Best interface between iPod and car stereo

[Ron S]

Cassette adapter? Or FM transmitter?

Discuss. And include specific brand and model recommendations, if possible.

This question will count for 20% of your final grade.

[1009]

Only posting because I want to echo Ron S's question. Finally bought a car w/ an aux jack (08 Prius), so it's not an issue at home, but can be an issue while traveling in a rental car. I have had zero luck w/ FM transmitters: only occasionally, in very rural areas (little interference) could I get much of a signal, & even then I was compromising terribly on sound quality. (I know, mp3s are a compromise to begin w/, but that's no reason to degrade the situation further -- if anything it's a reason to salvage what you've got.)

Cassette adapters I have not tried. Whaddyall think?

[Hot Ptah]

My Dalkin FM transmitter was not that successful, within Kansas City, which probably has an average number of radio stations across the dial. We have had a consistent experience with the FM transmitter. We will get good IPod reception for a while, but then abruptly a radio station will kick in and loudly substitute for whatever is playing on the IPod. It is jarring.

After a time, we came to know where certain radio stations would interfere with the IPod music. At 75th Street and the I35 exits in Overland Park, a fire and brimstone preacher's shouted sermons will come on literally in mid-note of the music playing on the IPod. The sermons come in at a volume louder than the IPod's music. That is a shock to the system.

In some entire sections of the metro area, the IPod music comes on in a faint, static filled way, like you are getting a weak radio signal.

[Jim Alfredson]

Stay away from FM transmitters. They work on the assumption that you can find a "free" channel on your radio in order to receive the signal. In a major metropolitan area like Philly, that would be impossible. It's impossible here in Lansing.

Tape adapters work great, just don't run the volume of the iPod at maximum because you'll distort the poor little repro head in the adapter. It won't hurt it, it will just sound bad. Set the volume down a few clicks.

[Hot Ptah]

Stay away from FM transmitters. They work on the assumption that you can find a "free" channel on your radio in order to receive the signal. In a major metropolitan area like Philly, that would be impossible. It's impossible here in Lansing.

Tape adapters work great, just don't run the volume of the iPod at maximum because you'll distort the poor little repro head in the adapter. It won't hurt it, it will just sound bad. Set the volume down a few clicks.

Do you need to have a cassette player in your car to use the tape adapter?

[7/4]

My FM transmitter sucked. Every time I was on the NJ Turnpike near Newark, NJ, WBGO squeezed my music out with their dang jazz music.

Seriously.

[Jim Alfredson]

That would help, yes.

Also, if your radio has the capability to control a CD changer, you can sometimes use that input as an auxillary input. I had an after-market Pioneer single-CD player in my Plymouth Voyager that has CD changer controls. It has a weird multi-pin connector on the back for the CD changer, but I was able to find an adapter cable that let's me connect a standard 1/8" headphone type jack, which gives me an aux in to my radio.

In my other van, I use a tape adapter.

[captainwrong]

Order of preference:

1. aux in

2. tape adapter

3. FM transmitter

I went through a bunch of FM transmitters before I found one that worked, and even then it's not perfect. There's a couple of web sites that can help you find the best frequency to use. The sound however, is less than optimal and the transmitter was expensive ($80). Still, I have to have all options as I change cars often and I never know exactly what I'll have until I get it.

(The VW factory iPod kit is absolute garbage, BTW. Anyone considering a VW, get the aux jack instead.)

[Uncle Skid]

Both of my cars have a aftermarket iPod interface that plugs directly into the factory stereo. Instead of being a generic aux connector that plugs into the iPod headphone jack, these plug into the bottom of the iPod. This powers (and charges) the iPod from the car battery, and also allows some basic functions (play/pause/rev/ff/etc) using the radio's controls.

I did the installation myself, and it wasn't too hard -- each car took about an hour or so. These devices come with the exact wiring harness needed, so the most difficult part of the installation was figuring out how to get the radio out of the dashboard. In both cases, there were detailed instructions (with pictures) on the internet.

iPod Car Kits at Logjam Electronics.

iPod Car Kits at enfig car stereo.