Listening to your MP3 player in your car

[M9fanatic]

So I have a Zen Micro and my new car has a cd player not a tape deck. So i bought this (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=202856&pcount=&Product_Id=140984) and it was a waste of 29.99. Too much static and it goes in and out. Any body have any suggestions?

[Achtung]

Yeah an FM transmitter won't work at all in a place like Chicago.

Are you opposed to opening up your dash/console and wiring directly into the back of your car's radio? It provides the cleanest look and the best sound, but its also relatively difficult. Alternatively you could have either a dealer or some other professional do the installation.

[Real Ray]

I use the iRiver AFT 100 Mobile FM Transmitter and I'm very pleased with it. I've used it on the road often as well, and it's really made long drives better.

I'm surprised that you bought the Belkin as most of the reviews I read rated the iRiver as a much better product. I went to Amazon and the reviews seemed very clear on these two.

I like the pre-set function as well as the automatic power function.

At some point I may change my car stereo to both a mp3 capable cd player and a device input. But for now I'm happy with this device. The only caveat is how busy your area is vis-a-vis radio signals.

[amerifolklegend]

I use the iRiver AFT 100 Mobile FM Transmitter and I'm very pleased with it. I've used it on the road often as well, and it's really made long drives better.

I'm surprised that you bought the Belkin as most of the reviews I read rated the iRiver as a much better product. I went to Amazon and the reviews seemed very clear on these two.

I like the pre-set function as well as the automatic power function.

At some point I may change my car stereo to both a mp3 capable cd player and a device input. But for now I'm happy with this device. The only caveat is how busy your area is vis-a-vis radio signals.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure just about anything will work well in Cincinnati, though.

I hear nothing but horror stories from people who bought iTrips around the country.

I have one and have never had a problem with reception at all. I think we just don't have many radio stations here.

[servotron]

I had a Belkin radio transmitter, it ate up batteries and gave questionable reception most of the time in the city. I ended up getting an AIWA car stereo unit with a 1/8" input jack in the front. Crystal clear sound, no reception issues, and you can plug anything into it.

There are quite a few models out on the market right now, several of them quite decent.

[Chicago1871]

At some point I may change my car stereo to both a mp3 capable cd player and a device input.
I got a nice Alpine CD player two years ago that plays MP3 CDs, and it's been great. I think I skimped on the more expensive version with device input (whoops), but it's nice to be able to put a CD in that has 160 songs on it and hit 'random," and not hear the same song for a good long while. I usually rotate through about four different CDs through the course of a month. I have over 2000 songs, but the 600 that easily fit on the CDs is more than enough.

[M9fanatic]

Yeah an FM transmitter won't work at all in a place like Chicago.

Are you opposed to opening up your dash/console and wiring directly into the back of your car's radio? It provides the cleanest look and the best sound, but its also relatively difficult. Alternatively you could have either a dealer or some other professional do the installation.
Ok so I figured I try this. I went to Best Buy to see if they could help me get the right stuff for it, and the moron in the blue shirt looked at me like I asked him to build a space ship for me.

Any idea of what exactly I need to buy?

[Real Ray]

Ok so I figured I try this. I went to Best Buy to see if they could help me get the right stuff for it, and the moron in the blue shirt looked at me like I asked him to build a space ship for me.

Any idea of what exactly I need to buy?

I would just buy a stereo with an aux device input-you can get one starting as low as $45.

[PoshSpur]

Buy an mp3 player. It'll save u any hassle.

[Achtung]

Ok so I figured I try this. I went to Best Buy to see if they could help me get the right stuff for it, and the moron in the blue shirt looked at me like I asked him to build a space ship for me.

Any idea of what exactly I need to buy?

Talk about a redundancy of terms. ;)

Your best bet might actually be to go to your dealer, if your car is newer. The materials you'll need as well as the installation will vary greatly depending on the type of stereo you have. You may also need an adapter for your stereo if you want to control your iPod through your stereo controls.

That probably didn't help a whole lot, but there are so many variables involved. The good people at Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com/) should be able to help you as well. Call them up and tell them the model of your car and what stereo you have (cassette only, cassette/CD, CD changer, etc.) and they will almost certainly be able to tell you what you need.

[benilson09]

That is good advice from Achtung, I do a lot of car installs and fiberglass work so I see alot of different things. Crutchfield should have an adapter that will go from the RCA jack in the back of your cd player to your headphone outlet as well as many other devices that are user friendly. Click here (http://home.speedfactory.net/tcashin/ipodsony.htm) for a good article on mp3 players and ipod in the car, it is mainly describing use for a Sony cd player but several adapters are universal.