A cheap way to connect my iPod to my car stereo?

b Various Methods to Connect to a Car Stereo System, or Listen to Your iPod in the Vehicle

There are several ways to connect any iPod (or MP3 player) to a car audio system. There are also many opinions on which works better than others. Here is my synopsis:

b Best Way:
Direct connection via the dock connector or headphone jack to a mini-jack input into your car stereo. Not many low/moderate-end cars have this feature yet, but it is becoming more popular. Some aftermarket auto stereo units have this feature. There are also some after-market, fairly expensive adaptors that hook into your existing car stereo that will provide a direct connection. Pretty slick, but pricey. If money is no object, a clean way to go. See:
http://www.myradiostore.us/auxadapters/blitzsafe/blitzsafe-m-link-ipod-interface .html
http://www.theistore.com/ipod2car.html
http://www.mp3yourcar.com/productdetails.asp?productID=175

b Better:
Connect your iPod to a cassette adaptor and play your tunes through your car's cassette player. In my opinion (via testing in my car using the accessories I have), it has better fidelity than FM transmitters. Some new cars no longer come with a cassette player, so it may not be an option.

b Good:
Attach one of the many FM transmitter devices to your iPod and play the tunes through an unused FM station. Some noticeable degradation and distortion may be heard - depending on the sensitivity of your ears and the airwave congestion in your area.

b Marginal:
Attach an external speaker system to the iPod and play it in the car. Workable, but not too good - unless you spring for a $300+ Bose (or similar) system. But why? Only if your vehicle has no Stereo system, perhaps.

Whichever you choose, power the iPod through a DC adapter running from the car. See the reviews below for choices on all the accessories mentioned above, and more.

See the reviews of various accessories at the iPodLounge here:
http://www.ipodlounge.com/index.php/reviews/review_grades/

I have read both positive and negative reviews of each method, and within method, there are great variations in performance of different manufacture's systems – and peoples’ opinions of their performance. Some cassette adaptors work poorly, some better. I got lucky with my choices and have not had any big problems, yet...

BTW - I have a Belkin cassette adaptor and an iTrip Mini FM transmitter (as well as a Newer Technology RoadTrip!+). Using the same song in the same car, I found that the cassette adaptor worked significantly better for me than the FM transmitters.

Will an iPod (20 GB) connect directly to a CD changer input? I have a 2003 Ford Focus, Blaupunkt CD/MP3 player, with an optional CD Changer input. (I don't have a CD changer connected though).

I read somewhere that it could be done. I really love my iPod, but I don't like lugging my cd's everywhere I go.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Anything is possible with the right connectors...

Not sure where you would find this info, though. Some of the links I provided do have the connection in the CD changer input or other inputs at the rear of the head unit.

Time to do a Google search.

Does it have a tape deck? (Possibly called cassette deck in US English) If so, you can simply buy a converters - what was originally a way of allowing CDs to be played in cars - it looks like a tape but has a wire coming out with a little jack on the top, this works as well with a headphone jack on an iPod as with one on a CD player. Should set you back only about £6/$10.

If you have a more recent car stereo which just has a CD player... I'm not sure of the method, someone else I'm sure can advise. Hope that helps.

you can buy an FM transmitter (i own one made by "monster") for under $100. it works great and was a cheap way to transfer my tunes from the home to car...

or... do you have an auxilary input on your deck. if so, it's as simple as getting the proper cord to connect your pod (via the headphone jack) into your deck. however i've noticed quality difference between using the headphone jack and the dock connecter (fm transmitter). the dock connecter seems to produce better sound, if that's important to you.

as far as "hardwiring" your pod into your deck. be careful. i haven't heard of anyone trying this so unknown risks could lurk...

good luck.

When your car stero has a line in, you can use a car charger with audio connection.
Just check out the Car Audio section on the Apple site.
Ipod+iTunes / Accesoiries / Car Audio.
To connect my iPod to my car audio, I'll use the Griffin iTrip. It works pretty fine and is not expensive.
For long car trips, it's better to use the iMonster car-charger with FM Transmitter.
For the best sound quality it's better to use a wired connection to prevent to lost of sound quality.

I would NOT recommend the iTrip. it runs off of your iPod's battery and can drain your pod in under 5 hours. also, it connects to your headphone jack which results in reduced audio quailty.

the monster fm transmitter charges your pod and hooks into your dock connection. the audio quality is superior. granted, if you live in a large city, airwave congestion can be a problem. i haven't ever had a problem finding a great signal.

i purchased an iTrip and returned it in disgust.... it's a good idea; but executed poorly... i guess you get what you deserve for $35.

cheers...

Hm,
My Belkin adapter sounded terrible in my car. Only one speaker seemed to funtion and the sound was not full at all. I was very disappointed and will return the adapter to Target this evening.

Joey

Be careful of the Monster iCarPlay too. I'm starting to hear repeated reports of power surges frying the iPod's hard drive. I'm almost positive this is happening to me - I'm about to return my second iPod in as many months.

Mike,

Welcome to apple discussions. You can use an FM transmitter but I recommend against it if you can possibly use one if the alternatives. I use a cassete adapter which is very clear. Even better would be if your car's stereo has a minijack (headphone) input that you could use. There are other alternatives but they are much more invasive.

Hope this helps

It all depends on which head unit you have in your car. Here is my list of the best way to hookup your iPod in your car.

Best: Aux input directly on the head unit. This can come in several forms. Some after market radios have an RCA input in the back of them. All that they require to hook up an iPod is an RCA-To Mini Jack (headphone) cable.
Some brands even sell iPod adapters like Clarion Kenwood etc, that have the iPod dock connector on them and they plug into the radios cd changers jack. These allow you to control the iPod from the stereo and it chargers the iPod.

Better: If you cannot use one of these then I recommend a WIRED FM transmitter. This is an fm transmitter that is installed in between the stereo and the antenna that is coming from the outside of the car. They sell for 30 dollars from crutchfield. If you have a factory you need to purchase antenna adapters for about 12 a piece. If you have an after market radio then no other device is needed. This fm box have a set of rca inputs and it comes with a RCA-to minijack cable (headphone) then you just tune your radio to 88.1 and it actually takes over that channel so you don't have to worry about interference.

Good: The monster iCarplay has given me good audio, followed by the Transpod. These are the more expensive of the wireless transmitters.

Chris

Blaupunkt now makes an interface for iPods that connects to the CD changer input. It is less than $100. There is no information on it at the Blaupunkt USA web site, but go to the UK site for instructions and downloads for the interface. I put one in my car and find that it works well, but you have to have your playlists well organized since they are now your only way of navigating around your iPod when connected through the interface. The interface treats each playlist as a CD.

Try iTrip. I think they run about $35-40. You can use any open FM station on your car stereo.

I spent $89 bucks for a Blitzsafe direct connection to my cd player. Works great and was an easy install...

Very happy with the product

jose,

Check out the Dension site for their Icelink product,; expensive, but no doubt v good.

http://www.dension.com/main.htm

Duncan