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iPod iPod in car: What is your method?
- Thread starter manosaurus
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I use the Griffin Road Trip.
It's amazing.
Sure, it was spendy, but I'm glad I spent the extra bucks for it.
It's amazing.
Sure, it was spendy, but I'm glad I spent the extra bucks for it.
I too use the RoadTrip( http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/roadtrip/ )
After many less than perfect FM solutions I tried in the past, this is by far the BEST. I like that one can control the freq on the unit instead of something like the iTrip where you have to "play" a track to change freqs. I also like the fact that it charges my iPod at the same time.
I agree with others that FM should be your last choice but I have a 99 Saab with which one would have to pull basically the whole center console to remove the radio/ACC computer and controls/ etc... to get to the rear of the unit so being the lazy sort I am, FM is the way for me - and this unit is the best I've tried.
The only problem I have is that I have Sirius Sat radio installed as an add-on since it wasn't available as an option in 1999 when I got the car. I have to sort of twist about a bit to access the ONE cigarette lighter I have to share between the two devices. I do wish at times that the Roadtrip would work off batteries for the times I don't need the unit to charge my iPod. But those times are few and far between as I usually use the iPod on my longer trips ( Chicago-Boston, Chicago-S. FL, and the sat radio and CDs burned from my favorite iTunes playlists for short runs.
The contortions needed to switch from iPod to Sat radio power do come into play on those longer trips, though, when I want to go from iPod music to sat traffic or news updates, 1st Wave or Alt Nation specials, or, of course, Howard Stern.
The roadtrip also came in handy when stationed overseas and I couldn't get to a power outlet or had no adaptors top convert local to US power. Luckily car lighters are car lighters and served to charge the ole iPod just fine. Did have to sometimes make nice with the natives or steal power from a contractors standard vehicle, but it made my time there more exciting.
Also, those "armband" holders for iPods worked great for securing the iPod to my person in even the roughest, most jarring ssituations. One suggestion, though if overseas deployment to an unfriendly area is in your future and you'd like to listen to your iPod... Don't use the armband as intended - on your upper, or even lower, arm. Attach it around your helmet. It took some trial and error to get it right...
My next vehicle will definitely have iPod integration. That - and sirius built in - is one of the biggest "must-haves" that will decide our purchase. Anyone know if the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has that? I'd rather avoid actually having to talk to a dealer until I know what I want and can avoid the whole sales pitch.
After many less than perfect FM solutions I tried in the past, this is by far the BEST. I like that one can control the freq on the unit instead of something like the iTrip where you have to "play" a track to change freqs. I also like the fact that it charges my iPod at the same time.
I agree with others that FM should be your last choice but I have a 99 Saab with which one would have to pull basically the whole center console to remove the radio/ACC computer and controls/ etc... to get to the rear of the unit so being the lazy sort I am, FM is the way for me - and this unit is the best I've tried.
The only problem I have is that I have Sirius Sat radio installed as an add-on since it wasn't available as an option in 1999 when I got the car. I have to sort of twist about a bit to access the ONE cigarette lighter I have to share between the two devices. I do wish at times that the Roadtrip would work off batteries for the times I don't need the unit to charge my iPod. But those times are few and far between as I usually use the iPod on my longer trips ( Chicago-Boston, Chicago-S. FL, and the sat radio and CDs burned from my favorite iTunes playlists for short runs.
The contortions needed to switch from iPod to Sat radio power do come into play on those longer trips, though, when I want to go from iPod music to sat traffic or news updates, 1st Wave or Alt Nation specials, or, of course, Howard Stern.
The roadtrip also came in handy when stationed overseas and I couldn't get to a power outlet or had no adaptors top convert local to US power. Luckily car lighters are car lighters and served to charge the ole iPod just fine. Did have to sometimes make nice with the natives or steal power from a contractors standard vehicle, but it made my time there more exciting.
Also, those "armband" holders for iPods worked great for securing the iPod to my person in even the roughest, most jarring ssituations. One suggestion, though if overseas deployment to an unfriendly area is in your future and you'd like to listen to your iPod... Don't use the armband as intended - on your upper, or even lower, arm. Attach it around your helmet. It took some trial and error to get it right...
My next vehicle will definitely have iPod integration. That - and sirius built in - is one of the biggest "must-haves" that will decide our purchase. Anyone know if the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has that? I'd rather avoid actually having to talk to a dealer until I know what I want and can avoid the whole sales pitch.
Attachments
For those using an FM transmitter: I read that if you remove/don't extend the radio antenna so that it's not picking up surrounding stations, your transmitter sounds much clearer. Haven't tried it on my car yet though so can't confirm it's better.
I've tried my iPod in another car with the AUX cable/iPod compatible head unit and noticed the improvement in sound quality straight away. FM transmitters are definitely the last resort. Even the good ones (I have the iTrip Auto) are bad compared to the direct line.
I've contacted local car fixer peoplep ) to try and get my iPod connected to the speakers only, no head unit control etc. just a direct line to speakers. They said it's not possible. Surely it's not that difficult to disable the CD player and/or hook it up with a line out from the dash so I can connect an iPod?
I've tried my iPod in another car with the AUX cable/iPod compatible head unit and noticed the improvement in sound quality straight away. FM transmitters are definitely the last resort. Even the good ones (I have the iTrip Auto) are bad compared to the direct line.
I've contacted local car fixer people
p ) to try and get my iPod connected to the speakers only, no head unit control etc. just a direct line to speakers. They said it's not possible. Surely it's not that difficult to disable the CD player and/or hook it up with a line out from the dash so I can connect an iPod?
I've heard the same thing but have been hesitant to disable my automatic antenna. Although, I guess I don't listen to all that much "regular" radio to make switching back and forth an issue... It would (from what I've heard) improve the quality, especially since I live in a metro area in which the FM band is pretty packed and the signal levels are pretty decent - all which serve to interfere with my transmitters.
Also, I'm not sure on the timeline or veracity but I think the newer FM transmitters are even worse due to radio lobbying/FCC enforcement of non-interference rules in the US. Basically I think they had to lower the power output on newer devices making reception even poorer. Mine seems to be fine but I bought it when they first came out. Maybe it's just an urban legend or some such, maybe someone can confirm?
I have a Pioneer CD Deck and my iPod is directly connected through the dock port with an IP-BUS cable that also keeps it charged. The cable plugs into the back of the Pioneer deck and I have it running down and it comes up through the bottom of the dashboard. I have about 3 feet of cable slack so it can move around the car so other people can people handle the iPod.
My car is, thankfully, old enough so that it has a tape player instead of the useless CD player, so I am using a cassette tape adapter. With the advent of digital players, CD changers have become obsolete - I wonder why manufacturers still offer those. In a new car, I would take an auxiliary input instead of a CD changer any time.
I used an iTrip for a while until the dension was made available for my Renault. I'm pretty happy with it, the sound quality of the iTrip was rather bad. Now my iPod interacts with my radio like an external CD-changer. Not all functions are possible but the sound is fantastic.
enjoy some pictures :
enjoy some pictures :
In fact, when my garagist installed my adapter, he was stunned that the price of an iPod + the adapter is less than a CD-changer ...
Do the CD changer with line-in. I do sort of the same thing. I got a really really really cheap cassette player for my car that had a auxillary-in on it. I already had a cord to go from my ipod to the cassette player, but if I didn't I could go to radio shack and get one for $2. I spent about 40 dollars on this.
Nice thing is that in case I also have the option of doing the cassette adapter if I ever need it to, which is probably the second best sounding option.
Do not do the radio transmitter. That's was what I did first, and it sounded terrible.
I use a Belkin Auto Kit for power & amplification connected to a Sony cassette adapter. I haven't been able to justify spending $200+ for the adapter that would connect to my OEM HU, and if I replace my HU I'd want to make sure the steering wheel controls and RPM-tied volume control would carry over to it...
B
B
Line in on my Aiwa head unit in my Passat
Direct to amp in my Jetta,
Both have hard wired dock connectors for power.
I have my iPod mounted to a car charger playing through a Monster cassette tape adapter which is also used for my XM receiver. It's a pretty slick setup and works well. I'll get a pic up soon.
Edit: Here's a quick pic. I still need to clean up the wiring a bit more.
Edit: Here's a quick pic. I still need to clean up the wiring a bit more.
I use an Audiolink adaptor, works really well in my MX-5 (which i think now comes with an iPod adaptor as standard)
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/940
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/940
I have a Newertech roadtrip!+ It's the best FM transmitter I've ever seen, but I just looked, I can't find it for sale anywhere anymore. bummed.
I was looking in to buying one, this thread has really put me off now
There isn't a cassette deck either, or a line-in...bloody cd player...
I have an Alpine dock connector in my car, that charges and plays my ipod and I can control it from the radio head. I get CD quality or whatever quality the song is on my ipod. Sounds great, and worth every p enny. Those FM transmitters sound horrible.
Get a new car which is iPod-ready. Seems the simplest and most satisfying option to me
Honda offers an iPod connector kit for their Fit, Civic and Accord models that uses the Data Connector dock so your car stereo actually controls the iPod and also charges the player.
