Music disappointment

[JayinNJ]

There are several USB-C ports. This isn't a big problem, since you can get adapters. They seem to be only for charging. Can Rivian turn one or all of these into music stick readers by software only? Or is it a hardware thing?

The USB-C ports in the center console read and write memory sticks for the dash cam feature.

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[JayinNJ]

I would just stream your music collection from your phone via Bluetooth until there is a better solution.

 

[azbill]

I agree, for when I'm driving through the mountains. Not a big fan of planning ahead and downloading music locally, I like more of a variety.

I never use my phone for music, so never have downloads. I totally lost streaming about a third of the way down the dirt roads today, FM worked, but got blocked by the mountains a lot And I had to keep searching for new stations.

I just got to order my Hummer, and it will have satellite radio.

 

[Ctenophore]

I can’t find the thread where someone posted pics confirming this, but the Rivian Elevation system still uses all Meridian hardware. It’s likely that Rivian wanted to do it’s own tuning or just wanted to save money and removed the Meridian branding from the system.

I took delivery in late June of a T with the Meridian system and I think it sounds pretty amazing after spending some time in the settings.

I do believe Rivian will eventually allow direct USB connection for audio. Who the heck knows when though??‍

Congrats on getting your truck. Little surprised that you would have a Meridian branded system with a June delivery unless you were referring just to the hardware.

 

[COdogman]

Congrats on getting your truck. Little surprised that you would have a Meridian branded system with a June delivery unless you were referring just to the hardware.

Thank you. My truck was sitting at the factory since approximately February waiting for PPF until they decided to remove that from my order and ship it. So mine was probably one of the last Meridian branded systems assuming it was built in January or so…

 

[Ctenophore]

Thank you. My truck was sitting at the factory since approximately February waiting for PPF until they decided to remove that from my order and ship it. So mine was probably one of the last Meridian branded systems assuming it was built in January or so…

Gotcha. I bet you are doing just fine without factory PPF.

 

[Randy Chase]

Agreed with the orginal post. Coming from my Tesla, I was disappointed to learn I could not use the USB to read music off a thrumb drive. I dislike Tidal and Spotify and bluetooth to my phone has all kinds of annoyances. At first I wondered if the USB connectors were for charging only (not using the TX/RX pins) but we now know you can use an external drive for the driver cam feature.

What I have been doing more now, is using Amazon Prime music and asking Alexa to shuffle play my "DRIVING" folder. This works fine, except I have to redo it each time I start the car.

In an ideal world, the system would add USB as an option and allow folders. To be clear, this is an annoyance but a small issue in the larger picture. I also wish we had Youtube and Netflix and that the car could make farting noises.

 

[Ozmt]

I'm definitely not an audiophile, but here are my $0.02 worth. Not having usb access is messy plain stupid. I live in an adventure area and don't have cell phone coverage often. That leaves me worth no access to any music at all, unless I want to download some intro my phone and I don't care to do that. Usb access or satellite radio for those of us that want to "stay adventurous".

 

[Kenmecca]

Couldn't you just use an old phone and download you music to that

 

[Merrill]

I've had my Rivian for a week or two. Possibly my only disappointment is the lack of a port for connecting a USB memory stick for playing music. Every other car I know of can do this. Am I missing something? The bluetooth seems to only work with a phone. It seems that you are limited to broadcast radio-type music sources like Tidal and Spotify and Pandora. I'd love to be able to use my music library. This seems totally nuts.
[/QUO
Yes, me too don’t understand why there is no usb option seems dumb on a vehicle built in 2023.

 

[Denver_Paulie]

Love my R1T.

Hate Tidal and TuneIn.

Try accessing music streaming in the middle of remote parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Arizona. Not going to happen.

I would pay $1,000 to retrofit in a satellite radio antenna into my R1T for SiriusXM access.

Music on your phone. I get it. Sometimes I want to access some random SiriusXM station while on a road trip.

Honestly, I can live without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but a road trip without satellite radio where I live and like to road trip is mildly challenging.

Anyway, it is a nitpick of a complaint since the car does so many other things so well.

 

[bd5400]

I'm definitely not an audiophile, but here are my $0.02 worth. Not having usb access is messy plain stupid. I live in an adventure area and don't have cell phone coverage often. That leaves me worth no access to any music at all, unless I want to download some intro my phone and I don't care to do that. Usb access or satellite radio for those of us that want to "stay adventurous".

I will never understand people who are opposed to downloading music on their phone, as if it’s some big hassle, but who are fully willing to manually download and manage music files on a thumb drive.

I realize that there are some people who are very passionate about having music on a thumb drive, which I cannot relate to, but the fact of the matter is that the market has overwhelmingly moved toward streaming services and even though there are a handful of people who claim this is some huge omission, usb music is likely to be utilized by an incredibly small minority of owners.

To many people, this is no different than if someone was upset because the R1T doesn’t have a built-in CD player.

 

[Ozmt]

I'm not against downloading, I just prefer to use my car's system. I want to hear music, sports and news live. If I'm not in cell coverage, I'm out of luck. As an adventure vehicle person, being aware of weather warnings is important. Satellite radio works almost everywhere as does am radio for alerts

 

[emoore]

Love my R1T.

Hate Tidal and TuneIn.

Try accessing music streaming in the middle of remote parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, or Arizona. Not going to happen.

I would pay $1,000 to retrofit in a satellite radio antenna into my R1T for SiriusXM access.

Music on your phone. I get it. Sometimes I want to access some random SiriusXM station while on a road trip.

Honestly, I can live without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but a road trip without satellite radio where I live and like to road trip is mildly challenging.

Anyway, it is a nitpick of a complaint since the car does so many other things so well.

Aren’t there portable satellite radio receivers you can use?

 

[Steve A.]

The Rivian sound system is ok but if it isn't Bose, then it's not great. Plain and simple. As far as USB vs Bluetooth, even the Amish don't use wires anymore. ? Never understand why anyone would want a separate USB device other than a 512g micro-SD card in their phone with cached music from Spotify, SiriusXM, and/or your own ripped music since you have it wherever you go including your vehicle or camping or whatever.

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