FM Modulator...is it worth it?

[watchaself727]

I'm sick of dealing with my FM transmitter (TuneCast II) so I went to my local car stereo shop thats been around for years. After talking with them, they suggested having them install a FM Modulator to run my Ipod through my car stereo. After doing a lot of reading on this board about the many different options I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with these. Whats my best option for playing my Ipod through my car stereo? I don't mind spending the money as long as it sound quality is good, but of course....the less money I have to spend the better!! So basically, what I'm asking is this....will I be dissapointed if I let them install a FM modulator in my car? Or should I spend the extra $100-150 dollars for a better option?

cheers
c

[CA_Steve]

Boy, I have no idea what you are talking about :-)

In the purest sense, an FM modulator is a device that takes an analog signal and modulates it into an FM signal. Your tunecast already does that... Can you point to a website/part that the stereo shop is talking about?

I'm assuming you are going this route because there are no other alternatives for you (aux in or changer input, cassette adapter...)

[watchaself727]

ummm....what i have now (the TuneCast) is a FM TRANSMITTER. Which broadcasts through FM waves to my car stereo by tuning in to a certain FM frequency. Because I live in a big city there aren't any dead stations for me to tune in too. So I'm constantly having to retune the FM transmitter and my car stereo to a new frequency. A FM Modulator is installed between my car stereo and the antenna, allowing the antenna in affect to be "shut off" giving me a very clear (or dead frequency) to tune in to. It's hardwired instead of running through FM waves. I know this will sound better than my current FM transmitter. But will I still be dissapointed in the quality of the sound as compared to using the more expensive cables that would plug in to my CD changer port on the back of my stock headunit? I don't mind spending the money on a more expensive option but if a FM modulator sounds close to CD quality I'd rather not have to waste the money. Hope thats clear enough....

Thanks Again!

[bobb-mini]

Nope. FM specs frequency response is only up to 15 KHZ. So no, FM will NEVER, EVER beat a direct connection.

[CA_Steve]

2nd that.

It's hard to believe whatever the sales guy is trying to sell you is less than a SiK Imp + adapter cable for your changer (~$50 together, usually).