorite burned CD doesn’t work with your in-car CD player? Is this something that you should entrust to expert technicians? Or is this a concern you can handle yourself?

The answers to these questions along with other things you need to know are listed right below in this article from Philkotse.com:

Possible reasons why your burned CD is not working

There are lots of reasons as to why your burned CD is not working in your in-car CD player. Most of these reasons have something in connection with the kind of media you use. Some forms of media in this context are CD-RW, DVD-R, and CD-R.

There’s also the music format and the process you used to burn the songs into your CD. Asides from those mentioned factors, there is also the capability of the head unit.

There are lots of reasons as to why your burned CD is not working in your in-car CD player

There are head units that are a bit more sensitive than others. There are also head units that recognize only a limited number of file types.

Whether your burned CD plays or not depends largely on your CD player. But you can still try switching the CD brand or the types of files you put in it.

>>> Related: Must-know tips to choose the best aftermarket car head units

Selecting the right media to burn

The primary factor that can determine whether the CD will work in the CD player in your car is the kind of media you burned. There are two main kinds of burnable CD-Rs and CDs.

These can be written with data one time. There are also CD-RWs that can be written with data up to multiple times.

There are also CD-RWs that can be written with data up to multiple times

If your in-car CD player is selective when it comes to burned CDs, you may need to use a CD-R.  This was once a really big issue back in the days when in-car navigation wasn’t a thing. If you have an old car and still have this problem, this may be the root of your concern.

Aside from that, there is also the CD-R music discs. These are discs that include a “disc application flag” that lets you use it in standalone CD recorders.

If your in-car CD player is selective when it comes to burned CDs, you may need to use a CD-R

These aren’t necessary if you burn the music into the CD using a computer. There are also cases wherein the manufacturers' place “for music” labels on these lower quality discs. Because of this, you may experience issues when you try to play it using your in-car CD player.

>>> Related: 3 things you should know about car's infotainment system

Selecting the right burning process

You have two ways to choose from when it comes to burning the music files into your CD. You can choose from using a data CD or an audio CD.

The first method revolves around converting your chosen audio files into a native CDA format. If this method seems fitting for you, you’ll have results that are similar to the audio CDs that you can buy from stores. The playtime is also similar.

The other method we’d like to point out involves a transfer process that leaves the CD untouched. This is the same process as burning data into a CD.

The result is a CD with WMAs, MP3s, AACs and other formats applicable to music files. You can also fit more into a data CD compared to the typical audio CD.

You have two ways to choose from when it comes to burning the music files into your CD

>>> Related: [Philkotse tips] How to choose the right head unit for your car

The limitations of your head unit

Thanks to technology and intelligent innovation, today’s head units are capable of playing different types of digital music formats.

Too bad that wasn’t always the case years ago. If you still choose your classic car, you may be limited to playing on audio CDs.

If you still choose your classic car, you may be limited to playing on audio CDs

Even if it is capable of playing other digital music files, this may only play MP3 files. The problem is that for your head unit to play the music that’s written in a data CD with digital music files, your head unit needs to have an appropriate DAC.

The bad news here is that car audio DACs aren’t universal. Throughout the years, there have been countless car stereos that we're able to understand and even play digital music.

But it’s good to keep in mind that even the latest in-car CD players have their own share of limitations.

If you still choose your classic car, you may be limited to playing on audio CDs.

That is why it is best to read the informative guide that came with your stereo unit before you start picking out your songs and burning them into your CDs. More often than not, there will be a list of the types of files that are supported by the head unit.

If there’s a list like this on your stereo unit, make sure you only burn the file types that are listed here. Otherwise, you may end up wasting a lot of time picking out your songs.

Not to mention the extra money for buying the CD. Some head units can play a lot of different formats. Some, on the other hand, are only limited to WMA and MP3.

>>> Related: Troubleshooting your car head unit

Defective CD-R media

If you’ve read the whole article and applied every notable tip in here but still get the same results, you may have a bad CD-R batch. You might want to try other CD-Rs that didn’t come from that batch.

You can also check if the D’s contents are fine and viewable when opened via a computer. But if it still doesn’t work even in a head unit that’s supposed to conveniently carry the formats in the CD, the actual CD might just be your problem.

You are going to need to go get a better, more high-quality medium to store your playlist in.

The actual CD might just be your problem