ipod question for you ipod-ers

[weiv0004]

So a friend of mine recently got a nifty new ipod nano, and wants me to get some sort of car adapter for her for christmas. Has anybody here used one of those adapters that broadcast your ipod playback onto an FM channel on any stereo? How do these sound? I hear there is a drop in quality. Is there anything else I should be considering? Thanks

 

[cw42]

Some of them are hit, or miss in terms of reception. I prefer using tape. Quality is better, and you don't have to mess with changing stations if a signal isn't strong enough.

 

[CraKaJaX]

FM transmitters, no matter how expensive, how fancy, how much the salesmen tells you how good it is, all are crap IMO. You're better off spending more money for something like this with no radio interference at all. Tape players are good too if you have a tape deck. Or just buy her a BMW with a ready-to-go iPod jack...

 

[intogamer]

If your friend's car has a aux or 3.5mm headphone jack... you can get a cable and just plug it to the ipod

My friend's Scion TC has it

 

[Miklebud]

I have a Monster Radio Transmitter. It's better than the Belkin one my brother has, but is still not perfect. The best possible solution is a CD-player that comes with an iPod input with it. But, a cheap radio transmitter will be fine for a friend , if they're not an audiophile.

 

[SuepaFly]

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
FM transmitters, no matter how expensive, how fancy, how much the salesmen tells you how good it is, all are crap IMO. You're better off spending more money for something like this with no radio interference at all. Tape players are good too if you have a tape deck. Or just buy her a BMW with a ready-to-go iPod jack...

I completely agree. I had one in LA and I had way too much interference, same with San Francisco. It doesnt work well in big cities with lots of stations. Go for a wired sort of transmitter.

 

[weiv0004]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't think my friends car has a headphone jack. It's a recent Honda CR-V (05 or 06) but its pretty bare-bones. Those of you saying that 'tape players are good' are you referring to the same tape deck adapters that I used to use with my discman? That's what came to my mind first when she told me what she wanted, but I was hoping technology had improved somewhat since then. The carkits thing is pretty cool looking, but more money than I was looking to spend.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
Thanks for the input guys. I don't think my friends car has a headphone jack. It's a recent Honda CR-V (05 or 06) but its pretty bare-bones. Those of you saying that 'tape players are good' are you referring to the same tape deck adapters that I used to use with my discman? That's what came to my mind first when she told me what she wanted, but I was hoping technology had improved somewhat since then. The carkits thing is pretty cool looking, but more money than I was looking to spend.

Same thing. Tape on one end, aux plug on the other end.

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
Thanks for the input guys. I don't think my friends car has a headphone jack. It's a recent Honda CR-V (05 or 06) but its pretty bare-bones. Those of you saying that 'tape players are good' are you referring to the same tape deck adapters that I used to use with my discman? That's what came to my mind first when she told me what she wanted, but I was hoping technology had improved somewhat since then. The carkits thing is pretty cool looking, but more money than I was looking to spend.

There are adapters that attach to the CD input on the back and give you aux-in that way, similar to the icarkit but much cheaper. link
You may have to do some reseaching to make sure it fits your friend's car though.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: weiv0004
Thanks for the input guys. I don't think my friends car has a headphone jack. It's a recent Honda CR-V (05 or 06) but its pretty bare-bones. Those of you saying that 'tape players are good' are you referring to the same tape deck adapters that I used to use with my discman? That's what came to my mind first when she told me what she wanted, but I was hoping technology had improved somewhat since then. The carkits thing is pretty cool looking, but more money than I was looking to spend.

An '05/'06 CRV will have a tape deck with the stock stereo system. Forget integrated solutions. Just spend $20 and get a tape adapter. This way save you time, money and warranty coverage on the stereo.

 

[mercanucaribe]

A tape adapter is much better than an FM transmitter. There is one that lets you control the iPod with the tape controls... that will probably get you more points than a regular tape adapter. I forget who makes it but JandR sells it.

 

[Raduque]

Thanks for the thread OP, this reminded me that I need to find an AILink to RCA input adapter for my Alpine.

Because yea, FM transmitters suck, except the one in my dad's sirius reciever seems to be pretty damn decent.

 

[MazerRackham]

She should be able to use an CD-changer AUX adapter, any one of which can be found at places like crutchfield.com. Something like this:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8DER1MCVWpK/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=581PA11H2Y

Easy to install and will absolutely sound best.