Compact Disc Playback
Note:
During playback, the display indicates the disc, track and time that has elapsed since the start of the track.
During radio reception, press the CD button once to start CD playback.
After a disc is loaded, playback will start immediately.
Track Selection
- Press the seek down button once to replay the current track. If pressed within two seconds of the start of a track, the previous track will be selected.
- Press the up or down arrow buttons to select the required track, then press the OK button.
Fast Forward and Reverse
Press and hold the seek down or up buttons to search backward or forward within the tracks on the disc.
Shuffle and Random
Random track playback, also known as shuffle, plays all tracks on the CD in random order.
- Press the MENU button and select CD MODE.
- Select SHUFFLE. This enables the function to be switched on or off.
When an MP3 CD is playing, options include SHUFFLE for the whole CD, or to play all the tracks in the folder in a random order.
Repeat Compact Disc Tracks
- Press the MENU button and select CD MODE.
- Select REPEAT. This enables the function to be switched on or off. The track will replay once ended.
When an MP3 or WMA CD is playing, options include REPEAT for the track, or to repeat all the tracks in the folder.
Compact Disc Track Scanning
The SCAN function allows you to preview each track for approximately five seconds.
Various scan modes are possible, according to the type of CD currently playing.
- Press the MENU button and select CD MODE.
- Select SCAN. This enables the function to be switched on or off.
Note:
When an MP3 or WMA CD is playing, options include SCAN for the CD or just the tracks in the folder.
- Press the OK button to stop the scan mode.
MP3 and WMA File Playback
MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer-3) or WMA (Windows media audio) is a standard technology and format for compressing audio data. This allows a more efficient use of the media.
You can play MP3 files recorded on CD-ROM, CD-R and CD-RW formats. The disc must be in the ISO 9660 level 1 or level 2 format, or Joliet or Romeo in the expansion format. You can also use a disc recorded in multi session.
ISO 9660 Format
This is the most common international standard for the logical format of files and folders on a CD-ROM.
There are several specification levels. In Level 1, file names must be in the 8.3 format (no more than eight characters in the name, no more than three characters in the extension .MP3 and .WMA) and in capital letters.
Folder names can be no longer than eight characters. There can be no more than eight folder levels (trees). Level 2 specifications allow file names up to 31 characters long.
Each folder can have up to eight trees.
For Joliet or Romeo in the expansion format, consider these restrictions when configuring your CD writing software.
Multi Session
This is a recording method that enables adding of data using the track-at-once method.
Conventional CDs begin at a CD control area called the lead-in and end at an area called lead-out. A multi session CD is a CD having multiple sessions, with each segment from lead-in to lead-out regarded as a single session.
CD-Extra: The format that records audio (audio CD data) as tracks on session 1, and records data as tracks on session 2.
Mixed CD: In this format, data is recorded as track 1 and audio (audio CD data) is recorded as track 2.
File Formats
With formats other than ISO 9660 level 1 and level 2, folder names or file names may not be displayed correctly.
When naming, be sure to add the file extension .MP3 or .WMA to the file name.
If you put the extension .MP3 or .WMA to a file other than MP3 or WMA, the unit cannot recognize the file correctly and will generate random noise that could damage your speakers.
The following discs take a longer time to start playback.
- A disc recorded with complicated tree structure.
- A disc recorded in multi session.
- A non-finalized disc to which data can be added.
Playing a Multi Session Disc
When the first track of the first session is audio CD data only, the audio CD data of the first session is played back. Non-audio CD data, MP3 or WMA file information (track number, time, etc.) is displayed with no sound.
When the first track of the first session is not audio CD data:
- If an MP3 or WMA file is on the disc, only MP3, WMA or other data is skipped. Audio CD data is not recognized.
- If no MP3 or WMA file is in the disc, nothing is played back. Audio CD data is not recognized.
MP3 and WMA Files Playback Order
The playback order of the folders and files are as shown.
Note:
A folder that does not include an MP3 or WMA file is skipped.
To specify a desired playback order before the folder or file name. Input the order by number (e.g., 01, 02) then record contents onto a disc. The order differs depending on the writing software.

ID3 Tag Version 2
The following occurs when an MP3 or WMA file containing a tag is played:
- When skipping a portion of a tag (at the beginning of the track) there is no sound output. Skip time changes depending the tag capacity. Example: At 64 kbytes, it is about 2 seconds (with RealJukebox).
- The displayed elapsed playing time when skipping a portion of the tag is inaccurate. For MP3 files of a bit rate other than 128 kbps, time is not displayed accurately during playback.
- When an MP3 file is created with MP3 conversion software (e.g. RealJukebox - a registered trademark of RealNetworks Inc), the tag will automatically be written.
MP3 or WMA Navigation
MP3 tracks may be recorded on the CD in several ways. They can all be placed in the root directory like a conventional audio CD, or they can be placed in folders that may represent, for example, an album, artist, or genre.
The normal playing sequence on CDs with multiple folders is:
- Play the tracks within the root (top level) first
- Then the tracks in any folder(s) within the root
- Then move onto the second folder, and so forth.
To navigate to a track.
- Press the up or down arrow buttons to enter the track list.
- Navigate the hierarchy using the arrow buttons to select another folder or track (file).
- Press OK to select a highlighted track.
MP3 and WMA Display Options
When an MP3 or WMA disc is playing, certain information encoded in each track can be displayed. Such information will normally include:
- The file name.
- The folder name.
- ID3 information which might be the album or artist’s name.
The unit will normally show the file name that is playing. To select one of the other items of information, press the INFO button repeatedly until the required item is shown in the display.
Note:
If the ID3 information selected is unavailable, NO MP3 or WMA TAG will be shown in the display.
CD Text Display Options
When an audio disc with CD text is playing, limited information encoded in each track can be displayed. Such information will normally include:
- The disc name.
- The artist name.
- The track name.
Note:
These display options are selected in the same way as MP3 displays. NO DISC NAME or NO TRACK NAME will be shown in the display if no information has been encoded.
Ending Compact Disc Playback
To restore radio reception on all units, press the RADIO button.
Note:
The CD will not be ejected. The disc will pause at the point where radio reception was restored.
To resume CD playback, press the CD button again.