PhatNoise Car Audio System
(Phatbox / Music Keg)

Neo Car Jukebox (mStation Car)

Riocar (empeg Mk2a)

Remote-mounted pull-out unit with dedicated wired controller with integrated display (also remote mountable).

Remote-mounted slave device, controlled by stock or aftermarket standard head unit as a CD-Changer with optional adapter accessory (replaces wired remote).

In-dash non-standard form-factor pull-out unit with dedicated controls and display (can still remote-mount wired remote control). Approximately DIN width/height, but over-sized depth.

Crystal Semiconductor 4341 DAC

Micronas DAC3550A DAC

Philips SAA7705H DSP (DAC, EQ, RDS, Balance, Fader...)

256KB Flash RAM

512KB Flash RAM

1MB Flash RAM

*Replacement/additional 40, 60, 80GB cartridges available from PhatNoise and supported auto dealerships.

*See below.

*See below.

! Warranty does not provide for user-upgrade !

*Additional catridges available in 40, 60 and 890GB sizes.

! Warranty does not officially provide for user-upgrade !

! Warranty does not provide for user-upgrade. Breakage of warranty seals will void your warranty ! - All warranties now expired.

2. Cartridge plugs into PhatBox horizontally (see PhatBox picture) or vertically (picture of USB cradle), depending on Box orientation.

3. Shock-absorbing and postive locking mechanism in Box.

2. Main Unit plugs into Car frame horizontally or on its side.

3. Small rubber pads on/under drive and rubber grommets around side-mount screws help isolate drive inside tray. Only effective when horizontally mounted.

2. Tray mounted on an 8 degree-from-horizontal angle for optimal orientation when installed in dash.

3. Tray completely isolated from case using large shock-absorbing rubber mounts.

Available through website:
See official site.

Other models available at retail and from select auto dealerships. See web site above for more information.

Offical software development continues to be active.

*Configurations from other retailers may differ.

Official support channel slow to respond through email, but helpful:* See official site.

*Based on forum participation and feedback from other users. Customer support took 1 week to reply to email inquiries: questions were all answered satisfactorily however.

PhatBox support based in USA: email and web-form.

Official support channel responsive, but not generally too helpful: See official site.

Neo support based in USA: email and web-form.

Riocar official support discontinued in 2003. - See the unofficial forum at empegbbs.com for information and third-party repairs.

Software available in a feature-complete state with some known issues. Issues get responded to and development ongoing.

Software released with known issues not resolved or responded to in a timely manner.

Software update version 2.0 made available after official support had been halted. Current version of 3.0Alpha available for download.

Formerly Low Activity at
unix.phatnoise.com

Radio Tuner Module
Memory Upgrade
S/PDIF add-on board
Color lenses
Aluminum fascias

No: Official forum no longer available.

Unofficial: BBS with some amount of user support. No developer communications at any level. Low traffic.
funmp3players.com

Moderate database of information.

Unofficial: BBS with large amount of support from users and some of the original development staff. High traffic.
empegbbs.com

Very large database of information, multiple forum categories, user-based preferences, easy to navigate and search.

www.phatnoise.com downloads.

Updates available on website: Management software, guides.

www.ssiamerica.com downloads

Updates available on website: Firmware downloads, drivers, printed manual update.

www.empeg.com downloads

Updates available on website: System/Player updates and released-software archives (consumer & developer versions), Management software updates & previous versions, user & developer documentation updates and detailed release notes.

3rd party applications, games and Linux extensions also possible (web server, FTP, telnet, shell utilities, etc.)

WMA (unsecure files only)

WAV

FLAC (non-lossy up to 50% compression)

Audible (audio books)

MP2

WMA (unsecure files only)

WAV

MP2

OGG Vorbis, FLAC (Requires v3 Alpha software)

Other: It is possible to manually mount and access the disk on some unix/linux systems. There is an unofficial utility to allow "signing" of playlists while manually touching the disk so they will work when inserted in the PhatBox. This is not comparable to the Windows software.

Transfering files to Neo is like copying to any Windows hard drive* - transparent.

*Can also be used in USB enclosure with Macintosh as standard hard drive without extra software.

Linux: emptool: download/playlist utility (source code available)

Mac OS, Linux, Windows: Jemplode, 3rd-party-developed JAVA software can be used with many operating systems (Mac OS, Solaris, Windows, etc.) Comparable to a clone of the Windows software.

Original Cradle:
USB (Mass Storage Class):
700-900 KBytes/s actual speed.

*Actual speed unknown at this time (email with info if you have it)

USB (Mass Storage Class) (Optional):
700-900 KBytes/s actual speed.

*Transfer speed will vary depending on hard drive make/model as well as EIDE interface on the computer.
USB2.0 board upgrade available from SSI.

Ethernet 10baseT:*
700-900 KBytes/s actual speed.

Serial: <230Kbits/s (28.75KBytes) Max.

*Can be connected to 802.11 networking base stations for Wireless connection to desktops.

Can create/access on-the-fly lists by artist, genre.

Can create/access on-the-fly lists of everything under a specific folder.*

*Virtual playlists are limited to 2048 tracks.
Playlists may take a while for Neo to count and locate tracks on disk.
Cannot resume inside a playlist after powering down.

Can create/access on-the-fly lists by artist, genre, year, partial title, PIN and more.

*First-time boot after altering folder structure or music files on PC may take several minutes to rebuild the index file catalog. (depending on amount of data and size of drive).

Continuous Drive operation.

Continuous Drive operation.

Intelligent drive spin-down features.
- Drive spun down most of the time.
- No skipping, less noise, less wear/tear on the drives and less heat.

*Not robust: often repeats tracks in excess.

*Only on select unit/adapter/head unit configurations.

*$39.99 User-installed upgrade from SSI.

*Technically possible through a software upgrade or a third party development.

*Previously promised, but on hold indefinitely. Possible through 3rd party development using existing MIC connector.

*Head unit displays vary from model to model -some offer little/no text (Audi/BMW).
PhatBox unit itself offers no display.

Neo display is black on green and wired remote is green on black.

Mounting Tip: Re-route dispay cable.

Standard in blue, with optional Amber, Red and Green user-changeable lens faces.

Information from database fields created by management software.

Limited to the head unit's format for displaying CD-Changer information.* For example, some head units may not be able to display tracks or discs to 999, etc.

*Cannot display full/long track/player information on any current head units.

Menu-based displays for settings and advanced selection and searching.

*Some head units may show frequency plots or limited visuals.

YES: Advanced visuals and animation in sync with playing music. Over 40 built-in.

Startup logos and animation.

*Limited to head unit or external processing hardware.

Plus any head unit or external processing hardware.

Plus any head unit or external processing hardware.

*You may be able to power the box at home with an optional adapter (not included) as well as connect it to a stereo, but there is no way to control it or view playlist information.

Or, can use the car frame with the same connection method, but requires an external power adapter (12V, 3A - not included.)

Optional Home Bay also available at extra cost to match the rest of your stereo gear.

Use with buttons on main unit, wired remote or IR remote control.

Use with buttons on unit or IR remote control. Keeps distinct settings and preferences for Car/Home use.

3rd-Party hacks exist to allow usage as a network MP3 server (streaming to other clients via http using Hijack replacement kernel)

*Download not permitted through PhatNoise Music Manager software.

*3rd party solutions exist for transferring any type of file to/from the hard disks using ethernet: FTP/HTTP - using Hijack replacement kernel (OS-independent).

Optional: Use standard head unit radio.

Software controlled display brightness

Trunk mount: May mount wired remote anywhere, including in/on dash.

In-dash: main-unit mounting requires extra deep cavity, Neo is longer than standard head units.

In-dash usage with another head unit requires double-DIN space.

Remote mounting possible with 3rd party solutions for wired display and wired/wireless control.

Works with many optional Kenwood IR remote controls.

*Requires Sony-enabled PhatBox LE model.

3rd party PDA connection to serial port (PalmPilot) or ethernet* with unit controls and track info selections.

Web Browser and VNC based control/monitoring using any computer.*

*Requires Hijack replacement kernel - available download.

• 25-pin Centronics for head unit connection.
• 1 Pair line level outputs (RCA)
• 50-pin Cartridge slot for removable hard drive.

Cartridge:

• 50-pin Cartridge slot for connection to Box and Cradle

Desktop Cradle:

• USB (1.1 and 2.0 models)
• 50-pin Cartridge slot for removable hard drive.
  
  

Main Unit:

• 96-Pin connector for dock connections
• Consumer IR sensor on front

Car Dock:

• 26-pin D connector for wired remote/display connection.
• 1 pair line level RCA (4V) outputs
• Mini Headphone output
• 96-Pin connector for Neo drive unit.

PC Dock:*

• 40-Pin EIDE interface (DMA33/66)
• 96-Pin connector for Neo drive unit.
• 2-pin L+R Audio output connector

USB Dock (optional):*

• USB connector
• 1 pair line level (4V) outputs
• 96-Pin connector for Neo drive unit.

*note, configurations include either a PC Dock or a USB Dock, not both.

Head Unit:

• 9-Pin PC High-Speed serial port
• USB
• Ethernet (10BaseT)
• 1 pair line-level (1V) outputs
• SIR IrDA transceiver on front
• Consumer IR receiver on front

Dock:

• 9-Pin PC serial port
• 2 pair line level (4V) outputs with fade control (RCA)
• 1 pair line-level (1V) inputs with source selection (RCA)
• MIC input (standard mini) connector
• 8-Pin Molex tuner interface connector
  
  

Optional power connector.

PC Dock: standard 4-pin PC power connector (+12,gnd,gnd,+5)

Head Unit: standard-type mini power connector (12V, 1A)

Dock: Standard ISO car audio harness with 12V accessory, 12V backup, ground, dimmer, audio mute input (action configurable in software)

1. Interfaced with select head units for control. Selection:

Phatbox Digital Media Player
91-2003 Acura (select models)
96-2004 BMW (select models)
99-2003 Ferrari (all models)
95-2005 Ford (select models)
94-2003 Honda (select models)
95-2005 Licoln (select models)
Mini (all models)
95-2005 Mercury (select models)
99-2002 Porsche (select models)
03-2004 RangeRover (select models)
03-2005 Scion (select models)
99-2003 Sony decks (select models)
99-2003 Toyota/Lexus (select Models)
Harmon Traffic Pro Head Units (not compatible with Ford TPII)

Kenwood Music Keg
Compatible with select Kenwood head units only.

OEM Digital Media Player
98-2001 Audi (select models)
Mazda (coming soon)
98-2002 Volkswagen (select models)
01-2005 Volvo (select models)

2. Can be used with any radio head unit with FM modulator adaptor - only available for Kenwood Music Keg and requires optional KCA-RCAFM.

1. Can be connected to standard AUX-IN of many head units.

2. Can be used without another head unit with external amplifiers - has its own volume control extra +12V output that can be used as remote trigger for amp.

3. Can be used with any tape head unit with cassette tape adapter (not included)

4. Can be used with any radio head unit with FM modulator adaptor (included).

1. Can be connected to standard AUX-IN of many head units.

2. Can have any head unit with line-level outputs connect to its AUX-IN

3. Can be used without another head unit with external amplifiers - has its own volume control & +12V remote trigger for amp.

4. Can be used with any tape head unit with cassette tape adapter (not included)

5. Can be used with any radio head unit with FM modulator adaptor (not included).

Disk Cartridge: Injection Molded Plastic (High Impact).

Wired-Remote: Injection Molded Plastic.

Car & PC Docks: Injection Molded Plastic.

Docking Unit: 1mm (0.04") Stainless Steel.

Disk Cartridge:
 Height: 16.5mm (0.65")
 Width: 91.4mm (3.6")
 Depth: 139.7mm (5.5")

USB Desktop Cradle:
 Height: 114.3mm (4.5")
 Width: 129.5mm (5.1")
 Depth: 94mm (3.7")

Car Dock:
 Height: 50mm (2")
 Width: 178mm (7")
 Depth: 222mm (8.7")

PC Dock:
 Height: 43mm (1.7")
 Width: 146mm (5.7")
 Depth: 230mm (9")

Head Unit (includes front fascia/bezel):
 Height:55mm (2.2")
 Width: 186mm (7.3")
 Depth: 152mm (6")

Docking Unit (includes rear connector):
 Height:50mm (2")
 Width: 183mm (7.2")
 Depth: 173mm (6.8")

Extra USB Desktop Cradle

Additional Colour Lenses

Extra Remote

AM/FM Radio Tuner Module